Boxing: Tua angry at new fight date

The heavyweight bout between David Tua and Shane Cameron has been moved from Waikato Stadium to Mystery Creek because of a clash with the Air NZ Cup. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Boxer David Tua is "angry" that his heavyweight bout against Shane Cameron has been postponed until October.

The venue of the fight, originally set down for June 6, has also been moved, from outdoors at Waikato Stadium in central Hamilton to indoors at Mystery Creek Events Centre on the city's outskirts.

The changes were made as a result of the hand injury Cameron suffered while beating American Robert Davis in Gisborne last month.

A date in August was earlier mooted after the injury was diagnosed as three fractures requiring surgery.

Promoter Duco today announced that the bout, dubbed New Zealand's "Fight of the Century", would be staged on October 3, and Tua wasn't impressed.

"I'm disappointed, I'm pissed off man," he said. "I'm angry. Here we go again. I'm just ready to fight, but I suppose this is part of it and you just have to roll with the punches."

Tua, 36, was also underwhelmed with the new venue, saying: "Now that the fight is announced, Mystery Creek, wow."

One positive for him was that he would have plenty of time to get ready.

"I appreciate Mr Cameron for blessing me and allowing me the opportunity to do what I love doing - beat him up, punish him and hurt him," he said.

"Things happen and it's easy to get frustrated, but I believe the most important thing is to continue to see the positive side."

Tua, who last fought in September, 2007, didn't intend using the extra time to have a build-up bout.

He said all his tuning up would be done in the gym, where he would spar like it was the real thing.

Cameron's manager, Ken Reinsfield, said surgery to his charge's right hand had been successful.

However, hand specialist Tim Tasman-Jones had told Cameron that he risked further injury if he fought before October.

"So any day in October that was suitable to the promoter was suitable for us," Reinsfield said.

Cameron, 31, will have a scan in about two months to see how the bones are heeling and to determine when he can start putting stress on the hand again.

Reinsfield said the "Mountain Warrior", who is on a brief holiday in Australia, was as frustrated as Tua with the delay.

"He's chomping at the bit to get back into training," he said.

"It's frustrating, but that's part of the game. He's been active, he's been fighting and sometimes in fights you get injured."

Duco spokesman Ian Fraser said the move to Mystery Creek took the weather out of the equation and improved comfort for both the fighters and the fans.

He said the chosen date avoided a clash with other major sporting events.

While the shift indoors would halve capacity to about 8000, it would also cut costs because a shelter wouldn't need to be built over the ring.

The fight will be broadcast by Sky TV to pay-per-view customers for $39.95, and there are no plans to show it on free-to-air television.

- NZPA