Boxing: Tua knows win vital to title dream

David Tua. Photo / Kenny Rodger

It says something about his longevity that 17 years have passed since David Tua first stepped into a boxing ring in Atlantic City.

And it says something about his frustrating inability to maintain serious title tilts that, even after so much blood and sweat has flowed under his punches, Tua will still be fighting for relatively small beer against Monte "Two Guns" Barrett tomorrow afternoon.

With ringside tickets going at US$100, the purse on offer is sure to be fairly insubstantial.

At least the greater prize of a potential world title fight will remain intact if Tua can negotiate his away around the handy but ageing Barrett.

In a latest incarnation that began with a humbling of Shane Cameron, Tua has expressed a desire to fight on home shores. Contractual issues have made that impossible, but Tua at least has the next best thing - a home away from home.

Atlantic City has been good to him. In February 1993 he made his first splash in the New Jersey gambling den by crushing the little known Howard Kelly inside three rounds.

In the intervening years he has chalked up 12 more wins in the city, 11 by KO, three against fighters who have held world titles.

"It is all part of connecting the dots," Tua said yesterday.

"I feel that my life circle of boxing has finally come right around. Here in Atlantic City is where I fought most of my early professional fights so to come back here is a good feeling."

Speaking of circles, the 12 rounds he spent chasing Friday Ahunanya around in them in Auckland in March has left Tua feeling he now has the legs to go with his undoubted power.

"Without a doubt [those rounds] will serve me well. I believe that was the first and the only 12 rounder I can say I've won convincingly.

"It almost seemed like [Ahunanya] got himself in great shape to run, so I needed to be smart and keep winning each round."

Having weighed in at 107.7kg, Tua has clearly maintained the impressive fighting trim he unveiled against Cameron. Seemingly gone are the days when Tua would balloon between fights. Weigh-ins no longer weigh heavily on him.

"I'm feeling good. I'm very well prepared for this fight. I suppose it is about the weight but it isn't about the weight. If you know that you are well prepared your focus shouldn't be on the weight, it should be on how you feel and on the fight."

If Tua is to truly get his bandwagon rolling again in the US he must deliver the fireworks for a knockout hungry audience.

He may have lost his last three fights but the 39-year-old Barrett is no mug. His overall record is 34 wins (20 by knockout) and nine losses (five by knockout).