DAVID TUA
Born Faumuina To’aletai Mafaufau David Tua on the 21st November 1972 in Faleatiu Samoa, David Tua is one of the most outstanding heavyweight boxers to have represented New Zealand at both amateur and professional boxing. An orthodox boxer standing at 178cms his career spanned over two and half decades. He gained a reputation as a front foot fighter with a ferocious punch and a rock-solid chin, who throughout his career was never stopped. As an amateur he trained with Gerry Preston in Mangere Bridge. The highpoints of his amateur days were 4 NZ National titles, a gold medal at the at the 1990 Oceania Championship, a bronze medal at the 1991 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
Following the success at the Barcelona Olympics, and under the tutelage of former 1984 Olympic silver medallist Kevin Barry, David “the Tuaman/The Tuamanator” Tua turned professional on the 1st December 1992 in Virginia Beach, Virginia U.S.A with a bout lasting 37 seconds. Power, durability, and aggressiveness were to be the mainstays of boxing style and saw him through of his most memorable performances; none more so than his epic duel in 1997 with Ike Ibeabuchi where between them they threw 1730 punches of which Tue landed 282 out of 755 and Ibeabuchi 332 out of 975. His professional career saw him involved in 59 bouts with 52 wins, 5 loses and 2 draws. With 312 rounds of boxing to his credit, his knockout ratio was an impressive 72.88%.
Although a World title eluded him, he is considered among the greatest heavyweights never to win a world title. A brave performance against the 198cm Lennox Lewis saw him fall short loosing on a unanimous points decision. Later towards the end of his career Tua reminded the New Zealand public of his trademark power when in 2009 he emphatically knocked out Shane Cameron in 2 rounds. David retired from boxing in 2013.
In 2001 David was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to boxing and in 2019 was elevated to an Officer of the New Zealander Order of Merit for services to the youth, boxing and the community. He remains an active community member and boxing coach.