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Tropical Punch -- Tua-Oquendo to battle for NABF heavyweight title.

 

David Tua TKOs Fres Oquendo to win NABF Heavyweight title.

Written by Ozzie Gonzalez, Latinosportslegends.com.

April 14, 2002 -- All it took was one mistake from the young, Puerto Rican Fres Oquendo and the fight was over.

Oquendo (22-1 13 KO), was leading on all three scorecards when he let his guards down in the ninth round and got nailed with a left hook by the hard-hitting David "Tuaman" Tua.

For most of the fight, Oquendo was in control moving side-to-side while popping Tua with his jab. Oquendo looked confident and had Tua, who is a straight-up brawler, frustrated with his lateral movement.

From the opening bell, the Samoan-born Tua came out swinging, trying to put out Oquendo with one shot.  Many of times, Tua swung wildly missing his opponent completely with sweeping left hooks. By the middle rounds, Tua looked winded and didn't throw many punches, but continue to come forward.

Tua started to go to the body a bit more in the fifth round, trying to slow down the young Oquendo. Tua lands a big left hook which sends Oquendo back a bit, but the "Big O" comes back with a combination of punches. Oquendo finished off the round strong by landing a solid uppercut to the head of Tua.

For the following three rounds, Tua is chasing Oquendo around the ring trying to land that one big shot that will end turn things around in a hurry.

That chance came in the ninth round when Tua landed with a big right hand to the temple of Oquendo's head which wobbles him. Tua seeing his opponent hurt, rushed in and attacked. Tua cornered Oquendo and lands a flurry of punches without retaliation from Oquendo. The referee, Dave Johnson, who was watching closely the action, stepped in and stopped the fight at 1:54 of the ninth round.

"I felt pretty good, he threw a hard punch," said Oquendo, who lost for the first time in 23 fights. "I take nothing away from him. I am young and hungry. I'll be back."

The official judges scorecards read 70-63, 68-65 and 68-65 all in favor of Oquendo before the stoppage

Tua (40-3, 35 KOs) now reestablishes himself as a heavyweight contender and becomes the new NABF champion.


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