David Tua

David Tua ( born November 21, 1972 in Faleatiu, Samoa ) is a Samoan - New Zealand heavyweight boxer.

At the age of 10 years he moved with his family from Samoa to New Zealand and began his Boxlaufbahn there. Tua is extremely small for a heavyweight boxer, while very stocky, beefy stature. Characteristic are his aggressive fighting style with a powerful left hook and a good chin.

Amateur

Even as a middleweight Tua was New Zealand junior champion. After his ascent to the heavyweight division, he won three times the New Zealand Championship, as well as the oceanic championships in 1990 and 1991 in this weight class. In 1991 he occupied at the World Championships in Sydney a third place, he lost it in the semifinals by KO in the first round against Félix Savón, Cuba, the only knockout loss of his Boxlaufbahn.

In 1992 he took part in the Olympic Games in Barcelona for New Zealand. After victories over Jose Ortega, Spain ( RSC 2 ), and Vojtech jerk Castle, Czech Republic ( RSC 3 ), he met in the semifinals of the Nigerian David Izon, lost on points ( 12:7 ), and thus secured a bronze medal. He became the first Polynesians, who won an Olympic medal.

Professional career

He was still 1992 Professional and punched mainly in the U.S..

In his 23rd pro fight he met on 15 March 1996 on the future WBA champion John Ruiz and could beat him in just 19 second knockout. As a result, Tua defeated then among other things the undefeated Darroll Wilson, his semi-final opponent of '92 David Izon and also the later WBC champion Oleg Maskajew, each prematurely.

On June 7, 1997, however, Tua suffered his first defeat. He lost in a spectacular battle just on points against Ike Ibeabuchi. This fight holds the record for the number of beats in a heavyweight fight since there was this statistics. Ibeabuchi struck 975 times, for Tua 755 strokes were recorded.

On December 19, 1998 Tua took on the undefeated until then Hasim Rahman and won disputed by knockout in the tenth round. Tua landed shortly after signal the end of the ninth round still a decisive effect results. The blow, however, was contrary to the rules of the referee not counted as irregular and Rahman conceded no recovery time. In the one minute round break, Rahman could not recover from the shock effect, so that the fight after another clear hits Tuas was stopped in the tenth round by the referee. Tua was at this time on points significantly.

After four more victories early Tua rose to become the challenger to the world champion Lennox Lewis. In the battle on 11 November 2000, he lost, however, clear on points.

After a knockout against the U.S. Olympian Dannell Nicholson he fought on August 18, 2001 against Chris Byrd in an eliminator for the possibility of a title fight the IBF Association, but again recorded a point defeat.

In 2002 he arrive early victories against Fres Oquendo and former world champion Michael Moorer. Finally, on 29 March 2003 there was a renewed encounter with Hasim Rahman. The fight was relatively balanced. At the end of the twelfth and final round, there was a fierce exchange of blows both boxers as Tua tried the fight by a knockout to decide yet in his favor. As the signal for the broadcast sounded, Tua stopped his attacks, but was (like in their first fight in the reverse constellation ) or hit by strike Rahman and knocked to the ground. This hit by broadcast was not considered as a precipitate. The fight ended in a draw.

Subsequently, Tua quarreled with his management and remained inactive for two years. In 2005, he launched a comeback.

Comeback

Since his return to the ring first Tua won the following battles: On 31 March 2005 Talmadge Griffis against ( TKO, round 10 ), on 21 October 2005 against Cisse Salif ( by Points), on 26 July 2006 against Edward Gutierrez ( KO, round 4 ), on 3 November 2006 against Maurice Wheeler (KO, round 7 ), on 22 February 2007 against Robert Hawkins ( on points ), and on August 18, 2007, compared Saul Montana by KO (1st round). On September 7, 2007, he defeated Cerrone Fox by TKO in round two.

Until next battle passed over 2 years: On October 3, 2009 Tua beat in a fight in the New Zealand boxer Shane Cameron Hamilton in the 2nd round knockout. Shane Cameron was considered the best boxer in New Zealand, but had no chance and had been in the first round 2 times then came to the ground and within 20 seconds in the second round of the decisive knockout precipitation. On 31 March 2010 Tua defeated Friday Ahunanya in New Zealand unanimous point decision. Much more controversial was the draw -evaluated fight against Monte Barrett on July 17, 2010: In the 12th round Tua went for the first time in his entire boxing career to the ground. In the rematch on August 13, 2011 Barrett went to round 12 to the ground. However, Barrett won more this time round to the point notes as Tua, the time lost unanimously on points and thus gained his title against Cameron the WBO Asia Pacific and WBO had to give orential. Between the two Barrett - Tua fights won by a point decision over Demetrice King.

On 26 February 2012, he told the New Zealand Herald his retirement from professional sports.

Well, 18 months later but it should come to a renewed comeback for August 31, 2013, a fight against Alexander Ustinov in New Zealand was scheduled. This was postponed on August 14, 2013 to November 16, 2013, as Tua injured his calf muscles.

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