Former world heavyweight title challenger David Tua shook the cobwebs in his second fight back after a long layoff, going to what was scored as a 10 round split decision to sparring partner to the stars Cisse Salif in the main event of Cedric Kushner's PPV event from Hollywood, Florida Friday.<>The unambitious Salif did not deserve to be adjudged the winner on the third card (96-94) but the 'Tuaman' was far from impressive either.

The throwin' Samoan took five rounds to really get going and actually seemed to be having trouble with Salif's lazy, defensive jab and negative tactics. Too often in his career the squat New Zealander has come in overweight and the resulting loss of speed has left him unable to close the distance effectively and unable to let his hands go. And this was yet another occasion where Tua, who weighed in too heavy at 245lbs, just didn't do anything other than walked forward for long periods of time.

Tua did land his vaulted left hook more often in the later rounds and put together some good body attacks but Salif, who has sparred with the best heavies of the last five years including Lennox Lewis, never looked like going anywhere.

The Tuaman at least showed stamina by taking the last three rounds easily and improves to 44-3-1 (38). He may well face Calvin Brock, who will surely jab his head on based on this performance, in January.

The future of two-time world heavyweight title challenger Jameel McCline is less certain, though. 'Big Time' lost a shock 10 round decision to 10 time loser Zuri Lawrence in another less than enthralling fight. 'Big Time' just didn't let his fists go and was steadily outworked by the 20-10-4 Lawrence - who has never scored a knockout.

The 6ft 6inch McCline clearly had the tool to bully his man, and did so in the middle rounds before slumping back into whatever daze he was in, but he just didn't seem that bothered. He drops to 32-6-3 (20) and off the heavyweight title radar.

It is hard to believe this is the man who should have won the IBF title a year ago v Chris Byrd and McCline will be cursing his team's decision not to cash in the huge offer to fight unbeaten Audley Harrison.