Boxing: Points as important as KO - Tua

David Tua. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand boxer David Tua says he will place greater emphasis on scoring points when he takes on American Monte Barrett for a second time this weekend.

Tua was held to a controversial draw in Atlantic City in 2010 when he first fought Barrett, who knocked Tua to the canvas for the first time.

Barrett retired after that fight but later decided to fight again, and both say there is unfinished business to take care of when they meet in Auckland on Saturday.

Tua earned his reputation at first for his ability to land knockout blows but he said today that he couldn't rely on that against Barrett.

"There has to be more than the knockout punch, so I think with that in mind it's important not to overlook the science of boxing, and that is scoring points,'' he said.

"If I'm to go out there and look for the knockout, I overlook other things. It's important to pile the points up, then at least you know you've got points to fall back on if it comes to that towards the end of the fight.''

The two men held a remarkably low-key press conference today, with none of the trash-talk that usually comes with these events.

Both admitted they had a point to prove after the Atlantic City fight.

"This is the reason why we've put this fight together, and I'm looking forward to putting right what I didn't in the last fight,'' Tua said.

Barrett said he felt there was unfinished business between Tua and himself.

After giving up following consecutive losses to David Haye, Odlanier Solis and Alexander Ustinov and the draw to Tua, Barrett said he was highly motivated again.

He said he didn't think age - he is 40 - was an impediment for him or Tua, who is 38.

"Forties is like the new thirties,'' Haye said.

"We've got so many modern technologies, science, information, internet, supplements. We've got so many things right now that expand the life.

"It's not a death sentence. I embrace it. Where I come from most of my family passed away or got murdered on the streets at 28, 29. I'm in longevity right now, so I'm embracing it.''

Barrett said he was in very good condition physically and didn't think there would be any problem with judging.

"I think we've got equal judges. I made sure that was in my contract because I was very concerned with that,'' he said.

"We got neutral judges - one judge from the US, one judge from New Zealand, one judge from Australia. But at the end of the day, I've still got to do my job.''

- NZPA