Tua's gone! Hangs up his boots at last

A great warrior and servant of the sport has retired. Tua, probably the greatest HW of the last 10-20 years not to become champion has decided to call it a day. In spite of financial troubles, he didn't wish to continue just to earn money.

Appearing clearly diminished in his efforts against Barrett - the news comes as no great surprise. One hopes that we will remember him for his chin, his power, the ability that stopped Ruiz in a round and decked future champions Rahman and Maskaev at his peak rather than the sad shadow of his decline and fall.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=31298&more=1

Add to that his utter destruction of Moorer. No matter what state he came in, he came to fight. Shame he was so badly managed with all his managerial problems.

Watch out for the comeback in a couple of years fighting for the oceanania title.

It was time. Brilliant fighter who always came to fight and delivered several memorable fights. Manager ruined what could have been a fair title run. Always remember his monstrous fight with Ibeabuchi and his slew of brutal knockouts.

Take it easy mate and have a good retirement - hopefully someway you will imrpove your financial condition without having to endanger your health.

Always had a bit of time for Tua - a dangerous puncher and a vicious finisher with the chin of an ogre. Honest, good-to watch fighter who knew when he was beaten but never gave up. I would have loved to see him champion but instead his most impressive knock out victim got the WBA strap instead. Sad.

Enjoy your retirement big man.

He was better than the majority of title holders since Lewis with the obvious exception of the brothers, would have been a good test for Wlad around 2003/2004.

Happy retirment to him and I also think he would have been too relentness for Wlad.

I think Tua was one of those fighters I would have loved to hold a version of the world title.

Always find it sad when we talk about best fighters not to be world champions, then you look at John Ruiz and Valuev, who I think prime Tua would have done a number on.

Well he did do a number on one of them, Lewis showed his shortcomings but that was a boxing masterclass from the big man.

Tua did more than a number on poor John Ruiz Nico!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKDvkcLe0K0

Devastating.

Ruiz, Maskaev, Rahman all went on to become champions. Moorer a former champion. Oqendo a world title challenger.

It was the Byrd loss that was probably the most disappointing. Byrd was at his best - and outjabbed a lethargic Tua.

Still - without those management issues - you'd think that he'd have still managed at least one title in there...

AlexHuckerby wrote:Tua did more than a number on poor John Ruiz Nico!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKDvkcLe0K0

Devastating.

A long time ago, yet Ruiz still has a world title belt sitting on the shelf which sometimes makes the saying right time right place apt in Ruiz's case.

As Lennox said - you can't be world champion with a left hook and a hairdo.

tell that to tommy morrison

Schooled to within an inch of his life by Lennox but a terrific value-for-money slugger nonetheless.

Hope he enjoys his retirement.

Monsterous left hook and a humble person who will probably be remembered fondly by casual fans due to his awesome KO highlight reel.

Although a fairly ordinary boxer overall, he was unforunate not to win a alphabet strap given the fact he defeated 4 future or former champions.

Always felt it was his fight with Maskaev that first exposed his limitations as despite securing the late KO, he was getting soundly outboxed prior to it.

He let himself down against Lewis by coming in grossly overweight but its unlikely that would have made much difference as Byrd would later prove that even a conditioned Tua just didnt have the tools to unlock more skilled boxers.

However, I do feel that he could have had a more succesful career if he kept his weight at around 225.

ShahenshahG wrote:tell that to tommy morrison

I thought he had a right cross and a hairdo?

Good luck to Tua. No point feeling sad for the guy because he had his BIG CHANCE against Lewis and really did not turn up for that fight. Still a fighter that excited and could entertain in brutal fashion.

I do not think this is the end for big Tua as he is bound top return especially if he has money problems, but I will remember the young Tua who burst onto the scenes, what a beast.