Boxing: Keep faith Team NZ, says Tua

By PETER JESSUP

David Tua had a simple message for Team New Zealand from his camp in Las Vegas: what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

The boxer has been following the yachting via the internet and after each of the races he has sent the sailors a message of support, including his own slogan: "Keep the faith," Tua said. "It's not over yet."

And if they did lose, "life goes on".

Tua admitted he had wandered territory similar to the hole the yachties now find themselves in after he lost his world title fight to Lennox Lewis.

"You just have to learn what you can from the disaster; learn from your mistakes.

"I'm sure Dean and the boys will be back stronger."

Tua is more than quietly confident that he can deal to Hasim Rahman when the pair meet in Philadelphia on March 30 to determine the position of No 1 challenger for the International Boxing Federation belt.

"I know I have what it takes."

The three weeks' delay to the fight because of sponsorship wrangles had allowed him to be better-prepared, Tua said.

"When you're in great shape physically you are mentally up as well."

He would not find special motivation from their previous meeting and the controversy that followed, Tua said.

That fight in December 1998 ended in a round-10 technical knockout, but Rahman claimed he had been hit after the bell to end round nine and was unable to recover.

"This is a new fight on a new day. If the past helps him concentrate, so be it. He's certainly talked about it a lot.

"Me, I've focused on my own job. I know what I have to do. I won't be changing the plan."

Continuous coverage of today's America's Cup race will begin on nzherald.co.nz at 12.30pm.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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