Boxing: March date set for Tua's next Auckland fight

WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental belts will be at stake for David Tua's fight. Photo / Dean Purcell

David Tua's follow-up fight after beating fellow New Zealand heavyweight Shane Cameron will be in Auckland in March.

Tua's opponent, American-based Nigerian Friday "The 13th" Ahunanya, had previously been named, and the venue and date was confirmed as Trusts Stadium in Waitakere on March 31.

Ahunanya handed Cameron his first loss with a 12th-round stoppage in Auckland in November 2007.

Cameron's second defeat was at the hand of Tua, who needed just over one round in Hamilton last October.

A spokesman for promoter Duco Events, David Higgins, said he was sure the fight, for which the WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental belts will be at stake, would be huge drawcard.

"Tua fighting in Hamilton was big," he said. "Tua fighting in his home town of Auckland will be huge."

Tua's trainer Roger Bloodworth arrived in New Zealand last weekend to start preparations for the bout.

Higgins said Ahunanya, who has been sparring with former world champions Hasim Rahman and Samuel Peter, was looking in peak condition.

"Since they first sparred together in 2001, Friday Ahunanya has called David Tua out numerous times." he said. "The Kiwi heavyweight has never responded until now."

After defeating Cameron, Tua announced a programme of three fights in the US and New Zealand.

However, he withdrew because of family reasons from the first, against former WBA champion Bruce Sheldon in Atlantic City in February.

Tua, 37, has a record of 50 wins (43 by knockout), three losses and a draw.

Ahunanya, 38, has 24 wins (13 by KO), five losses and one draw.

Neither man has been knocked out in his career.

- NZPA