Boxing: Tua sentimental favourite but short odds on Lewis

It may well be a case of the heart ruling the head, but New Zealanders are betting hundreds of thousands of dollars on David Tua dealing to Lennox Lewis.

Not surprisingly, though, the rest of the world firmly believes Lewis will retain his heavyweight titles.

By yesterday, New Zealanders had wagered almost $1 million at the TAB, the first time the betting agency has accepted boxing bets. About 85 per cent of this money had been placed on Tua, who is paying $2.55 to win.

The TAB - like all other betting houses - had Lewis favourite, paying $1.45.

The biggest turnover has been at the Mandalay Bay casino, the venue for the fight in the United States. Bookmakers said Tua had received ample backing.

Lewis was paying $US1.33 ($3.37) while Tua was at $US2.70.

But confidence in Tua's abilities has clearly risen since August, when he was paying $US3 to Lewis' $US1.25.

Centrebet in Australia has Lewis at $A1.33 ($1.78) and the Samoan Kiwi at $A3.

The TAB expects to shatter the betting record on a single event this weekend.

That mark is the $1.15 million punters wagered on the Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington in 1996 - the first time the TAB took bets on rugby in New Zealand.

- NZPA

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.