PRESS RELEASE: Heavyweight puncher David “Tuaman” Tua takes the next step in his comeback when he headlines the August 18, 2007 “Pinnacle FiteNite” pay-per-view show against Mexican heavyweight champion Saul “La Cobra” Montana in the ten-round co-feature at the South Towne Exposition Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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 a 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 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, 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 heavyweight prospect Roman Greenberg (25-0, 17 KOs), who is scheduled to fight in a ten-rounder, 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. He sered 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, 35-1 Andre Purlette and 27-5-1 David Bostice.
Also scheduled to fight on the Aug. 18th undercards is 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.
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.
Tickets are on sale and available at
www.smithstix.com and local outlets.