<span>Tua - trim and terrific!! </span>
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August 16, 2001 â Exclusive by Wayne McCullough: At the final media workout, held at David Tua's extensive training compound yesterday, promoter Dan Goossen said that Tua was ferocious, active and throwing more punches, thanks to his trainer Joe Goossen. He feels that Byrd is dangerous, in an elusive sort of way, and confirmed that he is a boxer that no-one would voluntarily want to fight. Dan commended Tua for taking this fight and declared that Tua can beat the winner of the upcoming Rahman vs Lewis bout. Tua is not looking past Saturday night, but should that fight take place, Dan mentioned that this was slated for April 21, 2002. Tua has trained 10 full weeks in Las Vegas. He has sparred over 100 rounds and undergone 1,200 rounds of gym work. Joe Goossen has helped Tua immensely by keeping his hands near his face, speeding him up and his combination work is now phenomenal. Tua has been doing two hour training sessions, four days per week with Tom Wilson, who has worked with the Anaheim Angels and many more top sporting names. Wilson's company have also worked with quarterback Brett Farve. His focus for Tua has been on strength training, stability and flexibility. Twice a week Tua is submerged in an ICE BATH!! This is a bathtub half-filled with cold water and chilled down with large blocks of ice two hours beforehand. Twenty minutes before Tua gets into the tub, 40 bags of crushed ice are added. The purpose of this is to burn bodyfat by converting it to heat to keep the body warm. It also increases the blood flow through the muscle tissue. The ice bath helps the recovery from exercise by 35% and helps the body rid itself of lactic acid, which can cause muscle soreness and cramping. His first ice bath session lasted 47 seconds - but he can now stay in there for 15 minutes!! He gets two-hour weekly massages and twice-weekly therapy sessions from Scott Hurd, who works in conjunction with Keith Kleven, whose clientele include Tiger Woods, Mike Tyson and Michael Jordan. These massage sessions are designed to open up Tua's right hand side giving him a fuller range of motion and the ability to land the right hand with maximum power. Tua's nutrition is supervised by Rob Crandall. Personal chef Billy Stratham prepares six meals per day, the first at 7am and the last at 10pm. In between Tua drinks electrolyte drinks at gym sessions and after the gym he drinks protein drinks. He is evaluated daily to make sure he is getting the correct nutrients in his diet to reduce fat and increase strength and stamina. Maybe it is because of his strict regime, but I believe that Tua is in the best shape of his life. He has worked extremely hard for this fight and knows that this "WAR" is very important. Looking in his eyes, fighter to fighter, I see the hunger and desire to be a world champion. After the press had left the compound, I sat with Tua talking about every day life and the possibility of being on the same card together - what an honor that would be for me. Fighters like to conceal their body until fight time especially when they have something to be proud of. Tua does!!! While talking to him, he removed his shirt and I was totally impressed. At Friday's weigh-in, he is going to weigh lighter than he has done in the past four years and everyone will be surprised at his physique. I anticipate Tua being the undisputed champion of the world and an all-time great. Saturday will be one step in the right direction.
