Haumono’s mum the ‘true fighter’
Levini Haumono lies bedridden in a western Sydney nursing home, yet each time her boy enters a boxing ring he senses Mum is in his corner.
The 71-year-old, who suffered a stroke five years ago, famously raced on to Belmore Oval when Solomon Haumono was technically knocked out while playing second row for the Bulldogs against Penrith during Super League’s only season in 1997.
She showed maternal concern again in the NRL when Haumono was laid out during another match in a first grade career that spanned 159-games between 1994 and 2006.
In the macho confines of contact sport, Levini’s desperation to tend to her son might have been ridiculed but Haumono would love for Mum to be close at hand in Christchurch to watch his heavyweight bout with New Zealand’s Joseph Parker on July 21.
Pneumonia is the latest health issue to confront Levini as Solomon gradually warmed to his task of promoting the fight with brief bag work inside a chilly city gym yesterday.
‘‘She’s the true fighter. I’m very thankful she’s still here with us,’’ he said, softly-spoken.
‘‘I carry her love with me all the time. Mum’s always near my heart. That’s part of the reason why I do this. She’s my No 1 supporter.’’
That faith has undoubtedly been tested by Solomon, who first threatened to leave Levini and his father Maile grieving their loved one as a seven-year-old.
He planned to injure himself until Maile intervened, but his death wish returned at various times during a drug and alcoholfuelled football career augmented by a first attempt at boxing between 2000 and 2002.
Thankfully each time he felt suicidal, Haumono picked himself off the canvas.
Describing his second coming as a boxer as life-saving is hardly an understatement in a sport underpinned by hype and exaggeration.
Haumono typically displayed none of those traits as he contemplated his 29th professional fight – and ideally 25th win.
‘‘Maybe I should train in Canberra with no clothing,’’ he joked, during a two-day trip to acclimatise himself ahead of his first Christchurch winter.
Build-up wise, the fight is not yet on simmer – Parker, after all, has started a two-week break to recover from the exertions of last weekend’s unanimous points decision over Carlos Takam.
Haumono starts training in earnest tomorrow for what is clearly the most significant rounds of his career.
‘‘This could catapult me up the rankings and be that one step away from having a world title fight,’’ he said.
Ideally, Levini would occupy a place other than his thoughts at Horncastle Arena.
‘‘Hopefully this will put us closer to helping Mum out. That’s the main thing behind it all.’’