Promoter says Tua can't afford to lose -- TVNZ

tvnz.co.nz

Heavyweight boxer David Tua's fight against Nigerian Friday Ahunanya is a world title eliminator that he cannot afford to lose, his promoter Cedric Kushner said.

But New York-based Kushner was also confident that Tua would prevail in Auckland next Wednesday night and go on to challenge for, and claim, a world belt before the year was out.

He said Tua had "elevated himself dramatically" with his second-round knockout last October of fellow New Zealander Shane Cameron, whom the World Boxing Organisation at the time ranked as its No. 7 contender.

"David is No. 3 in the world with the WBO and he is in the ratings with the other organisations," he said.

"People know who Ahunanya is and they know who Tua is. David Tua can't withstand a loss. He has to win."

Kushner said Ahunanya, who has also beaten Cameron, ending the latter's unbeaten record by knocking him out in late 2007, was "a very capable fighter" whom he had once tried to sign.

"But I think I have the best heavyweight in the world bar none," he said.

"In my opinion, David is the uncrowned champion and, as I have said on many occasions, this is David's year, 2010. He will be the heavyweight champion."

Tua, 38, has had one world title shot, losing by a unanimous decision to Briton Lennox Lewis in 2000.

Like Ahunanya, 37, he hasn't been knocked out in a career that has brought him 50 wins, 43 by knockout, three losses and a draw.

Kushner was unsure in what fashion a Tua victory would arrive here at Trusts Stadium.

"I'm sincere when I tell you it could be a really tough, competitive fight and go 12 rounds," he said.

"Or, as David has done so many times in the past, he could knock him out."

Kushner described Tua as looking in great shape, and as good as he did before the Cameron fight, for which he shed 26kg to weigh in at 108kg.

He said comments by Tua's former manager, Kevin Barry, this month that the boxer looked overweight during an open sparring session smacked of sour grapes.

Both Tua and Ahunanya said at a joint press conference that they had had an excellent preparation and were feeling in top shape.

"It's probably the best camp for us," Tua said.

"I'm very well prepared for this and I'm looking forward to a good test."

He was ready to go the full 12 rounds, rather than specifically targeting an early finish, which "if it happens, it happens".

Ahunanya, whose record is 24-5-3, with 13 of his wins by knockout, also had no complaints about his build-up and was confident about the result.

"I'm going to prove that the impossible is possible."

As for how he thought the contest would pan out, he said: "Make no mistake, it's going to be a long night."

Source: tvnz.co.nz