Boxing: Just a routine day, until the bell sounds

Porridge, with plenty of vitamins, and some music. PETER JESSUP counts the hours.

LAS VEGAS - David Tua's fight-day routine will be the same as his routine every other day - until about 4 pm anyway.

He will probably not leave his hotel room, a palatial penthouse at the top of the 60-storey Mandalay Bay hotel and casino, which is the fight venue, until he has to.

Breakfast will be porridge, 20g of raisins, 20g of yoghurt and a protein shake loaded with vitamins and mineral supplements.

He will spend the day watching DVDs from a collection now in the hundreds, and has had a tape machine brought in so he can play his favourites - everything from gansta rap through James Brown to Samoan gospel singing - and he likes to sing along.

Lunch will be his last big meal, probably chicken, seared tuna steaks almost raw because they are easier to digest that way, mashed potato, asparagus, broccoli and salad - no sauces.

After that he will have more protein shake and sugar-loaded chocolate that will energise his muscles. He may have a steak about five hours out from the bout if still hungry, with the meat being the best Kobe beef, cooked rare.

Two hours before the fight, he and his entourage will go to the dressing-room, as required by fight rules. Trainer Ronnie Shields will wrap his hands.

He and manager Kevin Barry will issue final instructions. The referee Joe Cortez will come in briefly to do the same.

Tua's godfather, the Rev Kaenape Faletoese, will lead the team in prayer.

Then Tua will slowly strip for the fight, getting into his boots and shorts. He will have a long rubdown to relax him. He will spend 15 minutes stretching. Then he will shadowbox, followed by pads work with Shields to give him a feel of the gloves.

Tua will work hard enough to break a sweat. Then he will be greased with cocoa butter to help Lewis' punches slide if they are not landed flush.

He will be led out by security chief Glen Moore, with his managers and cornermen following.

They will come into the ring to the sound of Samoan drums backed with a bass drum. Tua will wear traditional lavalava and ofu, a sleeveless shirt, over his fighting shorts for the short walk.

Lewis, as champion, will enter second to his choice of music, probably a Jamaican rap number.

And then, it's fight time.

After the fight and media interviews, Tua will probably go to visit his mother, Noela, in her hotel room because she cannot stand to watch her boy get bashed around.

A big reception is planned later that night at the Mandalay Bay.

Asked what the plan was in the event of a loss, manager Kevin Barry said there was no plan because there would be no loss.

Herald Online feature: the Tua fight

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.