Boxing: Wanted - the champion spirit

By PETER JESSUP

David Tua's unsuccessful title shot at Lennox Lewis' two world heavyweight belts yesterday proved little as far as the division is concerned - the industry is still looking for a true champion.

Lewis failed to capture the imagination and support of the fans. Many had hoped that Tua, with his likeable personality and Mike Tyson-like style, could reignite a flame that has been out since Tyson was flattened by Buster Douglas in the mid-80s.

But the fight went as was predicted - Tua always had a puncher's chance, but could not get inside Lewis' height and reach advantage to take his opportunities.

"Much respect and all credit to Lennox Lewis," Tua said afterwards. "He did what he had to do and that's why he is the world champion. Thank God no one got hurt. Congratulations to Lennox for being such a great champion. I did the best I could - I'm not making excuses. But I will be back and my destiny will be fulfilled. He tried the best he could to knock me out, but he couldn't."

Tua said he did not let on to trainer Ronnie Shields and his corner that Lewis had stung him in round two when he clocked the same left rib cartilage area Tua had injured in training. "That's the pride in me."

He said he had learned from the 12-round decision. He would work better with his advisers in future. They had told told him to go harder, to take more risks, but he had failed to do that.

But he held his head high throughout the fight, and afterwards. He ducked no charges from the world's media, leaving to see his mother Noela in her hotel room when the questions were finished.

Lewis said he had realised that Tua had a great chin, and more.

"Most guys like that you work to the body - he has that dockyard style, coming out of a crouch," said the WBC and IBF champion.

Lewis said he never saw evidence that he had hurt Tua, and was surprised to learn afterwards that the punch that did most damage was landed in round two against the ribs.

"I maybe slowed him down a bit - towards the end he was showing a lot of tiredness, but I didn't want to get complacent and get hit by that left hook."

Lewis said he did not know who would be next. "I'll take on all comers."

He has fought Evander Holyfield, the man who holds the WBO belt, twice.

"[Mike] Tyson? Tell him I've been ready since the Holyfield fights," he said. Clearly, his interest is in the big money.

Tyson remains the biggest earner because Lewis has repeatedly failed to engender any enthusiasm among American fight fans.

He took a shot at that attitude. "Compared to the last show [Pole Andrew Golota quit against Tyson after round two] where one guy walked out of the ring, yes, I think it was a good show."

Tua went to the ring yesterday calm and collected, focused on what he had to do. But the champion's defence was too good for him. He needed to mix his work up, go to plan B, but was not allowed to.

There was disappointment from the crowd afterwards, especially from the many boxers and boxing industry types in the audience. They had hoped for a toe-to-toe mix-up that would have improved the image of the business, raised pay-per-view and the money available to fighters. None of that happened.

The chanting for Tua began as soon as the last undercard bout finished, not all of it from the Kiwis and Samoans there - clear evidence of the fans' liking for the challenger. Tua entered minutes later, called in by Samoan drummers beating a welcome for the challenger.

He climbed up to the ring, stopped and looked around before climbing through the ropes, clearly not overwhelmed by the occasion.

Lewis followed, jiving down a path marked by London Tower-like torches to a reggae beat.

As the referee took control, Tua's manager, Kevin Barry, and other cornermen, were smiling, obviously comfortable, raising their arms to encourage the crowd to cheer the challenger. They did.

In the audience were heavyweights Tyson and Holyfield, the retired Thomas "Hitman" Hearns and Hector "Macho" Comacho, and world champs and top-liners in other divisions: "Sugar" Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather and Zab Judah. They all expected a good fight.

The bill also attracted actors George Clooney, Drew Carey, Harrison Ford, David Schwimmer, James Gandolfini and Billy Crystal, singers Bobby Brown and "Puff Daddy" Coombes, basketballer Earvin "Magic" Johnson and some of the world series-winning New York baseball team.

For referee Joe Cortez, it was his 135th fight, for Lewis it was his 11th world title defence. Only Tua was new to the game and the glare, but he handled it like a pro.

Tua did not look scared at any stage of the fight, despite taking some incredible punishment. Lewis repeatedly smacked his head with punches that would have flattened anyone else.

The fighters did not speak to each other before or during the bout, but traded compliments afterwards.

A rematch is not beyond possibility, but much will depend on which way the promoters want to go. This will be determined by how much money is on offer for Tua, Tyson or Holyfield. And that's likely to be up to the Vegas casino bosses.

Herald Online feature: the Tua fight