David Tua is in for a tough fight and a rapid learning experience against Lennox Lewis, according to the British heavyweight boxing champion's trainer, Emanuel Steward.
Steward, a Hall of Fame trainer, has coached 27 individual titleholders, including the great Tommy Hearns, Evander Holyfield, Julio Cesar Chavez and former champion Michael
Moorer.
While he respects Tua, Steward said the step-up in class was going to be too big for the New Zealander.
Speaking from Lewis' training camp in the Pocono Mountains, close to New York, Steward said: "Tua has punching power, but Lennox has it in both hands.
"Lennox is tall, has a powerful jab and has strong credentials to be a great heavyweight champion."
He acknowledged that Lewis had previously had trouble with shorter fighters, but no smaller boxers had been brought in to camp to prepare the champion.
"We could bring them in, but they would be too fat and slow compared with David," Steward said. "We're better concentrating on other things."
He also added to the battle of the minds, saying that Tua's weight could be a problem.
"We've heard he's trying to take it off, but he's having problems. He just can't shake it," Steward said.
Tua's weight has been the source of plenty of conjecture in the United States in the past year, with the Kiwi stepping through the ropes in excess of 110kg at times.
The response from his camp has been that weight is not a problem as long as Tua is happy with the way he feels.
"For his size, if I was training him, I'd want him coming at 105kg to107kg," Steward said.
Lewis will spar only about 100 rounds for the Tua fight. He has been in camp since September 17, complete with his mother, who is the team's cook and chief caregiver.
"This is Lennox's fourth fight in a year, which is an awful lot for a heavyweight champion. We're doing enough to keep fresh," Steward said.
One part of Tua's camp that has Steward cautious is his corner - Ronnie Shields and Roger Bloodworth.
Steward said: "I had no respect for the corners for the last two fights [Michael Grant and Andrew Golota]. David's corner, though, is a real asset to him."
- NZPA
