By John K. Way: When it was announced earlier this month that perennial heavyweight contender David Tua would be meeting journeyman Demetrice King in an upcoming tune-up fight, a collective groan echoed through the boxing world. Coming off a disappointing draw last July in what should have been an easy fight, Tua’s decision to wait so long to fight again, only to fight a fighter as mediocre as King was utterly baffling. Dazzling boxing fans in the 1990s and early 2000s with unbelievable punching power, Tua’s career has taken an inexplicable nosedive since he fought a draw with former champion Hasim Rahman in 2003 where woeful opposition, long layoffs and sub-par performances have completely stalled his career.
Tua finally seemed to have his career under control before the Barrett bout having beaten two semi-quality opponents in Shane Cameron (TKO 2), and Friday Ahunanya (W12), looking fitter and more determined than he had been in some time. However his decision to fight Barrett who was coming off three consecutive losses to David Haye (TKO 5), Odlandier Solis (KO 2), and Alexander Ustinov (L10) was met with skepticism and even derision among boxing fans. For their part most fan were upset that Tua, a potential threat to the Klitschko hegemony over the heavyweight division was frittering away what little remaining time he had at 37 years old fighting fringe contender after fringe contender when he could be facing Top 10 caliber fighters. Tua’s problem were further compounded when he was dropped, nearly stopped, and seemed lucky to get the points decision against Barrett.
Now after 9 months out of action Tua was returning against King, who record is a paltry 15 wins against 19 losses. That fact that King has been defeated by a range of fighters including Chazz Witherspoon, Fres Oquendo, Shannon Briggs, and Zuri Lawrence diminishes his credibility as an opponent. Indeed it seems a grave commentary on Team Tua’s intentions for their fighter that they would waste his precious remaining time as a boxer by facing another mediocre opponent in the mold of Cerrone Fox, Saul Montana, Cisse Salif, or Maurice Wheeler.
When Tua and King met last Saturday night though, fans of the popular “Tuamenator” came away with mixed feelings about his performance. Moving forward behind his oft-neglected jab he piled up points from the opening bell, and he kept his hands moving throughout, scoring to the body and the head. While he continued to demonstrate the disciplined, active style unveiled during his most recent comeback against King, he also showed apparently diminished punching power that must be worrisome for the Kiwi’s backers. Even as he banged his much-vaunted left hook home dozens of times throughout the fight Tua never came close to stopping or even dropping King. Though King is widely noted for his durability, only being knocked out by Briggs and Oquendo, one would certainly hope that Tua would have the ability to do so as well.
What’s most frustrating about the entire situation is that Tua remains one of the most famous fighters of the last two decades on the basis of his earlier career wins. He provided boxing fans with one of the most thrilling heavyweight fights of all time in his loss to Ike Ibeabuchi, while his fights with Rahman (TKO 9, D12) and Oleg Maskaev (TKO 11) were both outstanding. Moreover he possessed vicious knockout power in his left hook, producing knockouts that would send opponents sprawling across the ring with almost cartoonish violence, as against Maskaev, Michael Moorer (KO 1), John Ruiz (KO 1), David Izon (TKO 12), Nate Tubbs (KO 2), and Fres Oquendo (KO 9).
Tua’s broad fame and marketability makes him a major money spinner, and the potential for a big payday could entice plenty of top level fighters to take the risk of fighting Tua, meaning that Samoan fighters numerous other options outside of journeymen and faded contenders. Indeed if Tua did sign to fight almost any legitimate contender within the Top 20 either HBO or Showtime would be almost certain to pony up the cash to entice Tua, who prefers to fight at home in New Zeeland, return to the United States. So who could Tua face that represents a reputable test within the division with sufficient name recognition value but isn’t unreasonably difficult considering Tua’s desire to incrementally step the quality of his opposition?
Former champion and division stalwart Oliver McCall squared off against the criminally underrated boxer-puncher Cedric Boswell last Friday. In something of a minor upset, the 41 year old Boswell outfoxed McCall, age 45 in a nip and tuck affair. Using his jab to potshot from long distance, Boswell substantially increased in standing in the heavyweight division with the win. Boswell’s career seemed to stall after a tough loss to Jameel McCline in 2003, but he has since made believers among many fans with wins over Roman Greenberg (TKO 2), Owen Beck (KO 9), and Clifford Couser (TKO 2). Boswell represents a sterner test for Tua than McCall stylistically, with his speed and mobility, but the incentive to take a fight with Boswell is clear. With his tricky movement, combination punching, and tricky power, Boswell bears a considerable resemblance to champion David Haye. If Tua managed to beat Boswell, which would be no forgone conclusion, it would propel Tua into the Top 10 while setting the stage for a very lucrative showdown with Haye. In either case, Tua would stand to benefit from facing the winner of the Boswell-McCall fight.
Another smart fight for Tua could come against celebrated former cruiserweight champion and Top 15 heavyweight contender Jean Marc Mormeck of France. After emerging in 2005 as the best cruiserweight since Evander Holyfield, Mormeck’s stock dropped after knockout loses to O’Neil Bell (later avenged), and David Haye. Looking to revive his career Mormeck elected to make the move to heavyweight, with surprising success. Maintaining a lean physique around 215 lbs. Mormeck modified his style to utilize his superior speed and maneuverability to compensate for his inferior size and power. Since debuting in the flagship division of boxing, Mormeck has outfought three legitimate opponents in Vinnie Madalone (W 8), Fres Oquendo (W 10), and Timur Ibragimov (W 12). In Mormeck, Tua would have an opponent who is very highly regarded in the boxing world but whose size disadvantages, age, and limited durability would balance out the risk vs. reward equation. Moreover beating Mormeck would give Tua his best win in nearly a decade and the momentum to demand an immediate title shot.
If Tua is intent on fight one of the Klitschko brothers instead of Haye, Tua may want to face Ray Austin to prepare for the fight. At 6’5’’ and 240 pounds Austin is an opponent with similar dimensions to the Klitschko’s. Meanwhile his wins over Andrew Golata (TKO 1), Owen Beck (W 12), and Davarryl Williamson (TKO 4) give Austin a certain credibility as an opponent despite his handicaps in speed and finesse. Beating Austin would boost Tua’s ranking, hone his approach, and set up big fights, but would probably not be a sufficient basis to jump into a title fight.
Finally, Tua’s fourth option could come in the form of a fight against another former cruiserweight champion, contender Juan Carlos Gomez. Rebounding from a hard loss to Vitali Klitschko in 2009, Gomez showed his determination to reach the top of the division in fighting five times last year, winning each fight. A slick, savvy southpaw Gomez would figure to give Tua the most trouble with his speed and elusiveness but he also represents the most impressive scalp. Prior to his loss to the older Klitschko Gomez amassed an impressive resume during his heavyweight campaign including wins over Sinan Samil Sam (W 12), Al Cole (KO 6), David Defiagbon (TKO 3), Vladimir Virchis (W 12), Oliver McCall (W12), and George Arias (KO 4).
If Tua can put together three or four more wins, including a win or two against the opponents mentioned here, there he would be a serious candidate for a shot against one of the three heavyweight titlists. At age 38, with two decades invested in this sport and having experienced a roller coaster that has included thrilling wins, enormous promise, embarrassing defeats, legal battles, and financial woes, whether he makes good and wins his title shot is almost immaterial. At this point with only three or four more years left in the sport it seems impossible that he’ll ever meet his vast potential within the annals of heavyweight boxing. Instead he fights on to achieve whatever glory he can still snatch from cruel age, for a modicum of redemption so that he can leave the sport having given it one final try.