Monte Barrett rolls back the years against David Tua
By Joe Sweeney: Monte Barrett rolls back the years at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States.
Before tonight, Tua’s opponent Monte Barrett had lost his last three fights and six of his last nine, but he went the distance in his last fight, a decision loss to Alexander Ustinov in December. He has lost to both Haye and Wladimir Klitschko (and Rahman) in his career. For what it’s worth, Barrett is also unbeaten (7-0) in his career in Atlantic City. Barrett vowed tonight would be his last fight win, lose or draw.
Tonight Tua was the aggressor as expected, hunting down Barrett in a clear attempt to get into the kill-zone. Tua took the first round and opend up again in the second, trapped on the ropes Barrett showed courage as he traded his way of the ropes in a savage exchange.
Tua won the fourth round big as he landed repeated hard blows on Barrett, the end looked close. Barrett fought back in a competitive fifth.
The Tuamanator focused his vicious attack to the body in the mid rounds; the tactic seemed to be working as Barrett, protecting his body lowered his hands in the ninth, leaving his head exposed.
Monte Barrett rolled back the years in the tenth as he made use of the ring catching Tua with an overhand right twice which rocked Tua.
In the last round after several warnings, Referee Randy Neumann deducted a point from Tua, behind on the commentary teams card a desperate Tua moved in from the kill, Barrett obliged and stood toe to toe and floored Tua for the first time in his career.
With Tua out on his feet, Barrett seemed reluctant to finish off the warrior. I myself had Barrett winning the fight but he was magnanimous with the otherwise wrongful decision.
You would be hard pushed to find another fighter more deserving of another crack at the heavyweight crown. David Tua has not fought for a title since losing to Lennox Lewis way back in 2000.
Second only to Mike Tyson for first round knockouts, the New Zealand native is a somewhat avoided figure in the heavyweight ranks.
Common opinion was Tua had a legitimate chance to dethrone any of the champions within the first six rounds due to his explosiveness, however, in his previous fight against Friday Ahunanya, Tua showed he can go the distance.
Let’s hope a title challenge against Wladimir / Vitali Klitscko or David Haye is forthcoming, at 37-years-old time is not on Tua’s side.
Wladime Klitschko is the more likely opponent; the ukranian world champion has a scheduled defence against Alexander Povetkin at Frankfurt, Germany, September 11. If Klitschko retains his WBO title David Tua will become his mandatory defence.
However, after tonight the career of David Tua looks to have taken a backwards step, with Barrett having lost in the fifth to David Haye many where looking for Tua to go one better, tonight Tua must feel lucky having earned himself a draw.
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Comments (3)
You'd think that 2 judges having it even would mean good,fair scoring but obviously....it doesn't.
Having Tua winning on the other hand,as one judge did, thats just blatantly corrupt.
This sport continues to disgrace itself with decisions like this one.
Final analysis...Barrett was robbed .....BIG TIME.