Tua Announces New Trainer

EMBARGOED UNTIL
10.00AM FRIDAY 2 AUGUST, 2013

Tua Announces New Trainer - PRESS RELEASE

David Tua has entrusted his preparation for his do-or-die shot against Alexander Ustinov to the highly respected Australian corner-man DaveHedgcock.

Tua has been training for the Hydr8 ZERO David vs Goliath clash at Claudeland’s Arena on August 31 with conditioner Lee Parore since February.

But with the time for ring work to begin Tuaengaged the services of Hedgcock after a world wide search.

“Deciding on a trainer is one of the most important roles in a boxer’s preparation,” said Tua. “It’s important not only to be able to gel with your trainer but you also need to be convinced that he can take you to places where you haven’t been before.

“When he arrived in New Zealand last weekendthere were no guarantees that we would last more than a day. But, honestly, before the end of our first session, I knew that Mr Hedgcock would get the best out of me. So we agreed there and then to work together through to the fight.”

Hedgcock’s calling card is one of the best Down Under. He is best known for his work with SamSoliman – the former kickboxing work champion who he has guided to become the No 1 ranked middleweight in the IBF.

He says working with the Tuamanator is a career highlight.

“It has become apparent very quickly how fiercely determined David Tua is,” said Hedgcock. “He’s like a shark – if he smells blood in the water he reacts with frenzy and goes in for the kill.

“The other thing that is apparent is how highly regarded he is in New Zealand. I feel a real responsibility to get things right for this man that New Zealanders care so much about.

“He has had some rough times outside of the ring and he is a tremendous inspiration because he has got up and he’s still fighting. Anyone who has been through some bad times can relate to David Tua. That’s why he’s referred to as the ‘People’s Champion’. And that’s why it is such a privilege to be working with him.”

Hedgcock has paid tribute to Parore for handing Tua over to him in such good condition. “Lee has done a tremendous job. David has lost a lot of weight and he’s come into the camp fit. Now it’s my responsibility to get him fight fit.

“Of course, the first thing people want to know is whether or not David still has his power. Well, I can tell you that I have sighted his famous left hook and the power is enormous!

“But we have a lot of work to do to be ready for Ustinov and the great thing is that we are both ready and willing to put that work in.

“I have worked with a lot of great fighters who aren’t great people. David Tua is both. At the beginning of the week he didn’t know me. But we talked; I explained my thoughts about how we can beat Ustinov and I demonstrated how David can best utilize his power. He reacted positively and now it’s like we’ve known each other for years.

“He’s honest with me. David demands a lot. He’s a guy who has knocked out four world champions – but he listens. He doesn’t think he knows it all. He wants to learn. And the great thing is I know Davidcan feel that the power is coming back. He can feel the power is flowing. And that’s what I want because David Tua is a warrior and he wants to go to war.”

* Duco Events has secured the world’s tallest professional boxer Julius Long to help prepare David Tua for the Hydr8 ZERO David vs Goliath bout against Russian Alexander Ustinov.

Long – who goes by the moniker ‘The Towering Inferno’ - stands at an incredible 7ft1in (216cm). He is being used to mirror the style, and size, of Ustinov who measures 6ft7½in (202cm).

RECORD: Wins 15 (KO13) Lost 17 (KO6) Drawn 0

Hydr8 ZERO David vs Goliath
THE MAIN EVENT COMBATANTS:
DAVID TUA
•Olympic bronze medallist 1992
•Has knocked out four heavyweight world champions (John Ruiz, Oleg Maskaev, Hasim Rahman and Michael Moorer)
•Set a world record for punches thrown in a heavyweight fight (vs Ike Ibeabuchi in 1997
•Fought for the sports’ greatest prize, the Heavyweight Championship of the World in 2000
•Ranked No 48 greatest puncher of all time byRing Magazine
•Won New Zealand’s Fight of the Century in 2009 in devastating style against Shane Cameron.
•His last punch in the ring, thrown in August 2011, broke the jaw of Monte Barrett and has just undergone 6 month brutal training camp and is in the best shape of his career
• Tua on fighting Ustinov: “I told the guys at Duco that I would fight anyone. And I am a man of my word. Alexander will be a challenging opponent on a number of levels. But I need ‘challenging’. I am boxing again because I eventually want to have another shot at the heavyweight title. That chance will never come if I run from fights. And that is something I have never done. I’m excited about the fight. The key now is to continue to work hard and make sure that come fight night I am in the best position possible to make a statement against Alexander and announce to the world that David Tua is serious about fulfilling his destiny.”
RECORD: Wins 52 (KO 43), Lost 4, Drawn 2
ALEXANDER USTINOV
•Stands 6 ft 7½ inches tall
•Currently ranked within top 10 in the World IBF and WBA
•Only one loss, to World IBF number 1 ranked Kubrat Pulev
•Has won 28 of 29 Heavyweight Fights
•Awarded the prestigious medal Order of Courage for 'Services to the Fatherland’ as a combat soldier in the Chechen campaign
•Four time winner one the K1 GP series (Russia and Spain in 2003 and Italy and Belgium in 2005)
•Promoted by the World Heavyweight Champion Klitschko brothers
•Is a former European Boxing Association heavyweight champion – 2010-2012
•Is a former IBO Inter-Continental heavyweight champion 
RECORD: Wins 28 (KO 21), Lost 1, Draws 0

EVENT DETAILS:
WHAT: Hydr8 ZERO David vs Goliath, David Tua vs Alexander Ustinov
DATE: Saturday 31 August, 2013
VENUE: Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, New Zealand
BROADCAST: Live on Sky TV’s pay-per-view channel SKY ARENA from 7.00pm
Sky Customers can book by texting TUA to 4024
General Admission tickets are on sale atwww.ticketek.co.nz
Corporate Table tickets are on sale at  www.ducoevents.co.nz
Sponsor: Hydr8 ZERO
Hydr8 ZERO is a new electrolyte enhanced sports drink with ZERO sugar ZERO carbs. Formulated for both the professional or everyday recreational athlete striving for any edge in performance and recovery. All the electrolytes you need, none of the sugar you don’t. Nothing’s as good as ZERO.

ENDS

© Scoop Media