Cameron targets Tua!
November 20, 2006
By
Ray Wheatley -- World of Boxing
IBF
#14 heavyweight contender Shane Cameron (16-0, 14 KOs) of New Zealand
has called out fellow New Zealander and former world title challenger
David Tua (46-3-1, 40 KOs). Cameron's manager Ken Reinsfield has been
trying to open negotiations with David Tua's management to hold that bout
in New Zealand, where it would likely attract a record attendance.
Reinsfield
told Fighnews that the unbeaten Cameron, a former Tua sparring partner,
is confident he will defeat his countryman and eventually challenge IBF
champion Wladimir Klitschko. Reinsfield also mentions Cameron's sparring
sessions with Mike Tyson that impressed promoter Gary Shaw enough to sign
Cameron to a contract and much more.
World
ranked heavyweight (IBF#14) Shane Cameron has been chasing a bout with
with former world heavyweight challenger David Tua. Can you advise where
negotiations are for this fight?
We have been calling
David Tua out for some time now, so far he has been ignoring us – I guess
he is hoping we will go away. Tua said he wants to get back into the world
rankings and have a shot at the title, well here’s his chance right here
in his home country to fight Shane Cameron who is world ranked at #14
in the world with the IBF. The ball is now in Tua’s court – so far he
has been running away from the ball!
Shane is a
former sparring partner of Tua. Is he confident he can defeat the fellow
New Zealand world class heavyweight. Why?
Yes – absolutely,
we wouldn’t be calling him out if we weren’t confident of victory. Shane
is most certainly not the same fighter as when he was sparring David as
a young professional. He is bigger, stronger and more experienced – a
more technical fighter coming into his prime. Whereas Tua I believe is
no longer the fighter he once was, sure he still has that punching power
but it is no good if you can’t land it! Shane’s ability to hit with both
hands and the fact that he is a big body puncher would be too much for
Tua at this time in his career.
Would the
fight be held in Auckland New Zealand. Would the Tua vs Cameron attract
a similar attendance that the 30,000 the Mundine vs Green fight did in
Sydney in May?
That’s a fair comparison
and yes most likely to be held in Auckland. I don’t believe in NZ’s boxing
history we have had two such world class exciting fighters. Both men are
devastating punchers and as we already know you can guarantee an exciting
fight every time Shane Cameron steps in the ring. I think the NZ public
would come out in full force to witness the biggest boxing event in NZ
history.
You had a
offer from former world ranked Joe Mesi's management for a bout in the
USA. Please give details.
They actually discussed
the possibility of a fight to be held in NZ as Mesi was considering fighting
in this part of world. We made the offer of a possible match up with Shane
but his management declined as they considered Shane too dangerous an
opponent due to Mesi just making a comeback.
Cameron was
impressive in sparring sessions against Mike Tyson when he was preparing
to fight Kevin McBride. Please give details about the sparring sessions.
It was great experience
for Shane – basically to two of them met in the middle of the ring and
no one took a backward step and just went toe to toe. This covers pretty
much every session!
Can you advise
when USA promoter Gary Shaw signed Cameron to a contract. Has Gary Shaw
have any plans for Cameron to fight in the USA in the near future?
Shane was signed with
Gary Shaw after his impressive displays while sparring Tyson. We are booked
to fight on the 24th of November in Christchurch, NZ to defend Shane’s
IBF Pan Pacific title and his WBA Pan African Title. We are also booked
to fight early next year again in NZ, after this we will definitely be
looking to return to the US.
You have had
several sparring sesssions with former world heavyweight contender Kali
Meehan of Australia - who lost a disputed decision to Lamon Brewster in
a WBO challenge. Please tell me about those sparring sessions.?
Yes we have a good
relationship with Kali Meehan’s team, Shane has helped him prepare for
his fights and he has helped prepare us for ours. Kali is a world class
boxer and the sparring sessions have always been great work and very competitive.
Will Meehan
be a future opponent of Cameron.?
Kali is not on our
immediate plans but we are both in the boxing business so we wouldn’t
rule this out as a possibility in the future. It would be great if we
fought one another for a world title!!
Cameron is
undefeated in 16 fights...How long before you think Cameron will be ready
for a world heavyweight title shot?
Shane has developed
and improved with every fight. Most of the current world champions had
more than 30 fights before they got a title shot, Shane is very fast learner
and if the opportunities come our way after a few more fights Shane will
be ready to take on anyone.
Is Waldemir
Klitschko the IBF heavyweight champion or Nicolay Valuev the WBA heavyweight
champion on your radar?
I think Klitschko
is recognized as the number one heavyweight in the world right now and
the fact that Shane is ranked with the IBF gives us the greater opportunity
to secure a world title fight so he is definitely on our radar. Having
said that no one turns down a world title shot – if Valuev came knocking
we would answer.
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