Tuesday, November 05, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Tua's manager blames Rahman for delaying deal

IBF has called for conclusion to negotiations

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

The International Boxing Federation is offering Hasim Rahman a chance to fight for its top ranking and a future heavyweight title shot, but the manager of David Tua said Rahman is making it nearly impossible to get the two boxers in the ring together.

Tua manager/trainer Kevin Barry said Monday that Rahman, who has long sought a rematch of his disputed Dec. 19, 1998, loss to Tua, is to blame for the stalled negotiations.

Joe Dwyer, the chairman of the IBF's championship committee, has ordered the promoters of Tua and Rahman to conclude negotiations for a match by Friday. Barry said he believes Rahman, who has lost his last two fights, doesn't want the bout with Tua.

Rahman was clearly winning the fight against Tua until a controversial hook by Tua at the end of the ninth round landed after the bell. Rahman was on unsteady legs to begin the 10th and Tua quickly finished him. Since then, Rahman has hounded Tua for a rematch.

"Rahman has said for a long time that he has a vendetta against Tua. But to me, it looks like he's a dog with no teeth," Barry said. "We're doing everything possible to get this fight done. We're coming off two spectacular wins and he's coming off a couple of losses, but we've offered to split the purse 50-50.

"HBO wants the fight; boxing fans have long been calling for the fight and Dave wants it badly. But Rahman won't step up to the plate."

Tua's promoter, Cedric Kushner, is experiencing severe financial problems, so the Tua camp has entertained the thought of signing with Don King Productions, which promotes Rahman. But Barry said negotiations with King haven't gone well and no deal has been reached.

King, negotiating with Barry on behalf of Rahman, has offered Tua a shot at Rahman, but insisted Tua would have to give King options on future fights. Barry and Tua have resisted that.

"It's an IBF-mandated fight," Barry said. "There are no options. It's man on man, Dave versus Rahman. Rahman has talked about how badly he wants Dave. Well, we're saying, `OK, here we are.' And instead of getting his signature on a contract, we're getting a lot of runaround."

King attended the closing arguments of his lawsuit against Top Rank's Bob Arum on Monday and couldn't be reached for comment.

Rahman manager Steve Nelson said Rahman is anxious to fight Tua if he receives an acceptable contract offer. Nelson said he is expecting to receive an offer from King today or Wednesday.

"Don's been in court, so that's put the brakes on things a little, I guess," Nelson said. "We are expecting an offer to be made this week, and if the offer is good enough, we will take it. Rock is very, very willing to fight David Tua. Believe me, there are no problems with that. But without a fair offer for the fight, we have nothing."

Tua said the fight is not about money but about opportunity. The IBF has assured the winner that he would get to face the IBF champion for the title sometime in 2003. Las Vegan Chris Byrd and Evander Holyfield are scheduled to fight for the IBF title, which was vacated by Lennox Lewis, on Dec. 14 in Atlantic City, N.J.

Tua urged Rahman to get a deal done.

"We're both at a similar stage in our careers where we're rated in the top five by all of the sanctioning bodies, but we need that chance to go for the gold again," said Tua, who trains in Las Vegas. "It's a great deal. The fans, I know, want it and I'd love to get it on with him again. He felt cheated the last time. Well, this is an opportunity for him to correct something he felt wasn't right."