Heavyweight David Tua scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Friday Ahunanya in his native New Zealand to keep his hopes of another title shot alive. Tua, who looked to be in decent condition at just under 240 pounds, was unable to knock Ahunanya down but was in complete command through the entire fight. Scores were 120-108, 119-109 and 117-109.
Tua, now 37, has been relatively inactive in recent years and hasn't beaten a legitimate contender since stopping Michael Moorer and Fres Oquendo in 2002. He was nearly shut out by Lennox Lewis in 2000 in his only previous title fight and would likely fare no better against either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko. Nevertheless, Tua remains a recognizable name with heavy hands and a strong fan base so he may be in line for a title shot in the near future. Such is the state of the heavyweight division . . .
Comments
David Tua is the ONLY legitimate heavyweight contender out there. Of course he was beaten by the last undisputed and real champion, Lennox Lewis. Lewis was smart, very fast for a very big man, and a skilled boxer-puncher. Although Tua was outsmarted by Lewis, simply because Lewis would not get into a slugging match with the likely stronger Tua, on another night, and a different fight, Tua might have beaten Lewis. The Klitschko brothers are not in the same class as Lewis. They are dull, plodding straight up fighters who select their opponents carefully and fight in friendly territory. Their interest is keeping the titles and making money, and they are not interested in making really good matches. Tua’s inactivity was largely the result of contract and management issues which have been resolved. His next challenge is to get a televised stateside match, either on ESPN or Showbox or HBO on the undercard. A fight with Chris Arreola makes sense and would be a great action match as long as it lasted (Tua by KO in 5), and then a Ruiz fight (Tua in 4) with a David Haye fight after that (Tua in 6).
Hmmmm, you almost get the impression I would really like to see Tua back in the spotlight. More importantly, he is the best hope for the division and the best hope to get rid of the brothers. The division will be in miserable shape as long as the brothers remain in the sport on top.
Tua will da excitement again in boxing,with that brothers never fought a real fighter n may be fight once a year..
well lewis fought vitali & lewis was getting owned in that fight but a lucky stray hook from lewis cut vitali & eventually the fight was called cause of that fight so lewis was lucky 2 recieve that get out of jail card
I think this Blog is very Bias… simply because it has dismiss the fact that Tua has never lost by KO as both klitchko bro’s and lewis have been ko’d in their pro careers! 2nd, tua is in better hands now with his new trainer n management team and no more court cases, tua looks and is a x100 a better person and fighter now than he ever was, no doubt! 3rd Tua is a powerhouse and skilled boxer now and he proved that by ko cameron and UD over Ahunanya, who i think Ahunanya moved and defended better than haye or klitchkos. Lewis ran around for 12rounds against a young tua, a big contrast when Lewis traded blows with Klitchko and he managed to tko him!! so just with these few facts, i think this Blog is Bias towards tua’s climb back to a title shot and a poor reflection of his greatness!!
I agree with James, I watched the Lewis Tua fight and i didn’t see any signs of Lewis shutting tua out. It was more of a hit n run by Lewis fight stategy just a tag here a paw there to avoid tua’s power!! but in contrast to the tyson, holyfield and klitchko fights, yes Lewis completely shut out these fighters after defending his title against tua. Like tua’s record suggests and proves, that tua is an uncrowned heavyweight champion, his never been ko’d and never will be… his as solid inside and outside!! His a smarter boxer, more powerful and faster than ive ever seen him before!! Tua will be the new Heavyweight champion.
The heavyweight division is about money, and they are scared to give tua this one chance! And they are trying to block out tua, as long as they can. klitchko and his brother do not wanna fight tua. the heavyweight division is onlyy intersted only about money, is about the sport anymore……………….
lets get this fight on so that boxing can be save, cause MMA is good but its not boxing.