Welcome aboard the Tuabus

By ALAN PERROTT

The team at Stagecoach's Manukau depot became rabid Tua fans the day little big man and his dad showed up looking for a job about 18 months ago.

They are now putting their buses where their mouths are and have turned dozens of buses into mobile billboards proclaiming Tua as heavyweight champ-in-waiting.

Many drivers have even taken to wearing Sigano lais, the badge of a true fan, to show their support.

Filipo Patau was the first to meet the two Tuas when they arrived.

"At first I was like stunned, but when I saw he was dead serious I knew he was trying to help out his dad. He's a family man and he'll do anything to help his parents."

Bus operator Mike Tucker turned into Tua's number one fan on the spot.

"I was in awe and it almost gave me a fright, but it was a great experience. It's something I talk about all the time and every time I read something about it my stomach goes into a knot. He's going to win on Sunday, that's all there is to it."

Mr Tucker's devotion has extended to covering the depot in photocopies of licence plates he designed reading "2A2WIN" and "WIN42A."

Depot manager Tom Burt said they could not take the boxer's job application seriously, but did give some thought to putting him on the school bus runs to keep school pupils in line.

Unfortunately, David's father's job application got lost in the hysteria as well.

Bus operator Danny Winterstein came up with the idea of using the buses to whip up Tua fans.

"I thought we had to do something. This is the first time in history that someone from the Pacific Islands has challenged for the title. We just wait and pray that he can do the business, but no matter what happens he's a champion to us."

While he can hardly wait until the fight begins, Mr Winterstein said the real party would start when Tua came home.

Herald Online feature: Tua v Lewis

The Herald Online is ringside for the countdown to David Tua's tilt at the world heavyweight boxing title. Reporter Peter Jessup and photographer Kenny Rodger bring you all the news, inside information and pictures, leading up to this Sunday afternoon's showdown in Las Vegas.

* Be sure to get your full-colour poster of the two fighters in the print edition of the Herald on Friday November 10.