Yahoo!Xtra Sports will be covering the David 'Tuamanator' Tua v Friday 'The 13th' Ahunanya bout and the undercard from the Trusts Stadium in Waitakere tonight.It's a massive opportunity for the Tuamanator to show he's worthy of another world title shot and promises to be a better contest than his fight against Shane Cameron last time around.
Here's the full rundown on the card:
Lightweight contest, 4 x 2 minute rounds
Thai boxer Bronwyn Wylie has experience in the martial arts ring but has only had one boxing bout - and that was against tonight's opponent Christina Tai.
Wylie won that bout after neither fighter could get a knockout in the four rounds. But that bout was in May last year and since then Tai has had another couple of fights.
She lost to Susie Ramadan in August, but then won against Michelle Preston at the end of January.
Wylie is ranked 23 in the world and her 100 per cent record will get a tough workout against the 28th ranked Tai, who has a professional record of won four, lost six.
Tip: Wylie to keep her record, just, after the four rounds.
Clarence Tillman (130.2kgs) v Leamy Tato (108.9kgs)
Heavyweight contest, 4 x 3 minute rounds
Kiwi Leamy Tato, at 5ft 10in, is dwarfed alongside the giant American Clarence Tillman at 6ft 5in.
But Taito is a MMA and Cage combatant champion and won his only previous boxing bout against Ben Naqasima in October last year.
He also represented the Junior Kiwis when he had his fights on a league field rather than a ring.
Tillman has lost three of his last five fights but beat Junior Pati by TKO in his last fight earlier this month - and Pati is ranked higher than Tato.
The Las Vegas fighter has won only three of his eight bouts, but is still ranked 249th in the world.
Tip: Tato may go the distance, but he's not going to win.
Jameson Bostic (84.4kgs) v Oscar Siale (84.2kgs)
Cruiserweight contest, 6 x 3 minute rounds
Southpaw Kiwi Oscar Siale is ranked fourth in New Zealand and won his last 10 fights until he lost to the higher ranked undefeated Samoan Vaitele Soi at the end of January.
Bostic hails from Brooklyn, New York and is ranked even higher than Soi was when he beat Siale - so it's going to be a major shock if the Kiwi can inflict Bostic's fifth defeat in 24 fights.
Bostic has fought five times in New Zealand previously and has won every time, including his last bout which was just 20 days ago against the lowly ranked Wilhelm Schwalger.
Tip: Bostic to take the win before the sixth round.
Areta Gilbert (83kgs) v Robert Berridge (79.8kgs)
Cruiserweight contest, 6 x 3 minute rounds
This all-Kiwi clash between Robert 'The Butcher' Berridge and Areta Gilbert shapes up nicely.
Berridge has gone up a couple of weights to fight Gilbert and so gives away a bit in height and weight.
The Butcher is undefeated in three fights after winning his first two via knockout. His last fight was against journeyman Faimasasa Tavui in July last year which he won by unanimous decision.
Gilbert lost his only previous fight, but that was against a much higher ranked opponent in Shane 'Chopper' Chapman, currently ranked second in New Zealand and 126th in the world.
The 22-year-old has dropped a few kilograms since that December fight and will be looking to take out his more experienced opponent.
Tip: Gilbert to take the win in a bit of a shock
Brett Smith (102.9kgs) v Isreal Garcia (118kgs)
Heavyweight contest, 8 x 3 minute rounds
Brett Smith is the original Aussie bad boy (apparently) and is facing up against David Tua's current sparring partner Isreal 'King Kong' Garcia.
Smith's record isn't the best, with 13 wins in 21 fights and has lost four of his last six fights.
He did win last time out against the lower ranked Brian Fitzgerald earlier this month, but that first round TKO was his first fight in over two years.
Garcia has been punished by Tua in their sparring sessions and boxed for 12 rounds against the Tuaminator, the man who punches harder than anyone else, he says.
King Kong has lost his last two fights, being TKO'd in the second round last time and losing in the third the time before that. But those fights were against boxers in the top 20 in the world and therefore no disgrace.
Tip: Garcia's Kiwi connection will have the home crowd cheering him and he'll take the win by points.
David Tua (108.7kgs) v Friday Ahunanya (104.1)
Heavyweight contest, 12 x 3 minute rounds
Referee: Garry Dean
Winner takes the WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title and the WBO Oriental heavyweight title
This is a massive fight for David Tua. The Tuamanator destroyed Shane Cameron last time out and will want another big fight to push for another world title shot.
The revelation that the WBO are keeping a very close eye on this fight with a view to a possible world title fight in New Zealand will surely motivate Tua even more.
Tua has had more first round knockouts than any boxer, barring Mike Tyson, and his 50 wins, three losses and one draw in 54 fights is an impressive record.
Friday 'The 13th' Ahunanya has a record of 24 wins, five losses and three draws in his 32 fights and has won four out of his last five.
His last fight, against Alonzo Butler in 2008, went the distance and if Ahunanya has any hope of making more of his career he needs a massive win tonight.
Tip: But it's not going to happen. Tua has too much to lose and will win before the eighth round by TKO.
So what are your picks for tonights card? Leave your comment and you can prove you know much more about boxing than me!
And remember, check back in after 7pm for live coverage from the Trusts Stadium.
Source: nz.sports.yahoo.com
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