Boxing: Tua set to go the distance

David Tua has weighed in almost five kilograms heavier than his opponent Friday Ahunanya. Photo / Getty Images

Hometown favourite David Tua is prepared to go the distance, while his heavyweight boxing opponent, Nigerian Friday Ahunanya, has promised to lay it all on the line, when the pair meet in Auckland tomorrow night.

Tua, 37, weighed in today at 108.7kg, just under a kilo heavier than for his demolition of fellow New Zealander Shane Cameron last October, a fight for which he shed 26kg.

Ahunanya, 38, tipped the scales at 104.1kg when the formalities were conducted in public in a packed main atrium at the SkyCity Casino.

There was none of the traditional pre-bout trash talk at the weigh-in, and the two protagonists shook hands before they left the stage.

Tua was the definite crowd favourite and he joked that he was feeling "no pressure" at the public expectation that he would emerge victorious at Trusts Stadium.

Noted for devastating hitting power and early knockouts, Tua said he was ready for a long night if needed.

"I'm very well prepared with a great camp for this fight," he said.

"I'm ready to go 12 rounds. I'm ready for it."

While Tua's left hook is his feared weapon, his camp has been working on other parts of his arsenal, and his trainer, Roger Bloodworth, said the decisive punch could come from anywhere.

"It could be the right, it could be the left, it could an upper cut, it could be straight, it could be a hook, it could be jab," he said.

Both Tua and Ahunanya are angling for a world title shot and Bloodworth said the fight carried plenty of significance for both boxers.

"This is a big fight for both of them," he said.

"They are two big heavyweights. If either of them get hit on the chin, they will go down."

However, Bloodworth also showed that there was plenty of respect for Ahunanya in the Tua camp.

"I know Friday is a very good fighter," he said.

"He's been almost a world-class fighter. He's got a good chin, so we're prepared for 12 rounds."

Tua, 37, has record of 50 wins, 43 by knockout, three losses and a draw.

Ahunanya, 38, has had 24 wins, 13 by knockout, five loses and a draw.

In his one other appearance in Auckland, in November 2007, he ended Cameron's unbeaten record with a bloody 12th round stoppage.

However, he hasn't fought since June 2008, when he beat American Alonzo Butler with a unanimous decision.

Ahunanya said he was aware what a win over Tua would mean for him.

"It's a make or break fight," he said.

"I'm putting everything on the line."

Having sparred with Tua before, he knew all about his opponent's punching ability and he would go into the ring with a game plan to counter that.

"No doubt about it, I know he's a real powerful dude," he said.

"I've done my homework and I have my strategy. That's what I intend to do - stick to my strategy and win."

- NZPA