January 23, 2014
Thank you, David Tua
WILLIE JACKSON
22112013
OPINION: It was so sad watching David Tua announcing his retirement after his comprehensive loss to the giant Belarusian Alexander Ustinov last weekend.
Although without doubt David did the right thing, as his skill level is not there any more, I couldn't help thinking about what might have been if he hadn't fallen out with his former managers Kevin Barry and Martin Pugh.
Their relationship disintegrated in 2003 through an ugly legal feud over money.
That took a toll on David and the stress was so much that he didn't fight for two years.
When he did, he was never the same fighter who had beaten four world champions, challenged Lenox Lewis for the world title, and was the No 1 contender in the world.
Yes, he did show glimpses of his old self like when he knocked out Shane Cameron, but the consistent fire and power that was his trademark was replaced by a hesitant Tua who seemed to have nothing more than a big left hook.
There's no doubt that Kevin Barry was the key to unlocking his potential and David, despite his disappointing loss to Lenox Lewis, was still seen as a major contender.
Most experts thought he would become a world champion alongside the Klitchko brothers after Lenox retired because he was still one of the best fighters in the world.
But then it all went wrong.
Boxing is not just about what happens in the physical sense – the mental side must be right also and when David found out that he didn't have a cent to his name and had lost more than $15 million despite having fought for over a decade it must have driven him nuts.
He was only 30 when that happened but where before he had no worries about training and living expenses, suddenly he had to do everything and he had to do that with no resources at all.
Yes, David Tua was stone-cold broke. After having lived the life of a superstar celebrity for the previous decade he now had to look after his family with no support.
He has done his best and tried his heart out.
He now says he wants to help his community in any way possible which is an offer that community leaders should take seriously.
But in my books, he has already helped our community.
He made us so proud and he took South Auckland, Samoa and this country on to a world stage where so few make it – so thank you David for your wonderful career and contribution.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd