By Howard Dobson
While Monte ‘Two Gun’ Barrett fired both barrels at Shane Cameron during a verbal spat at yesterday's weigh in, the man he really wanted to fight was David Tua.
And Barrett has been calling out Tua again and 3 News we can reveal why Tua said "no" to a trilogy fight with American.
But the big news is Tua will be making a comeback soon.
“I never did retire. I believe without being stupid that I still have three or four years left,” said Tua.
Tua's been in self imposed exile since his last fight against Barrett ... why?
“Because it's important for me to take care of a few things that needed done before getting back in the ring,” he says.
The legacy after his five year legal battle with former trainer Kevin Barry is that Tua still owes money.
“From the creditors side of things that need to be looked at very closely
“There are things that aren't going away and more importantly my credibility is riding on it. I'm not going to run from it.”
But for Barrett, the answer's simple and why not have a trilogy fight? There's big pay per view money in it and no boxer's really satisfied with a points decision win, especially after Tua dropped him to the floor with a broken jaw.
“David’s got his panties on … when he decides to become a real man and put his boxers on, then we can start talking about business,” jibes Barrett.
But Barrett's is the least of Tua’s problems. His immediate priority is his teenage sons Klein and Kaynan and he's having to rebuild his life after separating from his wife Robina.
“It's been tough in the beginning, nobody wants to go through that, but I will always love her regardless,” says Tua.
For Tua, his return is all about timing and he doesn't want to make the same mistake
“Sadly, for me the two times we got in the ring to fight each other David Tua never turned up and that’s what I mean about being temporarily retired for the time to sort other things out because I can't keep doing that.”
Tua's planning a comeback in December or early next year, but for now the 39 year old's an instructor opening the doors of his Onehunga gym to the public and it's where he works by day and sleeps at night.
“I live here, yep. It's a good place so, you know, and the cleanings not too bad either.”
So who does Tua think is going to "clean up" in tonight’s big fight?
“Oh it's easy man ... Shane Cameron, of course.
“By knock out. No pressure, Shane,” says Tua.
“Monte you said I'm fat, I'm not fat I'm just easy to see man. Don’t worry about me because you've got to worry about the ‘Mountain Warrior. He's gonna come to fight and I know he's well prepared.
“And go the Mountain Warrior”
3 News