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Pacific warrior keeps his eye on a bigger prize

By Gavin Evans from Uncasville, Connecticut, US
*** He has been likened to Rocky Marciano, he helped Evander Holy field to his shock victory over Mike Tyson, and he himself is tipped for the very top. But, as Gemini News Service reports, David Tua has ambitions beyond the ring. ***
SAMOAN boxer David “Terminator" Tua has an infectious smile, :s Polynesian poetry, and wears traditional beads and sarong. But he is also from warrior stock - as anyone brave enough to climb through the ropes with his soon discovers.
Unbeaten in 26 heavyweight contests, the 24-ycar-old is built like a tank and has been likened to the late heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano. Half of Tuas 22 knock-out victims failed to make it past the first round. John Ruiz, who was being tipped as a future world champion, lasted 19 seconds.
Tua helped Evander Holyfield prepare for his victory over ’’Iron Mike" Tyson In November, and could soon take over Holyfield's mantle, says a Lou Duva. who has been training the "Terminator" In New Jersey.
Duva was impressed when he _
first saw the Samoa's "raw courage". He says: "I was very close to Rockey Marciano, and I always thought that one day I would get a heavyweight who would be another Marciano, and when I saw [Tua] I thought . 'He's the guy.’ He’s rough, he walks in. ne wants to fight and it was just a matter of teaching him all about how to fight."
He continues: "David has it in him to be the heavyweight champion of the world. If Rockey Marciano. Joe Frazier. Mike Tyson could do it. and they are all short guys. David can do it too. I guarantee that by the end of 1997. he'll be winning the world title.
Tua currently holds the World Boxing Council’s international heavyweight title — a prize for aspiring contenders for the world crown — and is now ranked in the top 10.
His 5 ft 10 in. 225 lb build and push-forward style have
also drawn comparisons with Tyson. Because of this, the Holyfield camp asked for Tua s services as one of two main sparring partners before November's battle for the World Boxing Association heavyweighttitle that turned into one of the sporting upsets of 1996.
"David went terrific." says Duva. They gave each other hell, but he helped out tremendously.'
Tua refuses to be drawn about reports that he gave Holyfield a workover: 'The sparring sessions were very interesting. 1 wouldn't describe it as trying to knock him out, or him trying to knock me out - it was just a lifetime experience for me.
"I was buzzing through it. and I thank God 1 was able to be in the right place to be able to help him accomplish his goal."
In December. Tua went on to score revenge over Nigerian David Izontirei. who had outpointed him In the Barcelona Olympics semi-finals in 1992.
Tua says his people are part human, part spirit, and he believes his ancestors accompany him into the ring. He says : "We're a family of fighters. My grandfather used to do it. and passed It on to my father, and it passed through the genes to me.”
In fact, his father. Tuavale Mafaufau. channelled his own failed boxing ambitions into his five sons.
When David was 11. his father began selecting men off the street in the tiny Western Samoan Island of Faleatiu to spar with him.
"If they won," recalls Tua. "he'd give them a loaf of bread, and I d get the strap. 1 tried to avoid those sparring sessions, but If my father saw me sneaking off. I'd get more straps."
He is under no Illusions about the seriousness of the business he is currently involved In. adding with a frown: 'My time will come soon, and I have to prepare myself for that time, because I want to be ready to face the outcome." — Gemini News
About the Author: Gauln Euans is a writer and freelance journalist, currently based in London and contributing to the Guardian newspaper and several sports magazines. He worked for many years in South Africa for newspapers including the Rand Daily Mall and Mail and Guardian.