What did Tua lack?

While I can understand a fan's frustration over Tua's non-performance against Lewis, I don't know that it's appropriate for us to expect any world-class fighter to sell-out just because things aren't going his way late into a fight. I can't recall many instances of fighters actively deviating from their learned style in order to force a come-from-behind knockout.

Going back to the fight, it could even be argued that Tua had already maximized his chances of producing a dramatic turnaround but had simply been found wanting. Remember that he was similarly behind against Izonritei, Maskaev and Rahman, but still very much boxed within his style.

 

IMO, that’s over-rating Tua a good deal, & arguably over-rating Tyson, too. Sure, those attributes give both men their best chance of victory, but when you’re talking the crème da Le crème, to call or imply guys like Jeffries, Dempsey, Marciano, Frazier are not only going to be beaten but constitute, “meat” for Tua & Tyson, especially Tua, is a stretch.

I mean, personally I’d favour Tyson to beat all of those men sans Dempsey, but I’d stop short of calling it a foregone conclusion. Tua probably doesn’t beat any of those four because, despite the style problem, they are just too good at everything else they do.

 

I know one, she’s always been in great shape.

I take the point you’re making about them, but I have to reject the idea they, “have” to be fat. Their genes are an obstacle to overcome, nothing more. & there are no excuses for those who choose to be professional athletes.

Nothing forced Tua to be fat.

 

Which is why I said fitness was his issue. The Samoan background was just an observation, but could he trim down? I say yes. I feel his 3 fight prime was the Izon/Maskaev/Ibeabuchi era where he came in on an average of 225 and was able to let those shots rip. But he came in at 245 for Lewis and trudged around for 12 rounds unable to do anything. Again, fitness.

 

I looked at the post again to make sure I got it right. I object only to the idea that there was no way around his genes. That’s excuse-mongering people like Tua & Israel Folau have posited but it has no basis in reality.

 

Gotta say I'm perplexed by your example choices.

Jeffries, Dempsey, Marciano and Frazier may have been stylistically open to eating left hooks but none fit my view of a "shrinking violet" who can be mentally defeated before the bell rings...nor can I recall them being shepherded onto the backfoot with beeline pressure very often.

The part that you put in boldface when quoting me does specify that fighters meeting all three criteria were those likely to become meat - to my best reckoning your group has just the one criteria in common.

 

An exclusive contract with Don King.

Look what King did with the extremely limited Ruiz.

Sure Tua lost to Lewis, Ike and Byrd but they were top notch competition and all in their prime.

Of course conditioning was also an issue.

 

Boxing ability. He was good at everything else.

 

You’re right, I misread. My mistake, sorry.