Next David Tua bout could be in Sydney

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David Tua is planning a return to the ring on November 25 but his promoter says he will shun an offer of a world title eliminator against New Zealand heavyweight champion Chauncy Welliver despite it guaranteeing him a shot at champion Wladimir Klitschko.

The Sunday Star-Times has learned Tua is being lined up for a ring return on a Sydney card by leading Australian promoter Grange Old School Boxing, and potential opponents in former Australian league international Solomon Haumono, world title contender Kali Meehan and Welliver have all been touted.

Welliver is desperate for the fight to happen and told the Star-Times he had been guaranteed by WBO official Leon Panoncillo that a fight with Tua would be an eliminator, giving the victor a certain date with WBO champion Klitschko.

But financial reality and the need for an impressive knockout to restore Tua's momentum dictate he would fight a much more modest opponent, his promoter Cedric Kushner warned.

Not dismissing the November date and venue, Kushner said: "I have suggested he [Tua] think about having a fight as early as possible, for obvious reasons .... and to have a fight where he would get paid and he wouldn't have to pay his opponent. I am optimistic the fight will be made within 14 days but I cannot tell you who the opponent is.''

American-born Welliver, who defended his Kiwi title against Daniel Tai last weekend, said a fight with Tua would mean "New Zealand would be guaranteed a Kiwi, not in blood, but in heart, in the ring for a world title'' and said: "Dave has shown he doesn't have time for a tune-up fight, he has to get a world title fight, because that last fight showed those tune-up fights aren't so easy any more. Klitschko isn't going to give David a title fight right now. No disrespect to Dave, but Klitchko is going to be the first guy who KOs David Tua if he looks the way he does right now. Is that really going to sell a fight outside New Zealand? No it doesn't.

"But if David is coming off a win against Chauncy Welliver, in a WBO eliminator, then he is coming off a win against a guy with a rock solid chin ... if he beats me Dave earns his shot, Klitschko has to fight the winner, and NZ wins that fight.''

However, Kushner dismissed Welliver, saying: "He is a nice kid ... I don't see that fight ever happening, I don't see any reason to fight him and frankly the more he talks about it, the less chance he has. The reality is no one knows who he is and he is simply not worthwhile spending too much time or energy upon.''

The Star-Times believes former Tua promoter David Higgins is waiting for him to discharge his final fight of a three-bout deal with Maori TV and for Tua to produce a knockout performance before stepping in to match him with a big-name opponent on a pay-per-view deal.

Until then, placing him with another promoter would ensure Tua's camp do not have to shell out extra money to make a fight happen.

Grange Boxing manager Garrie Francisco confirmed he had a show booked with Australian broadcaster Foxtel on November 25, but said: "I can't tell you a thing until I have a signature on a contract.''

- © Fairfax NZ News