Samoa’s next best hope to win the World Heavyweight boxing title, Alex Leapai, is home.
The man from Lauli’i arrived in Samoa yesterday to seek the blessings from his family, village, district, church and the country ahead of his biggest fight ever.
Leapai is scheduled to meet current world heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko, on 26 April 2014 in Germany.
Waiting for his arrival early yesterday afternoon, proud father, Fa’ataui Leapai, and his mother, Leitū, were very happy and expressed gratitude for seeing him again. “We are really looking forward to meeting our son Alex today,” said Fa’atauī.
“I am very grateful for the support that I get from the people in my homeland, Samoa,” he said.
“My son’s arrival in Samoa is just an ordinary visit, to see his family, meet with our village, government and his people and get blessings from them.” The father said he is a strong believer in the Samoan saying that; “So’o se faiva lava e masi’i ae tapua’ia, e manuia.”
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In English, its translated meaning is that “any mission that is attempted and is well supported by the people, will succeed.”
And Leapai was already gathering that support within seconds of setting foot back on Samoa. Dozens of onlookers were impressed with his compassion when he stopped half way across the tarmac to assist a little boy who fell over. Some might have kept walking.
Leapai bent down, doubled over, to check that the boy was alright, helped him back to his feet, straightened and checked again, looking down, before carrying on.
Once through Customs and Immigration, Alex Leapai, told the waiting media that he felt blessed when he arrived in Samoa.
“Coming here to my homeland to meet and get blessings from our people is something that I always want to do before my fights.”
Leapai sounded confident when asked how he was feeling about his upcoming fight with Klitschko. “I can’t wait to go back to Australia to train and prepare for my fight.”
But Leapai the ‘Lion Heart’ was also humble. “I will cast it all on the Lord - nothing is impossible when we trust in Him,”.
Lauli’i chiefs and other members of the village were all at the airport to wait for Leapai. He was accompanied by his coach, Noel Thornberry, and major sponsor, Phil Murphy, of Oxmar Properties.
He is here for a three day visit and will leave the country this Saturday. There will be a special get together at Lauli’i village with Alex Leapai today at 8.30am.
Alex Leapai to the rescue!
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