01-14-2016, 01:55 PM
Kevin Barry opens up about David Tua
Boxing trainer Kevin Barry says David Tua needed Joseph Parker's attitude to win world heavyweight title
Boxing trainer Kevin Barry believes if David Tua had Joseph Parker's drive and dedication he would have won the world heavyweight title.
Barry oversaw the development and peak of Tua's professional career which culminated in a disappointing unanimous points loss to world champion Lennox Lewis in a title fight in Las Vegas in 2000.
Tua, who had one of the biggest left hooks in the business, never got another title chance.
Barry now handles New Zealand's next great hope in the form of the fast-fisted 24-year-old Parker.
READ MORE:
* Busy schedule catching up with Joseph Parker
* Joseph Parker moves ahead of Wladimir Klitschko in world rankings
Parker's management are on a drive to increase Parker's profile in Britain as the heavyweight division opens up following Tyson Fury's win over Wladimir Klitschko.
Barry has done a lengthy interview with Sky Sports there where he didn't shy away from comparing Tua and Parker, the two Kiwi Samoans.
"David Tua had God-given power," Barry told Sky Sports. "I think there is far more to Joseph Parker's overall game than what there was to David Tua.
"Tua knocked out five guys that wore the heavyweight belt and never wore it himself, which was something we're all very disappointed about.
"I had 12 years with Tua and I believe that if he was as driven as what Joseph Parker is, he would have worn the heavyweight belt.
"This young man (Parker) is very mature for his 24 years and we are nowhere near reaching his potential. He is getting bigger and stronger and better in every training camp that we have and I'm very excited. I believe that I have a guy that when we fight for a world title, he will win the world title.
"As we've gone from fight to fight, I know he's special, I know he's gifted. The only one who can stop Joseph Parker from becoming the world champion, is himself."
WEIGHT
Tua had notorious weight struggles between fights while Parker continues to take pleasure in developing and shaping his body and skills for this toughest of challenges.
Barry suggested Tua suffered stage-fright against Lewis where he hardly fired a shot and the big Brit was content to see out the final bell to hold on to his WBC, IBF and IBO belts.
"When we were on the biggest stage, I think he was a little overawed and couldn't pull the trigger when it mattered the most. When he realised that he was behind - he couldn't win - he was content to survive the 12 rounds instead of finding a way to win the fight.
"I know David himself would have loved a do-over, because he knows he was capable of doing a lot more than he actually did on that night."
Barry said the British scene had become increasingly attractive and confirmed a change of direction from Parker's handlers who would also target that area for their world-ranked fighter to show his skills.
Fury, Derek Chisora, the returning David Haye and impressive youngster Anthony Joshua all made the UK a good target for Parker.
Naturally, the subject of Parker and Joshua being on parallel lines was raised and Barry liked the prospects of his fighter against the 2012 Olympic gold medallist.
"There are a lot of similarities in the way that Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker have been brought along," Barry told Sky Sports.
"Obviously Anthony is a little bit bigger, he's a little bit heavier, he's got a longer reach.
"I think Joseph Parker has got a better selection of punches, I think he's got faster hand-speed. There will be several questions about who hits the hardest and I don't think we will find that out until the two of them fight each other."
Parker's next fight is in Samoa on January 23 when he takes on American southpaw Jason Bergman.
- Stuff
Boxing trainer Kevin Barry says David Tua needed Joseph Parker's attitude to win world heavyweight title
Boxing trainer Kevin Barry believes if David Tua had Joseph Parker's drive and dedication he would have won the world heavyweight title.
Barry oversaw the development and peak of Tua's professional career which culminated in a disappointing unanimous points loss to world champion Lennox Lewis in a title fight in Las Vegas in 2000.
Tua, who had one of the biggest left hooks in the business, never got another title chance.
Barry now handles New Zealand's next great hope in the form of the fast-fisted 24-year-old Parker.
READ MORE:
* Busy schedule catching up with Joseph Parker
* Joseph Parker moves ahead of Wladimir Klitschko in world rankings
Parker's management are on a drive to increase Parker's profile in Britain as the heavyweight division opens up following Tyson Fury's win over Wladimir Klitschko.
Barry has done a lengthy interview with Sky Sports there where he didn't shy away from comparing Tua and Parker, the two Kiwi Samoans.
"David Tua had God-given power," Barry told Sky Sports. "I think there is far more to Joseph Parker's overall game than what there was to David Tua.
"Tua knocked out five guys that wore the heavyweight belt and never wore it himself, which was something we're all very disappointed about.
"I had 12 years with Tua and I believe that if he was as driven as what Joseph Parker is, he would have worn the heavyweight belt.
"This young man (Parker) is very mature for his 24 years and we are nowhere near reaching his potential. He is getting bigger and stronger and better in every training camp that we have and I'm very excited. I believe that I have a guy that when we fight for a world title, he will win the world title.
"As we've gone from fight to fight, I know he's special, I know he's gifted. The only one who can stop Joseph Parker from becoming the world champion, is himself."
WEIGHT
Tua had notorious weight struggles between fights while Parker continues to take pleasure in developing and shaping his body and skills for this toughest of challenges.
Barry suggested Tua suffered stage-fright against Lewis where he hardly fired a shot and the big Brit was content to see out the final bell to hold on to his WBC, IBF and IBO belts.
"When we were on the biggest stage, I think he was a little overawed and couldn't pull the trigger when it mattered the most. When he realised that he was behind - he couldn't win - he was content to survive the 12 rounds instead of finding a way to win the fight.
"I know David himself would have loved a do-over, because he knows he was capable of doing a lot more than he actually did on that night."
Barry said the British scene had become increasingly attractive and confirmed a change of direction from Parker's handlers who would also target that area for their world-ranked fighter to show his skills.
Fury, Derek Chisora, the returning David Haye and impressive youngster Anthony Joshua all made the UK a good target for Parker.
Naturally, the subject of Parker and Joshua being on parallel lines was raised and Barry liked the prospects of his fighter against the 2012 Olympic gold medallist.
"There are a lot of similarities in the way that Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker have been brought along," Barry told Sky Sports.
"Obviously Anthony is a little bit bigger, he's a little bit heavier, he's got a longer reach.
"I think Joseph Parker has got a better selection of punches, I think he's got faster hand-speed. There will be several questions about who hits the hardest and I don't think we will find that out until the two of them fight each other."
Parker's next fight is in Samoa on January 23 when he takes on American southpaw Jason Bergman.
- Stuff