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Faumuina To'aletai Mafaufau David Tua, best known as David Tua, is a Samoan-New Zealand former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2013. A highly ranked heavyweight contender for most of his career, Tua was known for his formidable punching power, especially in his devastating left hook. He scored sixteen wins by knockout in the first round, which included knockouts of world heavyweight champions John Ruiz and Michael Moorer within thirty seconds of the first round, as well as late stoppages of world champions Oleg Maskaev and Hasim Rahman. He was ranked by BoxRec in the world's top 10 heavyweights from 1996 to 2003, reaching his highest ranking of No.3 in 1998. Tua ended his career with a knockout-to-win ratio of 82.6%. In a 2003 article by The Ring magazine, Tua was ranked 48th on a list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.
Kevin Michael Joseph Barry is a New Zealand former boxer, boxing trainer, manager and occasional commentator. He is the son of noted boxing trainer Kevin Barry Sr.
Tania (Tanya) Roxanne Moss is a New Zealand former gymnast who competed in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She performed in rhythmic gymnastics. She is a multi-time New Zealand and Australasian Champion. In 1983 she was ranked #2 in the Commonwealth. She also won the New Zealand Gymnast of the year 6 times. On her retirement from competitive gymnastics she went on to coach one of the top clubs in the country and had many national champions and national representatives from her club, Xtreme Rhythmix. Tanya travelled extensively for New Zealand either as a coach or judge for various national teams.
Frederick Steven Roach is an American boxing trainer and former professional boxer. Roach is widely regarded as one of the best boxing trainers of all time. He is the enduring boxing coach of the eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, five-time and four-division world champion Miguel Cotto, former WBC middleweight champion Julio César Chávez Jr., three-time world champion James Toney, former UFC middleweight and three-time welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, as well as top prospects Jose Benavidez, Peter Quillin, and Vanes Martirosyan. Roach was the trainer of two-time women's world champion Lucia Rijker. He has also trained former light welterweight champion Amir Khan.
Ti'a James Senio Peau, known professionally as Jimmy Thunder, was a Samoan-born New Zealand professional boxer who held the IBO heavyweight title from 1994 to 1995. He held multiple regional heavyweight titles, including the OPBF title from 1989 to 1991 and the Australian title twice between 1992 and 1994.
New Zealand competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands with a team of four athletes, four swimmers and two boxers. Seven men and three women represented their country, accompanied by four others. The athletes were led by Arthur Porritt, who was the only New Zealand competitor who had attended the previous Summer Olympics in 1924; Porritt would four decades later become New Zealand's 11th Governor-General. The team won one medal; boxer Ted Morgan won gold in the men's welterweight. Excluding Malcolm Champion's gold as part of a combined Australasia team in 1912, this was New Zealand's first Olympic gold medal.
Johnny Hanks was a professional boxer who on 14 June 1954 became the New Zealand featherweight champion, and on 16 May 1955 the New Zealand lightweight champion. Trained by Ron Grimmer who also trained Manny Santos and Toro George. Hanks was considered one of the most powerful super featherweight punchers in New Zealand.
Arthur John "Darcy" Heeney was a New Zealand boxer, who won a silver medal for his country at the 1938 British Empire Games. He died during World War II, when the ship in which he was serving, HMS Neptune, struck enemy mines off the coast of Libya.
Leslie Frank Rackley is a New Zealand former amateur boxer and rugby union player. He won a bronze medal for boxing in the middleweight division at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games.
Joseph Dennis Parker, OM is a New Zealand professional boxer. He held the WBO heavyweight title from 2016 to 2018. At regional level, he has held multiple heavyweight championships, including the WBO Oriental, Africa, and Oceania titles; as well as the PABA, OPBF, and New Zealand titles. As an amateur, he represented New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the super-heavyweight division, and narrowly missed qualification for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Alexis Pritchard is a South-African born New Zealand boxer. On 5 August 2012 she became the first New Zealand woman to win an Olympic bout when she beat Tunisia's Rim Jouini in the Round of 16.
Siona Fernandes is a dancer, educator and Olympian. She has a masters degree in Psychology (India), and masters in Sport with a Bachelor's in Performing arts (India), trained in the Kalakshetra style of Bharatanatyam.
David Kieran Nyika is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he won a gold medal at both the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as competing at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships. Nyika and Sarah Hirini were the New Zealand flag bearers at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Nyika gained significant media attention after an incident during the Round of 16 at the 2020 Summer Olympics in which Moroccan boxer Youness Baalla attempted to bite Nyika's ear.
David Light is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he competed in the men's heavyweight division at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where he won the silver medal against Canada's Samir El-Mais. Professionally, Light is a former WBO World Crusierweight title contender, where he fought Lawrence Okolie in March 2023.
Reece Papuni is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he reached the quarterfinals of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Michelle Preston is a Muay Thai Fighter and professional boxer. Preston resides in Auckland, New Zealand, where she has fought most of her professional fights. Preston has held many titles including New Zealand National Title, WBA Regional title and WBO Regional title. Preston is also a World title contender, fighting for the IBF World super flyweight title against Argentinian World Champion Debora Anahi Dionicius. Preston is also a Five time World Kickboxing Champion. Preston has fought on four King in the Ring undercards. Preston won her last World title on 17 November 2017 on the Main Undercard of King in the Ring. Preston won the vacant WBC Muaythai World Super Flyweight Champion against Fani Peloumpi by Majority decision.
John Conway is a retired professional boxer and kickboxer. Conway biggest boxing bout of his career was challenging for the WBO Asia Pacific light heavyweight title against Soulan Pownceby in June 2011. Conway has peaked at 11th on the WBO Asia Pacific Rankings. Conway started his boxing career in the amateur in 1986. If you combine his amateur, professional boxing and kickboxing fight, Conway has had 182 fights.
Mose Auimatagi Jnr is a New Zealand professional boxer of Samoan heritage.
Cherneka Lee Johnson is a New Zealand-Australian professional boxer. Born in New Zealand, she represents Australia in international competition.
Christopher Bruce Martin was a New Zealand boxing manager and trainer. He trained many boxers including two of David Tua's fights in 2011, Joseph Parker's debut and first fight in Australia, Mea Motu during her amateur career, Geovana Peres for her two world title fights in 2019, Michelle Preston for her world title fight in 2012, and Daniella Smith.
References
- ↑ "Bridge legend boxes on". The New Zealand Herald . 24 March 2001. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
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