In the fight of his life

This morning, New Zealand grinds to a halt. The Pacific’s great hope has heavyweight backing in the bars, clubs and even the churches, writes Kendall Hutt.

Win or lose, Joseph Parker has already made New Zealand and Samoa proud, especially in his community of Mangere.

It will be an early Sunday start for athletes at the Commonwealth Games Village on the Gold Coast, two hours behind New Zealand. Silver Ferns netball captain Katrina Grant will be watching the fight there: ‘‘Of course Joe will win,’’ she said.

Ferns shooter Bailey Mes chipped in: ‘‘He's an absolute machine,’’ she said. ‘‘Obviously Joseph Parker will win. He's just so good.’’

Fresh from their fourth consecutive win last night, Warriors skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be watching in Sydney with the rest of his team . . . before jumping on a plane back to New Zealand.

‘‘I’m going to back Joseph Parker,’’ he said. ‘‘Firstly, because I’m a massive fan and biased because he’s the man. Secondly, I’ll pick him because of his speed, that and his endurance because I think he might outlast Joshua.’’

It’s not just the Warriors’ flight back to Auckland – even God will have to wait today. Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio said the Easter Sunday church services around the country would be postponed as the boxer takes on Anthony Joshua in Cardiff.

Sio said he had spoken to several church elders who expect to delay their services until after the bout.

‘‘I think most church ministers will also want to watch the fight, so they won’t mind the delay,’’ joked Sio.

The minister added, tongue in cheek, that he’d seriously consider declaring April 1 a public holiday in Mangere if Parker won the heavyweight fight.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also wished Parker well, saying: ‘‘I know Joseph will have a huge number of people supporting him from afar.’’

Free breakfasts and dress-up competitions are planned for those eager to get out of the

house to watch the occasion.

The Grey Lynn Returned Services Club was to open from 5am today, serving free mince on toast, before the fight starts around 8.30am.

Bar manager Gary Elliott had a feeling the club’s two bars would not be big enough to hold all of the people coming.

‘‘We’re expecting an easy 300-plus for both bars.’’

The club would be screening the fight on all of its nine TV screens.

‘‘Everyone’s been ringing and we’re getting a lot of new membership out of it.’’