How much of Tua have you guys seen in say, the last 5 or 6 years, that makes you so sure he still has anything left??
In the last 5-6 years? I've seen him fight Oquendo, Moorer, Rahman, Griffiths, Hawkins and Fox...and generally he's seemed the way he has for most of his career. Heavy hands, great chin, but a jab and good movement still give him fits. Fortunately for Tua, Arreola will not be offering a jab and good movement. So in this fight at least, it offers a good chance for him...much better than I would give, for example, with a crafty slickster like Gomez. He can't throw as much as he did when he was younger. His reflexes and movement are a tad slower. One area I do think has improved has been his body punching though, he's less of a headhunter than he used to be. Most important thing is for him to get his weight right, especially after having been out since last September. He was 234 for that, he needs to match that at worst.
It's a good breakdown, but I thought he looked sluggish against Rahman, and heck, the Moorer fight was 6 years ago. Since the Rahman fight he's beaten no one of any consequence. Still, you're right stylistically. He will be able to hit Arreola a bit, and power is the last thing to go. I just have to think Tua may have slowed to the point where an aggressive, fairly quick young fighter with a good workrate will be able to badly outwork him.
All true. But can Arreola outwork Tua for 12 rounds without getting tagged. Sure, he'll throw more punches, but with Tua, it only takes one. He's got three months to prepare. Count on him coming to the fight in shape. It's the inactivity that bothers me.
This isn't the same Tua we all remember. He's in for a long night against Arreola. Tua is gonna eat power shots all night long. Arreola isn't a bad fighter and he'll be putting pressure on Tua that I don't think he can deal with anymore. Tua being stopped late wouldn't be shocking to me. Of course Arreola is there to be hit and few have ever hit like Tua, but to me thats a long shot. Arreola wins most likely by decision.
You have to remember that this will be fought in the center of the ring, much like Tua vs Salif. Neither will be backing up. So it comes down to who can hurt the other, and who has the tuffer chin. If Arreola is the real deal, he wins. If Tua is back, he wins.
Tua screws up every chance he gets...he had a fight lined up with Briggs, Brock and Brewster and pissed those away from what I understand...he also likes to wait a year in between fighting freshly dug up stiffs...at least if this fight ever goes through he will fight a live body...
I think this one will go ahead. It really is a long-shot for anything to happen again for Tua if he lets this slide by. He is running out of time.
He said he wasn't ready for Briggs, Brewster, and Brock. He wanted 7 fights before contending. He says he's ready for Arreola. But I get your point. Tua will break your heart with mighta, coulda, shoulda, woulda's.
when was the last time tua "brutally" kod anyone? hahaha tua is a lazy joke who will get beaten yet again in a high profile fight....
His last fight. And the one before that too. I'm guessing you meant someone you rate, right? emanuel_augustus - true about Moorer, but you did say last 5-6 years...
oh yeah, he brutally TKO'd 8 win and 5 losses Cerrone Fox last year so i fully excpect the same on the young gun C.A.