HEADLINES -- March 25-27, 2003

March 27, 2003
* AP: Lewis now files suit against Klitschko
* Tim Smith: Rematch gives Tua fighting chance
* Carlos Arias: Tua, Rahman fight for IBF title shot
* Kevin Iole: Sanders might sue WBO
* Scott Shaffer: Sanders fights WBO purse bid, too
* Paul Upham: How long can Bernard Hopkins talk?
* El Paso Times: Hopkins not going in right direction
* Baltimore Sun: Tua ready to flex muscle, show Rahman his power
* Paul Upham: Tua not surprised by Rahman's prediction
* Thomas Gerbasi: Angel Manfredy and the lying game
* Buffalo News: Leonard looking to stop Mesi fight
* Robert Morales: Lewis-Johnson bout would make sense
* Halifax Daily News: Johnson - Ruiz DQ was blessing is disguise
* Max Boxing: Jason Probst's Neutral Corner
* Atlantic City Press: "Don King Plaza" hits dead end in A.C.
* Boxing Talk: Wright wants Hopkins at 160
* Louisville Courier-Journal: Ali project gets closer to goal
* AP: Ali hopes fighting gives way to goodwill
* Press Release: Basilio, Fullmer, DeMarco to attend Hall of Fame weekend
* Jon Anderson: Home front for Kostya
* Bob Buttitta: Vargas to fight again in July
* El Paso Times: Romero to fight in hometown of Albuquerque
* Abq. Tribune: Romero to return to ring in April
* Dave Newhouse: Boxing on ropes? Three optimists say no
* Jefferson City News: Bunema wins by unanimous decision
* Mich.: Reid steps back into education ring
* Tahoe Daily Tribune: Caesars delivers Ruvalcaba's wish
* Corpus Christi Caller-Times: Herrera to be CC's first pro female fighter
* Parkersburg News (WV): Wolfe back in ring for exhibition bout
* Winona Daily News (Minn.): Moore to headline boxing event in Winona
* Akron Beacon-Journal: Firtha advances with TKO
* Glasgow Daily Record: Wayne in heart stunner
* Glasgow Herald: Let doctors step in during bouts
* The Mirror (UK): Ring looks safer than street for Elcock
* UK: Smith targets title fight
* Belfast Telegraph: O'Hara's on the road to fame and fortune
* Philippines: Espinosa returns to ring
* Philippines: Elorde offers title shot to two Cebuano pugs
* Paul Upham: Nader Hamdan faces Josh Clenshaw again
* South Africa: Makambi may lose his crown
* Ghana: Boxing gym vows to produce world champions



March 26, 2003
* Pedro Fernandez: An interview with George Foreman
* New Zealand Herald: Double fight looming for Tua team
* Paul Upham: Rahman not finished just yet
* Doug Fischer: Return of the renegade
* Paul Upham: Inside the mind of Bernard Hopkins
* Paul Upham: Hopkins - the importance of Philadelphia
* Scoop: Get 2 Know - promoter Lou DiBella
* David Payne: Calzaghe still not quite THERE
* Angel Rodriguez: Gate of "Latin Fury" card a war casualty
* Eastside Boxing: The shadow emporer looking to get his proper respect
* Boxing Insider: Steve Farhood on the Harrison-McCullough fight
* Nate Calloway: Jones' place in history
* Jack Welsh: Arum certain Latin Fury tops lure
* John Whisler: DLH reportedly close to rematch with Mosley in fall
* Ron Widelec: Stoppages - sometimes it's almost criminal
* Press Release: Manfredo Jr. leaves CES Promotions
* Alex Castro: Lopez remembered
* Tallahassee Democrat: Walker seeking Olympics, pros
* Detroit News: Kronk amateurs seek U.S. titles
* AP: Monterey County youth boxing program in jeopardy
* Derek Bilton: He's the 'Real McCoy' alright
* Clive Bernath: Audley back in action
* Eastside Boxing: Sting challenges Amour at York Hall
* Ireland: Noade set to become oldest professional
* SecondsOut: British Buzz - Newspaper to sponsor ABA finals
* New Zealand: NZ heavyweight title contender goes fishing
* SecondsOut: Parr returns from Muay Thai


WBO TO TUA - WE DENY YOU

Here is an official statement from the WBO concerning the protest of David Tua, who wishes to be considered "available" to challenge new WBO heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders:


After careful consideration the World Boxing Organization has denied Team Tua's petition to be considered available to fight WBO Heavyweight Champion Corrie Sanders, while at the same time taking part in an IBF sanctioned elimination bout to choose the mandatory challenger for International Boxing Federation titlist and former WBO Champion Chris Byrd.

According to the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests, newly crowned Heavyweight Champion Corrie Sanders must defend his title against the best available contender no later than 120 days from the date he won the Championship. Therefore, the bout must take place no later than July 4, 2003. This is due to the fact that Sanders was not the mandatory challenger when he dethroned then Champion Wladimir Klitschko on March 8, 2003 in Hamburg Germany. Klitschko had fulfilled his mandatory obligation when he defeated number one ranked heavyweight Jameel Ben McCline on December 7, 2002.

David Tua was number one in the WBO Monthly Rankings at the time of Sander's victory over Klitschko. He was unavailable to fight for the WBO Heavyweight Title, however, because he was already contracted to face Hasim Rahman in an International Boxing Federation sanctioned elimination bout to be held on March 29, 2003. The winner would then meet IBF Champion Chris Byrd.

The World Boxing Organization cannot freeze its proceedings pending the outcome of the Tua vs. Rahman bout. If Tua wins, and decides to face WBO Champion Sanders, it would take him considerable time to rest and recover from his bout with Rahman and then prepare to face Sanders, thus not complying with the July 4 deadline set by the WBO Rules. If Rahman wins, Tua would lose his position in the rankings and with it the opportunity to face Sanders. It was therefore decided that number two ranked Lamon Brewster was the best available contender to face Sanders in the required time. After contacting all parties involved, a purse bid was announced, as requested by representatives of Champion Corrie Sander and challenger Lamon Brewster. The bid will take place March 28, 2003 at The Crown Plaza Hotel in Hamburg Germany.

Team Tua promoter Cedrik Kushner claimed he was unable to contact WBO President Francisco Valcárcel the week of March 14 to discuss this matter. Yet, even though Valcárcel was in Chicago, Illinois, supervising the bout between WBO Champion Acelino Freitas and challenger Juan Carlos Ramirez, he was in contact with the WBO main offices and could also be reached via his hotel or his cell phone.

"We believe Tua is one of the best heavyweights out there and would like for him to fight for the WBO Title," stated Valcárcel, "But the WBO Rules are clear in this matter. Sanders must face the best available contender before July 4, 2003."

As for the comments made by Tua’s co-manager, Martin Pugh, as to their intention of taking legal action to force the WBO into declaring Tua available to fight Sanders, the WBO President said, "As a practicing attorney in state and federal court for over 28 years, I recognize their right to go to court, but we must uphold the WBO bylaws and play by the rules."

The winning bid for the Corrie Sanders-Lamon Brewster WBO Heavyweight Championship Contest will be announced March 28, 2003.


Press Release

TEAM TUA PLEADS ITS CASE AGAINST WBO
TO SENATOR McCAIN


NEW YORK, NY (March 26, 2003) – Cedric Kushner has personally requested Senator John McCain to investigate the World Boxing Organization's (WBO) exclusion of it's No. 1-rated heavyweight contender, DAVID TUA, from negotiating for a mandatory challenge against WBO heavyweight champion, Corrie Sanders. Kushner is Tua's promoter.

"Something is not Kosher with the way the WBO is giving David Tua the bum's rush," said Martin Pugh, Tua's co-manager. "That is why Cedric went to a higher authority – Senator McCain."

The WBO ordered its new heavyweight champion Sanders to defend his title within 120 days of "acquisition of the title, against the Best Classified Contender Available." The problem is, the WBO is violating its own rules by ignoring its "Best Classified Contender Available" -- WBO No. 1 contender Tua. Instead, the WBO has decided that second-best is good enough – Lamon Brewster, the WBO's, No. 2-rated contender.

The WBO released a statement yesterday, which included the following: "The World Boxing Organization cannot freeze its proceedings pending the outcome of the Tua vs. Rahman bout. If Tua wins, and decides to face WBO Champion Sanders, it would take him considerable time to rest and recover from his bout with Rahman and then prepare to face Sanders, thus not complying with the July 4 deadline set by the WBO Rules."

"Now the WBO has added fortune telling to its purvey," countered Pugh. "Who are they to predetermine what David's condition will be BEFORE he fights Rahman?!!!

"The WBO declared Tua unavailable without any formal notice to him, his management or his promoter. Tua is available to negotiate and has always been available to negotiate. If Tua is the No. 1 contender and he's available to negotiate, I think it is safe to say Tua is the ‘Best Classified Contender Available.'"

Tua is scheduled to fight Hasim Rahman, at the First Union Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA, March 29. The fight will be televised on HBO's "World Championship Boxing," beginning at 10 P.M. EST / 7 P.M. PST.

On March 18, Luis Batista Salas, Chairman of the WBO Championship Committee, stated in a letter to Rodney Berman, Sanders' promoter, "We cannot await the results of this [Tua vs Rahman] for considerations of any sort but a Rahman win would not place him in the number one position. The Championship Committee has thus designated now ranked #2 Lamon Brewster for Corrie Sanders next title defense..."

"Salas states in his letter that a Rahman win would not get him rated No. 1, but what Salas conveniently omits is, that if Tua wins, Tua REMAINS the WBO No. 1 contender," said Pugh.

Salas closed the letter stating that the promoters of the two fighters, Berman and Don King [Brewster's promoter] "Must inform WBO if they wish to negotiate within a 30-day period or go to an immediate Purse Bid."

On March 19, Dana Jamison, an executive of Don King Productions, faxed a letter to Mr. Salas of the WBO requesting an immediate purse bid. Later that same day, the WBO issued a Notice of Purse Bid, scheduled for March 28 in Hamburg, Germany.

"THIRTY DAYS to negotiate," continued Pugh. "If the WBO can wait 30 days to negotiate the fight what is the harm in waiting one day to see if Tua is victorious against Rahman on Saturday? I have no problem making Tua's 30-day negotiation period inclusive of the time leading up to the Rahman fight to meet the WBO's deadline. I find it so curious that the WBO goes from a 30-day period of negotiation to a purse bid one day before David's fight against Rahman. David Tua is the ‘Best Classified Contender Available. All we ask is that the WBO adhere to its own rules and respect its own ratings."






March 25, 2003
* Dan Rafael: Tua, Rahman set to pick up from "foul" ending
* David Payne: Rahman faces Tua in crossroads fight
* Boxing Talk: Gregory Leon interviews Roy Jones Jr.
* Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Lerma, Papillon shine
* AFP: Tua determined to fight Sanders
* Press Release: Tua files protest with WBO, demands right to negotiate for Sanders bout
* Press Release: Gatti yanked from Mitchell purse bid
* Thomas Gerbasi: Chuck Zito - Friend of the game
* Boxing Talk: Jeff Young interviews Bronco McKart (Part II)
* Marty Mulcahey: Boxing from an odd angle
* Gregory Leon interviews Sechew Powell after his latest outing
* Press Release: NBC to televise Juarez-Archuleta Flamingo fight
* Press Release: Thompson moved up to semi-main status
* Manchester Union-Leader: "Fight to Educate" is all about boxing
* The Californian: Budget cuts a blow for Salinas boxing club
* Mike Samuels: Dream it, see it, live it - the Golden Gloves experience
* Belfast Telegraph: Croom hits back at critics
* Glasgow Daily Record: Wayne advised to quit now
* London Daily Telegraph: Sickening finish for McCullough
* Glasgow Evening Times: Scott - Bring on the best
* Sporting Life: Harrison wants to emulate greats
* London Daily Telegraph: Interview with Michael Watson
* South Africa: TV cameras will now help refs in decision-making
* South Africa: Bad decision prompts boxing backer to quit
* South Africa: Lubisi can not beat Mashaba, says trainers
* Philippines: Suico stakes Orient title vs. Indian boxer
* Finland: Halme's election no surprise to some
* Namibia: "Boom Boom" sent to canvas
* Ghana: Black Bombers thrill Kumasi boxing fans
* Gambia: Scandal hits sports fraternity
* India: National boxing body meets






Copyright 2003 Total Action Inc.