Boxing: Tua to fight again in NZ

David Tua could be in action again before Christmas. Photo / Getty Images

David Tua seems set to keep fighting in New Zealand - and could be in action again before Christmas.

As Shane Cameron headed to hospital for observation after his second-round knockout by Tua, the winner's camp were contemplating international bouts against leading heavyweight contenders.

Tua's promoter Cedric Kushner said Tua would continue to fight here. Some of that may be governed by the fact Maori Television hold the contract for Tua's next fights, possibly preventing a more lucrative deal being done.

"Forget the money," barked Kushner as the inevitable questions flowed about his next fight and venue. "He will continue to fight here."

Kushner also said he would like Tua to fight again before Christmas, with maybe one or two more bouts after that before any possible title fight - but deflected questions on precisely who and when.

Tua, looking supremely relaxed, nodded amiably when asked if former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman might be next on his list.

"Please," he grinned.

Kushner looked less certain about Rahman but there is no doubt this is a bout which would draw big American audiences after Tua's dismissal of Cameron last night.

However, even without the Maori Television complication, these things take time in boxing.

Tua said he was a little surprised by the swift knockout.

"I wasn't expecting that but we prepared well and I trained really hard - for anything. I knew he would either come out fighting or moving but I was ready for either."

Tua said he was also surprised the referee didn't stop the contest at the end of the first round, when Cameron was clearly out on his feet.

"I was shocked about that," he said. "But I am not going to make something out of that. I came out in the second round and did what I had to do."

Tua's trainer Roger Bloodworth explained that the referee stopped the standing count on Cameron at nine because he thought he had heard the bell for the end of the round - meaning Cameron could have gone to his corner to recover; boxing's "saved by the bell".

But he hadn't heard the bell which rang much later, with the crowd booing and wanting the fight stopped.

Bloodworth, who has also trained boxers such as Evander Holyfield, said he would rate Tua's punching power as high as anyone he had been involved with.

"I would rate him up there on the same level as Mike Tyson," he said.

Possibly, after this, so would Cameron.

* Former NRL bad boy John Hopoate's professional boxing career was sat firmly on its backside when he was knocked out by 37-year-old Australian journeyman Colin Wilson in last night's main undercard bout.

Hopoate was surprised by a meaty Wilson left which dropped him at the end of the third round - after he looked to be in control, having earlier decked his opponent.

Wilson, though 1.95m and awkward to fight, is the embodiment of a journeyman - he was one of Shane

Cameron's victims and has won 34 fights but lost 25 (and drawn one). Hopoate was never remotely figured to be close to losing this one.

"I reckon it is [the end of Hopoate's pro career]," said Wilson. "He's still a very dangerous man, you can't take that away from him, but they might knock him back to rugby league now. At least I kept my bum intact."