Fight Franchise

Sunday News -JOHN MATHESON


Tuaman has signed up for a title elimination bout against unbeaten American Chris Arreola.

The prize for the winner of that match-up is a money-spinning date with WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter.

Last night Tua's New York-based promoter Cedric Kushner met with representatives from US pay TV network HBO and was about to ink the deal.

Arreola's promoter Dan Goosen was also believed to be at the meeting.

"Things are happening quickly," Kushner told Sunday News.

"The fight against Arreola could happen as early as September.

"The winner of that fight is guaranteed a shot at the title.

"I'm excited for David. If anyone deserves the chance to fight on sport's biggest stage again, it's him."

Tua has cancelled his scheduled fight in the Ukraine on July 12.

Kushner explained that the stakes were too high to risk an injury so close to the Arreola fight.

It will mean Tua will go into the Arreola bout after a year of inactivity following a combination of family tragedies and on-going court action against his former managers conspired to keep him out of the ring.

Tua, though, is unconcerned about not having fought since his second round knockout of Cerrone Fox last September his seventh consecutive win since his comeback in 2005.

Said Kushner: "David told me that he feels that if he gets 60 days training in before the fight he can take on anyone, anywhere."

And Tua won't be starting from scratch when he joins up with his Arizona-based trainer Roger Bloodworth next month.

He's been sparring with a number of local boxers in his south Auckland gym in recent weeks and is understood to have again acquired the services of the highly sought after personal trainer Lee Parore to fine-tune his fitness before heading to the US.

"David's in a very good place both physically and mentally," Kushner said.

"He's been patient, waited for his opportunity and now it looks like it's here."

Tua whose bout against Lewis in Las Vegas still rates as the single biggest sporting event to appear on New Zealand television will need to be at his peak to get past Arreola and earn the right to fight for a belt.

Despite his inactivity, Tua is ranked 23rd in the world while all four of boxing's world governing bodies have Arreola in the top 15.

The WBC ranks him as the No 7 heavyweight in the world and the IBF has him ranked No 10.

Last week he took his record to a perfect 24-0 when he destroyed the previously unbeaten heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon.

Bloodworth is excited about his charge going up against Arreola, whose profile has exploded since the win against Witherspoon.

"Going up against Dave will be a big step up for him," Bloodworth, a former trainer of champion Evander Holyfield, said.

"And I can tell you Dave is looking forward to stepping up his competition and getting to that championship fight he craves."

Brilliant. Tua vs Arreola should be a firecracker- it has to be-

And either vs Peter almost guarantees more fireworks. Haven't been more pleased about a couple of heavyweight match-ups for quite some time.

I've heard commentators say that they've never seen a fighter whose legs are as large as David Tua's. After looking at that picture, I don't doubt them. His legs look like two tree trunks.

It's just unfortunate that Tua has never won a belt at an age in heavyweight boxing when guys like Briggs or Ruiz both held titles, and in the case of Briggs, the lineal heavyweight championship. I would think that Arreola's workrate would favor him against the sluggish Tua, but hopefully Tua gets into fighting shape and can maintain a respectable workrate. It just seems like he lost his motivation ever since suffering the loss against Ibeabuchi.

Whatever happens, I'll always be rooting for David Tua. He's always been one of my favorite fighters to watch and from what I hear, he's just a great person in general. And in the perfect world, he would knock out Arreola and Peter to finally get his first title. But then again, the world ain't perfect...

Always have been a big fan of Tua but I think Arreola is too talented, too quick and too busy. Plus he has youth on his side. But Tua winning would certainly not be a terrible outcome either.

Cant wait for this one!!
I really like Arreola, he comes to fight.
He said he "likes to get hit" ...Thats funny.
I'm sure Tua will be happy to help him out.

Personally, i don't rate Arreola at all. I think hes wide open and i don't think he hits as hard as his record suggests. Tua is old now and fairly inactive so i don't know what kind of condition hes going to come into the fight in, but i think he has a pretty good shot at knocking out Arreola.

As much as I think Tua is finished....and I don't really care to see him continue fighting....I still think he has enough to beat Arreola who doesn't impress me in the least bit. I believe Arreola will go the way of Tye Fields...and fail in his first real test.

I quite like the look of Arreola, i think he seems quite well schooled. I hope Tua comes in at 235lbs maximum or less.

I cant pick a winner because i dont know how good Arreola is and how much Tua has left.

Good fight though.