David Tua at awards

Samoan heavyweight boxer David ‘Tuamanator’ Tua will be the guest speaker at this year’s Cook Islands Sports Awards on April 8 at the Aroa Nui Hall in Arorangi.

The announcement of the heavyweight as guest speaker was made yesterday by Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee secretary general Rosie Blake who says she is sure the Tuamanator will pull a crowd for the annual sports awards.

Tua, who fights out of South Auckland, is the current World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Asia-Pacific and Oriental heavyweight champions.

After his family moved to New Zealand from Samoa, Tua began boxing training at a small gym in Mangere under boxing trainer Gerry Preston.

Tua became New Zealand national heavyweight champion in 1988 at age 15.

He was surprisingly knocked out in the first round by three time Olympic gold medalist Flix Savn at the 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships.

At age 19 he won a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

He lost his semi-final to David Izonritei, whom he would later defeat as a professional.

Tua turned professional later the same year.

Tua debuted in December 1992 and soon became internationally respected for having one of the most devastating left hooks in world boxing and for his ability to end fights early and to dish out severe punishment.

In 2003 Tua was named the 48th greatest puncher of all time and of his first 27 fights, 23 were by knockout.

Tua is known for his devastating knockouts and in his 1997 fight with Ike Ibeabuchi, the two fighters combined to set the record for most punches thrown in a heavyweight fight on record.

Tua was inactive for over two years before he stepped into the ring on March 31, 2005, and bested Talmadge Griffis in a 10 round bout - ending the match and earning a TKO victory with 26 seconds remaining.

Tua made another comeback in 2009 when he fought fellow New Zealander Shane Cameron at Mystery Creek, Hamilton, on October 3, 2009, with Tua knocking Cameron out seven seconds into the second round to pick up the WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental Heavyweight titles.

Tua plans to fight journeyman boxer Demetrice King on March 19, 2011.

This year’s sports awards are an opportunity not to be missed – tickets can be bought from the CISNOC office in Taputapuatea.