By James Slater: New York’s Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett, an exciting, gutsy fighter who has enjoyed a varied and memorable career, says he will have just two more fights before walking away and retiring. The 41 year old who has met everyone from Wladimir Klitschko to David Haye, from Nicolay Valuev to Hasim Rahman, says he will “beat up” Shane Cameron (who he meets in New Zealand in a week’s time) and will then look to entice two-time rival David Tua into a third encounter.
Barrett, who fought Tua to a draw and then survived a busted jaw to outpoint the Samoan slugger in a return, has called the former world title challenger all manner of names in an attempt to get Tua to bite and return to see out a trilogy. Tua announced his retirement from boxing earlier this year, yet Barrett wants that third rumble so he can, as he put it when speaking with NZ.Sports.com, “have the opportunity to knock Tua out.”
Barrett, an eloquent fighter, really laid into “The Tuaman:”
“After I beat up Shane, I am going to give Tua one more chance to whip his ass into shape and get his act together,” Barrett said. “Win, lose or draw (against Cameron), I will fight two more times, then I’m done. I want David Tua to take my last fight. But David doesn’t do anyone proud. He’s an embarrassment to New Zealand. He’s a lazy, fat slob.
“Tua can take it or leave it. It (their rivalry) has the history. I want the third fight and the opportunity to KO Tua.”
Barrett, considered finished after his quick stoppage loss to Odlanier Solis, has managed to reinvent his career with the two exciting battles with Tua. Now wanting to end his long career on his own terms, Barrett’s idea of a third clash with Tua makes sense. In their own way, the two fights the veterans had lit up the heavyweight division, and even though no third fight would have any bearing at world title level, it would be interesting to see the trilogy completed.
Tua says he’s retired, but will those insults from “Two Gunz” inspire him to train for one last grudge-match?