Tua vs Cameron head to head

I wrote October 09 meaning October 2009, other wise I would have written 9th October or October the 9th! Nevermind though. Yeah Tua looked like he is frustrated at the postponment from June.

 

Tua`s nephew apparently is a good prospect.


Inga's boxer son a real knockout

All Blacks legend Inga "the Winger" Tuigamala's 16-year-old son Vaise has made a knockout impact in boxing before his first bout.

The Kelston Boys' High School student only took up the sport a year ago but has already TKOd two heavyweights in sparring sessions, a Samoan professional in his late 20s ... and his own dad!

"One of the frustrations for Bubba (Vaise) is he struggles to find opponents to fight. He's a superheavyweight," Inga told Sunday News. "We've got a makeshift ring in the back yard (of the family's west Auckland home). One evening, I came back from work and I thought I'd do the good thing and get in there, because I'm a similar build.

"It was a proper sparring session. But I got absolutely smashed. He caught me with a good right. He knocked me so hard, I just looked up and I saw three of him. It was a second-round TKO. I thought, `Oh, no' and knew it was time to give up."

Inga said Vaise couldn't stop apologising at the sight of his father on his backside.

"He said, `Sorry dad'. I said, `You'd better be'. He doesn't know how strong he is."

The experience wasn't a one-off for Vaise, who's a fit 113kg after knocking off 12kg through the conditioning regime given him by his coach Lolo Hemuli who trains NZ professional heavyweight champ Shane Cameron.

On a trip to Samoa last month, Vaise wanted sparring practice but as in New Zealand they couldn't find big enough opponents his age. A pro heavyweight stepped in. Vaise TKOd him in the fourth round.

Boxing New Zealand chairman and referee Paul McSharry said Vaise's first fight would probably have to be against a superheavyweight intermediate national champion or runner-up.

"Our problem is trying to find suitable opponents for him," McSharry said. "He's in the build of his father. He's 113kg fit. He's technically very good as well but with it you've got raw power."

Vaise's aim is to earn the respect of Hemuli and fellow boxers and hopefully one day becoming superheavyweight champion of New Zealand. If he's successful, he may be on the same bill as his older brother.

Waitakere basketball star Jordan, 18, was spotted by his uncle and world title contender David Tua when he was giving Vaise training tips.

"Jordan would be in the mirror trying to practise what David was teaching Bubba," Inga said, "David would say to me, `Hey, keep an eye on the older fella. I see something in him I really like'."

The 72kg teen, who works alongside dad at Tuigamala and Sons funeral services, gave up seven years of basketball to switch sports. He has been an immediate success, winning three out of three middleweight bouts his last 10 days ago, in front of Tua and Cameron. McSharry also rates Jordan. "His skill levels are very high," he said.

Hemuli said both brothers showed great promise: "(Vaise's) very strong but does have speed," he said. "(Jordan) can punch too but I'm trying to make him a boxer-puncher."

Proud dad Inga, who also starred for Manu Samoa and league club Wigan, said the family had a boxing tradition spanning generations.

"It was only me who decided to go and play rugby, so although we missed one generation, it's been made up again," he said.