Boxing: Tua fights for respect

David Tua. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Boxers don't usually like surprises - in the ring, they have a habit of hurting you - but David Tua had a nice surprise in Atlantic City ahead of today's fight against Monte Barrett.

His 12-year-old son Kaynan made an unscheduled trip to the US to watch the fight along with his mother (and Tua's manager) Robina.

"It was great to see him and to have him here," said Tua from Atlantic City, "I didn't expect it at all. I didn't think either of the boys would be here. The older one (Klein 14) is heavily involved in a lot of sports so he couldn't make it - but that's great too to have him doing something he enjoys."

Tua didn't expect Kaynan's presence but expectations are shaping this fight - a vital one for Tua's title hopes.

Expect some US boxing observers to be talking up Tua if, as expected, he deals comfortably with Barrett today.

Tua has yet to earn much respect from the US boxing scene in his comeback and bid for a title fight. In a moribund US heavyweight environment, Tua goes into the Barrett fight in the difficult position of being expected to win easily - but without being given much credit for doing so.

Much of the coverage given to Tua has so far been of the 'was' variety - he 'was' a big puncher; he 'was' a highly ranked fighter; he 'was' overweight and sluggish and he 'did' have a big left hook but little else.

The focus has tended to be on his age, that he has not fought much in the past eight years and some interestingly skewed perspectives. A convincing win, preferably by knockout, is required.

Read, for example, one analysis of Tua (from onlinesportshandicapping. com): "The overwhelming boxing betting odds on Tua made our boxing picks staff scratch their heads. In recent bouts Tua has looked sloppy both physically and technically. Barrett is the better boxer and has stayed more active fighting the better level of opposition.

"Tua may have the edge in strength but he is much shorter than Barrett and has developed a bad habit of throwing arm punches. Tua also seems to have lost practically all of the hand speed that once made him such a dangerous puncher."

How's that again? Were these guys even watching the Shane Cameron and Friday Ahunanya fights? Other criticism has centred on Tua's past record and his vulnerability against taller fighters who can effectively jab and move, negating his punching power.

That is more relevant here - as the taller Barrett can mix it in different styles. In his 2008 fight against now WBA champion David Haye, not a big man, Barrett was a brawler, contributing to a scrappy fight.

In his most recent fights, Barrett boxed with a jab, flicking and moving, against US undefeated contender Odlanier Solis and the Belorussian, Alexander Ustinov. He lost both fights - helping to frame expectations that Tua will do the full Monty on Monte.

Some reports had Barrett close to a win in the 12-round decision loss to the undefeated Ustinov. The Belorussian does not, however, have Tua's power. Solis, the 2004 former Cuban heavyweight gold medal winner at the Athens Olympics, is closer in build and power to Tua - and beat the great Felix Savon in two out of their three (amateur) meetings.

Barrett lasted two rounds against Solis and most expectations are for a similar finish in Atlantic City today.

Against that, however, is the fact that this is reputed to be Barrett's last fight before retirement - scant recommendation on the surface and yet the latest video of Barrett and the evidence of the weigh-in suggests that Barrett is right when he says he is "in the best shape of my life". Even though this is his last fight, he wants to go out on top of what is, for him "my title fight".

In one recent interview, he said: "This isn't Monte Barrett looking for a payday. This isn't Monte Barrett fighting injured [he allegedly broke a bone in his hand against Ustinov]. This isn't Monte Barrett with problems getting his head in the right place. This is Monte Barrett focused and at his very best."

Talk's cheap in boxing - but Barrett does indeed look fit. He is not without talent, even if some of his fights have revealed a tendency to go down easily after a solid punch. If he can jab Tua off and keep moving, it may damage the Tua title hopes amidst all that misplaced US cynicism.

This fight will be about Tua stalking Barrett as he tries to box him off, though a fit-looking Tua said from Atlantic City: " I'm not worried about that [when asked if he was in better shape than against Cameron or Ahunanya]. It's more about the feel and I am feeling pretty good.

"I am just focused on my job and the things I need to do to win the fight. I need to win rounds. I am prepared for a 12-round fight.

"I am not overlooking anything when it comes to Barrett. I know what he is capable of."

You get the feeling that not many in the US yet understand what Tua is capable of. It may just be that Barrett has indeed got his "head in the right place" - exactly the right place for Tua's punch.

David Tua vs Monte Barrett, on Maori TV from noon.