Tua's Promoter Says Lowball Offer Killed Klitschko Fight

By Mark Vester

According to Cedric Kushner, promoter for David Tua, a lowball offer killed a potential fight with WBO/IBO/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. Klitschko's team approached Kushner about securing Tua for a December 11 bout in Germany. Kushner said they were so far apart on the money that he saw no reason to continue the negotiations.

"The individual I was dealing with took me to task because I hadn't rung him back after the initial approach," Kushner said to the New Zealand Herald. "I said I hadn't called him back because we had nothing to talk about. If you are looking for $2 million - and these figures are hypothetical, so I can make the point - and someone offers you $400,000, then there is no room for negotiation as opposed to if they offer you $1.5 million."

Tua will take a tuneup fight before the year is out and then a rematch with Monte Barrett is likely for the start of the new year. Barrett reportedly has agreed to fight Tua in New Zealand. In Tua's last ring appearance in July, Barrett knocked Tua down in the last round and picked up enough points to force a twelve round draw.