Tua already planning next fight

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE IN HAMILTON

David Tua will fight again before Christmas and could have a crack at a world title by the middle of next year after demolishing Shane Cameron in Hamilton last night.

Tua was back to his trademark best, taking just three minutes and seven seconds to knock out Cameron.

He knocked Cameron over twice in the first round and ripped into him with a furious flurry straight after the bell for the second round that finished proceedings as the crowd erupted in a frenzy, realising they have a deadly serious Tua to entertain them again.

Tua's global promoter Cedric Kushner confirmed the schedule he would now take to get Tua fighting for the title for the second time.

He said he would keep Tua busy by fighting again this year and then look at the schedule but he was adamant a title shot would eventuate next year.

"It depends on what other fights are on. We have no one lined up at the moment," he said of Tua's next opponent.

Hasim Rahman remains on the cards and Tua said he would be willing to have a crack at Lennox Lewis who is rumoured to be thinking of a comeback.

Tua showed his second comeback was no problem and he was now looking for bigger and better things.

"The obvious long-term goal is to have another shot at the world title and hopefully winning," said Tua.

Tua even joked he would hop into the ring with Mike Tyson.

"If the money is right we have a fight. I just need to tape my ears," laughed Tua.

Kushner said the manner of Tua's win wouldn't be prohibitive in finding an opponent.

"You pay them a little more and they stop being scared," said Kushner.

Tua admitted personal overtones fed his fury with Cameron taunting him prefight about his weight, age and his fighting abilities.

Tua answered all of those questions in emphatic fashion.

"Once I have a guy hurt I am going to get him out of there," said Tua who admitted surprise that the fight wasn't stopped after the second knock down late in the first round.

"I came out in the second round and did what I had to do.

"I know there was a lot of pressure on me for this fight. I just had to man-up and do it. It wasn't too bad for a dishwasher."

Tua's trainer Roger Bloodworth revealed that referee Bruce McTavish apologised for the mix-up.

"He had counted to nine and thought the bell had rung. He was asking the officials if that was time and then the bell rang," said Bloodworth.

Kushner was asked if he had seen a more deadly puncher than Tua around the ranks at the moment.

"If there was I haven't seen one ... maybe in the days of Mike Tyson.

"I think what we saw out there was quite extraordinary."

Asked what the American audience would make of that he chuckled: "It would look the same way as what it did to the New Zealand audience."

 

- © Fairfax NZ News