Hard Hitting (David Tua)

Member Name: iamasadlittleboy

Product:	David Tua
Date:	01/09/08 (108 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Power, excitement, Chin

Disadvantages: Unskilled

-*-Early days-*-
Born Mafaufau Tavita Lio Mafaufau Sanerivi Talimatasi (according to wikipedia anyway) the man we know as David Tua was born in Samoa to a man and a woman (who'se names I do not know). At an early age he moved to New Zealand and thats where he picked up boxing.
-*-Amateur days-*-
As an amateur Tua quickly rose through the national ranks becoming a champion in 1988 (at a juniour level I think) in the heavyweight category. 4 Years later he proved he was pretty good as a "man" (as opposed to a huge 15 year old "boy") winning a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics fighting at the -91 KG category (Heavyweight). And losing to the eventual Silver Medalist.

-*-Early professional days-*-
Tua turned pro soon after the Olympics fighting twice at the end of 1992, both fights finishing in the first round from Tua's deadly power which would later prove it's self on a much higher level than against this fodder.
Tua would bang out his first 9 opponents, none lasting beyong the third round, until Krishna Wainwright took Tua to the final bell of a 6 round fight (Tua won on points).
There was 3 more straight KO wins all over fighters with winning records, before he'd go the distance again. This time being taken the whole way by Lester Jackson in an 8 round fight, on the same day 2 other power punchers met (Geralld McClellan met Julian Jackson) in what would be McClellan's last win before his fateful fight with Nigel Benn.
In his next fight Tua again got taken the distance (this time 10 rounds) by Everton Davis who was floored twice on the way to another Tua win.
4 more KO's before he was taken the distance for the 4th time in his career. And by the end of 1995 he was 21-0 with 17 KO's, with some seeing the potential marketing dream he was quickly becoming he was given a shot at the WBC International heavyweight title. Against John Ruiz

For those who don't know their boxing an "international title" is often seen as a stepping stone belt like a European or Commonwealth belt, and fights with ones are usually then given a top 15 or so ranking with that board.
Ruiz lasted a mere 19 seconds as Tua roared out of his corner and Caught Ruiz cold...then caught him sleeping (literally) leaving Ruiz' record at 25-3 and giving Ruiz his only ever stoppage loss.
-*-International title Reign-*-
Defending the title 3 times in 4 fights (the other was against a guy considered a cruiserweight) and winning all 4 via KO. Among these KO victims was Oleg Maskaev the future WBC world champion who was comfortably ahead on 1 card (the other cards had it to Tua and a draw). The Maskaev win would be the final successful defence before he met the unbeaten Ike "The President" Ibeabuchi.

-*-Ike V Tua-*-
The two unbeaten prospects met and went in with records of:
16-0 (12) and 27-0 (23), two hard hitting, tough big solid men who were going to fight til their power wore the other man down.
As it turned out it was a meating of the immoveable object and the irresistable force, both guys hammering away at each other none stop for the duration of the 12 rounds. The fight set a record for most punches throw in a heavyweight fight (a record that still exsists) and yet neither guy budged and inch. Ike took a unanimous decision win in what was a close but yet exciting war (something we need to see more of in the sports blue band division).

-*-The Comeback-*-
Tua was to re-enter the ring around 5 months after suffering his first loss and exacted a swift beating to Jeff Lally before being taken the distance by Jeff Wooden in what was a close decision win for Tua.
3 More KO's and then he got to get his hands on another unbeaten prospect, and fight for some more fringe titles against another future world champion in Hasim Rahman. Rahman was well in the lead going into the 10th round, on all 3 judges score cards. Though for Tua points weren't the way to win, as Tua would pop Rahman's cherry and give him his first loss.

4 More straight KO wins left him high on the rankings, and seen as a very marketable fight for the undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. Lewis boxed smartly using his jab through out to take a clear points victory and giving the hard hitting Tua his second loss.
-*-The IBF Tourney-*-
Next he was put into an IBF Heavyweight Elimination Tournament with the fights being (Byrd-Harris/Tua-Nicholson). Tua KO'd his opponent in the 6th round, whilst Byrd out pointed Harris to secure his own position in the final.

The two had a shared opponent, in Ike who chased down Byrd for 5 rounds before sending him to sleep. Byrd was a well know slickster, and had only lost 1 other fight and that was to the supremely talented Wladimir Klitschko (who was getting his revenge for the victory Byrd had gotten a few months earlier over Vitali Klitschko for the WBO title).
Tua was out pointed by Byrd and as a result fell to 38-3.

-*-High quality opponents-*-
Tua would then have a confidence restoring fight with Garing Lane before facing the unbeaten Fres Oquendo who was being tipped by some to go to the top. Tua on the other hand had other plans sending Fres to the on the way to a TKO loss, and in the process winning himself another fringe title.
Next came Michael Moorer a former lightheavy weight champion and heavyweight champion (before famously losing to George Foreman). Moorer was seen as past his best but still a formidable fighter, Tua on the other hand saw his as another KO victim with a 1st rounder.
Tua scored another KO win before getting a rematch with Hasim Rahman.
Between beating Rahman in 1998 and their rematch in 2003 Rahman had been crowned world champion with his shock 2001 5th round KO over Lennox Lewis, before losing his next two (a rematch with Lewis and title fight with Holyfield). This was to end up a draw (1 judge went for each fighter, one had it level). Rahman then (somehow) got a shot at John Ruiz for the interim WBA heavyweight title (Ruiz won on points).
Tua on the other hand took 2 years out of the ring.

-*- The Comeback-*-
After being out of action from 2003 he made his comeback in 2005 Talmadge Griffis scoring the 37th KO of his career. In the following fight Tua would be taken the distance by Cisse Salif (Tua winning a split decision) before 2 KO wins against pretty much nobodies. Before Tua was taken the distance (for what is the last time as of writing) by Robert Hawkins.
Hawkins, for those interested, seems to have become a bit of a "gatekeeper", the sort of guy that the ones who beat him, seem to end up challenging for a world title. Losses of Hawkins include:
"Fast" Eddie Chambers
Samuel Peter (current WBC heavyweight champion)
Kevin Johnson
Vladimir Virchis
Oleg Maskaev (Former WBC heavyweight champion)
and Dennis Boystov (currently seen as a hidden gem in the heavyweight division)

Tua then fought twice near the end of last year winning both via early KO's (first and second round victories) and hasn't fought since. Some thinking his age (35) would suggest he's done as a fighter and many of his most recent opponents would suggest he's done fighting near the top.
-*-*-*Trivia*-*-*-
Tua was never dropped (knocked down) in his career
Tua has won 29 of his fights without going to the fourth round; two of his fights lasted less than 30 seconds (he KO'd Michael Moorer in 30 seconds, and floored John Ruiz in 19)
Tua has the second most 1st round KO wins (only behind Mike Tyson)
Tua is related to "The Rock" among others from the Anoa'i wrestling Family.

Summary: Now past his best, but in his prime he was KO'ing most