Boxing: Tears flow as Masoe welcomed home

By PETER JESSUP

Maselino Masoe didn't look much like a world champion when he arrived back in Auckland yesterday after his WBA title win, wearing baggy pants, a slouch hat and an old David Tua T-shirt.

Within seconds of his clearing the arrival hall, tears were streaming down his cheeks as he greeted his four children then saw old mate Tua, Samoan boxers from other eras, friends and supporters.

He and Tua hugged, the new middleweight champion's head buried in the big heavyweight's shoulder to hide his tears.

Tua grabbed Masoe around the waist and raised him up for the crowd's applause.

Then the two stood facing each other as the Samoans were led in a hymn of thanks by Alex Sua and a church minister.

It was Tua who talked Masoe into going professional when in his early thirties, and the pair trained together in Las Vegas.

The minister also became emotional himself as he gave thanks for Masoe's safe journey, then exhorted Tua to get back in the ring and forget about his legal troubles and the split from Kevin Barry and Martin Pugh.

"Forgive that Kevin Barry whatever he did to you, close the door," he shouted among the Samoan well-wishers in the arrivals area.

Masoe said he was stunned by the reception. He didn't have the title belt with him - wily American promoter Don King has it, a good indicator of who will be making the running for his WBA-ordered defence against German Bert Schenk.

Masoe wanted to go straight home to see his wife, Matalena, who had surgery on Monday to correct a spinal problem.

He stopped long enough to say that he believed himself to be a real champion and that at nearly 38, he would not dodge any challenge.

"I want to fight the best, I told Don King that," Masoe said.

"I believe I have still got something left, I know I can fight the best in the world."

He thanked Tua for giving him the opportunity in pro boxing.

Tua said he was owed nothing, admitted he'd had to concentrate to hold back his own tears when hugging Masoe, and praised "an awesome achievement".

He took a swipe at comments that the WBA belt wasn't worth much, saying the confused state of pro boxing was not Masoe's fault.

"He got in the ring to fight for a world title and he won it."

Masoe will have a couple of days rest before he starts training again for the Schenk fight.

Its venue, purse and other details are still to be determined, and the negotiations will be awkward because Masoe and contracted promoter Mike Edwards are tied up in legal action before the High Court.

It was lobbying from Edwards and Oceania WBA representative Frank Martinez that resulted in the organisation declaring the fight to be for the champion's belt after Bernard Hopkins was made super-champion, and Edwards who pushed the negotiations with King.

Australian trainer Noel Thornberry and boxer Sean Sullivan were contracted through King to prepare Masoe for the Ashira fight, and that is likely to be repeated for the Schenk bout.

Edwards flew to Sydney yesterday to watch fighters he has on the undercard of Anthony Mundine's WBA super-middleweight defence against Manny Siaca, the Puerto Rican who has fought three world title challenges for two points losses and one in round 12.

Mundine's father, Tony, suggested his son was sick of the criticism he received in Australia and would be moving to Europe or the US after the fight in front of a sell-out 6000 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre tonight.

"All the Australian public want to do is knock the local boys and girls in sports," Mundine snr said.

"It's sad in a way. There are a lot of great sportsmen in Australia that the public never get behind, and that goes for Anthony, too.

"This could be his last fight in Australia ... you've got to go where the money is."