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Pastimes : Boxing: The Sweet Science -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LPS5 who wrote (3541)	5/2/2001 8:45:54 PM
From: LPS5	Respond to of 10489

Champ terminates Tua 2 May 2001 by Chris Mirams New world heavyweight boxing king Hasim Rahman says Kiwi David Tua will never get to fight for the title as long as he's champion. In an exclusive interview with The Evening Post yesterday, Rahman said from Baltimore that the New Zealander would now have to suffer like he did after Tua controversially beat Rahman in 1998 when hitting him after the bell at the end of the 10th round. Until that point Rahman was in control of their fight, using his strong jab and boxing skills to shut the Kiwi out of the contest. He was well ahead on all the judges' score cards. Tua's knockout shot came nearly three seconds after the bell. "We had a chance to resolve that in 1999 and he didn't want to give me the chance," Rahman said. "HBO came and tried to double the money (for a rematch) and he didn't want to give me a chance so now, since I'm in the driver's seat, you can tell David Tua he can wait on me. He's on my time now. "He didn't want to give me an opportunity when he cheated me and now I will never fight David Tua. I already beat him once in my mind. I have nothing to prove against him. He's not on my list. He'd be the last person I fight. Ever. Ever." Tua's manager Kevin Barry said last week that approaches had been made to Rahman's management to register interest in a title bout. Rahman was unaware of it but said it was irrelevant. Rahman beat Lennox Lewis for the WBC and IBF titles. The champion said his team had a distinct structure and method in how things were done. The managers courted deals and options and when they were finalised they were put to Rahman for final approval. His approval was needed and it would never be given to fight Tua. After the loss to Tua the new champion's career was left in limbo. The fast-track he was on to the top was derailed and the smaller paydays affected his family's lifestyle. "He put my life on hold trying to get a rematch. He duffed me, unfairly. (He) avoided me and I think poetic justice has been served. So David Tua will never fight me again." Rahman said Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis were the opponents he would like to fight next. A deal to fight either is expected by Saturday. Rahman's promoter, Cedric Kushner, said the rival networks backing each former champion have made offers and he expects a contract to be in place by the end of the week for what could be a $US30 million showdown. It's expected he will be fighting again by August or September. Rahman confirmed he would prefer Tyson. "I already got rid of Lewis once," said Rahman. "If I beat him again, the public will still say I've got to fight Tyson."