Samoa’s greatest boxer, To’aletai David Tua, has shown that blood is more important than money by refusing to help world heavyweight champ, Wladimir Klitschko beat Lauli’i slugger, Alex Leapai.
Klitschko offered the heavy-hitting Faleatiu native the job as his chief sparring partner at his training camp in Austria ahead of his world title defence in Oberhausen, Germany on April 26.
But Tua refused the lucrative offer point blank, saying there was no way he would help anyone beat a “Samoan brother.”
Samoan-born Leapai was delighted with the news, declaring that Tua was his idol growing up and an inspiration to young Samoans everywhere.
Tua, 41, was one of the most feared fighters in the world in the late 90s, knocking out four men who at one time held the world heavyweight title, including a 19-second blowout of Puerto Rican John Ruiz.
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He lost a points decision against Lennox Lewis in his only crack at the championship in 2000, but Leapai says he won’t make the same mistake of hanging back when he hits Germany. Klitschko has hired three crack sparring par tners around the same size as the 183cm, 110kg Leapai.
They are Samoan-born Natu Visinia, an unbeaten prospect based in Los Angeles, veteran Florida-based Sherman “Tank” Williams, from the Bahamas, and two-time British amateur champion Simon Barclay.
The Englishman told reporters this week that he will be used mainly for speed work as Klitschko plans on setting a fast pace against the hulking Brisbane delivery driver.
Leapai will begin sparring in Sydney on Monday, working with former rugby league hitman Solomon Haumono, ex-WBO title challenger Kali Meehan, former Aussie champ Michael Kirby and former Penrith Panthers Junior Bowie Tupou, who is back in Australia after seven years fighting in America. Leapai’s trainer Noel Thornberry said he was delighted with Leapai’s preparation.
“We’ve still got seven weeks of sparring ahead of us,” he said, “but already Alex is in great shape. His explosive strength is better than ever and he is on target to shock the world for the upset of the century.”
Leapai visited his old school at Woodridge High on Wednesday, telling students there that if they work hard and focus on their dreams they can shake up the world.
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