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Considered by many to be one of the hardest one punch knockout artists in the history of heavyweight boxing, David Tua packs dynamite in his fists unlike anyone currently competing in the division today. Born Mafaufau Tavito Lio Mafaufau Sanerivi Talimatasi in Western Samoa, in a town with the population of 294, Tua and his family moved to New Zealand when he was 11. He started boxing soon after, and his father Tuavale used to have young David spar with randomly selected men in front of the family-run convenience store. In a more conventional setting, Tua’s amateur boxing accomplishments were extensive, and he capped off his “fighting for free” career with a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. This medal earned the Tua the distinction of becoming the first Polynesian to win an Olympic medal in any sport. Tua turned pro in 1992, with a first round knockout over Ron Humes. He won his first 27 fights, and his list of his victims reads like a Who’s Who of the heavyweight division. He scored a 19 second knockout of WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz in his HBO debut, and the boxing world was forced to sit up and take notice. He followed this victory with a brutal KO of Darroll Wilson, and fans made it a point of being in front of the television when Tua fought. Other than his concussive power, one of Tua’s strengths is his stamina and the ability to take out an opponent late in a fight. Just ask David Izon, Oleg Maskaev, and Hasim Rahman, all top heavyweight contenders, and all victims of the Tuaman’s late round power. On June 7, 1997, Tua suffered his first defeat, a close 12 round decision loss to Ike “The President” Ibeabuchi. Ibeabuchi and Tua waged a toe to war for the entire length of the bout, and many ringside observers, including HBO’s unofficial ringside judge Harold Lederman, thought Tua had won the bout. Undeterred by the setback, Tua went back to the gym, training even harder. As Tua declared, “If I train and I don’t feel pain, I am cheating myself. You can never cheat yourself if you want to be successful in this business.” Ten victories (including the stoppage of Rahman) followed the loss to Ibeabuchi. Nine of these victories were by knockout, and Tua was granted a well deserved shot at heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in November of 2000. Unfortunately, Tua aggravated a rib injury he suffered in training during the fight, and he was unable to be at his ferocious best. But David gave no excuses for his gallant 12 round decision loss; he just vowed to come back better than ever. Tua returned to the ring four months later and didn’t lose a step, knocking out contender Dannell Nicholson in six rounds. Five months after this victory, David would fall short via 12 round decision to the crafty and awkward Chris Byrd, but by the end of 2001 he was back in the win column with an eighth round stoppage of rugged veteran Garing Lane. David began his 2002 campaign by winning the NABF crown via a ninth round stoppage of previously unbeaten (22-0) Fres Oquendo in West Virginia. Four months after that bout, two-time heavyweight champion Michael Moorer was only able to last 30 seconds under the crushing attack of Tua, and veteran Russell Chasteen tasted canvas in two rounds on November 30, 2002. Next up was a rematch with old nemesis Hasim Rahman on March 29, 2003, and after an entertaining 12 rounder, the judges were deadlocked and a draw was declared. Unfortunately, after that bout Tua was forced into a two-year exile from the ring as he dealt with legal issues surrounding his relationship with management. But in March of 2005, the ‘Tuaman’ made his triumphant return to the ring, stopping hard-nosed Talmadge Griffis in the tenth round before an adoring crowd in Auckland. On October 21, Tua makes his return to US shores as he battles Cisse Salif in a pay-per-view bout from the Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood, Florida.
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David Tua