TUA: RAHMAN RUNNING SCARED

Team Tua Press Release

19.07 - It is now official and confirmed, what we have known all along, Hasim Rahman will not fight David Tua in the WBA and IBF mandated number 1 position fight.

Rahman's manager Stan Hoffman stated today "That when Don King had Rahman moved to the number 1 position with the WBC, they knew they didn't need to take the risk and fight Tua."

Team Rahman have known since June 22 when the WBA mandated Tua and Rahman, that they wouldn't fight Tua.

Instead of declaring Rahman unavailable they have strung everyone along for the past 4 weeks. This unprofessional behavior only adds to penalize every other fighter below Rahman in the rankings.

Rahman has moved to the number 1 position in the WBC without fighting anyone and turning his back on the WBA and IBF mandated fight with David Tua.

Why didn't the WBC, when Rahman was at 2 and Tua at 5 follow suit with the WBA and IBF to mandate a Tua Verses Rahman fight for their number 1 position?

Why is it that Rahman can move to number 1 without beating Tua.

Is it simply just Don King's gentle persuasion with the WBC that benefits Rahman and discriminates against Tua.

Now that Rahman is unavailable {due to the fact that he doesn't want to risk it} and also, because he currently has no other fight under contract, Team Tua will strongly request to the WBA that they drop Rahman from their rankings and make David Tua their official mandatory challenger for Roy Jones.

It is interesting to note that the IBF are sanctioning Fres Oquendo and Chris Byrd for their mandatory challenge, even though the number 1 position is vacant. The IBF are approving the next highest available contender, as to them, fulfilling the mandatory is paramount to every other rule.