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Tua, Griffis set for March 31 collision!
March 29, 2005
Former No. 1 heavyweight contender David Tua of Western Samoa returns to the ring for the first time in more than two years when he faces American Talmadge Griffis in the 10-round main event on a pay-per-view card presented by Cedric Kushner Promotions March 31 in Auckland, New Zealand.
“I had a terrific camp,” said the 32-year-old Tua, whose relentless style and devastating power made him the most feared slugger in the sport.
“I trained in a very sensible fashion in order to lose gradually the weight I put on during my time off,” said Tua, who has a record of 42-3-1 with 37 knockouts.
The 30-year-old Griffis, from Colorado Springs, Colo., has a record of 22-5-3 with 14 knockouts and is considered a much tougher foe than usual for a contender who has been off for two years.
Also on the card—which will be televised on pay-per-view Saturday starting at 9 p.m. (Eastern)/6 p.m. (Pacific)--are two other significant bouts:
Undefeated and world-ranked heavyweight giant, 7-foot, 325-pound Nicolay Valuev meets Attila Levin and world-rated heavyweight Sinan Samil Sam faces Lawrence Clay Bey in scheduled 12 rounders. Both bouts took place February 12 at the Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin, Germany. Neither bout has previously been seen in the U.S.
Valuev, who enters the bout with a record of 39-0 and 29 knockouts and is ranked No. 5 by the World Boxing Association, No. 7 by the International Boxing Federation, No. 12 by the World Boxing Council and No. 14 by the World Boxing Organization, defends his WBA Intercontinental heavyweight championship against Levin.
Sam, who enters his fight with a record of 22-2 and 15 knockouts and is ranked No. 4 by the WBC, No. 9 by the WBO, No. 10 by the IBF and No. 15 by the WBA, defends his WBC International heavyweight championship against Clay Bey.
The 28-year-old Levin enters the fight with a record of 29-2 and 23 knockouts while the 39-year-old Clay Bey enters his bout with a mark of 21-2 and 16 knockouts.
“I know I took a long time off,” said Tua, “but when I got back in the ring I wanted to be sure I was 100 percent both physically and mentally.”
Griffis is fighting with trainer Krishna Wainwright in his corner, a man who knows Tua well. Wainwright fought Tua on the 1993 Evander Holyfield-Rid**** Bowe card at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas that was interrupted when the “Fan Man” landed in the ring during the championship main event.
“This is a golden opportunity,” said Griffis. “I plan to take advantage of the fact that David has been off for two years. I know what a win over a fighter like Tua will do in terms of boosting my career.”
Tua has wins over current WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz and former WBC and IBF heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman, who is scheduled to meet current WBC heavyweight title-holder Vitali Klitschko.
-*********.com
March 29, 2005
Former No. 1 heavyweight contender David Tua of Western Samoa returns to the ring for the first time in more than two years when he faces American Talmadge Griffis in the 10-round main event on a pay-per-view card presented by Cedric Kushner Promotions March 31 in Auckland, New Zealand.
“I had a terrific camp,” said the 32-year-old Tua, whose relentless style and devastating power made him the most feared slugger in the sport.
“I trained in a very sensible fashion in order to lose gradually the weight I put on during my time off,” said Tua, who has a record of 42-3-1 with 37 knockouts.
The 30-year-old Griffis, from Colorado Springs, Colo., has a record of 22-5-3 with 14 knockouts and is considered a much tougher foe than usual for a contender who has been off for two years.
Also on the card—which will be televised on pay-per-view Saturday starting at 9 p.m. (Eastern)/6 p.m. (Pacific)--are two other significant bouts:
Undefeated and world-ranked heavyweight giant, 7-foot, 325-pound Nicolay Valuev meets Attila Levin and world-rated heavyweight Sinan Samil Sam faces Lawrence Clay Bey in scheduled 12 rounders. Both bouts took place February 12 at the Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin, Germany. Neither bout has previously been seen in the U.S.
Valuev, who enters the bout with a record of 39-0 and 29 knockouts and is ranked No. 5 by the World Boxing Association, No. 7 by the International Boxing Federation, No. 12 by the World Boxing Council and No. 14 by the World Boxing Organization, defends his WBA Intercontinental heavyweight championship against Levin.
Sam, who enters his fight with a record of 22-2 and 15 knockouts and is ranked No. 4 by the WBC, No. 9 by the WBO, No. 10 by the IBF and No. 15 by the WBA, defends his WBC International heavyweight championship against Clay Bey.
The 28-year-old Levin enters the fight with a record of 29-2 and 23 knockouts while the 39-year-old Clay Bey enters his bout with a mark of 21-2 and 16 knockouts.
“I know I took a long time off,” said Tua, “but when I got back in the ring I wanted to be sure I was 100 percent both physically and mentally.”
Griffis is fighting with trainer Krishna Wainwright in his corner, a man who knows Tua well. Wainwright fought Tua on the 1993 Evander Holyfield-Rid**** Bowe card at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas that was interrupted when the “Fan Man” landed in the ring during the championship main event.
“This is a golden opportunity,” said Griffis. “I plan to take advantage of the fact that David has been off for two years. I know what a win over a fighter like Tua will do in terms of boosting my career.”
Tua has wins over current WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz and former WBC and IBF heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman, who is scheduled to meet current WBC heavyweight title-holder Vitali Klitschko.
-*********.com
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