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One of boxing’s most feared punchers of all-time, David “Tuaman” Tua, takes the next step in his comeback when he headlines the August 18th “Pinnacle FiteNite” pay-per-view show against Mexican heavyweight champion Saul “La Cobra” Montana in the 10-round co-main event at the South Towne Exposition Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Aug. 18 edition of “Pinnacle FiteNite,” the new pro boxing pay-per-view series emanating for a wide variety of venues, is promoted by C.A.M. Boxing, Inc. in association with Sports and Entertainment Media, Inc. and Gotham Boxing.
Samoan knockout specialist Tua (47-3-1, 40 KOs), who went the distance against undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in 2000, has accomplished just about everything in boxing except for winning a world title. He has beaten world heavyweight champions Oleg Maskaev, John Ruiz, Hasim Rahman and Michael Moorer but never worn the coveted title belt himself.
“Every fight is a title fight,” Tua spoke from his Salt Lake City training camp about new his attitude. “That’s my whole approach – mentally, spiritually and physically. This is it! I’m taking a different approach, in my second time around, to the sport I love. Training hard is part of it, but I have to be smart, too. This time around is different and I look forward to enjoying the Sweet Science. It’ll be pleasing to get another title shot and winning it, which would seal off my career, and I still have three, four years to do it.”
The battle-tested Montana (48-14, 42 KOs) has fought world champions James Toney, Virgil Hill, and Vassiliy Jirov. “I know Montana is going to try and stop me from fighting and winning a world title,” Tua continued. “He will be well prepared just like everyone who fights me. I’m training very hard for him. Every fight is a new challenge for me. I’m not where I need to be but I can feel it. I take it one fight at a time; no fight is an easy fight. Because of past managerial problems I haven’t been as active as I’d have loved to. I’m hoping to stay more active. I’m happy, not satisfied, right now.
“Salk Lake City has a large Polynesian community. It would be fantastic if a lot of them came to my fight because their support means a lot to me.”
Buffalo’s unbeaten “Baby” Joe Mesi (35-0, 28 KOs), former world No. 1 contender, meets veteran Sherman “The Tank” Williams (33-10-2, 19 KOs) in the other 10 round co-main event. Mesi has beaten former world champion Jirov, as well as past world heavyweight title contenders DaVarryl Williamson and Monte Barrett. Williams, the reigning NBA heavyweight title-holder from The Bahamas, is at the top of his game having won his last eight fights dating back two years (8-0, 4 KOs). “The Tank” has defeated former world champion Alfred “Ice” Cole, fought a draw with world heavyweight title challenger Jameel McCline, and took present WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev the full distance in Germany.
Russian-born Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Roman Greenberg (25-0, 17 KOs), who is scheduled to fight in a 10-round Special Heavyweight Attraction, was raised in Israel and lives in England.
Jeremy “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” Williams (41-5-1, 35 KOs) returns to action one division lighter after being inactive the past 2 ½ years, largely due to his involvement as a coach on The Contender reality television series, takes on Salt Lake City favorite Gary “Pit Bill” Gomez (18-7-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round cruiserweight match. Williams, who fought for the WBO heavyweight belt in 1996, holds wins as a heavyweight against 29-1 Attila Levin (TKO8), 35-1 Andre Purlette (DEC10) and 27-5-1 David Bostice (KO1).
Also scheduled to fight on the Aug. 18th undercards is undefeated New York City middleweight prospect Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (13-0, 11 KOs) and Las Vegas high-profile defense attorney Marc “The Defender” Saggese (2-0, 2 KOs).
The Aug. 18th Pinnacle FiteNite event will be produced by 21 Lakes and distributed by Integrated Sports. The 3-hour, four-bout minimum Pinnacle FiteNite show will be available live on Aug. 18 at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT on both cable and satellite PPV via iN Demand, DirecTV and TVN, as well as live in Canada via satellite PPV on Bell Expressvue, for a suggested retail price of $24.95.
Tickets, priced at $35.00, $50.00 and $75.00, are on sale and available at www.smithstix.com and local outlets.
