Wladimir Klitschko to Face ... David Tua?
Fact Two: Promoter Cedric Kushner has sued Klitschko (among others) for $5 million for "stringing Shannon Briggs along" before finally choosing to face Calvin Brock instead.
So how are these two facts related? And, more importantly to fight fans, what might happen to make both problems disappear?
Talks are apparently underway to have David Tua, who fights for Kushner, face Klitschko in a title bout early next year. In return, Kushner would drop his lawsuit against Klitschko. Win-win, right? Wrong! Fighters should earn their title shots in the ring ... not in some sleazy arrangement to make lawsuits disappear.
David Tua was once a promising power puncher. Now he's 34, overweight and five years removed from his last win over a semi-decent opponent. Tua would have the proverbial puncher's chance against Klitschko but the fight is more likely to be a shutout for Klitschko. The last time Tua faced a tall, talented opponent - Lennox Lewis in 2000 - he was a passive punching bag and lost virtually every round.
If Tua was to beat a top ten - heck, a top 30 - fighter, then he might have a slim case for a title shot. Until then, fight fans don't need to see Klitschko against another high-mileage heavyweight retread whose best days are in the rear view mirror ... especially when the match-up was brokered the way this one seems to be coming together.
Comments
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Did you even watch Tua’s last fight? He was in supreme physical shape.
Tua fights to the calliber of his opponents.Wlad going to bring the fight to him and that brings the best out of Tua.Remember Ike Iebeabuci,enough said! Tua will ko Wlad in the tenth or eleventh.
It’s so funny that no matter who Wlad fights the haters come out and say he lose. Keep dreaming. Wlad will never lose again and he and Vitali will rule the divison.
All Im saying brother styles make fights, Wlad dosent move like Lennex,but he has a thunder punch with a glass jaw.Tua has problems with boxers not fighters.
Wow….maybe with this being tua’s last shot at glory he will get into fighting shape his last fight he had a time warp because he looked rather good if he can get into the mindset of when he was a top contender then wlad will have a dangerous night ahead of him…….but if not well let’s remember byrd rocked him…byrd….that’ says it all….but i gotta be honest…..i gonna go for Wlad but i’m rooting for Tua…….
Tua weighed 237lbs this last fight. How is that over weight? That’s his best weight in years. The reason he hasn’t fought anybody in the top 30 the past few years is because everybody is afraid of him still. I’ll take the actions of all the fighters avoiding Tua as a better indication of his legitimacy over sports writers who are always wrong but never are held accountable ie. College football AP poll with Michigan ranked #5.
Bottom line Tua is too short by a foot. no chance
A Tua fight would be fantastic and the call that he is somehow not an adequate opponent is simply wrong. Tua is one tough fighter with power in both hands, a rock hard chin and intelligence. He is an inside fighter and I suggest he really did far better against a simply superb Lennox Lewis, a far better all around fighter than either Klitschko, that he is given credit for. He hard a hard time getting inside of Lewis’ defense. Against any Klitschko, both of whom are really slow plodders and very upright without much mobility, a Tua battering ram will get inside and make a good showing. He will beat aVitali likely by knockout, and he will beat up a tougher Wladimir and likely cut him badly. Let’s give Tua a chance. He earned it.
I get so frustrated seeing some of the anti tua comments. No one has been able to hurt Tua. No one! He has an iron jaw. He is a devistating puncher that can finish the fight with one punch. He is struggling to find credible fighters because they are simply too scared of him. A Klitschko fight wont be easy for David given the height and reach of his opponent, but giving that Klitchsko wont be able to stop David, Klitshsko has a questionable jaw and Davids awesome punching ability, there is every chance David can take it. It wont be easy for him, but he does have a bloody good chance. And as for Andrew Eisele, you are just burbling crap. Tua is in the best condition of his life.
The Klitschko’s are scared of Tua.
Klitchko is a few hard shots away from massive career ending concussion. Tua hits like a mule kicks. He just cannot get by a good jab. If he bobs and weaves more to get inside, he will knock Klitchko out.
I am glad I am not alone in the Tua corner. I see Tua coming in very low, slipping inder a jab and using his left hooks with amazing impacy followed by a right uppercut. Tua is in great shape and on schedule for getting rid of his ring rust. One tough, smart and determined fighter who deserves his day and a big paycheck.
I am sick and tired of these writers who run their mouth without engaging their brain…eyes. The difference id Tua has the heart of a Samoan. In Lennox, he had bad managers/handler that prepared him for the fight; i.e. bad fight plan. He could have taken Lennox out with the right fight plan. It was not inability that made him lose. How could Lennox be better when he never came forward? He ran the whole fight, trying to outlast the rounds. Lennox was scared, you ask him, and if he’s got ball, come back from retirement and Tua will take him out. Lennox knows the truth of why he retired.
cheif you are the wisest of all on this forum. finally a afn with a brain and an accurate point of veiw. david will get a turn again and in roger bloodworth he has a steady trainer to keep it real and work with david and not talk sh*t like kevin barry did in between rounds like he did in the lewis-tua bout.
Good comment guys (storm/chief) We all know what will happen here…Wlad is not a Lennox. so if Tua lands the left hook, will be over in no time. right now he’s in the best shape on his career, so enough said.
KIA ORA…. Klits is certainly no Lennox Lewis. For those of you who didnt see Tua’s last 2 fights.you missed a treat! David is in the best condition he had been in such a long time and with his new trainer in Bloodworthy the differnce is chalk and cheese than with Barry.Mentally his approach to each fight is now focused in a differnt manner as is his total physical state …….Go Tua!
Let’s be real; Tua is the real deal. I don’t understand this opinion that blasts Tua. He has beaten everyone in front of him since he came back and he was only gone because of manager and contract issues. He is sharp, with power in both hands and he is smart. His weight is under control and he is fit. Built like a brick with a granite jaw, and not easily cut, he can beat either Klitschko, and I am a Klitschko fan. But they are straight up and move forward type guys with little or no head movement and no side to side ability. Tua will certainly come in low under the jabs and hook to the ribs wilt devestaing following upper cuts. Three or four rounds of rib blasting will slow anyone down and the rest will be history. So let’s give David a break here. It will be an exciting fight, as long as it lasts but I can’t see Tua losing.
It’s very true that there are many factors that fair well for taller fighters who face david tua.Like their height,mass,constant jabb but these heavyweight giants and managers don’t want to afford tua the chance because honestly they would lose not because he has the god given talent of knocking them out but because he is mature and mentally ready this time around. Unlike 2000 when faced lewis honestly he was fighting out loyalty for barry and the goosens.I mean the guy was hurt he had a fractured rib and this is’nt a excuse it’s the truth.How many heavyweighs you know would of still fought lewis whose easily one of the top five heavyweights of all time.Currently we know heavyweights like oleg,klits,and other top rated heavyweights would’nt because they know truth. Crossing tua’s path would end alot of their carrers but what fight fans and sport writers fail to remember this is the fihgt game.So no matter what we write or say fighters still must fight and when it comes to fighting tua is the best at that.Lewis did win but he simply ran to win the fight and that’s the truth period.Unfortunately managers and promoters get in the way.Like david tua says “keep the faith” hopefully he will get a title shot soon. M.V.O.A
I’m a mad Tua fan. I wish him all the best. the Terminator always rises to the occasions he is a person that will keep you satisfied (as a fan) there is really no dissappointment with him. But I do think he has a good chance at winning the title if he focus on the body and in the later rounds mix it up and start head hunting. he’s got a good over hand right that he needs to bring in and finish with some uppercutts. I aggree with all of your comments and the fightplans. but now klitchko has emanuel steward i doubt he will trade with Tua he wouldnt need to. He will mix it up. Klitcko deserves to be callled champion but when Tua gets an opportunity at the title I do hope he gives us mad fans an honest performance. Win or lose his best is good enough for me but I don’t think he’s going to die wondering.
Tua is in great shape and is trying to stay in shape by fighting anyone that wants to take a fight. If he faces someone in the top 10 then watch out he’ll clean up. None of the current heavyweights are skilled boxers save vitali. Tua has also been working on right hand and looks much better all round.
I would love to see Tua vs Peters!
Unless Wlad tires, I see Klitschko
doing a paint job on Tua and winning
a lopsided decision or a late round
stoppage.
tuas would ko everyone in the top 10 give him klitcsko or what ever his name is and let them go at it!!!
Go for a game of badminton instead , and a couple of beers afterwards you’ll probably feel better the next day.
tua’s already knocked out oleg maskaev,the current wbc world champion,he can beat klits,he jus needs to go to the body,and then stop aiming for klitchsko’s chin,because he does have a glass chin.
Hey guys dont get tooo jelous of klitschko because he will kill tua in the ring like to noone else before klitschko is the best hitter of all time and he is the only champion that is holding 3 belts at the same time so get it straight he will tarry tua apart>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Iam a close friend and boxing trainer that knows David very well.He has matured as a fighter and has lost nearly every thing he worked for.He is more focused and determined on achieving his life time goal.It only takes one of his punchers to end the fight.He will be probing his opponent till his left hook finds home after taking out the body then he will come out with a K.O.He loves it when people tell him he cant beat klitcho that gives him more determination to K.O his opponents out he loves being the under dog.Lennix is one of the greatest fighters yeah he beat David but he didnt win by K.O.Like my friend always says let his gloves do all the talking in the ring.If any man on the planet can do it David can because he believes in him self.We will all see if what i see is true.
Tua will kick Klitscho’s ass, and I will kick yours.. whoever wrote this dum article.
Tua may stand a punchers chance but that doesn’t mean he has earned the chance. My advice go to court. David fight a contender and prove you still cac compete. Lawyers stop taking cases that are obviously indefensible. Me,stop living in cloud cuckoo land yearning for another Ali Frazier Foreman Holmes Ellis
Shavers Cloony era
David Tua has earned the right for a title shot since no manager of a top 10 contender wants his fighter’s reputation ruined. Refusing to fight tua should count as a definite win and on the basis of that fact alone of course earned Tua more right than any other fighter whatever their ranking are to have a title shot. I am a Tongan fan of David Tua and I wish him well should the chance be given to him and I believe that he will be World Heavyweight Champion in the near future.
Hey Dmitriy.Your Ukranian champion is overated with a glass jaw.Wlad has had his way with all these other fighters because they were intimidated by him.David Tua is not scared of anyone,period!He knows how to box; his left hook will take your champs head off.Here’s a little history lesson for you comrade…We are SAMOANS…The first Island nation in the world to govern our own…simply put,we would not let any other foreign entities come onto our Island & tell us what to do.They tried,& failed.We SAMOANS aren’t scared of s***!!!This is the same kind of attitude David Tua carries into the ring,hence the staggering KO record.No Fear.You must be in dreamworld if you think that your “chicken shit” champ is going to kill Tua.Pull your head out of your arse Dmitriy.The only way that Klitschko is going to beat Tua is if he runs like a coward & hides for 12 rounds,with his tail tucked between his legs.It would be a great fight.Result-Tua by “KKTFO”,KNOCKED KLITSCHKO THE F*** OUT!!!
george formen won the title at what age this century,Holyfield is still fighting at ????
David Tua is a fighter that hasnt been beaten up,he is just waiting and when he gets to the top again YOU BETTER GIVE HIM RESPECT HE DESERVES MR ANDREW WHO THINKS HE KNOWS ABOUT BOXING
Hey hey fans and haters! Yes, big fan of my bro David. It would be nice for Tua to be acknowledged for his o for awesome feats in and out of the ring. Klits have deserved their well earned status but I agree that heavywieghts DO shy away from Tua because it’s a real danger of getting KTFO so would anyone. But all the very best to David and I piss on Kevin ‘george michael’Barry and Great Galoot Goose for all Samoans.