Knockout artist David Tua says he's prepared to go the distance if that's what it takes to beat Friday Ahunanya.
The two heavyweights square off over 12 rounds at the Trusts Stadium in Waitakere
on Wednesday.
on Wednesday. 
They fronted a large media conference in Auckland yesterday, at which both camps aired confidence for a fight that will be vital to the future of the two veterans. Given his punching power, pedigree of opponents and experience, Tua is a warm favourite to defend his WBO Asia-Pacific and Oriental belts.
The TAB have him at $1.12 to win, against Ahunanya's $5.25. A Tua knockout is the favoured method of victory, at $1.20, with a decision to Tua over the 12 rounds paying $5.50. And the odds favour an early finish to the fight, with a knockout in the first or second rounds the most likely.
Tua wasn't prepared to endorse that yesterday, but said he was ready to win by any means. "I'm well prepared physically and mentally.
"It's a 12-round fight and I am very well prepared for 12 rounds. If a knockout happens, it happens, but I'm ready for anything.
"I know it's a very important fight for me and I've prepared accordingly. I'm very positive, very confident."
Tua believed his training camp for this fight was the best of his lengthy career, hence his confidence about pushing into the later rounds if required.
His American trainer, Roger Bloodworth, hinted that might even be beneficial to Tua's future, given the quickfire nature of his devastating second-round knockout of Shane Cameron in his last fight that ended two years in the wilderness because of court battles.
"As a trainer you always like to get a win on board as quickly as you can.
"But from a practical point of view I wouldn't mind it going 12 rounds," Bloodworth said.
"That's one of the reasons why we are fighting Friday, because he is very durable and has never been knocked down. This is a good test for David and we have worked on everything because we have a world-class opponent.
"But I couldn't be happier with David's attitude or his readiness."
Tua doesn't have a rich history of going the distance. Of his 50 wins, 43 have been by knockout. His three losses, to Lennox Lewis, Chris Byrd and Ike Ibeabuchi, have all been by points decisions after being forced to the final bell.
The Ahunanya camp is certainly prepared for a one-dimensional approach from Tua, making that very clear yesterday, although emphasising they had the ability to adjust.
"David Tua just fights one way he just comes forward," said Ahunanya's manager-trainer, Luis Tapia.
"But every fight is a different fight and we will see what happens. We will go round-by-round and we will be changing plans if we need to.
"It's going to be a great fight, a great night. I think this will be one of the fights of the year in the heavyweight division."
With both boxers in their late 30s, and time running out, they know an impressive victory will push their cause for a world title fight in a heavyweight division presently lacking charisma and competitiveness.
Source: stuff.co.nz
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