His Knockouts Were Scarier Than Tyson’s! David Tua - an Underrated KO Machine
2023 ж. 12 Ақп.
6 691 515 Рет қаралды
In the early 90s, a thunderous rumble of David Tua's devastating hammers announced the emergence of a new threat in boxing’s most prestigious weight class. Today we look back on the Tuamanator’s road to the pinnacle of fisticuffs, littered with dozens of unconscious bodies.
He's just a dude. Plain and simple. No inflated ego. No showboating. No controversy. He just did what he did and was bloody good at it.
He is just a slob. Plain and simple. Why could he and why did he NOT loose weight. For his height, he had to in order to fight. Look at Tyson, way shorter than heavy weights at his time but PERFECT body structure.
@@jenniferyule8786Sure... because his career was a disaster at the weight he was at, wasn't it?
I lived around the corner from his parents, you knew when he was home, you'd hear the non stop beeping of car horns, cause he's out on the drive, waving to everyone, thanking Mangere for their support , so approachable and humble, much love, brother
David Tua is one of those guys that has unbelievable punching power. Some people are simply blessed with it, and I think Tua is one of them.
Samoans. They're built different lol. They have incredible chins too.
Back in 2002, I had the privilege to spar this man. Not only was his chin insanely strong, his power was incredible. As great as the experience was, I wanted no part of standing toe to toe with this man ever again. The funny thing, he was the nicest guy on earth, up until the bell rang. After that, he became a killer. It was a great, yet very humbling experience.
Great story to tell your Grandkids, he was still most definitely in his prime then too.
Great first hand story. You're a brave man. Congratulations on surviving that. 😮
Doubt you hit him hard enough in a sparring session to test David Tua's chin. But hey, good story for the internet. Look how many Slappys fell for it.
@@schrisdellopoulos9244 I don't think at that time - a baseball bat would've been good enough to test the mans chin. I'd never claim to have rocked Tua, nor did I mention myself being a competitive matchup. If you implying this is a made up story, I would have probably exaggerated the story into my favor. Truth be told, I got my Butt kicked for three straight rounds, realizing a hard lesson. If they are paying you for your service/session, then they are trying to take your head off, preparing themselves during the final weeks before the actual fight. Living in Vegas at that time, and attempting to follow a dream, it is not that uncommon to spar with top names in the sport. That is in no way of implying myself being at the level of these fighters. I just didn't want to pass the opportunities I'd been given. Although in Tua's case, as mentioned above, this experience was a one and done. The man had power.
Wow bro epic
Not long ago Tua was in the NZ news for helping some random lady change her wheel on the side of the road. A true legend inside the ring and out. EDIT: The story originally went viral when a woman shared a picture of the good samaritan helping her out, not realising it was David Tua.
Cćc de d fvvvģ GG b
Not surprised, Samoans are usually very polite
my idol is mike tyson but david tua comes after that still crazy thing he was never a world champion he was better than many world champions his style was almost the same as iron mike also a nice and good man greetings from the netherlands
@@micheldonderwinkel3716 same too man alots of love from Pakistan 🇵🇰
Tua vs Ike Ibeabuchi is one of the best fights. Both of them had a real chance of beating Tyson. Both could take a heavy shot and punch hard.
David Tua remains a great player with a strong left punch, jaw and endurance
I worked in Tysons gym when he was in his prime, and sparred with him in his prime. Very quick and accurate. We were lucky to have Tua visit a few times and i also sparred with him a few times. Tuas power was greater by some margin. And his defence was superior. But Tyson's accuracy and speed was superior. Mike would have loved this fight in his prime, but regularly said he wasn't sure if he could beat him prime for prime. So who would win? I honestly don't know. I believe had Tua been given a title fight a year earlier, he would have won the title.
It would have been a good one for sure🇳🇿👍👊
Tyson doesn’t have a chin but good movements and power
@@JohnUtoalugahe loses composure under heavy hits, just David and Mike also had a hard way with management
David tua was a monster. Strong chin and heavy hands. He will be in the international boxing hall of fame despite not win world title.
He already is in HOF
Insha'Allah. ❤
Ibeabuchi took tuas best in his prime, and whipped him. Lewis easily outpointed him.Tua was overrated. Fought marshmallow chinned fighters most of his career.
@@Artificialintelligentle Nope, he fought some great fighters . He did pretty well for a guy in the H/W division who they say was 5/10 but realistically was only 5/9 with a short reach. He had a his limitations due to this but he was brutal taking that into consideration. Def one of my faves back in the day . So much power.
Arguably the greatest boxer to never win a world title.
Tuaman was undoubtedly one of the hardest punchers in history. and he had one of the best chins ever. Definitely a tough-as-nails dude. 90's heavyweight era was stacked with talent
not 1 hes the only 1
His only problem was his lack of reach. Not only was he short, his arms were short also.
Yes the combo chin and power strike is the evidence of champion
@@orestes1984added to his power.
Tua's chin is strong because of his well-developed dorsal muscles, which hold his brain in place when he receives blows to the head.
Thank God for youtube, i swear it seems a lot of great fighters and athletes from the 80's and 90's are rarely talked about on television
Tua was an artist. A boxing sniper, everything hit the target. And he respected the sport, rules and his opponents.
Until he fought the champ, Lennox Lewis.
A marksman surely but not a sniper
@@schrisdellopoulos9244the guy who did the running man?
@@schrisdellopoulos9244 Almost every fighter meets a better one at some point. Despite this, Tua is a boxing legend.
I didn't know just how dominant Tua was until I watched this. This guy hit with a purpose and damn was this ever impressive. Wonder why he never fought Tyson?
David Tua you are a legend to all of us who watched you destroy your opponents. The younger generation should watch videos like this and see what a giant you really are.
Growing up David Tua was definitely one of my favorite fighters. Much respect to David Tua!
this guy was crazy strong, even when he lost most of his opponents were badly hurt. crazy
People often talk about Tuas power, left hook etc but no one ever talks about his impeccable defense!!! His defense is what gave opportunity to those heavy knock out punches that he made look effortless
add that head movement and quick double or 3 4 jabs inside yes sir.
Lewis and Ibeabuchi had no problems finding him.
@@Artificialintelligentle Lewis hide behind his jab at range (honestly smart as heck, he wanted no chance of Tua landing any power shots on him). Sure Ike landed on him, but that came a cost, he won the decision that night, but ultimately was never the same again & what was becoming a promising career was cut short.
@@Artificialintelligentle of course Lennox was elite and tua was outboxed but ike everybody knows that dude was doped up
@@Artificialintelligentleike also had no problem finding steroids and still couldn’t knock Tua out
Thank you for making this. This is very nostalgic from a Kiwi perspective. Especially since Tyson had exploded on the scene; heavy-weight boxing was at its prime. And for all pacific island nations, we all felt he represented us on a stage that seemed beyond our reach. Brutal in the ring and a humble man outside of it. I will always respect the heart of this man
As a huge fan of boxing in the 80s and 90s I would always tune in to watch Tua. Incredible power and always looking for the KO. What a legend.
You're mad old since 1908!
@@ivanriverajr5012 Never underestimate experience😉😆
to bad we never got Tua vs Tyson. 😓
There’s a reason he failed in his ONLY title shot.
@@nicklubrino2606 that is?
The fight David Tua had with Ike Ibeabuchi was a battle, both threw an amazing amount of punches. They combined to throw 1,730 punches, which was a record for punches thrown in a heavyweight fight
Wow! I'm going to have to watch that if I can find it on KZhead. I've watched Tyson's fights, & Tua's punches look like they have more power. Not taking anything away from Tyson. Did they ever fight each other? That would've been something to see! I'm only a few minutes into this video.
Ike won that fight, if I remember right. Very controversially though. I never have seen the full fight. But I've seen bits and it looked pretty heavy
Ike was a beast too bad he was crazy
That was crazy, most exchanges ever in a heavyweight bout. Ike could have been among the greatest ever, but his inner demons killed him. Even Tyson called him a psycopath
1 4
The "Tua-minator" was a scary puncher. He's still in phenomenal shape & has always given back to his community, city & country. He's also never forgotten his roots & does an enormous amount for Samoa as well. The Man is truly humble & is a a role model to many.
Watching him fight in his prime was like watching a live gladiator match. You could hear his punches 👊.
David deserved a lot more recognition then he got. He has got my respect.
"Littered with dozens of unconscious bodies" such a great line 👏
Should be a picture of Tuaminator with that slogan
His life has unraveled now the poor guy.
One would have thought that the guy who was his sparring partner would have been able to avoid Tua’s signature hook. 😵💫
@@txddyfarquh3916 hardout
@@SON-OF-AFRICA1022 Dude, he's living a happy, content life. Wth?
David Tua was a Machine
Early 2000s David Tua was a name EVERYONE knew in New Zealand. He is a kiwi icon and a legend in his sport
He was over weight and a lazy trainer. Over rated and an embarrassment to NZ, maybe not to Samoa and thats understandable but to NZers, no, he is cringy.
@@jenniferyule8786who let you out of the kitchen Jen?
Older people that are true boxing fans know the name David Tua
Yk someone better then tua Ike Ibeabuchi watch him he also defeated tua
You know, I remember watching him and getting excited when he was on the card but he was never the household name that he should’ve been. Tua was an absolute beast. I can’t wait to watch this later.
@@sins2386 😄 🤣 😂 what happened to him after the fight?
“ older people that are true boxing fans” My eight year old nephew knows who David tua is. Acting like it’s some mystical information to know this dudes name
@@Waywardfolk I’m sayin tua ain’t nun special 💀
That guy is an absolute legend. Glad I watched this to understand his greatness. Wish his manager was a better promoter bc that guy was amazing to watch. Tysons Samoan twin for sure!
@@HolyRollerTV won’t argue on that one bro👍👍
@Abi Jardine I'll argue that one anytime!
@@HolyRollerTV That may or may not be true,at least he was smart enough to stay outta jail for rape. LOL.
@@HolyRollerTV I don't know about Tua raping any one,but,Tyson did time for rape.
I Think Tua was a harder hitter than Tyson, but Tyson more Skillful
I didn't know this guy, But surly he deserves a place at one of the best boxers of all time. He was really good in his time.
Wow! To watch this guy now having never seen him in the past, I don't know who else I was paying attention to! What a fighter! I'm glad he had such a successful go! I'm also glad that he left the game with no immediate problems, hopefully that will continue for him. To hear him speak at the end, he seems like a very humble guy with a lot of positive things to say about his time in the game. It's unfortunate that these fighters always seem to have terrible financial management! Nice to see that he's doing well and has a nice life etched out for himself. What a POWERHOUSE!
You should see him now he's gone back into training and looks even scarier 💯
What an athlete! I’d not heard of David Tua before this video, which showed his sponsors never did their job properly which is extremely sad. This man deserves every second of recognition you’ve given him here, an unbelievable talent. Thank you for sharing his story. Fantastic documentary of an amazing boxers life.
he was well known here in new zealand
@@Sal3600 he was absolutely incredible. I wish I'd watched his journey over the years.
Never been KOed in his professional career.
They were probably busy promoting Tyson at the time?
Casual
David Tua, truly filled up the realm of shadows with that hook...
David Tua, nicest guy you'll ever meet!
David Tua was my hero as a kid❤
Thank you for this message of true Samoan grit and determination…always loved The Tuaman and how he put a small nation on the map… The greatest heavyweight to never win a world title, but bashed a lot of future Champions along the way👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽much love
legend. Another fighter that I didn't realize was so damn good. Always watching the Tyson, L. Lewis, Holyfield names. This guy was/is a true legend. Thanks for sharing
Tuaman is one of The Hardest Punchers
A true legend, Gladiator, If you all stop and think about it I never once seen this man run, I know boxing became A lot about point fighting, But this man remind me of the good old days, Stand & Bang Throw them hands Win lose or draw its War. Good ol days 💯
And he was always moving forward
What an amazing guy! Big fan from Ireland. If Tua and Tyson had both faught in their primes against each other, I think the world would have witnessed one of the greatest fights ever.both fighters so similar in many ways.
facts!
Tyson was way faster then tua and has way better defense than tua.
@@raulshiro6239 I agree. But IMO Tua had even more power in his punches.
Tua could take a lot of punches,not sure if Tyson could.
@@glennkourie255 a lot of punch ? Ahaahaa he never felt the power of tyson punches....tyson was not better but wayyy better than tua.
This guy is one of the nicest humans So much love for this amazing role model
Tua thanks for all the great memories. I remember we had Sunday school exams one year and a Tua fight was on the same day. One of the guys at church bought a TV to church and we watched the fight after the test. All the men were round the TV cheering and yelling him on. I was the only kid watching.. but I was taken aback over his effect on people who didn't know him personally. These were grown men acting like hooligans due to their affection for an athlete. Weird cause Tua was flying the samoan flag and south Auckland solo for such a long time.
You’re a Deadset legend David tua!! Hubble toughs the best kind!!!
I’m glad to see Tua is in a good place in his life. He is the pride of the Pacific Islanders. A fan from the island of Guam. 🤙🏽🙏🏽🇬🇺 Hafa Adai
Seki sekia samoa 🇼🇸
Underrated skill and character. One of few role model worthy boxing Champs
Tua was never a champion.
@@jameswalsh3976 He held some "lesser" titles, but never any of the big 4 world ones
@@rickybobby38 Yup he fought Lewis but proved to be to small and slow to reach Lewis with his hook.
@jameswalsh3976 100% facts - Lewis fought the perfect way a Tall boxer needs to against a shorter power puncher - sadly, Tua wasn't anywhere near his physical best when he finally got this title bout - Lewis probably gets the W most times anyway, but it would've been nice to see his defences tested more thoroughly
One of the best heavyweights ever with poor management that was the only nemesis of his stellar career. Thanks for letting the world know more about his legacy. One of my favorites along with iron Mike.🤛🏾🤙🏽
For sure Tua was hindered by some shady management stuff in his early to mid career, but the issues with weight outside of fight camp became a big issue too - especially when his style needed explosiveness & agility to get in on taller/longer opponents (or ones that hide behind a jab & kept themselves at distance).
Tua is a Legend 🙌🙌🙌🙌
I remember watching him as a kid. He and Mike Tyson were my favorite heavyweights of all time. They were a little shorter but their agility and speed were crazy!!
TBH... Much shorter!! They knew how to bob and weave, and how to get inside to use their power. They used their strong legs to help generate those crazy punches.
@@wyattwalker8265 m
Can't forget their power.
Shorter people usually have bigger dreams
He would have beat the brakes off Tyson 💯💣💥
A true legend, tough MFer, dynamite in his hands. Always always loved to see him fight. Crazy how many elite, elite athletes come from Samoa, particularly violent, contact sports.
One of my favourite ever heavyweights. Absolute machine.
He was a blaster DAVID TUA
...the sound of his punches is savage!!
Tua and Tyson are two legends, greatest of all time 🦅🦅
Fun fact Holyfield sparred with Tua every day while preparing for Tyson bout, no wonder Mike couldnt hurt him...
They're not the same. Tyson is different. Stop comparing people to Tyson
@@Gorilla8 Tyson 50-6, Tua 52-5, both heavyweights from the same era. I wonder why people draw comparisons with the two??? Its a MYSTERY.
Rocky masiano is the greatest of all time he never lost ... check out rocks training videos then un will understand....
My all time favorite boxer.
Super Boxer. Super Fighter. Super Puncher. Thanks all David
I Loved watching Tua! He was one of my favorite heavyweights. He had Tyson-esque power!
Tyson was way faster than Tua and has way better deffense than Tua
Did they ever fight each other?
@@GuantanamoBayBarbie3 I don't think so.
@@raulshiro6239 tua never got knocked out though, what about Tyson??
@@lnaf tua 90% fights are vs drivers.
Man ...I just learned about Mike Tua yesterday. During Tua's reign I lived in Hawaii with a sizable Polynesian populace. However we lived off grid without cable or regular TV access. Tyson was the fighter everyone heard about.
Tyson didn't want to fight Tua.
@@hellogoodbye219 genuinely believe it would have been one of the fights of the century
I can't think of a single person id not want to get hit by with a full force punch more than Tua. My favorite boxer, and puncher.
Such a great athlete who got screwed from the people he worked with greed was their motivation this man fought his heart out hats off.
Tua had it all; speed, accuracy, power in both hands, great combinations, and could knock almost any man out with any punch. Samoan's are no joke.
Agreed but unfortunately his title shot was against a giant with a jab that kept ttua at bay, I hoped he would do a mike Tyson kinda duck and cone up with the left hook but didn't happen, he stunned Lennox but didn't capitalize ,I was so gutted when he lost that fight then he was finished, and we all missed out on the fight of the century which was Mike Tyson and him, would of been amazing
Too right Franklin, that would of been some fight !
But they cannot handle their mums Jandle they're finished for sure....
No blacks ain't no joke....why they always the champ
@@bootnazz1786 affirmative action lol
Agreed, and the fact they never fought each other was a damn shame! Could’ve been one of the greatest super fights ever
Tua is one of my most favorite HW's of all time... His KO of Ruiz was simply awesome!
I am not a boxer, but WOW, this is too much. Tua breakes the distance and makes his thing. Incredible. Super
Whoa! How crazy I’ve barely heard this man’s name before today. A more terrifying hook than I think I’ve ever seen.
Same here... Never heard of him.. But WOW!! What power
Gazelle punch
@@maofria1452 who's that
@@jess3453 The Gazelle Punch is a hook-related technique where the user lifts up from the ground slightly like a gazelle. It is from 1956, which Floyd Patterson used as a sure-kill blow. It is said to accumulate even greater power if used by a fighter shorter than the opponent. Iron Mike also used this punch.
@@maofria1452 oh ok...gotcha..makes sense
You are great, David Tua. True inspiration, God bless you...!
One of the best videos I've seen on Tua! The man was a total beast with hammers for hands! Appreciate the work and upload!
I've always loved watching David. He's a gentleman to this day.
The legend will go down in history. What a beast.
Insane shoulder strength you never saw him throwing his body behind punches (unless he was gassed) such a great time in the heavyweight division and boxing overall . Look at these guys fight schedules compared to present-day Fighters , it's a joke we get a big fight every yr or 2
Ikr
growing up in the 90s nz watching Tua fights live with the old man was always a great day.
It's damn amazing to see Tua on KZhead with highlights. I watched all of his fights growing up.
This man was one of the best heavy weight boxers
David "Puño de Ruina" Tua .
Nothing beats 90s heavyweights 🥊
No the greatest heavyweights were in the 70s and 80s
Outstanding Content on The Tua Man David Tua Thank You and Thank You David Tua for The Exciting Times In The Heavyweight Division
Tua had massive power, a chin of rock and some speed and skill. Just a real shame he didn’t have better management, promotion and coaches
Every vid on this channel is top tier it’s hard to find quality videos and highlights about the legends of boxing kickboxing and mma thank you for your service 🙌
Agree, 100% Colorful and intelligent narration. “…pending pacific tsunami.” 😊
Thank you for making this video. If anything more powerful about David Tua is not his Left hook but his humility.
Wow. I feel like I robbed myself of watching a great boxer, & fights!! Never knew of Tua, until watching this video.
me too
Hes the Real Terminator
A lot of fighters avoided him… so most of those were against journeyman with a few upper echelons like Ibeabuchi and Ruiz.
It hard to get known from our side of the world but Tua is a boxing hall of fame now.. bro was a legend wif 27 wins 23kos b4 his first loss n was pre famous down here in New Zealand and Australia
Growing up in NZ, I loved watching him fight! ❤ The best word I'd use to describe him would be WILD! I remember thinking the amount of shots he threw, that didn't land was crazy but the ones that did were brutal! 😳 I'll never forget the sound his monster hits made! 😅 The guy was a beast 💯
Your descriptions and narration had me rolling 😂😂😂
He made us Samoans so proud 💯
Always a Boxing Legend and Champion in my book. God bless him 🙏🙌🏼❤️
That ref jumped infront of Tua's bombs. He has balls. 🤣
He always been a big influence in my life, He's a Great Boxing Legend. Thanks for the footage KZhead, Missed seeing heaps of his victories.😊😊😊
Many make comparisons of Tua and Mike Tyson, but tua reminds me of Joe Frazier.
I used to record his fights on my VCR. I have hundreds of tapes from the eighties and nineties of fighters people have long forgotten about. Tyson vs Tua was a dream match fans wanted to see.
Tua would have eaten him alive. Tyson can't win.if he can't intimidate you. Tua would have laughed at.him
Tyson was way faster than Tua and has wayyyuu better defense than Tua.
@@raulshiro6239 I agree, but you know that you would've watched the fight had it taken place.
@@raulshiro6239 No. Tyson was very, very good, without a doubt. We shall never know who might have won, but Tua was devastating in his prime
@@riazhassan6570 yeah tua was so good....he wins 90% of his fights vs taxi drivers.
What David Tua did to John Ruiz was absolutely brutal. The beating of a lifetime.
Man, that last punch. Ruiz was already out. That last punch snatched his soul.
@@joeblack007 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 true!! 😂😂😂😂
That was not a beating no no that was Tua knocking Ruiz that f*** out hahaha
If there was ever a person deserving of a title it's this man...Sir David Tua sounds good 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
Tua has always been champion. He's a warrior.
Tua sure was Some Fighter, Hall of Fame material for sure! 👊👊💯
1730 punches in 36 minutes, lmao - opponent got damaged, started hearing demons and had to retire. Had me rolling.
Ike Ibeabuchi was an absolute beast. One of the greatest waste of talent in the sport. So sad man.
Ike Ibeabuchi never got damaged from that encounter. He had a solid record and never fell before any man in the ring. Unfortunately, he had issues with his management prior to that fight which greatly affected him after the fight. His mum cried out about it but he couldn't get help. It seemed he was deliberately compromised because he didn't want to be controlled by his manager. It's so sad that he didn't continue in his upward trajectory. I can bet that Lennox Lewis would have fallen before him.
@@igbounitedforum3386 yeah thats true. I've read about ike in depth. He was a wild guy though and his mother had a really strong hold over him. She was also a believer in witch doctors from her native land and ike supposedly believed this too. Such a shame for a great talent. He really did have it all.
It wasnt just Tua he had problems even before that fight.
Commentators just added those storylines to make watching the videos more interesting. Ike had more of personal problems.
Davids clinch was to throw a overhand right and a left hook and keep throwing...a gentleman before and after the bell but a deadly killer monster with bad intent lurked in his mind whilst hitting opponents when they were standing in front of him and whilst they were falling down. Legend.
Loved watching Tua in the 1990s
Tua was relentless 💪🏿
Tua,a great fighter with a pedigree of excellent and exciting victories.Bravo champion !
Definitely some of the scariest knockouts of all time👊
David Tua is absolutely awesome
He was one of my favourite boxers, he gave it all when it matters, he was only defeated by younger boxers when David was ready to retire but at his peak no one would have touched him, happy retirement David
Lennox Lewis washed him in his prime.
@@hisexcellency916 Lennox ran the whole time tho
@@vaiholapohiva1321 Ran? Dude he kept the jab on him and beat him up bad. David wasn’t the same after that fight.
He lost to Ike, he should've lost his second fight to Rahman, he got dominated by Lennox, and he couldn't lay a glove on Chris Byrd, . Nuff said...
A highest ranking of 3rd tells me at least two others were favourite to beat him at his prime. He was good, but lets not over egg the pudding.
Definitely one of my favorites he didn’t get the push he deserved. But life’s not fair and he made the best with what he had.
born at the wrong time.
"didnt get the push he deserved" this ain't WWE bro.
Best left hook in the sport that never held a world title. Tuaminator!
In my opinion, the best HW boxer to never win a major title. He won a billion fans though...the 90's, man what a good decade for boxing. Respect the TUAMAN.
25:09 "needless to say, Cameron's chances of survival were slimmer than Snoop Dogg's arms". Love the narration on this channel!
🤣😂🤣 I was about to say the same thing 😆
@@AirikErik It was the "in more trouble than a tightrope walker in a wind storm" at the end that got me 😂😂 Shane Cameron was the best HW prospect we'd seen in NZ for a while, sadly his lack of head movement lead to him using his face as a shield all too often - his one L prior to this Tuamanation was Friday The 13th Ahunanya (bad spelling sorry), where he took too much face shield damage & got taken out in the final round iirc (that Friday guy had some power too)
TUAMAN ! One of the most exciting boxer of all time ! I follow his journey and sad to know that he rarely got opportunities to get tittle shot just like others 90's legend. But yes, a true warrior !
Power and aggression .Brutality pure warrior