By REBECCA WALSH
It was a case of two fighters coming face to face but heavyweight boxer David Tua admitted his contest did not rank with Olivia Jenkinson's.
Seven-month-old Olivia, from Glenfield, has spent much of her short life in and out of hospital with a congenital heart defect.
Yesterday, she was one of those visited by the big man in the children's cardiology ward at Green Lane Hospital.
Tua, who will fight Lennox Lewis on November 12 in Las Vegas for the world title, was visiting to support the Zipper Kidz Club, for children who have had heart surgery.
Showing he was a big softie at heart, the father of a 2-year-old son gave out teddy bears and kisses. Reading a poem he had written, he described the children as "true champions" in need of love and care.
"Just seeing these innocent faces fighting a fight, that is greater than the 'Tuaman' will ever face in the ring."
Tua's visit was a surprise for Olivia and her mother Kate, who said Tua was lovely. "He came up to see children in the ward and popped in to Olivia's room. He was very nice, quietly spoken, gentle. He was super," Mrs Jenkinson said.
"She was fascinated. Her eyes were wide open. She was looking at him all the time. She never cried."
Olivia, an only child, has already had two major operations - the first when she was two weeks old and weighed only 1800g - and is due for a third in about eight weeks.
"She is a bit of a fighter ... The prognosis is very good. We have just got to get through these operations. They are not without risk."
Tua's bout with Lewis for the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council belts will be held at the new 13,000-seat Mandalay Bay Casino on The Strip in Las Vegas.
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