What didnt work with Tua?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Boxing2019, Mar 9, 2021.


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  1. Boxing2019

    Boxing2019 If you want peace, prepare war. banned Full Member

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    David Tua got 1 title shot in his long career, a mandatory against Lennox Lewis on top form.

    And yet look at the opportunities his victims enjoyed:

    John Ruiz, KOd in 1 by Tua: 12 world title fights
    Oleg Maskaev, KOd in 11 by Tua: 3 world title fights
    Hasim Rahman, KOd in 10 by Tua: 8 world title fights
    Obed Sullivan, KOd in 1 by Tua: 1 world title fight
    Fres Oquendo, KOd in 9 by Tua: 3 world title fights (plus 1 pending!)

    Again, David Tua: 1 title fight, against Lewis. His victims: 27 title fights. 27! And counting!

    Who's to blame here? His management? His nationality? What in your opinion?
     
    Boxing2019, Mar 9, 2021
    Boxing2019, Mar 9, 2021
    #1
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  2. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Didnt Lewis hold a bunch of the alphabet titles at the time they fought? That could be it.

    Trying to mix logic with alphabet titles is a recipe for head trauma anyways. They honestly hold zero prestige in my book.
     
    reznick, Mar 9, 2021
    reznick, Mar 9, 2021
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  3. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    The answer is timing.

    But worse still for Tua, after the tough fight with Rahman, he sat on his mandatory ranking and stopped facing solid competition. During that period he ballooned past his optimal fighting weight, never to return to peak form. Likewise, the draw in Holyfield-Lewis I required a rematch, and then Lewis had other mandatory obligations, and Tua was stuck sporadically facing soft opposition while he awaited his shot.
     
    Rumsfeld, Mar 9, 2021
    Rumsfeld, Mar 9, 2021
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  4. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Yeah, Lewis held the WBC/IBF at that time. The WBA had stripped him and become the focus trinket in the Holyfield-Ruiz rivalry.
     
    Rumsfeld, Mar 9, 2021
    Rumsfeld, Mar 9, 2021
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  5. Deew

    Deew Active Member Full Member

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    2 things to blame here:

    1: David Tua

    2: Burger KIng

    The man is a gluttonous black hole for fast food, or at least he was during what should have been his prime.

    The end. As told to me by a bloke who spend a lot of time around Roger Bloodworth
     
    Deew, Mar 9, 2021
    Deew, Mar 9, 2021
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  6. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    His performance against Lennox Lewis was so bad that it ruined his reputation as a fighter.....it’s the same thing that happened to Joshua Clottey .
     
    Bronze Tiger, Mar 9, 2021
    Bronze Tiger, Mar 9, 2021
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  7. ChrisJS

    ChrisJS Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He laid an egg vs. Lewis, and interested seemed to die around him. His own desire became questionable, as he trained less and ate more.
     
    ChrisJS, Mar 10, 2021
    ChrisJS, Mar 10, 2021
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  8. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    He also lost an eliminator with Byrd and had that draw with Rahman that likely would've led somewhere had he won. He also had contract issues.
     
    NoNeck, Mar 10, 2021
    NoNeck, Mar 10, 2021
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  9. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He was a good fighter...def could have done better maintaining his weight and def could have learned to cut off a ring better. He also when frustrated went into that Tua shell. Where maybe he could have been more aggressive. Could have taken a page from Marciano or Frazier in that department. Had he fixed those problems he may have been the best of the era certainly had the tools.
     
    Gazelle Punch, Mar 10, 2021
    Gazelle Punch, Mar 10, 2021
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  10. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It's important to look at when Tua faced them, because most of his top tier opponents were not prime.

    Tua simply wasn't that good, that's the answer.
     
    70sFan865, Mar 10, 2021
    70sFan865, Mar 10, 2021
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  11. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He could have taken a page from Ricardo Mayorga ...lol
     
    Bronze Tiger, Mar 10, 2021
    Bronze Tiger, Mar 10, 2021
    #11
  12. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Good points! It is strange. Bad luck? Doubtful it has anything to do with nationality.
     
    Flash24, Mar 10, 2021
    Flash24, Mar 10, 2021
    #12
  13. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    I agree. An absolutely disgraceful performance. Makes me laugh when people say he'd beat Tyson, Foreman, Frazier, etc. He had ONE fight against a fighter on that level, and was rendered ineffective, useless, and was shut out.
     
    swagdelfadeel, Mar 10, 2021
    swagdelfadeel, Mar 10, 2021
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  14. Cojimar 1946

    Cojimar 1946 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Lewis and Frazier fight nothing alike. I don't think picking him to beat Frazier is at all unreasonable.

    Lewis probably bombs Frazier out easily
     
    Cojimar 1946, Mar 10, 2021
    Cojimar 1946, Mar 10, 2021
    #14
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    He was always going to need an exceptional work ethic to be successful, and he didn't have it.

    His victims essentially out developed him.
     
    janitor, Mar 10, 2021
    janitor, Mar 10, 2021
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