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New Zealand heavyweight boxer David Tua has again been linked to a possible world title fight with Wladimir Klitschko.
Klitschko, the massive Ukrainian fighter, successfully defended his IBF, IBO and WBO titles last weekend when he knocked out Nigerian Samuel Peter in the 10th round of their title fight in Germany.
Klitschko's manager, Bernd Boente, said he wanted his charge back in action in December.
He told Russian newspaper Golzka he was negotiating with German TV network RTL to broadcast the fight against a top 10 opponent.
Tua is ranked No2 in the WBO and his name was on a list of contenders suggested by Golzka.
The others were Tua's stablemate and WBO No1 ranked fighter Tomasz Adamek (Poland), Denis Boytsov (Russia), Jean-Marc Mormeck (France) and Odlanier Solis (Cuba). Tua's global promoter, Cedric Kushner, wouldn't comment on the speculation.
Tua last fought in July when he posted a disappointing draw against American veteran Monte Barrett.
Tua has been rehabbing a shoulder injury since then.
Whether he could be fit in time for a fight of this stature remains to be seen. There is also the complication of Tua having one more fight to go on his restrictive Maori TV contract.
The Klitschko camp said the fight purse demands by the opposition would be a major factor in who their champion fought.
Klitschko, who has a 55-3 record with 49 knockouts, hasn't lost since 2004. At 1.99 metres he would pose the same sort of problems the 1.78m Tua faced in his previous world title fight against Lennox Lewis (1.96m) in 2000.
But Tua, with his respected left hook, still has a puncher's chance.
Experienced Russian boxing writer Vitali Shaposhnikov, who has followed Klitschko's career, rated Tua as he also raised the prospects of the Kiwi being given a title shot.
"It has been rumoured that David Tua can be next for for Wlad before David Haye (WBA champion) becomes available again," Shaposhnikov wrote on the East Side Boxing website yesterday.
"A fighter with Tua's body disposition is perfect against Wlad, being that they can get in, avoid Wlad's clinches due to their size, and work the body.
"The only issue here would be Tua's lack of body movement. When Mike Tyson was in his prime his body movement was great and he was able to avoid most punches being thrown at him.
"If Tua could do the same I would think Wlad could be at some disadvantage in a fight against him."
Klitschko, the massive Ukrainian fighter, successfully defended his IBF, IBO and WBO titles last weekend when he knocked out Nigerian Samuel Peter in the 10th round of their title fight in Germany.
Klitschko's manager, Bernd Boente, said he wanted his charge back in action in December.
He told Russian newspaper Golzka he was negotiating with German TV network RTL to broadcast the fight against a top 10 opponent.
Tua is ranked No2 in the WBO and his name was on a list of contenders suggested by Golzka.
The others were Tua's stablemate and WBO No1 ranked fighter Tomasz Adamek (Poland), Denis Boytsov (Russia), Jean-Marc Mormeck (France) and Odlanier Solis (Cuba). Tua's global promoter, Cedric Kushner, wouldn't comment on the speculation.
Tua last fought in July when he posted a disappointing draw against American veteran Monte Barrett.
Tua has been rehabbing a shoulder injury since then.
Whether he could be fit in time for a fight of this stature remains to be seen. There is also the complication of Tua having one more fight to go on his restrictive Maori TV contract.
The Klitschko camp said the fight purse demands by the opposition would be a major factor in who their champion fought.
Klitschko, who has a 55-3 record with 49 knockouts, hasn't lost since 2004. At 1.99 metres he would pose the same sort of problems the 1.78m Tua faced in his previous world title fight against Lennox Lewis (1.96m) in 2000.
But Tua, with his respected left hook, still has a puncher's chance.
Experienced Russian boxing writer Vitali Shaposhnikov, who has followed Klitschko's career, rated Tua as he also raised the prospects of the Kiwi being given a title shot.
"It has been rumoured that David Tua can be next for for Wlad before David Haye (WBA champion) becomes available again," Shaposhnikov wrote on the East Side Boxing website yesterday.
"A fighter with Tua's body disposition is perfect against Wlad, being that they can get in, avoid Wlad's clinches due to their size, and work the body.
"The only issue here would be Tua's lack of body movement. When Mike Tyson was in his prime his body movement was great and he was able to avoid most punches being thrown at him.
"If Tua could do the same I would think Wlad could be at some disadvantage in a fight against him."
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