Boxing: Masoe has sights on Samoan double top

By PETER JESSUP

The island nation of Samoa may well boast two world boxing title contenders at the weekend.

David Tua's mate, Maselino Masoe, has left the heavyweight contender's camp in Las Vegas to fight for a shot at the top dogs in the middleweight division.

Masoe, at 34, is old for a fighter and now he has to do the business against Sam Hill in Philadelphia, Mississippi tomorrow as he comes to the end of a long road that has included representing American Samoa at three Olympics.

Masoe was overwhelmed when he returned to the islands with Tua a couple of months ago and was made a matai, with the title of Lafai-Fao or High Chief, in honour of his achievements.

He was billed "The Amazing" Masoe, a title bestowed by the boxing business in deference to his knockout punch, left and right, which has produced a pro record of 16 wins, 15 by knockout, and only one loss, which came after he clashed heads with Puerto Rican Samaniego Santiago, a cousin of Roberto Duran and No 8 in the world rankings, earlier this year.

This will be Masoe's fifth fight this year and he will fight again in December.

That is a heavy workload as he seeks to push his claims for a world title shot.

The intention, said Bryan Barry, brother of Tua's manager, Kevin Barry, was to go out to smash the 30-year-old St Louis-based Hill, who has a record of 13-1, to impress WBC chiefs with his explosive power and thus earn a shot at the North American Boxing Association middleweight belt in December.

Win that, and he is in the top-10 world rankings.

"His power as a middleweight is up there in comparison to what Dave has as a heavyweight," Bryan Barry said, adding: "We need to show that, to give the promoters, the fans, the TV moguls, what they want."

Masoe's late run as a professional boxer came about largely because of encouragement from Tua.

He had proved his ability by making the quarter-finals at the Seoul and Barcelona Olympics, missing a medal at each.

His disappointing performance and early departure at the Atlanta Olympics was put down to the fact that he had had little training and no sparring before being sent to represent his country.

He had retired until Tua rang and said: "Hey bro, turn pro, you're good."

"I feel much better now," Masoe said.

"There is proper training and they take good care of me.

"Ronnie [Shields, a former middleweight who lost on points to Sugar Ray Leonard and is now Tua's trainer] has taught me plenty.

"I love it. Now I have to do the job I came for.

"I told Kevin [Barry, also his manager] I wanted to follow in David's footsteps."

Tua said: "It's meant to be - two Samoan warriors as world champions."

It is hard for Masoe being away from his 10-year old daughter, two-year old son, four-month old daughter and wife, Matalena, who have been back in the islands not even able to see him on pay-per-view television.

But he wants to secure their future, saying "one hundred per cent, man" when asked if a comeback at his age was the right decision.

Whatever happens in Mississippi, Masoe is guaranteed further exposure on Tua's undercards should the heavyweight beat Lewis.

What is his best punch, the left hook or right cross, both KO-carriers?

"The one that lands," he replies.

The High Chief is, like Tua, fired up by the thought of bringing honour to his people, and to his parent's neighbouring villages of Asau and Auala.

"These titles are normally handed down by blood. They showed me utmost respect," he said.

"It is an honour to be able to serve my people."

Kevin Barry will be corner-man for Masoe and other fighters he manages on the card at the Silver Star Casino.

Australian-turned-Kiwi-turned-American Rob Peden will fight Mexican Edgar Barcenas for the featherweight (126 pounds) Naba title.

Peden, with 16-1 record, including nine KOs, is the IBF No 7-ranked contender and already has a gold medal from Montreal, and the 1995 and 96 Liverpool Cups and two Olympics behind him.

Barcenas, 19-5-3, 13 KOs, is WBC No 10-ranked world title contender and this fight is for the WBC Continental Americas title he won from Ubaldo Hernandez and has defended six times.

A New Zealand representative at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, Samoan Faii Falamoe, will fight Los Angeles-based Jeremiah Johnson, 6-0-1, 4 KOs. Falemoe is 5-1 but he bombed badly in his last fight and needs to impress.

Tongan super-heavyweight Paea Wolfgramm will also attempt to resurrect his struggling pro career on the Mississippi card. Wolfgramm's fight against Elicier Castillo for the IBO Intercontinental title is being billed as "more than a quarter-ton of heavyweight action."

The 300-pound Wolfgramm, 19-2, 14 KOs since turning pro after his silver medal at Atlanta, dropped in stature when he was knocked out by "Cowboy" Lampkin in his last fight.

Wolfgramm hit the canvas face-first in a horrible fall that looked to have ended his career. But he has a reputation for fighting through pain after carrying on to a 10-round points decision over Gerard Jones despite breaking bones in his hand when he smacked a too-close television camera instead of Jones in their bout last year.