Fans sure Tua's sun will rise again

By PATRICK GOWER

FROM MANGERE

The roller doors were brought down on shops in South Auckland yesterday, the streets deserted as David Tua fought for his hometown on the world stage.

It was standing room only at the Malaeola Community Centre in Mangere, where 2000 people crammed in to watch the fight in front of just two 40in TVs.

Most of the crowd arrived straight after their morning church services and filed out over six hours later, like a funeral procession after a final prayer that translated to "the sun will rise again."

But while their heads were down, their spirits were still up and David Tua was still their champion.

Lui Ponifasio said Tua would still come home to a hero's welcome.

"This was not his fight.

"It was his family's, his country's and New Zealand's.

"He's achieved something, no matter what."

The Malaeola Centre event, organised by Radio Samoa and the Samoan Advisory Council, could hardly have been further from the Mandalay Bay Events Centre in Las Vegas.

The Malaeola crowd ignored the pre-fight build-up by entertaining itself with songs, poems, jokes and prayer about David Tua as they waited for the main event.

But the clapping and laughter turned to a roar when the Las Vegas crowd got their first glimpse of Tua and a supporter waving a "Fa'a Samoa" sign.

Tua's passion for the Samoan language and traditional dress was reflected by the crowd, with most decked out in the red ulafala necklace worn by the hometown hero.

Some clutched desperately to Tuaman posters throughout the fight, with the crowd roaring and breaking into chants of "Tua, Tua" over and over again.

But as the rounds went on and seconds ticked by, brows began to furrow, the clapping became more modest and arms were crossed.

Among the crowd were members of the Otahuhu Boxing Club, including Alberto "Macho Man" Machong, New Zealand's middleweight boxing champion, and his technical trainer, Jake Fili.

"Tua has opened so many doors. There are hundreds of kids like him here in Mangere, and he's shown them that they have to use it or lose it," Fili said.

As the sun set outside the centre, volunteers quickly began to stack chairs away in front of the muted television screens showing a victorious Lennox Lewis.

But for the people of Mangere, David Tua had always been the main event.

Outside the centre, 19-year-old Henry Fesuluai, of Otara, said: "The Tuaman is still the man.

"He fights for Samoa and South Auckland.

"He is still a winner because he represents us."

Herald Online feature: the Tua fight