Boxing: Tua fans decked by reporter's jab

By SCOTT MacLEOD

A Las Vegas boxing writer has rankled David Tua fans by calling his world title effort "putrid."

On the eve of the Tuaman's comeback fight, Dean Juipe of the Las Vegas Sun wrote that fans "horrified" by the idea of Tua challenging again for the world title should root for his opponent, Danell Nicholson.

Mr Juipe said that the "stench of Tua's putrid performance against Lennox Lewis" would hang over today's fight.

Mr Juipe copped flak from Tua fans after he spoke on New Zealand radio, but his comments did highlight the importance of today's fight in restoring the boxer's battered credibility.

Tua took a pounding in his November 12 fight with Lewis. He went the distance, but struggled to land his specialist left hook past the towering champion's lanky jabs.

If he wins today's 12-round clash, he will become the International Boxing Federation's No 1 challenger, and move closer to another world title shot.

Tua's elder brother, Andrew, just giggled when told of Mr Juipe's comments. But he said the fight was "must-win," and his brother would have to start again from the bottom if he lost.

Like Lewis, Nicholson has long arms. Tua would have to get close to negate this advantage, he said.

"The guy's got a huge reach, so It's going to be a hard fight for Dave - just like Lennox. But I don't have any doubts. I back Dave 100 per cent."

The Tua family will crowd around the TV set at their Mangere home for the fight. Unlike last time, none will be ringside in Las Vegas.

Tua is ranked No 5 by the International Boxing Federation and has 37 wins (32 knockouts) and two losses.

Nicholson is ranked third, with 39 wins (30 KOs) and three losses. He has beaten world heavyweight title challengers John Ruiz and Jesse Ferguson.

Nicholson's trainer, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, told US media that Tua was a hard hitter who won most of his fights by punching off the ropes.

The secret to beating him was to keep him in the centre of the ring and avoid a slugging match.

US bookies have Tua as favourite.