Tua, trainer in pay row

BOXING David Tua’s trainer is refusing to work with him again after a fruitless 12-week wait to be paid for his work preparing the veteran heavyweight for his August defeat by American fighter Monte Barrett.

Chris Martin refused to comment, but it is understood that despite repeated requests Tua has yet to pay the respected trainer for his work for the Barrett fight.

At first the delay was attributed to Tua’s tardiness in collecting his pay packet for the fight from Sky TV.

Sources said that may have been related to his ongoing issues with the IRD.TUA’S wife, Robina, last year said Tua owed $3 million in back taxes.

Another complication came last month when Tua split with longtime promoter Cedric Kushner and began managing his own affairs.

It was not until 10 weeks after the bout that Tua finally collected his money from Sky, which promoted the fight and sold payper-view television.

Sky chief executive John Fellet last month said: ‘‘We’ve just released the funds of David’s part of the pay-per-view. We didn’t have to pay out until we had collected all of the pay-per-view, which can take a couple of months.’’

It is understood Martin approached Tua again after the money was released and was rebuffed.