Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

The retirement of David Tua in the last few days has brought Sideline Sid a real mixture of thoughts and emotions.

I first laid eyes on David in 1988 at the (then) Otumoetai Trust Hotel, where he fought in an amateur boxing tournament. While he was only fifteen in his first bout in the Western Bay, the drums were already beating about the next big thing in New Zealand amateur boxing.

He certainly made a statement on a cold mid winter's night in Tauranga some 24 years ago. His opponent was a Palmerston North soldier Nigel Anderson, who stood tall over the pocket battleship from South Auckland.

That night, David showed he was headed for glory, when he pummelled the big soldier around the ring, with the referee eventually intervening to halt the bout in favour of the youngster. Anderson was no bunny, as he went on to annex three National light heavyweight titles and win a bronze medal at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games.

David fought once more in Tauranga, when he annexed his third New Zealand amateur crown in 1991 – a feat he accomplished at 18 years of age. By the time he turned to the professional ranks in late 1992, he had established his name as one of the best amateur pugilists to be produced in the country.

A bronze medal at the 1991 World Championships in Sydney was followed by an Olympic bronze medal. David's Olympic medallion completed a trifecta of New Zealand Olympic medals over the decades. Ted Morgan won the country first ever Olympic Gold at Amsterdam in 1928, with Kevin Barry junior being awarded a Silver medal in 1984.

While David defeated a number of former world champions in his career – he will leave the sport without having climbed his personal Everest, of having a World Championship belt placed around his waist.

If boxing fans want to understand many of Tua's trials and tribulations, they should read Chris Mirams excellent book Terminated. New Zealand Boxing aficionado Sir Bob Jones had this to say about Mirams book.

'I found Terminated fascinating. New Zealanders enthusiastically embraced David Tua's ring journey to a world heavyweight championship bout.”

'What remains a mystery were the behind the scenes convulsions that brought his fistic career to such a sad denouncement. Chris Mirams fills in those gaps in this triumph and tragedy.”

While Tua still yearns to be world champion he has obviously lost the desire to put in the hard yards necessary to champion of the world.

However Sideline Sid, who has met David on a number of occasions, stretching back to his amateur years, believes that the TUAMAN has been an outstanding ambassador for both New Zealand and Samoa.

While he has had a multitude of critics over the years, David has always been (and still is) a very humble person. While he has had a roller coaster ride of extreme highs and lows, it is religion that has been the cornerstone of his life.

Let us not forget that he beat four future or former World champions in John Ruiz, Oleg Maskaev, Hasim Rahman and was rated one of the hardest punchers in the heavyweight ranks for nearly two decades.

The good news is the David is returning to his roots in South Auckland opening Kamp Tua. His aim is to give the youngsters of the area, a chance to turn their life around through boxing and participating in gym life.

Seeya at the Game.