Weighing in: David Tua is coming back, but can he fulfill his potential?
By Peter Chhim (January 14, 2005) 
David Tua
It looks like David Tua might finally be making his return to boxing by the end of March. In a report issued by Fightnews, Cedric Cushner stated that Tua would be making his return to the ring on March 31st against an opponent named Talmadge Griffis. Tua has been out of action for over two years now and you have to wonder with such a long layoff, what type of fighter will he be once he gets back?

Although he sports an impressive ring record of 42-3-1 (37), Tua for the most part can still be considered a model for unrealized potential. The stout Samoan has always had the some of the major physical requirements for heavyweight dominance, heavy hands, an indestructible chin, and a sturdy frame. But this being boxing, he has reciprocally lacked the ability to get by a resilient boxer’s jab and the ability to cut off the ring against elusive fighters. Both of these deficiencies have been exposed on several occasions, most notably revealed in watershed bouts against then heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis and former contender Chris Byrd.

That being said, perhaps the most obstinate obstacle preventing the ‘Tuaman’ from fulfilling the lofty expectations he’s been adorned with has been his psyche. After witnessing some of his less impassioned and quite frankly, passive performances, I’m left wondering whether or not under his hardened exterior lies a fragile psyche.

Tua himself has even made mention of this possibility. Especially enlightening is when he refers to his inability to seize the moment during bouts (which in boxing is the equivalent to the brass ring) and when he questions why his fistic rockets aren’t firing, or fizzle out before they reach their intended destination?

Years back when Tua challenged Lennox Lewis for the heavyweight crown, Lennox facetiously claimed that Tua, “would have to bring more than just a left hook and a haircut”, to beat him. Perhaps along with exercising his penchant for humor, the Londoner was providing candid insight into Tua’s psyche. Lennox seemed to know that because Tua wouldn’t be able to solve his boxing riddle, the Samoan would end up being flustered and consequently badly beaten. But anyone who witnessed Tua closing the distance and providing more than a few precarious moments for the champion during the second round of their bout wouldn’t have thought so. Tua was supposed to be able to equalize everything a boxer could do with his pressure and his power, but he didn’t.

In subsequent bouts, we’ve seen a similar pattern of Tua acquiescing before the final bell. The pinnacle of which culminated in his draw with an overweight Hasim Rahman. At the time, Tua was on a solid winning streak having disposed of three opponents in devastating fashion, most notably being the first fighter to stop Fres Oquendo, and destroying former champ and current contender Michael Moorer in less than a minute. Yet, when it came time to step up to the big stage and firmly stake his claim as the fighter to beat in the division, he didn’t show.

So, what happened to the promising young heavyweight who seemed at one time destined for the shores of boxing greats? Where was the whirling dervish whose fighting style and punching power many likened to a young Mike Tyson?

Perhaps the boxing establishment had expected too much from David Tua. Perhaps the weight of these expectations came crashing down on his psyche, which wasn’t buttressed with a strong enough foundation.

Whatever the case, with Tua’s imminent return he has an opportunity to overturn the calamitous verdict that many have ordained to his career. Up to and even after his next performance in the ring he’ll be faced with many questions. Hopefully during his sabbatical he’s found those answers, because come test time he’ll be drilled hard.

I’ll hold off on my opinion until I see how he performs (if his legal troubles don’t prevent him from doing so), but I have a vexing intuition that I already know the answer. I’m hoping that David Tua proves me wrong though, because I’d hate to see another gifted fighter waste his talent by not fulfilling his potential.
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