David Tua searches for competition

Wes Moore

20.11 - The ever changing Kushner Fistful of Dollars promotion took on a little more flavor this week with the apparent addition of David Tua versus Tennessee trial horse Russell Chasteen. The matchup itself should not last for very long but does present us with a few interesting questions. Why does David Tua have to stay active by fighting journeymen at this point in his career? Where are all the victims? What does the future hold for one of the few proven commodities in the heavyweight division? The coming year should answer all of these and more about the Tuaman.

It has become habit to expect a couple of things from a normal Tua fight disregarding the Lewis and Byrd debacles. He will sometimes fall behind early on the cards before mounting a rally and the opponent will most likely feel leather like he has never felt it before. It's like silly math theories that just always seem to work out. The theory held true with Fres Oquendo earlier in the year but then came the Michael Moorer contest. It was a fight that many predicted would be slow and plodding with Moorer as the aggressor. Others suggested that the fight would have the atmosphere of an exhibition due to the friendship of Tua and Moorer. The result proved to be a very stark contrast to what some had predicted. David Tua came out of the corner in round one with a fire and demolished the Kronk Gym alumnus.

The outcome had many Tua fans immediately reaching out for any word on whom Tua might fight next. The rumors of David Tua's activity are always rampant and were fueled even more with his career being reenergized with the Oquendo and Moorer wins. A Sunday might have someone suggesting that Tua might next rematch Lewis, or Monday might have a Tua-Ruiz rematch in the offing but alas they were just rumor. The fact is that nobody in the top 50 really wants to fight David Tua. There is constant positioning within the division from all camps hashing out plans that could lead to success for their fighter. It is doubtful that Tua is heavily discussed in most of these conversations because he is just too dangerous.

David Tua is what many Mike Tyson stalwarts wish their hero still was today: A devastating puncher with KO power in both hands without the mental or physical baggage. David Tua is a very intimidating presence in the ring that has apparently moved on from the frustrating lull in his career. Can he be beaten? Yes, of course, anyone can be beaten but that is not the point. There is no fighter within the heavyweight division that anyone should promote as unbeatable. Lennox Lewis, when prepared and focused, is damn close though. Wlademir Klitschko will get a nice test from Jameel McCline next month which should tell us much more than the Mercer fight did. The point is: David Tua is the most dangerous KO artist in the division at this point and doesn't have serious contenders lining up to fight him.

So what will the future hold for the Tuaman? The beginning of 2003 will most likely yield a title eliminator bout which rematches Tua with Hasim Rahman. If Tua is victorious then the fruits of the heavyweight tree will be offered to him but a loss would put him in another bad situation of being the threat that nobody wants to fight.

On a Fistful of Dollars note, if the Chasteen-Tua fight does come through then it is a nice addition to the card. I'm still curious to see who the final combatants will be in the elimination tournament since there have been some additions and subtractions already. It should be fun to watch much like a Tua fight.

I'll be returning next week with my Holiday wish list for the Heavyweight division. You can reach me at largedog@bellsouth.net and until next time watch out for the upper cut behind the jab.