03.09.07 – By Ted Sares: Kusher “will drop lawsuit” if fight is made.
Come backing heavyweight David Tua, 48-3 with 41 Kos and a KO percentage of 79%, could get a world title shot against heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, 49-3 with 44 KOs and a KO percentage of 85%, according New Zealand’s September 3 Sunday News. Tua’s promoter Cedric Kushner, who has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Shelly Finkel, says he will drop the case if Tua is given a title shot early next year.
The suit in question relates to a cancelled Shannon Briggs challenge against Klitschko in which Kushner says Briggs was strung along for close to two months by the Klitschko camp before electing to fight Calvin Brock instead.
“I drop the suit, they give us the fight … that’s the plan,” Kushner said. “Obviously, because I am the one taking them to court, I’m in a position to control any out of court settlement and I’ll be looking to use all the leverage I can to get David the shot at the title he deserves.” Finkel told the newspaper, “I think Tua could interest us.”
Should this fight take place, it would be a big payday (but nothing more) for the squat Samoan who stands 5′ 10.″ His increasing slowness and immobility would offer the 6′ 6½″ Klitschko a target to brutalize from afar. Wlad has a commanding 81“ reach vs. a 70“ one for Tua and that is simply too much to overcome. A quick look at Tua’s recent opposition is revealing. Guys like Saul Montana, Cisse Salif and Maurice Wheeler are not exactly compelling. Wlad on the other hand seems to be arriving at the top of his game.
But first things first. I’ll break the fight down once it is made, but the real fight at this point is between a Shark and a Barracuda (Finkel and Kushner). Let’s see how that plays out.