Boxing: US court boosts Tua's title chances

By PETER JESSUP

David Tua's dreamed-of world title fight loomed larger yesterday after the United States District Court ruled that the International Boxing Federation (IBF) must reconsider his claims as No 1 contender.

The court told Tua to pursue again, through the IBF, his grievance at being sidelined by Lennox Lewis' managers in favour of a bout with Michael Grant next month.

But Judge John Bissell gave the 27-year-old Aucklander his best backing yet, saying Tua had been unfairly and unjustly treated by the organisation.

He scheduled a hearing for March 27 to determine whether the Lewis-Grant fight set for Madison Square Garden on April 29 will go ahead.

Tua's lawyer, Jethro Eisenstein, told the court that Tua should have first shot as IBF No 1, but would stand aside for Grant if he received a firm commitment from the three-belt champion that he would be next and not long after.

Lewis' manager, Panos Eliades, has already agreed to a November meeting but Eisenstein told Judge Bissell his client should not have to wait that long, and the judge agreed.

Lewis' representative, Patrick English, said the timing was governed by pay-to-view television broadcasters, who scheduled heavyweight contests only in the American spring and autumn, and November was the next date available.

Lewis has also been threatened with the loss of his World Boxing Association (WBA) belt for failing to meet their No 1, John Ruiz, within the specified 12 months.

Eliades yesterday said that the WBA had told him Lewis could keep the belt if he fought Ruiz as soon as possible after the Grant fight. Eliades said he had booked London's Earls Court for July 15.

Tua has already flattened Ruiz in short time, and that is sure to carry plenty of weight in court as the judge determines who the real No 1 is.

Tua's management remain convinced Lewis is running scared of Tua's punching power and looking for bouts he believes he can win - Grant and Ruiz are both firmly in that category - while waiting for a big payday with the sliding Mike Tyson.

Manager Kevin Barry said yesterday that his boxer was in good shape, training hard in Auckland and keeping his focus solely on the ring despite the ongoing frustration of sitting ringside.

The pair would concentrate now on finding a last match-up for May in the hope that they would get a title shot in July.