[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 28 (Thursday, March 6, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN TRIBUTE TO SAMOAN HEAVYWEIGHT BOXER DAVID TUA

  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very 
special member of our Samoan community here in these United States of 
America, heavyweight boxer David Tua, who was recently honored in 
Honolulu as the Samoan professional athlete of the year.
  Mr. Speaker, David Tua, now only 23 years old, became heavyweight 
champion of New Zealand at a very young age and subsequently 
represented New Zealand at the Barcelona Olympics, where he was awarded 
a bronze medal.
  This young athlete has a most impressive record as a professional 
boxer. David Tua is the first Polynesian and the first Samoan to be 
ranked 8th in the world in the heavyweight division. He has won every 
single one of his 26 professional fights, 22 by knockouts, and 11 of 
those were knockouts in the first round.
  The great fighter, Mr. Mike Tyson, currently holds the record, Mr. 
Speaker, with 15 knockouts in the first round.
  David Tua is an inspiration and a champion role model for the Samoan 
community, working with and encouraging our youth to maintain strong 
ties with their families and to study hard in school.
  Keep an eye on David Tua.

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