In one of the most hyped professional fights held in New Zealand in recent years David Tua easily outpointed Nigerian, Friday Ahunanya, over 12 rounds for something called the WBO Asia-Pacific heavyweight title before 5,000 fans at the Trusts Stadium Arena, West Auckland on March 31st writes Johnny Lloyd.
As one disgruntled fan was heard to say after the fight "All show – no blow." The fact was the hard-punching Samoan-born Tua (108.7kg) tried to make a fight of it but Ahunanya (104.1kg) hardly threw a blow. His tactics seemed to consist of backing on to the ropes, taking a few body shots then slipping way to make the incoming Tua try to track him down again. On the odd occasion Friday did thow out a stiff left lead which proved irksome to David but it was all to infrequent. The big Nigerian was in there to survive and except for a short occasion in the second round never looked in any danger.
An easy unanimous victory to Tua so it was a surprise to one and all when Ahunanya and his handlers questioned the decision. "I did what I had to do, I thought I won the the fight," he said. His trainer Luis Tapia agreed. "This is bad for the sport. We won every round, Friday won every round." On my unofficial scorecard I had the first round even and the rest to Tua.
Best fight on the undercard was a cruiserweight six-rounder between African-American, Jamieson Bostic, and local Oscar Siale. Not noted as puncher Bostic staggered Siale several times in the second round, Oscar seemingly having no answer to Bostic's uppercuts. Siale came back well in the fifth round when he hurt the Yank while he was busy showboating. But it was to late and Bostic took the decision.
Aussie heavyweight Brett Smith (102.9kg) came in as a last minute substitute against another Yank, Israel Garcia (118kg). After a quiet first round things heated up in the second when Garcia copped a low blow and got quiet angry with Smith, dropping him with a short right only to be rugby tackled by the Aussie. From then on Garcia never stopped bleating to referee, ex-fighter Lance Revill, and when Smith again attempted a rugby tackle in the third round Lance disqualified him. Worth pointing out that Lance didn't always stick to the rules in his own boxing days.
Another Yank, Clarence Tillman (130.2kg) also graced the bill. Tillman depite having a big advantage in experience, height and weight over Leamy Taito (108.1kg), never looked like stopping the Wellington boxer. But it was still a surprise when the decision was announced as a split verdict for the big African- American.
Arenta Gilbert (82kg) appeared to be winning against the more experienced Robert Berridge (79.8kg) when in the third round Berridge landed a surprise left hook which dropped Gilbert. On rising a barrage of punches again dropped Gilbert and on rising he was trapped on the ropes when Lance stepped in and stopped it.
In the opening bout Christina Tai (59.5kg) looked a bit unlucky in losing to Bronwyn Wylie (61.2kg) in an all-action brawl over four rounds.
———————————————————————————
Talking about Lance Revill his son Jake turned professional with a first round tko win at cruiserweight over Royden Lee at the Depot a community hall in Pakuranga (Eastern Auckland) on Saturday, April 10. In the only other pro fight on the show Ryan O'Connell stopped Blair Seager in the fourth. They looked like super-middles.
