David Tua Back In The Ring With Sky Television

SKY Television today announced it has secured the rights to screen New Zealand boxer David Tua’s make or break fight in the lead-up to securing a shot at the World Heavyweight Title early next year.

Tua, who in his last fight scored a fifth round knock out against Danell Nicholson, the International Boxing Federation’s highest ranked fighter, is back in the ring next month to fight America’s Chris Byrd.

If Tua wins this fight against Byrd, he will secure the mandatory IBF position and the right to challenge for the next Heavyweight Championship of the World. Byrd has an impressive record of 33 wins against two losses and is a former World Boxing Organisation Heavyweight Champion.

The rights to screen the Tua v Byrd fight, to be held in Las Vegas on August 18 (NZT August 19), have been secured by SKY Television as part of an ongoing boxing package which will provide New Zealand audiences with a constant diet of high profile bouts across all weight divisions.

While boxing has been screened free-to-air during the past eight years, commercial considerations in the world of boxing meant rights for the latest fight have moved to pay per view.

Kevin Cameron, SKY director of sports, says SKY is thrilled to be able to offer New Zealanders the chance to watch the Tua fight on SKY, live and commercial free. “This is a really important fight for David Tua – the make or break one for his career.”

Cameron says the Tua v Byrd match will be a major television event, with more high profile boxing matches to come. “SKY has already established a track record with earlier fight screenings and we are really pleased with the way boxing is shaping up for our audience,” Cameron says. “Not only is the Tua fight guaranteed to be a unmissable event, but we now will have a stable of good fights coming out of the US.”

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