Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:44a.m.
Monte Barrett has come from his corner swinging over allegations he failed a drugs test following his last fight against David Tua.
Last night 3 News revealed that Barrett had failed a drug test after the August 13 fight, and had tested positive to a banned stimulant; a fight which Tua lost sending him spiralling out of heavyweight contention.
3 News was provided with the documentation that confirms Barrett's "two guns" were loaded with the banned stimulant methylhex-anemine that ended ten years undefeated for Tua.
But Barrett has his guard up, hitting back at the claims.
"Tua's whole career has been excuses. He has never lived up to his potential that New Zealand thought he would be," he said.
Barrett denies the claims saying the whole thing is just another ploy by a "broke" Tua.
"If I would have failed a (urine) test, they would have never let me leave out of New Zealand with those belts.”
This comment has amused many close to the story, citing the length of time drug tests take to be completed. It’s being reported that the test was overseen by the Wellington based ESR Forensics Toxicologist Kenepuru Science Centre and tested at the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory.
Tua is counterpunching with an even greater flurry of punches that saw Barrett hit the canvas in the 12th round of the fight.
"Now we know he is just a drugs cheat.
"He has fooled everyone and cheated me out of an honest result.
"There's only way one way to put this behind us. He needs to come back to New Zealand and step into the ring with me again.
"I'll make sure he needs some drugs by the end of the fight."
It's a fist fight, that's turned into a verbal sparring match.
"I've never been a cheater," says Barrett. "I bust my butt. I sparred 125 rounds; I ran countless miles; I trained countless hours; I put so much work in," Barrett says of the fight in question. "I busted Tua's butt fair and square: that's the bottom line."
"He never was world champion. He never really fought the fight that put him over the top.
"If he wants me to, I'll move to New Zealand, train there for the whole time, and he can watch me eat, watch me train, watch the supplements I take, and I'm still gonna bust him down," says the angry Barrett.
"Tua is an emotional queen. He's the Queen of New Zealand."
Before the bout Tua was ranked No 3 and after suffering the loss he has plummeted outside of the top 15. It’s belived he has now filed the test and a report to the WBO believing that the organisation must do the right thing and give him his ranking and belts back.
"Respectfully, their integrity is on the line now too,” he says, adding that the whole boxing world is watching.
The first fight was drawn. The second disputed. The third, to come?
Tua has said that he was considering retirement but this has provided the motivation needed to fight again.
"This time it would be personal," he said.
"This time I would be motivated because when I step into the ring I will be looking at the guy who cheated the last time we fought.
"This guy has done me a huge favour. I'm ready to go to work again and make sure I give him a reason to use drugs.
"I just wonder if he is brave enough to come back and fight me," he was reported as saying.
3 News