Boxing: Tua puts sparring partner in hospital

David Tua fights Shane Cameron in Hamilton next Saturday. Photo / Dean Purcell

A sparring partner of boxer David Tua sought hospital treatment this morning after a brutal session with Tua, the promoter of next month's Tua-Shane Cameron heavyweight contest said.

David Higgins told RadioLive Sport that Israel Garcia woke up this morning with "serious swellings inside of his head" and had to be taken to hospital where he was later discharged.

"It is nothing life-threatening but obviously sparring can be quite brutal and a bit of damage was done, so he's going to take a few days to recuperate," Higgins said.

Garcia, a New York-based Puerto Rican, has a professional career record of 19 wins and three losses.

The Tua-Cameron fight, which has been touted as the biggest in New Zealand boxing history, is set to take at Mystery Creek near Hamilton on October 3.

- NZPA