LAS VEGAS (November 9, 2000 7:11 p.m. EST http://www.sportserver.com) - On paper, in sports books and
hotel hallways, Lennox Lewis is favored to keep his two titles
as well as his unofficial crown as undisputed heavyweight
champion of the world against David Tua on Saturday.
Lewis, a 3-1/2-1 favorite, is the much bigger man, the more
experienced in big fights, has a battle-tested, world-class
corner, can box and punch and has developed a quiet but certain
confidence as he has grown into his rule.
But there is the old boxing cliche that applies doubly to
Tua, to the delight of ticket-sellers: He has a puncher's
chance.
And in the case of the Samoan tank - who appears bigger
than his listed 5-foot-10, 240 pounds, it
adds up to a big chance at Mandalay Bay.
Tua is probably the hardest punching heavyweight around
these days. And coupled with his indomitable desire, anvil chin
and impressive stamina, he stacks up as a formidable challenge
for the 35-year-old British champion (37-1-1).
Even Lewis' trainer, Emanuel Steward, has praise for the
27-year-old Tua.
"David is a dangerous opponent for Lennox. He throws hard
punches with both hands," said Steward, countering the argument
by some, including Lewis, that Tua is a one-dimensional fighter
who relies solely on a sledgehammer left hook that his mother
said he developed cutting grass with a machete as a little boy
in Samoa.
"He has great stamina and tremendous concentration as the
fight goes, on as well as great intensity," said Steward, who
praised Tua as a future champion, but only when Lewis retires.
"Tua's got a good defense," Steward added, again running
against popular opinion. "Even when he looks like he gets hit
he doesn't get hit clean."
But says Steward, relying on another boxing cliche, said,
"a good big man always beats a good small man, and Lennox just
isn't good, he's great."
And, he insists, Lewis, especially with the confidence he
gained from a draw and a decision against Evander Holyfield,
"really realizes he's talented." The second bout with Holyfield
"was the fight that changed him completely."
No surprisingly, Lewis concurs. "I'm looking around (at
other boxers) and I'm saying, 'Hey, I am good. I am great.'"
Lewis and Holyfield fought to a very controversial draw in
their first fight. Eight months later the Briton won a
decision and the undisputed heavyweight title.
But Lewis, whom Steward insists will be remembered as one
of the best heavyweights in history, has not been up against
the most formidable opposition lately, either.
The champion of the International Boxing Federation (IBF)
and the World Boxing Council had easy two-round nights when he
stopped the hapless Michael Grant in April and the
light-hitting and slow Francois Botha in July.
Tua, who is at least seven inches shorter than
Lewis, "has to do two things," Steward said. "Get inside and
then punch, while Lennox only has to punch. Lennox is too big,
too good and more experienced."
Tua, the IBF's top-ranked contender, has been criticized
for lacking a good defense, the result, some say, of relying
too much on his left hook against less than accomplished
opponents in running his record to 37-1.
The Samoan-born fighter, who lives in New Zealand and
trains in Las Vegas, has not faced many memorable opponents
recently, working only seven rounds in four fights since July
1999 as he waited for his chance at a world title.
Tua's trainer, Ronnie Shields, acknowledges the lack of
serious competition but says: "We get done what we need to in
the gym. If we weren't accomplishing anything in the gym I
would be concerned.
Tua's one loss was to Ike Ibeabuchi in 1997 on a decision
that many ringsiders thought Tua should have received.
Although many observers think Tua's biggest chance to beat
Lewis is with an early knockout, the Samoan's handlers say
their man has knockout power at any time in a fight.
They point to his 1998 fight with Hasim Rahman. Behind on
the scorecards, Tua needed a knockout to win and went out and
stopped Rahman in the 10th round.
Tua also went late into his bouts before stopping David
Izonrite (12th) and Oleg Maskaev (11th), both considered worthy
opponents at the time.
Tua's manager, Kevin Barry, insists that his man, who he
says has never been cut or hurt or knocked down, "will throw
punches all day long" and force Lewis to throw more punches
than he ever has in a bid to tire the Briton. "His lack of
stamina will be tested."
Steward says it's not that simple. "You're gonna have to
get hit coming in. There's the uppercut and a very good
overhand right. Lennox Lewis is just too much for David Tua."
Lewis has been teasing the Samoan about his tall cone of
black hair, which Tua says is a nod to his warrior ancestors.
"You can't just bring power and a hairdo," Lewis said. "You
gotta bring everything. I've got an arsenal, son, and I'm
bringing it."
While Lewis has the skills to outbox Tua to win a decision,
the Samoan dismisses that as an option for himself.
"It's tattooed on the minds of the judges and the fans that
David Tua can't win on points," he said. "Only way I'm gonna
win is I'm gonna knock him out.
"I'm not a boxer. No sir."
