Sports
Son of Samoa(s)
Heavyweight professional boxer David Tua may have lost his match against Lennox Lewis, but both Samoas were busting with pride
For the first time in the history of professional boxing a Samoan was showcased in the limelight, prompting extravagant promotion in American Samoa and Samoa for the Nov. 11th match between heavyweight David Tua and Lennox Lewis. A New Zealand company even sponsored a drawing in both island countries, with the winners attending the match, lunching with Tua and enjoying an all-expenses paid one week visit to Las Vegas, Nevada.
The week leading up to the fight, 80 percent of Samoans were wearing "ulafala"—a lei made from fruits of the pandanus tree, traditionally worn by chiefs but now in more general use—in support of Tua and prayer services were underway.
- ADVERTISEMENT -
In American Samoa, full-page advertisements blazed the across the pages of the Samoa News. If you missed the ads, there were also several stories about Tua in the paper. The same was happening in Samoa in the country’s various newspapers. Not to be outdone, on the day before the heavyweight match, Samoa police officers were decked out in dress uniforms, plus ulafala, and marched through the streets of the capital, Apia. Everywhere you went, it seemed, David Tua’s name and face were placed before you.
The Samoa government-owned Televise Samoa broadcast preview after preview of Tua. American Samoa’s U.S. representative, Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, even took to the floor of the U.S. House in October to predict that Tua would win the match. The congressman also helped secured from the broadcaster of the fight, the rights for the match to be aired live in American Samoa. Broadcasters in Samoa secured the rights through their New Zealand counterparts.
When the fight began on November 11th, traffic came to a halt in both Samoas. People search out the nearest television set—in homes, bars and restaurants—to cheer on their native son.
Despite Tua’s loss to Lewis in 12 rounds, many Samoans believe that he did the best he could and were still proud of their "Tuaman." No one contested the decision as unfair. Instead, fans said that it was the best display of "the Samoan power." Samoa could see some tourism benefits from Tua’s fight. Broadcasters featured shots of Samoa before the much-publicized match. Tua is a native of Samoa, although American Samoans also embrace him.
Tua returned home on November 22, a high-profile passenger on the maiden flight of Polynesian Airlines’ new B737-800 from Auckland to Apia. He was greeted with cheers upon his arrival. His village in Samoa, on the small island of Faleatiu, was decorated in small colorful banners and flags to welcome him home.
Tua never made it to American Samoa on that trip, but stayed in Apia for two days before returning to New Zealand where he now resides.
