Boxing: Look up beats look down in weigh-in glares

LAS VEGAS - The world heavyweight championship weigh-in yesterday turned into another Tua benefit as a media and fight management crowd that had doubled in size since the previous day to around 1500 chanted for the challenger.

The tension rose after Tua had stepped up to weigh in - at 245lb. Lewis followed, registering 249lb, then stayed on the scales and called Tua forward for the traditional stare-down for photographers.

He apparently wanted the extra few centimetres the scales gave him because he refused to move for what became a drawn-out challenge. Tua stood back waiting. Lewis' handlers eventually took the champ by the arms and led him forward to face the challenger.

When they did get eyeball to eyeball - Tua staring up, Lewis looking down - handlers from both teams had their hands on the combatants' shoulders in case hostilities broke out early.

Despite all the theatrics, there was plenty of menace in the eyes. Tua stole the show again with his war-cry, which sent the crowd into the Tua chant.

There was no chant for Lewis.

The Tua camp is happy with the challenger's weight, which is 5lb to 8lb down from previous fights, but 5lb up from pre-weigh-in predictions.

Trainer Ronnie Shields' main concern has been keeping Tua comfortable.

"He needs to fight at a weight he feels good at," he said

His man was ready, Shields said. There was nothing more to be done other than four rounds of light pads work the day before the fight. The main dangers for Tua were getting bored and tightening up, or getting hyped too early and fighting his fight mentally before he got in the ring.

The trainer reckoned it was the biggest crowd he had ever seen at a fight weigh-in, and he's seen plenty. "That really pumped David up."

He was pleased with Tua's stare-down, rating it a huge psychological advantage. "I saw the fear in Lennox's eyes," he said.

In all the talk about the size advantage Lewis has, particularly height and reach, it has escaped most observers' attention that Tua beats the Brit in every other measure. His chest is bigger; his biceps are more than two inches bigger; his wrist is thicker and his fist larger.

But it is down below, where punching power comes from, that may count most. Tua is thicker around the middle and much better planted than Lewis, with thighs four inches bigger, calfs nearly two.

Not to mention that hairdo, which was briefly an issue.

Lewis' camp told the Nevada State Athletic Commission they wanted it cut because they feared chemicals from Tua's stick-up styling might get in the champ's eyes and impede his performance. "Who knows what kind of island juice he puts in his hair," Lewis had said to them.

The Tua camp responded by saying he'd cut it if Lewis shaved his braids off. Commission director Marc Ratner said he wouldn't make anyone cut their hair but he had inspected Tua's head.

"We just wanted to make sure there wasn't concrete in his hair," Ratner said.

The Lewis camp backed down and Tua will keep his hair. He joked that the only advice his dad Tuavale had given him was about the hairdo. "No, he doesn't want it cut."

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.