by James Slater – Yesterday, in his native Gisborne, New Zealand, “The Mountain Warrior,” Shane Cameron won his tune-up fight ahead of his upcoming battle with rival David Tua by scoring an 11th round TKO stoppage over a game Robert “Desert Storm” Davis. According to TV NZ.com, the fight had plenty of hard trading by both heavyweights..
In no way a pushover for the 31-year-old who improved to 23-1(20), Davis came to fight and he also opened a cut Cameron could have done without, with a head clash cutting the winner between the eyes early on in the fight. Cameron slowly but surely wore his man down, before the getting the victory via the 11th round TKO. The 37-year-old Davis, who has been in with the likes of Michael Moorer, Monte Barrett, Joe Mesi and Audley Harrison, fell to 32-10(20).
The spectators in attendance certainly enjoyed the good action, and there was one particularly interested observer who took a ring side seat – David Tua. Tua and Cameron will, of course, clash in New Zealand in June, in one of the country’s biggest fights for a long time. The 36-year-old “Tua-Man” will likely have been happy with how tough a night’s work his next opponent had. With less than three months to go until they collide, Cameron could well have done with an easier and quicker win.
Still, “The Mountain Warrior” feels he will defeat Tua in June, harder than expected fight yesterday or not.
“I just couldn’t quite finish him [Davis] off,” Cameron said. “I though I might have got him out in just a couple of rounds but hey, I’m happy with the result. It was a matter of weathering the storm. He’s a big guy and I had to keep my wits about myself. I still feel there is work to do but I feel I was dominating the fight when it was stopped. It was a good result.
“Now we will go back and start to get ready for Tua.”
When the two big men clash in the summer the fight will almost certainly provide good action and lots of heavy punching. Tua, his recent inactivity aside, will surely start favourite – but Cameron is the younger man by some five years. The June 6th fight may well be a war.
Tua gave his thoughts after Cameron’s win yesterday. Tua was especially impressed with his rival’s vocal fan base.
“It was humbling to be in Shane Cameron’s house,” Tua said. “I was walking in there thinking they would throw things at me – it must have been hard for Cameron’s supporters – but they started standing and cheering. I was shocked in a good way. I was honoured to see the love, support and aroha the people of Gisborne have for Shane.”
Tua will put such feelings aside when the two men clash, however.
“Hey, I’m not boastful, but it’s official and it’s reality – I will come to hurt Cameron,” Tua said, somewhat menacingly!