Boxing

TUA MUCH FOR RAHMAN! TUA TARGETS RUIZ FOR WBA/IBF TITLE ELIMINATION BOUT

LAS VEGAS, NV (July 24, 2003) - Press Release - DAVID TUA is looking down the list of world-rated heavyweight contenders trying to find a fighter with the guts to fight him in a world title elimination bout sanctioned by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Tua, 42-3-1 (37 KOs), the top-rated contender in the WBA and No. 3 in the IBF (not to mention No. 1 in the WBO), was informed by Hasim Rahman's team that Rahman, rated No. 3 by the WBA and No. 4 by the IBF, wanted no parts of a third fight with Tua with the vacant No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger positions in the IBF and WBA at stake. Rahman stated the same to Kevin Iole of the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Wednesday.

"Unless we're fighting for a belt or an interim title, I'm not sure it makes a lot of sense to fight Tua again," said Rahman

"The WBC elevated Rahman to No. 1 and he saw no reason to risk his rating in a fight against David," said Martin Pugh, Tua's co-manager.

Tua has no choice but to go to the next highest contender, former WBA champion John Ruiz, who is rated No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, in the WBA and IBF.

Tua and Ruiz are no strangers, having fought each other once already, March 15, 1996, for Ruiz's WBC International title.

"I don't know if he remembers me or not," said Tua. "He seemed like a nice enough fellow. There just didn't seem to be enough time to get to know him."

Tua, making his HBO debut, knocked Ruiz out at :19 seconds of round one, earning himself a reputation as one of boxing's most powerful knockout artists.

"Look mate, we want to fight for the world heavyweight title and we know none of the champions are going to give us an optional defense," said Kevin Barry, Tua's trainer and co-manager. "The only way the Tuaman is going to be able to fight for the title is to become the mandatory and he'll fight anyone to get in that position. He always has. Roy Jones is supposed to defend his title within 180 days of winning it, which is September 1. Those are the rules of the WBA. But we know he won't fight David unless he is forced to fight David.

"Since Jones wants to hide behind the rules to protect himself from the Tuaman, we'll follow the rules," continued Barry. "David will fight Ruiz again. Let's see if Ruiz will fight David again. If he does, they might as well sanction this fight for the world heavyweight championship because when David knocks Ruiz out again - something Jones wasn't even close to doing when they fought - you can bet the WBA will be receiving a letter from Jones vacating the title."

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