By MARC HINTON, Stuff.co.nz
Friday "the 13th" Ahunanya is clearly no trash-talker, but then again the man who stands between David Tua and his second shot at a world heavyweight title fight doesn't need to be when he has a manager like Luis Tapia.
As Ahunanya opened his training session at an inner-city Auckland gym yesterday to the media, the 38-year-old Las Vegas-based Nigerian cut an impressive figure as he went through a thorough workout.
Clearly he's arrived in Auckland for next Wednesday's fight against Tua at the Trusts Stadium in game shape, having undergone a thorough preparation for a bout that Tapia says will open the doors to a mid-year title challenge against one of the Klitschko brothers.
But first they will have to deal with the immense power of Tua, which depending on who you talk to is either something they deeply respect, or not a problem.
"It is a big opportunity, and a big challenge," Ahunanya told Stuff.co.nz, still dripping sweat after his vigorous workout.
"This is his home town, and of course he's going to have his home crowd. He's a man on a mission and I'm a man on a mission. I came here for one purpose and that's to come out victorious. I hope he's going to prepare just like me.
"This is a make or break fight for me."
Tapia, who also trains the Nigerian, was a little more emphatic in his predictions.
"If David Tua thinks this is an easy fight for him, he's wrong. Friday is a much better fighter ... I've been hired by this man to train him to win the fight and he's ready right now.
"Nothing against David Tua but if he thinks he's going to just step into the ring and do what he did to Shane Cameron he's dreaming. That's never going to happen. It might happen the other way round, but he's never going to knock out Friday just like that, one-two. Forget about it."
It's interesting Cameron's name came up, for he's a common opponent. Tua demolished his Kiwi rival early in the second round of their heavily hyped Mystery Creek showdown late last year. Ahunanya took 12 rounds to eventually do the same to the outmatched New Zealander back in 2007.
Semantics, says Tapia who claims they picked the final round to knock the Kiwi off his feet.
The intriguing thing is this matchup features two fighters who have never been knocked out in their careers. Most are picking that to change for one next Wednesday night.
Of course, Tapia knows it won't be his man getting up close and personal with the canvas.
"Friday's never been down in a fight, David Tua has. He went down in his fight with Hasim Rahman in the last round and got saved by the bell ... let's see what happens when Friday hits him with the left hook. Let's see whether David Tua can get up again. I doubt it.
"If Friday hits him, Friday is going to knock him out. I know that."
The word is Ahunanya has the durability to seriously test Tua. Maybe even take him the distance.
He's certainly well tested, having come off some significant recent sparring against men of the quality of Rahman and Samuel Peter.
"This is the best shape I've been in for a long, long time," said the boxer whose record stands at 24 wins, five defeats and three draws.
Ad Feedback He was less transparent on fight-night strategy, even if he has previously said he plans to "wear him down later in the fight".
"Tua is a tremendous fighter, he's got the power and the ability to go the distance," said Ahunanya.
"So, of course I have a strategy. I know it's going to be a long night, and that's why I'm doing my running, doing my gym work. I'm willing to go the distance if it's necessary."
Source: stuff.co.nz
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