When the
subject of the most devastating punchers in Heavyweight Boxing history is
discussed along with names like Tyson, Foreman, Frazier, among others it is
hard while in such discussion to not include David Tua. Tua, known for his
ability to end fights with one punch burst on the Boxing scene after winning a
bronze medal in the 1992 Olympic games. As a professional, Tua after compiling
twenty-two straight wins, Tua faced future Heavyweight champion John Ruiz on
March 15, 1996 Atlantic City, New Jersey.
It is not
often that one can say that a fighter can become a legitimate star of the sport
in one fight. Tua however, did become a star that night against Ruiz. After
unleashing what may arguably be the most devastating left hook ever thrown in
Boxing history, Tua knocked out Ruiz in nineteen seconds. From that moment on
David Tua was a force in the Heavyweight division.
Tua continued
to defeat contenders, some of whom would go on to become world champions. For
the contender from Samoa however, it would not be a clear-cut path to the
Heavyweight championship of the world. Tua would suffer the first loss of his
career in 1997, losing a hard-fought twelve round unanimous decision to then contender
Ike Ibeabuchi in a fight where the two Heavyweights set the all-time record for
most punches thrown in a Heavyweight fight at the time.
Despite
suffering the first loss of his career, it did not really have all that much
affect in Tua’s standing among the best Heavyweights in the world. Tua went on
to win ten straight fights, scoring knockouts in nine of those ten culminating
in his challenge of then unified Heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis in
November of 2000.
Although
having a great deal momentum prior to that fight, the 5’10 Tua could not
successfully get on the inside of the 6’5 Lewis and was dominated for twelve
rounds in route to losing a unanimous decision.
Tua would also go on to lose a unanimous decision to former Heavyweight
champion Chris Byrd in 2001.
Despite not
getting the opportunity to again challenge for a World Heavyweight
Championship, Tua remained a player in the division for several years. Most
will remember Tua’s most recent battles with former longtime contender Monte Barrett. In their first fight in 2010 Tua and Barrett
engaged in a grueling back and forth battle that saw Tua suffering the first
knockdown of his career in the final round of that fight by a Barrett left and
right hook. Some including this observer felt that Barrett had done enough to
earn the decision in what was to be the final contest of his career. The judges
however, scored the fight a majority draw. The two would meet again in August of
2011. This time Barrett’s greater activity and ability to keep Tua at distance
was enough to earn him the fight in his favor by a lopsided margin in the eyes
of most observers. Tua however, did provide drama in the final round of the
rematch knocking Barrett down and nearly scoring a come from behind knockout.
Now after a
two-year hiatus David Tua prepares to return to the ring against Heavyweight
contender Alexander Ustinov on November 16th in Hamilton, New
Zealand. The current landscape of the Heavyweight division one may argue lacks
marquee value outside of the Klitschko brothers who continue to rule over the
division. It will be interesting to see what Tua, who will turn forty-one years
old on November 21st will have to offer after being out of the ring
for two years.
In comparison
to another fighter in the division that is on the comeback trail, Oleg Maskaev
who was knocked out by Tua in eleven rounds back in 1997, Maskaev the former
WBC Heavyweight world champion now forty-four years old has taken a gradual
approach in his comeback thus far facing three fighters Owen Beck, Jason
Gavern, and most recently Danny Williams. Three fighters who are known to most
Boxing aficionados, but fighters who most would consider not present
contenders. Tua meanwhile, will face what some will consider a stern test when
he faces Alexander Ustinov.
Ustinov, a
winner of twenty-eight out of twenty-nine professional fights comes into this
fight ranked number twelve in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Heavyweight
ratings. The lone defeat for Ustinov came in September of last year when he was
knocked out in eleven rounds by undefeated current International Boxing
Federation (IBF) number one contender Kubrat
Pulev.
The story of
this fight seems clear. Can Tua find a way to get on the inside of the 6’7
Ustinov? Can Ustinov keep Tua at distance for a full twelve rounds? The fight
which was originally scheduled for August 31st was postponed by a
calf injury suffered by Tua.
When this
fight was originally announced I had several thoughts. The natural question
that ran through my mind was how would David Tua look after being out of the
ring for two years? It was also somewhat curious in my eyes to see Tua elect to
face someone who is a top twenty contender right out of the gate in his
comeback. On one hand, one could say Tua’s choice in facing Ustinov is a sign
of confidence, perhaps wanting to test himself against a legitimate contender
right away rather than facing an opponent who most would not recognize. Perhaps
Tua’s choice is motivated by wanting to see what he has left right away and
more specifically attempting to reenter the Heavyweight championship picture as
quickly as possible. On the other hand, one may say that Tua might have
benefited by having a couple of fights against lesser-known opposition, or
taking a more measured approach in his comeback as Oleg Maskaev has.
It will be
interesting to see in this fight whether or not Ustinov establishes the pace
from the outset. Will Ustinov adapt a similar strategy against Tua that worked
so well for fighters like Lennox Lewis and Monte Barrett?
The key to
this fight in my eyes is whether or not David Tua will fight in a more
aggressive manner from the outset than he did in his rematch with Monte
Barrett. In addition to dealing with the height differential, Tua will also
have to contend with being outweighed by fifty-six pounds by Ustinov who
weighed in at the official weigh-in at 292lbs to Tua’s 236lbs.
As this fight
approaches many may be tempted to say that not only based on a two-year layoff,
but also the height and weight disadvantage that David Tua should be viewed as
a considerable underdog in this fight. In all truth and honesty it is hard to
argue against such an opinion. It is worth remembering however, that David Tua
built his career on a reputation of being able to get an opponent out of there
with one punch at any given time. It is not out of the realm of possibility
that Ustinov could find himself in control of this fight for the majority of
rounds and then suddenly see the fight turned in Tua’s favor. Tua has shown the
ability to turn a fight around suddenly specifically in his first fight with
Hasim Rahman, and in his 2002 fight with Fres Oquendo.
David Tua
will always be known as one of most devastating punchers in Heavyweight history
compiling a near 75% career knockout ratio. Tua’s status as a knockout artist
will not be affected regardless of what happens in this fight. If however, Tua
still possesses the punching power that made him a major player in the division
for many years, if he can find a way to execute his offense more than
occasionally, this could be the beginning of yet another good comeback story
that the sport of Boxing tends to be captivated by.
Does David
Tua have enough of the fighter he was in his prime left in him? We will have to
wait and see.
“And That’s
The Boxing Truth.”
The Boxing
Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.
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