Tua Fight Date set

Tua Fight Date set

Embargoed until 10am, August 14, 2013

DAVID Tua’s shot at redemption via the Hydr8 ZERO David vs Goliath blockbuster bout against Belarusian heavyweight Alexander Ustinov has been postponed until Saturday November 16.

It was thought that the fight – originally slated for Claudelands Arena on August 31 – would be put back to late September after the Tuamanator picked up a minor grade 1 calf muscle injury last week.

However the challenge of venue availability and not clashing with other significant sports events saw a slightly longer than expected hiatus for both fight camps.

“This is the fight game and every now and again fighters get injured and plans change,” says promoter David Higgins of Duco Events.

"It’s business as usual. Delays are commonplace in boxing. Arguably the greatest fight of all - the Rumble in the Jungle - was delayed for over a month when George Foreman was injured ahead of the fight with Muhammad Ali.

"And closer to home, people forget that the Fight of the Century (the 2009 bout between Tua and Shane Cameron) was delayed for nine months. That delay only added to the intrigue and anticipation for the fight. I have no doubt that a similar scenario will play out for the Hydr8 ZERO David v Goliath event. This postponement will only fuel the desire of both fighters and will be mirrored by a boxing public which is aching to see David Tua in the ring in top condition again.”

With the event almost sold out, Duco Events want to assure GA ticket holders that their tickets will remain valid for the new date and a new ticket will not be issued. Any enquiries to be directed to Ticketek – phone 0800 Ticketek or 0800 842-538 or email online@ticketek.co.nz

Mr Higgins moved quickly to pay tribute to the professionalism of both camps since Tua’s injury was sustained last week.

“Alexander and his crew from K2 Promotions have been exceptional,” Mr Higgins said. “They understand that delays are commonplace in the world of boxing. They couldn’t have been more accommodating in terms of accepting the new date.

“And David Tua, too, has been excellent to deal with. He has put in an enormous amount of work to get himself into peak condition for the Hydr8 ZERO David v Goliath bout. But he has kept his spirits up and has accepted the new date and has already begun re-strategizing his build up.”

Indeed, Tua is unfazed by the delay. “It is what it is,” he said. “All you can do is be positive, and to be honest, there is plenty to be positive about. The delay gives me even more time to get into peak condition and it also allows me to leave no stone unturned when it comes to the strategy of the fight.”

Ustinov, too, is happy with the new date in Hamilton. “Coming to New Zealand to prepare for August 31 has been great. Even though the fight has been delayed, when I come back in November I will know what to expect inside and outside of the ring. These things happen in boxing. I’m just looking forward to the fight and taking on the world famous David Tua.”

EVENT DETAILS:
WHAT: Hydr8 ZERO David vs Goliath, David Tua vs Alexander Ustinov
DATE: Saturday 16 November, 2013
VENUE: Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, New Zealand
BROADCAST: Live on Sky TV’s pay-per-view channel SKY ARENA from 7.00pm
Sky Customers can book by texting TUA to 4024
General Admission tickets are on sale at www.ticketek.co.nz
Corporate Table tickets are on sale at www.ducoevents.co.nz

Hydr8 ZERO David vs Goliath
THE MAIN EVENT COMBATANTS:
DAVID TUA
•Olympic bronze medallist 1992
•Has knocked out four heavyweight world champions (John Ruiz, Oleg Maskaev, Hasim Rahman and Michael Moorer)
•Set a world record for punches thrown in a heavyweight fight (vs Ike Ibeabuchi in 1997
•Fought for the sports’ greatest prize, the Heavyweight Championship of the World in 2000
•Ranked No 48 greatest puncher of all time by Ring Magazine
•Won New Zealand’s Fight of the Century in 2009 in devastating style against Shane Cameron.
•His last punch in the ring, thrown in August 2011, broke the jaw of Monte Barrett and has just undergone 6 month brutal training camp and is in the best shape of his career
• Tua on fighting Ustinov: “I told the guys at Duco that I would fight anyone. And I am a man of my word. Alexander will be a challenging opponent on a number of levels. But I need ‘challenging’. I am boxing again because I eventually want to have another shot at the heavyweight title. That chance will never come if I run from fights. And that is something I have never done. I’m excited about the fight. The key now is to continue to work hard and make sure that come fight night I am in the best position possible to make a statement against Alexander and announce to the world that David Tua is serious about fulfilling his destiny.”
RECORD: Wins 52 (KO 43), Lost 4, Drawn 2

ALEXANDER USTINOV
•Stands 6 ft 7½ inches tall
•Currently ranked within top 10 in the World IBF and WBA
•Only one loss, to World IBF number 1 ranked Kubrat Pulev
•Has won 28 of 29 Heavyweight Fights
•Awarded the prestigious medal Order of Courage for 'Services to the Fatherland’ as a combat soldier in the Chechen campaign
•Four time winner one the K1 GP series (Russia and Spain in 2003 and Italy and Belgium in 2005)
•Promoted by the World Heavyweight Champion Klitschko brothers
•Is a former European Boxing Association heavyweight champion – 2010-2012
•Is a former IBO Inter-Continental heavyweight champion 
RECORD: Wins 28 (KO 21), Lost 1, Draws 0

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ENDS

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