Boxing: Tua draws with Barrett in Atlantic City

David Tua. Photo / Getty Images

David Tua's journey for another shot at the heavyweight world title took a slight bump in the road as he drew with veteran Monte Barrett in Atlantic City.

Tua had shown frustration in the final round and was penalised a point after he had flung Barrett to the floor - an action that cost him the win.

In a controversial result neither boxer wanted, the official decision was a draw.

One judge had his card 115-112 for Tua while the other two judges scored it an even 113-113 apiece, meaning Tua retained the WBO Asian Pacific and WBO Oriental heavyweight belts he had staked.

The bout at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City exploded in the 12th and final round after neither boxer appeared to have gained the upper hand in the preceding 11.

Tua had opened strongly, using his right hand often as he sought the opening for his powerful left hook.

The much taller Barrett fought tactically throughout, using his long reach and an accurate left jab to keep Tua out of range.

Tua hit Barrett with a left hook and a left-right combination in the first round and then two lefts followed by an overhand right, which had the American on the ropes in the second round.

But Barrett was also doing his share of the fighting, catching an incoming Tua with sharp straight lefts and an occasional right which snapped his much shorter opponent's head back.

Tua, whose career future hinged registering a convincing win today, started the final round in determined fashion. Simply, he needed to knock a stubborn Barrett out.

Tua hit Barrett with a left and a right early in the round but neither had sting. Barrett stayed up and, in frustration as the fighters broke from close contact, Tua wrestled Barrett to the floor and was penalised.

Chasing the knockout, Tua then closed in but Barrett responded, launching a series of rights and then a left as he came off the ropes - knocking Tua down for the first time in his 56-fight professional career.

The decision that the fight was a draw shocked Barrett, who had previously announced his retirement from the sport.

He wanted to go out a winner and thought he had, until the official announcement came.

"Everybody knows I was the winner. I fought with heart," he said afterwards.

"This is my last fight and I was retiring anyway but this is the sort of thing that makes a man retire, because the sport of boxing is not pure like the fighters."

Tua said Barrett was a great warrior for whom he had a lot of respect.

"It was one of those nights, I did the best I could and I'm glad about how it went tonight," he said.

"I was trying to get the guy, I was trying to work on my speed... but it seemed like nothing was going my way.

"But I kept my heart and kept fighting to the end."

It was a controversial end to a fight that Barrett looked to have won after knocking down Tua in the last minute of the 12th round.

- NZ HERALD STAFF and NZPA