By James Slater: Though this Saturday the majority of heavyweight boxing fans will be tuning in for the WBC title defence Vitali Klitschko will be making against the unbeaten Odlanier Soils in Germany, New Zealand fans will be focusing entirely on the fight taking place there between their hero, David Tua, and U.S journeyman Demetrice King.
The 38-year-old powerhouse, reportedly injury-free, will be having his first fight since that tougher than expected rumble with Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett. The July 2010 fight wound up being scored a draw, with Tua being put on the deck for the very first time in his career. As fans know, a shoulder injury suffered by Tua was largely attributed to his sub-par showing, but now “The Tuaman” is feeling in great shape and ready to take care of 26-year-old King in what he is calling a “must-win” fight.
The two met today in New Zealand, before the gathered media, and both guys had things to say about Saturday’s contest. Tua, hoping to have one more shot at a world title before his exciting career comes to a close, insisted he is not even thinking about that right now – only on the sometimes-dangerous King is he concentrating.
“I’m not looking at a world title fight,” Tua said flatly to TVNZ News. “I’m only looking at this fight, that’s all that matters. This is a big fight. It’s must-win.”
Tua then spoke about the Barrett fight.
“I’m not made out of steel,” he said. “It [getting knocked down] happens. I have not lost confidence. He [Barrett] caught me with a good shot. But it was a lesson I had been preaching to my boys: when you get knocked down you get back up. I was thankful that one of my sons was there that night. When I was on the canvas he was looking at me and I could see he was thinking, ‘are you going to get back up?’”
Of course, Tua, 51-3-2(43) did get back up, to fight back and salvage a controversial draw. King, however, thinks Barrett deserved the win, and he has warned that he punches a lot harder than “Two Gunz” does.
“I saw the Barrett fight. I think he won the fight. He earned it. I’ve got way more power than Monte Barrett has and that’s what gives me confidence. I have a credible left hook myself. I’m not worried. I know the power I possess. I have proven that I can go toe-to-toe. I haven’t been knocked out much and having those losses on my record – some are very controversial.”
King doesn’t have an attractive record at 15-19(13), but he has only been stopped twice and he can bang. Nicknamed “Only By KO,” King, if Tua has faded as badly as the Barrett fight made it appear, could possibly pull off the upset. Tua has to be the pick to win, though – due in large part to his massive edge in experience at world level.
New Zealand media report how they expect Tua to come in considerably heavier than he did for the Barrett fight, but that the slugger has been working extremely hard in the gym nonetheless. The official weigh-in will go ahead on Friday.