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| An in-shape, busy Tua could still get a title shot before he wraps up his career. Heck, maybe more than one in this sorry division. |
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David Tua: As Long As He Can Punch He'll Seduce Us
By Frank Lotierzo
David Tua still has dynamite in both hands at age 36. In fact he even exhibited a little upper-body and side-to-side head movement while the fight lasted. The few combinations he threw were accurate and explosive. Those kind of adjectives haven't been said about Tua since he knocked out Michael Moorer in the first round a little over seven years ago.
Granted, Tua's victory over Shane Cameron this past weekend didn't come as a surprise to anyone who has seen Cameron fight. But Cameron isn't a stiff and the way Tua destroyed him was nothing short of impressive.
Officially the fight was halted in the second round, but it was really over at the end of the first round after Tua had Cameron down twice. Some reports have overstated how fast Tua's hands looked along with his effort to press forward and cut off the ring. However, three minutes and seven seconds of ring time isn't enough to conclude that Tua is back to the 1997 vintage, when he lost a fiercely contested decision to Ike Ibeabuchi.
Without question David Tua is one of the hardest punching heavyweights I've ever seen. Every punch is hard, with both hands. Going by his fight with Cameron that looks to still be the case. Shane was badly hurt by the first clean left-hook Tua landed and really never recovered from it. At 237 Tua looked to be in very good shape and appears to understand that the sand running through the hourglass regarding his career has almost run out. Again, it's hard to tell just how good his stamina was after one round, but his body looked firm. That said, it wouldn't hurt him to try and get down closer to the 230 range for his next fight. Then again we're talking about David Tua and he's just as likely to show up and weigh 252 for it as he is 237.
As per what has become typical Tua rhetoric this decade in which he's gone 15-2-1, he's saying all the right things after his impressive showing versus Cameron. Things such as: some of his managerial issues are behind him now and he's ready to fulfill his quest to win a version of the heavyweight title. Boxing fans have been hearing these type things from Tua ever since he lost a lopsided decision to then heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis nine years ago.
Tua's main problem has been that he's had two extended two year plus layoffs over the last six years. During that time his weight has escalated and he's acquired a lot of ring rust. Like Mike Tyson after he lost his rematch to Evander Holyfield in 1997, Tua is constantly fighting to get his weight down while trying to get his body in fighting shape. This pattern of training and fighting has stagnated Tua and kept him from getting back into the heavyweight mix.
It's almost unfathomable that David Tua has only fought for the heavyweight title once since turning pro in late 1992. Tua holds four stoppage wins over fighters who have held a piece of the heavyweight title, (Oleg Maskaev, John Ruiz, Hasim Rahman and Michael Moorer). In fact Ruiz just fought for the WBA title last year and Maskaev and Rahman are currently ranked among today's top-20 heavyweight contenders.
Today's heavyweight division is two-deep, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. After the Klitschkos it's a crap shoot and any one of the other contenders could beat or lose to the others on any given night. Tua's power and aggression could be a stimulant in the division if he keeps himself in shape and continues to stay busy. When looking at the landscape of the current heavyweight division, Tua is the only legitimate life-taker as far as punching power goes. When he lets his hands go and lands flush he can knock out any heavyweight in the world, including those named Klitschko.
The problem David has is delivering his power, something he's only shown capable of doing when he's in great condition, which most boxing observers know is not a given with the Tuaman. However, if Tua has an epiphany and is truly dedicating himself to making one final run at the title, winning a portion of it is certainly not an unattainable goal for him.
As long as Tua carries fight altering power in both hands he'll continue to seduce boxing fans into thinking about what could've been, and maybe even what could still be. Tua proved he can still hit. The question that remains is will he stay true to his word and continue to fight and stay busy enough to merit another title shot? Boxing fans love the heavyweights and no fighter can inject excitement into the division like one who can really punch. And punching has never been an issue for Tua. But staying active has.
Tua said he plans to fight once more before Christmas. If that happens maybe then Tua can be taken seriously. Until then it's just the same old seductive wording that most boxing fans want to believe, because it's great watching a once in a generation puncher like Tua fight.
Lastly, neither Klitschko is going to fight him if they don't have to, so Tua has got to work himself back into the title picture. Will he have the discipline or patience to bother doing that?
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
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Fistic Fury:
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I like watching Tua fight, he's the closest thing to Mike Tyson that we have currently and power like that is just exciting. Watching him destroy Ruiz (and many others) in a round you could of been forgiven for thinking he would go on to be a special fighter. I don't think it's out of the question that he could knockout Wladamir with his power and Wlads chin, not to mention that Tua himself has an excellent chin and Wladamir wouldn't be able to get him out early. Although it could go the other way and Wladamir could box his ears off for 12 rounds. My advice for Tua? Stay away from Vitali and go on the hunt for Wladamir or the Haye vs Valuev winner (Haye)...
Wednesday Oct 7, 2009 07:44:36 PM
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Macho Tua mania:
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Tua is one bad mother one of the most hardest punchers ever...To bad He did not come around in the 80's or early 90's I would have loved to see him fight a prime bowe or fight frank Bruno
Wednesday Oct 7, 2009 07:50:25 PM
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Mister Lee:
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And John El\way has never wore a super bowl ring nor john stockton nor pistol pete maravich wear a championship ring (both from the jazz ironically!). Sad sad... but Tua MIGHT still have a chance. Am I wrong in saying that Tua didn't look too bad in the Lewis fight for about 5 to 6 rounds, landing some solid left hooks, and hitting lewis square in the jaw a few times (clearly moving him), and tho he was getting outworked by Lewis, he was not hurt, that his pressure was effective tho he was not busy enough to win the rounds. At one point, his trainer (i forget some famous second rate crap trainer) said to him "David! You're losing the fight, we're losing! You gotta stay busy! You're gonna lose the fight! You gotta let your hands go! Just go at him!" At that point, David lost ALL his confidence, you could tell on his face (different from his demeanor when he entered the ring and pumped his fist), and he started reaching in, taking unnecessary chances (from desperation), and really not stalking and being patient with his power punches but going for hail mary's, which lewis capitalized on by counter punching him on the way in, and then lewis added a right hand to the brew with his jab, and 3 rounds later tua looked on the verge of a knockout, kliscko arroela style. Kinda pity, tua might have broken that jaw in the later rounds, possible rounds 10 or 11 if he AND his trainer had been more patient and stuck to the game plan. That man had dynamite in his fists. How come he never fought tyson? Would him vs. arroela be a fair match up? Holler! Thanks for this article!
Wednesday Oct 7, 2009 07:51:26 PM
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Fe'Roz :
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Tua.....We barely even knew ya'. And the idea of seeing you more would hardly Seduce Us! Induce us, maybe. To tedium or apathy.
Wednesday Oct 7, 2009 08:10:49 PM
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Frank Z:
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david tua seduces us, and i think he also seduces himself. when you have that kind of power, that kind of ability to pull out a nuke out of your pocket in the form of your left hook whenever you want, it's hard as hell i imagine to get yourself to study endless amounts of tape and run all those miles uphill in the lonely morning air, and spend all that time hittin gthe bag doing the same puinches over and over again, and get into the sparring ring when you're blasted out and let fresh sparring partners try to take your head off. hopefully he's serious now, and that he's gotten more mature from his years of paying for not working hard. besides he's an inspiration to us short folk lol.
Wednesday Oct 7, 2009 08:37:24 PM
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Isaiah:
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I'm very excited David Tua is back. I hope he sticks around a bit longer this time. We need more punchers with a HIGH level of skill. (Sorry Chris Arreola) Though, someone that can box well will always give Tua fits like Lennox Lewis and Chris Bryd. If you have power and can box well like ole Lennox Lion Lewis, you have an excellent chance to beat him. Vitali Klitschko fits this mold. Still, the Heavyweights need David and if we're lucky he still has a couple of good years left in him. I recommend Mr. Tua clean up this division with a couple of wins over good opposition and then go kick Wladmer Klitschko's butt. Vitali would be a different story though. Maybe, just maybe, David has enough raw power to KO the older brother. Man, that fight would be awesome! I hope it happens before Vitali retires for good.
Wednesday Oct 7, 2009 10:33:46 PM
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Mike M:
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Frank - how about a story on Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez (Danny's brother) who recently passed? Thanks.
Wednesday Oct 7, 2009 11:14:51 PM
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brownsugar:
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Tua has always been a boring plodding face fighter to me,.. how can he be even less of a bum now than he was 10 years ago??,.. and how does the human body reverse the aging process???,.. his fundamentals were poor then,.. if he couldn't land a KO bomb then he just trudged forward layed on his opponents,. I put him in the James Toney club,.. along with Rahman,.. Maskaev and the rest of the "Should have retired" folks...
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 12:38:36 AM
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brownsugar:
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I mean should have retired,.. and STAYED retired...
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 12:42:34 AM
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jared:
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tue is cut from the marciano, frazier, tyson mold, a short heavy weight w good head movement with incredible power has to throw a ton of punches threw out a fight to out work and wear his man down if 1 power shot does not do the trick, the problem w tue is that as his weight has gone up his punch out put has gone down, watch the tue who fought ike ibeabuchi, david izon and oleg mascaiev as proof, he was a machine and threw a million punches but he was always inconsistant w his weight after he suffered his 1st loss in a war with ike, as his weight went up the head movment became less and less and did the combination punching and punch output as he relied more on trying to make rake his man out w 1 shot, sound familiar? mike tyson from the douglas fight foward, to fight the tyson/ tue style there is no other way to do it but to be relentless and agressive throwing a million punches w bad intentions, tue was on his way to becoming to next tyson before lennox lewis gave him the boxing lesson of a life time and since then although he has continued to win 9 out of 10 times he has done it against lower level opponents and w a great degree of inactivety for a man w over 50 pro fights, im sorry but a vlad-tue fight would look just like the lennox -tue fight did w vlad keeping him at a distance and landing all night long over a catious tue who although he has an incredible chin would not be willing to risk it after taking a few real shots, same goes for vatali, tue came along when lennox lewis was king and then the klichkos, sadly he came along at the wrong time to be a lazt heavyweight
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 01:55:58 AM
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Matthew:
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Tua could be a welcome addition to the heavyweight division if he fights often enough. You just never know what type of condition he'll be in, but he should be able to keep his weight down if he is active. I hope he's sincere when he says he wants to fight again before Christmas. If he works his way into contention, I would give him a shot to beat Wladimir.
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 06:40:13 AM
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Anonymous user:
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Tua has enough fights (50+ wins) and has been on the scene long enough that he deserves a title shot after his Christmas fight. P4P, Tua is the best NON-champion in the history of the heavyweight division. He could get to Wladimir. He'd take 12 to land 1 and would deposit Wlad somewhere back in Kiev. This guy is the real deal. TUA KO 3 Wladimir Klitschko.
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 09:49:40 AM
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ultimoshogun:
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I say throw him in there with James Toney to see where he's at and if he wins then maybe Arreola. I don't think he has a realistic chance with either Klitschko...he simply doesn't have the reach to tag them with a big solid shot and he'd be eating hard jabs the entire fight. @MisterLee...were you kidding about your comment on Elway cuz he went out on two Super Bowl wins.
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 10:33:15 AM
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Jhonny:
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Boxing's amazing because Tua KO'd John Ruiz in 19 seconds, yet John Ruiz has had a much more brilliant career than TuaMan. You just never know! I'd like to see Tua in there with a few more guys, maybe a Saul Montana type guy around Christmas, then in 2010 take 4 fights with a Jeremy Bates type guy, a Marcus Rhodes, then step it up with a Monte Barrett, and then finish off the year against a Jameel McCline type fighter. If he follows that, then he should take on a top-10 guy in early 2011, and then possibly set himself up for a number 1 contender type fight in late 2011 and a possible title shot in 2012 or 2013.
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 10:38:35 AM
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perry:
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davis tua is one of the most exciting fighters in the history of the sport...he is p4p the best heavy out there today bar none.
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 10:40:06 AM
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The Promoter:
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If David Tua can keep in training and use a two fisted attack I believe he will win a world title. I remember watching David come up under Lou Duva and thought him to be the best heavyweight on the scene. Even in his loss to Ike Ibeabuchi he was a work horse supplying constant pressure throughout the fight and he had Ike fading badly in the last round. It was under Joe Goosen that David turned into the one punch fighter that we saw against Lennox Lewis. With the management problems that followed I thought David's career was over. With that said in the Cameron fight David threw some nice combinations showed good movement and also showed he did not lose his ability to "finish"...I only hope David can keep improving so we can have an exciting Heavyweight Champion again!!!
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 01:33:52 PM
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josh:
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tua's case is very complicated,1, tua is still trying to shake off and trying to forget and forgive the people that betray him his manager and close friends the very people tua trust to run his boxing career and manage his finance. And it is not an easy process and done with. i mean you swet and fight with blood for your money and to find out you can not even touch it or its not there, and to see you parents got strip from there home and no where to go causes by all this legal saga. those bad experience brought shame hurt and can stay in your mind and soul 24/7 and as a result it affects your outcome in life. Tua might need help and that area. the problem with us samoan sometimes with get to trust people to easly, malo sole, oh he is my relative, my cousin, my aiga, and people take advantage of that, 2, we base our decision sometimes on our emotion we dont want to hurt people's feeling insteads of speaking and make decision using our mind. Tua needs to resemble the right team, the legal firm to give him the right advice to protect his right, the business firm to handle his finance, , the best promoter to promote his fight, the best trainer, and the best manager to administer his organization or so call his chief of staff and if every body plays there role and there is hope for Tua, and Tua got what it takes, he is samoan and battle and war is in there blood. go Tua,
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 03:04:48 PM
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Vaisigano:
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brownsugar who ever you are - you should just remain seated on you couch where you will one day fight for the world title of useless, worthless couch critics against your dad. Clearly there were trust issues looming in and around his camp around about the time of his losses. If anyone can stir the current boring H/W devision it's David Tua. "Once in a generation puncher," perfectly describes the Tuaman - so sit back and cherish Davids remaining fights. Anyone who follows boxing knows it just takes one punch to turn things around and right now in the H/W David is the only boxer that can not only turn it around with one punch but he can END it with one punch. Go Tuaman.
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 03:17:55 PM
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Matthew:
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While I would agree that Ruiz has probably had a better career than Tua, I would never associate the word "brilliant" with anything regarding John Ruiz.
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 03:20:53 PM
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Porkupine:
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David Tua's very aggressive against lesser fighters but boxers like Wlad and Vitali he shuts down. Toney has a beer shot of upending either guy than Tua does.
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 04:15:06 PM
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Porkupine:
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better sot...not beer shot.
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 04:15:45 PM
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brownsugar@Vaisigano:
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Vasig,.. I AM WHO I AM,... you're flacid attempts at dropping petty insults is a very pathetic and childish way to get attention,.. it's the kind of communication only worthy of 13 yr olds and people with deep seated feelings of inadequacy,... if you keep getting your feelings hurt every time somebody disagrees with your opinion .. you'll just keep embarrassing yourself,.. I ACTUALLY WATCHED Tua on youtube last night before I even made my comments,.. I saw Tua walk into punches all night against Ibeabuchi,.. and I remember how dissappointed I was when Lennox beat him as easily as Wlad beat Samuel Peters,.. I wanted somebody to beat Lennox in those days,.. and all the hype I saw and heard about Tua went down the toilet,..especially when he arrived in the ring slow,. fat,.. and unable to hit the side of a barn( if he couldn't hit Lennox 9 years ago what make you think he can even touch Klitscho today??),.. Tua is no Ali,.. or even a Vitali K,.. there's no way he comes back from multiple long layoffs and captures any belts,.. by the way,.. I've been to Hawaii and got to hang out with some of the savage Samoans while I was in Wi Ki Ki,.. they are some bad boys and love to fight,.. like to start fights,..but they grow the best pot and don't care if they take an a$$whipping from time to time,.and they won't hold it against you,..... Tua is definitely cut from the same cloth,.. but it takes more than inner toughness and a warrior instinct to succeed at boxing,..it takes skill,.. and in Tua's case,.. I don't see nearly enough of that,...If I'm wrong,. I'll gladly eat some of Mister Lees roasted crow.....
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 05:54:28 PM
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MisterLee:
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Wow, some bums are insulting brownsugar! A noob insulting p4p writer. What a disgrace! Better take a bow before donputo finishes you off! Brownsugar knows the sweet science like Arroela knows tacos and coronas (i heard he does eat those things, i'm not being racist), and those are BIG words (like 254lbs words). Tua has some power, but seems limited from what I've seen. He'll be a top contender at best, it's not just power that can deliver, as pavlik had the power edge on bhop, bhop had the skill and experience. Holler!
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 09:53:05 PM
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MisterLee:
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Tua vs. Arroela! Holler!
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 09:53:41 PM
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Fe'roz @ Vaisigano:
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To even suggest that David Tua, could under any circumstances be the savior of the heavyweight division.... or whose return is even remotely desired or anticipated.... is, to be kind. A joke. Not a funny one. Just a joke. Since 2005, this overweight, plodding puncher has distinguished himself fighting and beating such luminaries as Cisse Salif, Edward Gutierez, Maurice Wheeler, Robert Hawkins, Saul Montana and Cerrone Fox. All of these men have a future. As Social Security recipients. Not all of Famers. I only wasted my time listing them to show you how absolutely ludicrous and insulting your position. You're entitled to it.... as you are entitled to join us here at TSS. But when you address Brownsugar, you address us all. And you damn sure better have something more credible in your arsenal before tangling with one of our most distinguished regulars. David Tua, were it not for Frank Lo's love for and knowledge of the heavyweight division and his desire to see something, anything happened to return it to its former glory, is a oft overweight forgotten brawler who no one on this site had and/or has even mentioned. Nor would we. So when you're sitting on your couch, waiting for your fat boy to return to the ring, remember one thing, that pathetic line that you used to close your argument. In boxing, in any division, in any given fight, on any given night, anybody but anbody "can not only turn around (a fight) with one punch, he can end it with one punch". That is what makes this Game so special and unique.Not your boy Tua.
Thursday Oct 8, 2009 10:46:35 PM
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brownsugar:
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if I ever have to walk down a dark street in bad neighborhood in the middle of the night,.. I'm taking Mister Lee and Fe'Roz with me,...
Friday Oct 9, 2009 08:51:26 PM
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Real Talk : once again it's the incredible:
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OK.....your boy has been on FB too much. I say give Tua a shot ! He/s much more exciting than let's say..um... Arreola ! The dude can CRACK , and that makes for suspense the entire fight. I see it as a breathe of fresh air to have a REAL heavyweight contender on the schene.......Dueces
Saturday Oct 10, 2009 06:27:10 PM
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josh:
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My observation about Tua's last fight. Tua was very mathedical more thoughtful and very sciencetifical. He was very patience and waits lots of head movement, both hands combination good body position good technical skill with plenty of power. With Tua resembles the art of boxing as mention above. Tua has a good chance to be the next world champ. Tua also appears more mature during the fight and very professional in handling himself after the fight. Something Tua lack in his early days of boxing. But in boxing JUST like any other sports, there is lots of prepartion and hard work. Tua seems to resemble that, but what Tua needs the most is the mental and pshycological of the sports, which will enable Tua to ajust himself from level to level while considering his option during the fight. In other words There is lots of relaxation, thinking, yoka,study the art of boxing be able to forseen the causes of events before it happen during the fight, the the ability to out think out smart your opponent. Ali may not have be best record in boxing compare to Tua or the most powerful puncher IN BOXING like Tua, but he out smart out think all his apponet, he understand the most important weapon in sports the pshycological or the thinking part in boxing. That is why we call him the Greatest. We do not question the power Tua has, the big heart the Samoan power, but he just need the brain to go with that power. Tua take your time do alots of meditation educate your brain, take it to another level you can do it go Tua......
Sunday Oct 11, 2009 12:49:03 AM
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pete steward:
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Cut all the MUMBO JUMBO! Tua like Toney is very gifted fighter. But is a slow starter and who never let his hands go unless he was attacked like he was when fought ike. everyone else like rahman lewis and byrd kept there distance and boxed his ears off. He can't deal with movement and slickness. But now with all those quality HWTS now retired or past there prime Tua who looks to be motivated could be the man. Tua Vs Toney is the best HWT Match up in the world......could happen i hope.
Monday Oct 12, 2009 12:14:50 AM
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VBrown:
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brownsugar, and your bum boys, just don't get it do you. The heavy weight division is so boring. And if you don't agree, then you are on your own.
You say David Tua is boring. It's funny that assinine comments would come from some obtuse "know it all" who has seen very little of Tua's pro bouts, if any. Maybe only highlights of Tua in action.
Well to say 43 KO's in 50 fights is boring... why don't you lace up a pair champ? Because honestly, that is probably the dumbest, most pathetic comment pertaining to the heavy weight division I have heard in the last 25 - 30 years of watching it.
Quick poll... Heavy Weight KO or 12 round decision. I'd say even you would prefer the KO unless you lie to yourself.
If Tua is a bum that KOed 43 people in the Heavy Weight division, then he must be the greatest bum of all time. Maybe his opponents were all as bored as you said you found Tua to be, and just allowed themselves to stopped within the scheduled number of rounds. If a bum can amass such an impressive KO record in the toughest weight class, then I would gladly be that bum, you chump! Wouldn't you?
People would tune in to that. I sure as hell am not tuning in to very much these days. Are you?
Are you telling me you didn't enjoy at least to some degree the fights he lost especially the bout against Ike Ibeabuchi?
Seriously, why would you say Tua should have stayed retired? Are you an Shane Cameron good buddies?
What harm could having somebody with real punching power do to a division where you really want to see somone put on their a$$? This division is screaming for some excitement? If Tua fails, then at least he brought back an interest that has been lacking for a while now. I'm eagerly await his next fight, as I'm sure many others are also lookin forward to it.
I mean, it's already started. We are seeing his affect now. We are talking about him, are we not? You can't deny it? And if he succeeds and knocks a few people out along the way, then great.
For now, there is anticipation. The like of which I haven't experienced for quite some time. And I like that.
If you don't like Tua, then really, who do you like? Because as much as I respect the Klitscho's, I (and I'm sure like most people in the world), never make it a point to watch them fight. I'm never amping to see a fight that goes the distance or where the opponent is bored into submission in the Heavy Weight division. If I want to see cerebral, pure, scientific boxing, I'm watching a lighter weight division.
And your comment about walking down an alley in a bad neighbourhood, with your friends, really how old are you? 15?
Tuesday Oct 13, 2009 11:20:23 PM
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st762410:
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theres nothing like watching heavyweights that have speed and power. after tyson the HW division lacked raw power. the klitschkos, lewis, holyfield, moore, etc....are all great. but none of them have that "tyson-like" power. its exciting for me as a boxing fan, cause now someone in the HW division has that type of power. i think tyson is the most powerful puncher ever....but tua has that type of power too.
Tuesday Oct 20, 2009 11:06:35 AM
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Angie And Goody...23 Years Later
Twenty three years later after they seconded Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard in Las Vegas, Goody Petronelli and Angelo Dundee crossed paths again. This time, it was at Foxwoods. Photo/friend of TSS "The Iceman" John Scully reports there were only pleasantries exchanged. Goody didn't debate the split decision victory enjoyed by Leonard, which to this day Hagler disputes.
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