Prime for Prime David Tua vs. Riddick Bowe

Bowe might even stop Tua.

 

My thoughts too. Tua is made to measure for Bowe. Tua was in a silent contract with Lewis, but I doubt Bowe would do the same thing.

 

Again, if anyone is getting stopped, it is Bowe. Bowe will take the chances Lewis was smart enough to avoid against even a doughboy version of Tua. I don't think Bowe hit near as hard as Ike and Tua ate everything Ike could deliver... and deliver in bunches of punches. Bowe had the sloppy defense of guy who was really never that in shape, or just wasn't physically much of an athlete. He got lazy inside. He got lazy with his right and with his punch selection. There are sufficient holes there that if he pushed the issue for a finish Tua would have ample opportunities to spring a trap.

 

Tua showed against Lewis he lacked the know how to get close enough to make the fight interesting. Bowe also has arguably the finest Heavyweight uppercut this side of Tyson, if Tua did get into position to throw the left hook.

 

Lewis made Tua work to get inside. Tua was a good 20 pounds over his best weight and as I believe you noted made that silent agreement with himself not to lay out and risk getting exhausted and KO'd. Tua at 226, as he was against Ibeabuchi, is a much more potent, dynamic threat than the one that fought Lewis.

On the otherhand, Bowe had a tendency to invite infighting. Tua might not have to work so hard to get in range. He also liked to wing that right very wide, and often over and over again, forgetting punch selection. There is more than enough room there for Tua to get the ball rolling.

If Bowe fights a disciplined fight, sticks to his plan and keeps it mostly at distance, he should win going away. If he falls into his bad habits, the window gets bigger for Tua.

 

The Ibeabuchi fight was interesting, but Mr President lacked the skills to be even a top 50 fighter, relying on power and a mental illness that seems to of meant he lacked the ability to make sane judgements in defence. Yet that was enough to beat a 'prime' Tua. Bowe in his HolyfieldI pomp would have had fun at Tua's expense, it would of been an exciting one sided slaughter.

 

I respect your opinion. And I do think the odds are very much in Bowe's favor... but for a guy who threw everything at an extremely limited Coetzer and had to resort to low blows to take him out, I don't see Tua being an easy night at all... and certainly a risk.

 

Any man with that left hook is a threat for anyone. But this 'mythical match up' thing, takes out risks. As you suggest the odds are in Bowe's favour, thus he wins 'mythically'. But as a debatable point, you are razor sharp with your critique of the fight.

 

Why? Bowe lands first and Tua's chin isn't undentable. Lewis hurt Tua without following through and Savon knocked Tua out in the amateurs

 

Bowe beats Tua into his shell and keeps him there, earning the decision. Tua has the tools to make this interesting, he is durable and has a dangerous left hook which Bowe was vulnerable to in the Holyfield fights. But Tua was too tentative and didn't go to the body enough, while he's waiting to land a homerun left hook, Bowe is going to be piling up points with jabs and combinations. And once Tua lands there is no guarentee Bowe is going to fold up like Oleg or Izon, he'll likely pull an Ike and just crack Tua back. The turtle approach is all wrong for someone like Bowe, who showed great stamina and effective volume punching against Evander, he'll happy beat Tua to the punch all night from any range.

 

I think Seamus has this subject nailed spot on - nothing more to add or subtract imo.

 

Bowe has the greater chance of winning by stoppage for the simple reason that he has by far the best chance of winning by any means. There are other logical specifics as to why, but that's enough.
I see him giving Tua a beating.

Tua failed to knock out opponents - convincingly - who were approaching Bowe's calibre.
A guy like Rahman was levels below Bowe, and I thought Tua's KO over him was foul. Oquendo, a washed-up Moorer, a fledgling Ruiz ... none stack up to a prime Bowe.

Certainly Tua was never himself KO'd. But a guy like Bowe might do it. I believe Lewis could have done it with a little more aggression.

 

In an infighting scenario, the probability of Bowe taking Tua apart or 'timidifying' him with uppercuts is greater than the probability of Tua getting in with a finishing hook.

As for "forgetting punch selection" - at least Bowe had a selection.

 

Holy was fast. Fast with the jab to set up hooks and fast enough to get out of there. Tua needs a fast snappy jab before throwing hooks and he ain't got one.

Tua is going to miss with hooks over and over and his head will be in perfect placement to eat a deadly uppercut.

 

David Tua is by far the most overrated fighter in recent memory

Name one durable fighter he actually stopped? The few victories he has over quality opposition came late in the fight while he was being outboxed, even then most of those guys didnt have the best of chins. I give him the Ruiz fight, he caught him cold.
Tuas was the Wilder of 90s, cleaning out bums, has beens and never weres. Unlike Tua though, Wilder hasnt stepped up yet.

He aint stopping Bowe, Bowe pushes Tuas **** in.

Lewis, as mentioned earlier was content with outboxing Tua and Tua gladly obliged. Obliged into walking into the ringpost like a complete ****** in the last seconds of the fight.

Bowe beats Tua from pillar to post. He may have some shaky moments, but hes superior to Tua in every dept.

David Tua is a poor mans Earnie Shavers