Boxing: Tua's team eye Jones or Sanders

By PETER JESSUP

David Tua's management is in New York trying to settle two contracts - to tackle South African Corrie Sanders for the WBO world title but with a get-out clause if Roy Jones jnr wants to get in the ring with Tua.

Jones has been ordered by the WBA to defend his title before September 1. The top-ranked fighter with the organisation is Vitali Klitschko, but he is to fight Lennox Lewis next weekend after Canadian Kirk Johnson suffered a chest injury.

Tua is No 2 for the WBA and is hoping to secure the fight as "next available challenger" under the organisation's rules.

Tua v Jones would pay a lot more than Tua v Sanders.

Tua's manager, Kevin Barry, said the television market in the United States was well down from the highs of a few years ago.

Sanders' management is also in New York.

It is likely Jones would allow himself to be stripped of the WBA belt he won from John Ruiz, maybe for a bigger payday against Lewis late in the year.

If that happens, Tua is likely to fight Sanders in September for the vacated belt, but nothing is certain.

"It's a funny business and things happen when you least expect them to," said Barry.

Tua is training twice a day in Auckland and will not go back to the United States until a fight date is confirmed.

Barry's other charges heavyweight Shane Cameron and welterweight Danny Codling fight again on July 12 at Lake Tahoe.

Those contracts are being completed this week.