Tuaman scores heartfelt best wishes from fans

By MARTIN JOHNSTON

Boxing giant David Tua was such a big hit with the children at Green Lane Hospital that they have sent him a Tua-sized thank-you.

Patients, parents and staff from the paediatric heart ward yesterday sent him a metre-wide T-shirt signed with their good wishes for his bid to win the world heavyweight boxing title.

The Tuaman, who won hearts with his gentle ways when he visited the ward in September, will fight Lennox Lewis in Las Vegas on November 12.

Patients yesterday knew all about Tua, a big hero in Samoa, where he was born.

Five-year-old Joseph Setu, from Samoa, who is about to leave hospital after a six-week stay for heart-valve surgery and an infection, found the T-shirt a bit big for him.

His family were one of the first to show their support by signing the gift, organised by the Heart Children support group.

Herald Online feature: Tua v Lewis