Boxing: Ageing Tua boxing crafty

David Tua could be moving closer to a shot at a title. Photo / Dean Purcell

As well as redemption, last's night rematch with Monte Barrett was also about avoidance for David Tua.

Not just avoiding the dangerous punches of his under-rated opponent, famously the first man (in July last year) to knock him down; not just avoiding a potentially career-ending loss in his hometown; but avoiding the ravages of father time.

Now 38-years-old, Tua knows better than anyone that he has a limited window to press for another title shot, or at least some big-time fights.

He looked in prime condition for the 'Fight of the Century' with Shane Cameron in late 2009, aided by an extended and focussed buildup. But in the fights since then he was not in the same shape, and put in less-than convincing performances.

Out of the ring at least, he has perhaps turned a new leaf. He is more in control of his career than ever before, virtually acting as a co-promoter with Sky for last night's fight. That in itself can add a lot of pride and motivation, especially at the latter stage of a career.

Sky were "reluctant" to get involved in the promotional side of things, as it strays from their core business. But they have reportedly enjoyed the experience - and were happy with the results from last night.

The 3500-seat venue was sold out, and the pay-per-view sales had tracked well all week, though 80 per cent of the sales came in the three hours before the 10pm start to the fight.

News travels fast in the boxing world and the result last night will be noted by the handlers and promoters of the boxers in the top 20 of the various boxing organisations.

Before the Barrett fight, it emerged that Sky TV and the Tua camp were looking to line up a subsequent bout with Chris Arreola or Kali Meehan, which was contingent on a Tua victory last night.

Arreola is ranked fourth with the IBF and 10th with the WBA. He has a commanding 33-2 record, with both of his reverses coming in world title matches.

Australia-based Meehan has a 38-4 record, but his losses have also been to top-ranked contenders like Hasim Rahman and Danny Williams.

Either fight would be a step closer to a possible title shot, maybe with one of the Klitschko brothers who have ruled the heavyweight class over recent years.

The prospect of Tua lining up against either Wladimir and Vitali may be hard to imagine, but boxing insiders say it is not as preposterous as it sounds.

The siblings have fought (and beaten) just about everyone in the top 10 across the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF - the infamous 'alphabet soup' of world boxing organisations.

They will never fight each other so the main issue is finding opponents with credibility - as there can be a perception of a one-horse race.

They still pack out stadiums in Germany but to maintain interest it is important to find opponents they have not fought before. Ideally those opponents would have a 'name' and possess a puncher's chance of winning the bout.

For all his trials and tribulations, Tua still ticks all those boxes. Mainly because of his outstanding pedigree, he remains extremely marketable in the US and to a lesser extent Europe.

He has more first-round knockouts than anyone in history, apart from Mike Tyson, and has knocked out four former world champions.

In his prime in the late-90s it was said he was one of the most avoided boxers on the circuit - as some of the big names at the time turned down the chance to face Tua, perhaps in fear of his destructive left hook.

He failed to make the most of his one title shot against Lennox Lewis at the turn of the last decade, and then wasted several years of his career embroiled in legal wrangles with his former managers.

For that reason - despite fashioning an outstanding 52-2-3 record - there is still something missing on the Tua resume.

Depending on how he builds upon yesterday's result, he may now move into the pool of fighters jostling among themselves for a title shot.

He will need to win one or two more fights to get to the head of the queue, but a fight against one of the Klitschkos - or another highly rated contender - would be a fitting way to bring the curtain down on a remarkable career.