18.08.07 – By Craig Mastendri: Pinnacle Promotions in Association with Integrated Sports put on Saturday evening’s August 18, 2007 boxing card, featuring David Tua in the main event of the evening, at the South Towne Exposition Center, in Sandy, Utah. Tua came in at his best weight in years at 237.5 lbs, and gave us a glimpse of flashback to the David Tua many remember as a Title Holder and top contender in the late nineties.
He faced a journeyman and former contender in the Light Heavyweight, Cruiserweight, and Heavyweight divisions, Saul Montana 48-15 with 42 KO’s. Tua now 48-3-1 with 41 KO’s started slowly and feeling out Montana, who came out throwing, using his jab, and trying to put together combinations. Tua ate a few jabs and blocked a few shots, allowing Montana to get comfortable with his pace.
Tua set the trap and Montana wasted little time in taking the bait as he stood in front of Tua while trying to land his combinations. Tua landed a left, which Montana shook off, and continued to try and press the action near the midway point of the round. As Montana resumed his attack, the Tua man landed a perfect short trademark left hook, which had Montana out on his feet instantly, and then caught him again on the way down with a second left hook. Montana landed flat on his back and the referee easily reached the count of 10, as it was clear he wasn’t getting up. The fight was officially stopped at the two minute and fifteen second mark of round number one.
It’s too early, to declare Tua back, but his Promoter Cedric Kushner, declared in the post fight interview that activity is the key and announced that they already have a fight date of September 7, 2007 at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant Michigan, though no opponent was named. Kushner, also declared that boxing fans will see Tua get another crack at a Heavyweight Title within the next six months. It will be interesting to see how the Heavyweight scene plays out with Ibragimov vs Holyfield and Maskaev vs Peter winners and the possibility of facing Tua. Oliver Mccall, who owns the WBC International title, might also be an intriguing match up and a perhaps a fight which could help him press a shot at a major titleholder.
In this writer’s opinion, Wladimir Klitschko would likely be too much based on style, skill, and volume, and the least desirable fight. If nothing else, David Tua has proven that he still has devastating one punch power in his left hand. He looked better physically than he has in a very long time while seeming relaxed and upbeat. Based on his last few outing’s I was reluctantly approaching this fight, but after seeing him tonight? I admit I’m willing to see more of the continuation of his comeback. This fight didn’t last long enough to test his volume of activity, but if he can stay on this path, the Tua man, may yet again make some noise.
There were three other fights on the card, one showing another HW prospect in Roman Greenberg now 26-0 with 18 Ko’s who is 25 years old. He squared off against “journeyman” a very loose term to describe Damon Reed 35 years of age who is now 43-12 with 30 KO’s a record which was padded on Midwest circuits against poor opposition. Reed lost to every recognizable name he ever fought including Herbie Hide, Brian Nielsen, Kali Meehan, and Dale Brown. On this evening he did his best impression of a heavy bag with legs, missing only the Everlast tattoo on his chest, and gave a god awful performance that included low out put, holding, hitting on the break, laying on the ropes, using the forearm, and a takedown in round five. When he did throw punches during the rounds? He looked as though blindfolded, swinging at a piñata, absolutely terrible! All of that detracted from Greenburg’s performance.
Greenburg is a Russian born who lived there until age 10, before moving to Isarael, and now fights out of the UK. He stands 6’3” and came in at 231.5 pounds and is 25 years of age. Greenburg, isnt a power puncher, but more of a technician, who’s knockout’s come from accumulation of punches. He has a very European style as he stands straight up and relies on his left hand to control distance and set up his combinations. At times he kind of leaves his left laying out there similar to how Wladimir Klitschko does with his jab.
Greenburg has a nice jab and can put his shots together to the body and head, but what was disturbing? Is he’s almost a “picture taker” he’ll land and be content to back off or step aside rather than follow up. Had he done more following up he could have, and would have done everyone a huge favor, by taking out Reed much earlier in the evening. The referee finally deducted a point in round seven from Reed for the all of the dirty tactics he was employing in trying to survive. In round eight, Reed went down three times from the body work that Greenburg was employing.
Reed actually went down three times but the referee ruled one a slip which prevented the three knockdown rule which was in effect from stopping the action. In round nine, Reed went down again from body shots and the referee finally and mercifully called a halt to the action. During the post fight interview, Greenburg’s promoter expressed a desire to match an Italian and a Jew with a fight against Joe Mesi who was part of the broadcasting team for the evening. Mesi had commented through the fight that he would like the match up and felt that he could expose some holes in Greenburg’s game.
(Jeremy Williams, on right, facing off with Gomez)Two other fights took place, one in which Jeremy Williams 6’1’ 200lbs with a record of 42-5-1 35 Ko’s, made his comeback from the brutal KO loss to Sam Peter in 2004 as a Cruiserweight. Williams fought a game but less conditioned, Gary Gomez 18-9-1 7 Ko’s at 5’9’ 198.5lbs. This fight was actually the most competitive one of the evening. Williams squeaked out a Split Decision victory, the judges scored 77-75 Gomez, 78-75 Williams, and 77-75 for Williams. Gomez who had over 300 amateur fights and has never been KO’d and actually landed the harder shots of the evening.
Mostly with a lead right, left hook combo which showed that Williams still has defensive flaws and caused a cut around Williams right eye in the 8th and final round. Williams’s lack of head movement left him open to the left hook, which was the same punch Peter destroyed him with at HW. Had Gomez had a jab and better conditioning this could very well have gone his way. Afterwards Williams expressed a desire to fight Mormeck the Cruisereight Champion.
(Peter Quillin)The other fight of note for the evening, was Peter ”Kid Chocolate” Quillin a Cuban living in New York who is an undefeated at 14-0 with 12 Ko’s. He made short work of Humberto Corral who is now 10-6 with 3 KO’s and a former member of the Mexican Olympic Team.
Quillin came out blazing and quickly caught Corral with a vicious uppercut and followed with several straight right hands, knocking Corral down and being counted out at the one minute and thirty-eight second mark of round one. Quillin then performed his trademark of throwing chocolate candy out to the crowd after a victory.He seems a guy to watch on his way up at Super Middle Weight.