Boxing: Tua's fight cancelled as manager heads to court

12.00pm - UDPATE

There has been another blow to David Tua's immediate boxing future.

It appears Tua's interim world title fight against Hasim Rahman has been cancelled.

Boxing sources in the United States say promoter Don King has signed John Ruiz rather than Tua to fight Rahman on December 13.

King says Tua is going through what he calls domestic problems, so will not be included on the fight card in December.

It is understood Tua's estranged management team has signed a deal to fight Rahman, but Tua did not sign a personal contract.

Martin Pugh took Tua to the High Court in Auckland today to sort out the row which flared after Tua sacked both last month, apparently in a row over money and the millions of dollars Tua has earned as a professional boxer.

Today's hearing in the High Court in Auckland was initiated by Pugh, who named Tua as one of three defendants, and himself, Team Barry and Tuaman Inc as plaintiffs.

The hearing was in chambers to set a date for a substantive hearing, but Barry and Pugh said today they wanted it over as quickly as possible.

"I really don't want to talk about it right at the moment," Barry said.

But he said later he would explain why he and Pugh had to take court action.

"We tried for it not to be in this position to go to court."

Barry said since he arrived back in New Zealand late last month he had never had a one-on-one meeting with Tua which disappointed him.

"I don't want it to drag on any more than it has to."

Barry said it was very disappointing, unsettling and "not much fun".

Pugh said he also wanted it over as quickly as possible for everyone's sake including Tua's.

"It is very urgent for us to get an early hearing because we want these problems to just go away.

"We want it to end for David Tua, we want it to end for us but mainly we want it to end for David Tua because he has to go forward."

Pugh said he believed he and Barry were still managers although he did not know if he was still being paid by Tua.

He said a reconciliation was "right at the tip of my fingers" but he was unsure if that would happen.

"All I am interested in is preserving the status quo and protecting David Tua's interests. That's it. I am still working as a manager for David Tua, protecting his interests."

Pugh said he worked for himself and was never on David Tua's payroll.

However, when asked if his fees were still being paid he said that was a "catch-22 question.

"I am still trying to work as his manager and I am to be paid," Pugh said.

"(But) that is not a question that is answerable. I don't care if this work I am doing now is pro bono. It is an attempt by me to bring resolution," Pugh said.

Tua was due to fight Hasim Rahman in December but that fight is now off.

Tua recorded a 10th round technical knockout win over Rahman in Miami on December 19, 1998, before the pair fought a 12-round draw in Philadelphia in March this year.

- NZPA and NEWSTALK ZB