Boxing: Tua ringside as mate KOs Fijian title opponent

By PETER JESSUP

Santos Pakau won a unanimous decision over eight rounds against Fijian Narayan Singh in Auckland to extend his pro-record to 21-0, and must now look to fight overseas because he has overcome all serious Oceania opposition here.

Narayan was difficult, a southpaw spoiler who spent plenty of time holding the sharper Pakau in the bout at the Ocean City restaurant, and refused to lie down.

Maselino Masoe was all class in demolishing his Fijian opponent, Epeli Naua, and likewise must seek serious opposition elsewhere now.

He sat Epeli down in round one with a left, then knocked him out with a right early in round two of a Pan Asian middleweight title contest set for 12 rounds.

Australian Paul Murdoch dropped Aucklander Sam Leuii in round three and finished him in four to hold his PABA light-heavyweight title.

Fale Braxton took a points decision over Vernon Downs at heavyweight and Jamie Waru won a unanimous decision over 12 rounds to beat Peter Dransfield for the vacant New Zealand Boxing Council's light-welterweight belt.

Heavyweight David Tua was there to support his mate Masoe. Tua will train in Auckland for the next month as his management team puts together a fight for late July/early August, possibly in New York.

Longer term, they're steering towards Mike Tyson, hoping he will beat Lennox Lewis next month.

Significantly, Tua and managers Kevin Barry and Martin Pugh have been invited to attend the title fight in Memphis by Tyson-Lewis promoter Brian Young.

Showtime is collaborator with HBO as pay-TV broadcaster for Tyson-Lewis.

Tyson is contracted to Showtime and Tua has just signed to fight his next bout for them.

Barry said they were looking at two top-10 fighters and two ranked inside the top 20, and were hopeful of a contract in conjunction with Cedric Kushner Promotions.

Barry has his lower left arm in plaster after a bone graft and insertion of a plate to fuse his right wrist to repair an old injury.

Tua is working steadily in the gym between spending time with his partner and son.

"He knows he has to enjoy this time because once we get back to the States it's all hard work," Barry said.