David Tua BoxingInsider.com Exclusive Biofile Published by Scoop Malinowski Last Updated on April 10th, 2008

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STATUS: Heavyweight contender.

HT: 5-10 1/2 WT: 244

BORN ON: Nov. 21, 1972 IN: Western Samoa

RECORD: 37-1-1 (29 KOs).

NICKNAMES: Terminator, The Destroyer, Sleeping Pills (“For putting guys to sleep.”), Good Night Nurse, The Tua Man.

PREFIGHT FEELING: “I do a lot of praying. Not only for myself, I pray for my opponent. Sit down, stay calm, think about all the days, the nights, the mornings of running, the hard work preparing for the fight. Think about my family. When I climb through them ropes I have to bring on the beast. That means I have to keep my eyes on (the opponent) at all times. Don’t lose focus. He’s gonna try to steal my dreams.”

EARLY BOXING MEMORY: “I didn’t like boxing when I was younger. I remember trying to lift up the gloves when I was five…just too heavy. Then, as life goes on, my father (Tuavale), who owned a convenience store, used to call the grown-up guys and told them to spar with me. If they hurt me, he’d reward them with a sweet. And I got a strap. It was because of that I didn’t want to do boxing anymore. We moved to New Zealand in 1984, for a better future. It was then that I started liking boxing. My dad probably saw something good in me a long time ago. He saw I could become what I am today.”

CHILDHOOD HEROES: “Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali.”

HOBBIES/INTERESTS: “Try my best to listen to God’s words. Read the Bible and communicate with him in prayer. Spend time with family, friends and loved ones. Write poetry, lyrics, play guitar and shoot pool.”

FAVORITE MOVIES: “The Ten Commmandments, Ben Hur, The Three Stooges, Dumb & Dumber, Ace Ventura, Tommy Boy, Black Sheep.”

MUSICAL TASTES: “Country, Dwight Yoakam, Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, Jerry Clark, Christian choir music. I appreciate all music. Because it all has a little message inside that can make a difference in my life or anybody’s.”

FAVORITE MEAL: “What my mom (Noela) cooks.”

FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR: “Vanilla.”

GREATEST SPORTS MOMENT: “It will be when I fulfill my destiny and become heavyweight champion of the world.”

FAVORITE BOXERS: “I like to watch everybody. Everybody has a different style, a little something to offer I can learn from, to help me. Deep inside my head I know what fighters go through. I appreciate them all and the pain barriers they go through to accomplish their goals.”

FUTURE AMBITION: “To become heavyweight champion of the world. It’s my destiny.”