by James Slater – Due to the most exciting and impressive way he returned to action and dispatched Shane Cameron a few weeks ago, fans everywhere can’t wait for the next instalment of David Tua’s comeback. Looking as though he’d never been away in the quick win he scored over “The Mountain Warrior,” Tua appeared as fast, as sharp and, most importantly, as powerful as ever..
Now that “The Tuaman” has reportedly got all his legal issues sorted out (the ones that kept him out of action for over two years), the plan is for the 36-year-old powerhouse to fight again before the end of the year – the likely date being December 13th, once again in New Zealand. Tua, with his U.S-based promoter of Cedric Cushner, is also looking at having fights in America, however. So Tua does have his options open.
One man who has reportedly signed to take the December fight in New Zealand is Nigerian fringe contender Friday “The 13th” Ahunanya. According to Stuff.co.nz, the 238-pounder who now lives in Las Vegas has put pen to paper and is confident of victory. The ball now appears to be in Tua’s court, and Duco promotions (who promoted Tua-Cameron) are waiting to see if “The Terminator” will accept the fight.
Ahunanya, at 37-years-of-age a year older than Tua, has a decent record at 24-5-3(13) and he also has a win over Cameron – the 12th-round stoppage Ahunanya scored over Cameron being the New Zealand man’s only other defeat. And the Vegas-based slugger is confident he would KO Tua if they did meet – at least his manager Ken Reinsfield is confident of a KO, declaring to Tua that “we are going to go there [New Zealand] and knock you out!”
While that would be a major upset, the fight could well be a lively and entertaining one. And though most fans are anxious to see Tua get in there with bigger names like Chris Arreola, Sam Peter and, eventually one or both of the two currently all-conquering Klitschko brothers, Tua would be wise to take his time and not rush. Ahunanya would be a decent and suitable opponent for what will be the 36-year-old Samoan’s second fight in over two years.
One problem Ahunanya may have, though, is ring-rust of his own. Since stopping Cameron in November of 2007, the Nigerian has fought just once – out-pointing Alonzo Butler in June of last year. A possible lack of sharpness aside, Ahunanya, with his experience, could give Tua a decent argument.
The win over Cameron is probably Friday’s best win, but in his time he has tangled with some of the best known names in the division. The draw he held Dominick Guinn to back in 2005 wasn’t a bad showing, and points losses to Sergey Lyakhovich, Sultan Ibragimov (a TD) and Alexander Povetkin also show how Ahunanya can fight. Stopped just once in a pro career that began back in 1998 – by Lance Whitaker, TKO 5, 2004 – Ahunanya does seem to have a good chin.
It’s likely, if the fight does happen, that the warrior who has avoided defeat in his last five outings will give Tua a tougher fight than Cameron did. In he end, though, Tua will surely get to his man, possibly becoming the second fighter to stop Ahunanya.
As good as he looked in his fight against Cameron, Tua’s comeback is really going to take some stopping. I don’t think Friday Ahunanya is quite up to the job.