Solomon Haumono

Last updated

Solomon Haumono
Solomon Haumono (21 September 2008) 2.jpg
Personal information
Born (1975-10-13) 13 October 1975 (age 49)
Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight111 kg (17 st 7 lb)
Position Prop, Second-row
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1994–96 Manly Sea Eagles 3960024
1997–98 Canterbury Bulldogs 2570028
1999 Balmain Tigers 81004
2000 St. George Illawarra 20000
2003–04 Manly Sea Eagles 371004
2005–06 London Broncos 48150060
Total1593000120
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2003 NSW City 10000
1997 New Sth Wales (SL) 30000
1997 Australia (SL) 10000
1995–06 Tonga 20000
Source: [1]
Boxing career
NationalityTonga
Other namesSolo
Statistics
Weight(s) Heavyweight
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights30
Wins24
Wins by KO21
Losses4
Draws2

Solomon Haumono (Tongan : Solomone Haumono; born 13 October 1975) is a former professional boxer and former rugby league footballer of Tongan descent.

Contents

Early life

He attended Newtown Boys High School, Newtown, New South Wales. He then went on to Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham and represented them in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges Australian Schoolboys team 1993. [2]

Rugby league career

In rugby league, his preferred position was second-row. He played in the NRL for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the Balmain Tigers, the St George Illawarra Dragons, and in the Super League for the London Broncos/Harlequins RL. Haumono played at representative level for New South Wales and Australia, although these three state matches and one international match were in 1997, when Super League contracted players were ineligible for State of Origin selection. He also captained Tonga.[ citation needed ]

Haumono made his first grade debut for Manly-Warringah in round 11 1994 against Balmain, coming off the bench in a 42–0 victory at Leichhardt Oval. In 1995, Haumono featured heavily in the Manly side which won the minor premiership having lost only 2 matches all year. Haumono played from the bench in Manly's shock grand final loss to Canterbury. In 1996, Haumono played 14 games but missed out on selection in Manly's premiership winning side which defeated St. George in the grand final.

In 1997, Haumono signed with Canterbury who aligned themselves with the rival Super League competition during the Super League war. During the 1998 NRL season, Haumono walked out on Canterbury midway through the year after devising a plan to get out of his contract with the club. Haumono's plan was to join his supposed girlfriend Gabrielle Richens in England. Haumono elaborated on the plan saying I was under contract for the Bulldogs so it was decided to come up with a plan that would ultimately force the Bulldogs to rip up my contract, So the plan was formed that I was going to chase after my girlfriend at the time in England. So off I went and before I knew it, the paper got a hold of it and blew it up, making headline news and myself being chased by the media at home and even there in London". [3]

The plan was devised by Haumono and close friend Anthony Mundine but fell over when Canterbury got wind of the plot and instead fined Haumono and put him in reserve grade. [3]

In 1999, Haumono signed with Balmain. Haumono only made 8 appearances for Balmain due to an elbow injury. In 2000, Haumono joined St George but only featured in 2 games, the last of which was the club's humiliating 70–10 loss against Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. [4]

Return to League

Following a second spell with Manly in 2003, Haumono joined the London Broncos and played in the capital for two seasons. In December 2006, with a year remaining on his contract, Haumono quit rugby league to return to professional boxing.

Boxing career

2000 to 2002

Haumono first took time out of rugby league after his spell with the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2000. [5] He followed in the footsteps of his father (Australian former heavyweight champion Maile Haumono) to take up a career in professional boxing. He fought eight times between 2000 and 2002, winning all of his heavyweight contests inside the distance.[ citation needed ] Haumono briefly held the title of New South Wales heavyweight champion before rejecting an offer to join the stable of American promoter Don King and returning to rugby league.[ citation needed ]

Return to boxing – post 2008

Haumono resumed his boxing career with a first-round knockout on 7 March 2007. He began training under trainer Johnny Lewis who has assisted Haumono in reaching his 14–0 (all by K.O.) record in the heavyweight ranks. He fought Cliff Couser on 27 August 2008 and won the fight by unanimous decision. He fought Colin Wilson on 11 March 2009 with the fight going to a draw after ten rounds. Solomon won his next fight by disqualification on 16 May 2009 against Royce Sio (1w-0l-0d). Haumono was floored in the eleventh second of the first round by a right hook from Sio, but Sio then leaned down and hit Haumono again while Haumono's back was on the ground, leading to an instant disqualification. Haumono was back on his feet a few seconds later. [6]

Haumono fought Justin Whitehead on 16 August 2009 and lost for the first time in his career by split decision. He defeated Michael Kirby by tenth-round TKO for the OPBF Heavyweight Title on 18 September 2009, and became the Australian Heavyweight Champion after a tenth-round TKO of Franklin Egobi in Melbourne on 7 September 2012. [7]

On 31 December 2012, he fought k1 legend Kyotaro Fuijmoto under boxing rules defeating him in the fifth round via TKO.

On 28 April 2013, he lost by TKO to Kevin Johnson.

On 21 July 2016, he lost by TKO to Joseph Parker. [8]

Professional boxing record

30 fights24 wins4 losses
By knockout212
By decision22
By disqualification10
Draws2
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
30Loss24–4–2 Flag of Poland.svg Tomasz Adamek UD1024 Jun 2017 Flag of Poland.svg Ergo Arena, Plac Dwóch Miast 1, 80-344 Gdańsk, Gdansk, Poland
29Loss24–3–2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Joseph Parker TKO4 (12), 1:3521 Jul 2016 Flag of New Zealand.svg Horncastle Arena, Christchurch, New ZealandFor WBO Oriental heavyweight title
28Win24–2–2 Flag of Argentina.svg Manuel Alberto PuchetaKO6 (10), 2:2927 Apr 2016 Flag of Australia (converted).svg National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, Redfern, AustraliaPABA heavyweight title;
Won interim WBA Oceania heavyweight title
27Win23–2–2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Hunter Sam UD1030 Oct 2015 Flag of Australia (converted).svg National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, Redfern, AustraliaWon interim PABA heavyweight title
26Win22–2–2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Filipo Fonoti MasoeKO4 (6), 2:4624 Jul 2015 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Orange Function Centre, Orange, Australia
25Win21–2–2 Flag of Brazil.svg Marcelo Luiz Nascimento TKO3 (8), 0:5317 Oct 2013 Flag of Australia (converted).svg The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Australia
24Loss20–2–2 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Johnson KO10 (12), 2:5328 Apr 2013 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Convention & Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia
23Win20–1–2 Flag of Japan.svg Kyotaro Fujimoto TKO5 (12), 0:5731 Dec 2012 Flag of Japan.svg Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, JapanWon vacant OPBF heavyweight title
22Win19–1–2 Flag of Nigeria.svg Franklin EgobiTKO10 (10), 2:057 Sep 2012 Flag of Australia (converted).svg The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, AustraliaWon vacant Australian heavyweight title
21Draw18–1–2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Joey WilsonSD85 Jul 2012 Flag of New Zealand.svg Sky City Convention Centre, Auckland, New ZealandRetained WBC–EPBC heavyweight title;
Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
20Win18–1–1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Junior PatiKO2 (6), 1:028 Dec 2011 Flag of Australia (converted).svg The Arena, Fortitude Valley, Australia
19Win17–1–1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Michael KirbyTKO10 (12), 0:2118 Sep 2009 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pavilion, Melbourne, AustraliaWon OPBF heavyweight title
18Loss16–1–1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Justin WhiteheadSD1016 Aug 2009 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peninsula, Shed 14 Central Pier, Docklands, Melbourne, AustraliaFor vacant World Boxing Foundation International heavyweight title
17Win16–0–1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Royce SioDQ1 (6), 0:1516 May 2009 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Blacktown RSL Club, Blacktown, Australia
16Draw15–0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Colin WilsonPTS1011 Mar 2009 Flag of Australia (converted).svg The Cube, Campbelltown, Sydney, Australia
15Win15–0 Flag of the United States.svg Cliff Couser UD827 Aug 2008 Flag of Australia (converted).svg E.G. Whitlam Recreation Center, Liverpool, Australia
14Win14–0 Flag of the United States.svg Tommy ConnellyTKO3 (6), 0:2727 Feb 2008 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
13Win13–0 Flag of New Zealand.svg Seiaute Ma'ilataKO2 (6), 0:4010 Dec 2007 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
12Win12–0 Flag of Fiji.svg Mosese KavikaKO1 (6), 1:1521 Apr 2012 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
11Win11–0 Flag of New Zealand.svg Oscar TalemairaTKO1 (6), 1:3725 May 2007 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ex-Services Club, Coffs Harbour, Australia
10Win10–0 Flag of New Zealand.svg Alex MeneTKO3 (6), 1:0727 Apr 2007 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Magic Millions Complex, Bundall, Gold Coast, Australia
9Win9–0 Flag of Fiji.svg Fatu TuimanonoKO1 (4), 1:247 Mar 2007 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
8Win8–0 Flag of Fiji.svg Fatu TuimanonoTKO2 (6),14 Jun 2002 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
7Win7–0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Auckland AuimatagiTKO6 (10),10 May 2002 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Central Coast Rugby League Club, Gosford, AustraliaWon Australia – New South Wales State heavyweight title
6Win6–0 Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane WijohnKO5 (6), 1:4019 Apr 2002 Flag of Australia (converted).svg La Montage Function Centre, Sydney, Australia
5Win5–0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark AlexanderTKO3 (6),4 Mar 2002 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Broadbeach, Australia
4Win4–0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John WybornKO2 (10), 2:3113 Jul 2001 Flag of Australia (converted).svg The Octagon, Sydney, Australia
3Win3–0 Flag of Samoa.svg Martin OpetaiaTKO7 (8),2 Mar 2001 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Star City Casino, Sydney, Australia
2Win2–0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul SramaKO1 (6),4 Sep 2000 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Horden Pavilion, Moore Park, Australia
1Win1–0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken FullerKO2 (4),3 Jul 2000 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia

Personal life

Haumono is married to Margaret, who is a cousin of his friend and fellow rugby league player-turned boxer Anthony Mundine. Solomon and Margaret have five children. [9]

He dated English model Gabrielle Richens for a period of time during his time with Canterbury.

In 2015, Haumono revealed he had been suffering a drug addiction during his league career. He was addicted to ice, cocaine and ecstasy. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Mundine</span> Australian boxer, rugby league footballer, and rapper (born 1975)

Anthony Steven Mundine is an Australian former professional boxer and rugby league footballer. In boxing he competed from 2000 to 2021, and held the WBA super-middleweight title twice between 2003 and 2008. He also held the IBO middleweight title from 2009 to 2010, and the WBA interim super-welterweight title from 2011 to 2012. Mundine is well known for his heated rivalries with fellow Australians Danny Green and Daniel Geale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hopoate</span> Australia & Tonga international rugby league footballer

John Hopoate is a former professional rugby league player and boxer who was involved in sport controversies and subsequently convicted for violent crimes. He played rugby league in the Tonga national rugby league team, Australian Rugby League team, NSW State of Origin team and in the National Rugby League (NRL) for Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wests Tigers and the Northern Eagles. He became the "most suspended player of the modern era". In 2018 he was banned for 10 years by the NSWRL from any involvement in its and affiliated rugby league.

Gabrielle Richens is a British model and television presenter. She was born in Kent of British, Indian and Chinese descent, although her parents are from South Africa. Richens has worked as a model since she was fifteen when she was discovered while shopping on King's Road. Thereafter, she signed with the Elite modeling agency. She was nicknamed "The Pleasure Machine" after an airline commercial she appeared in. She has risen to fame in particular in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Barrett</span> Australian RL coach and former Australia international rugby league footballer

Trent Barrett is an Australian professional rugby league football coach who is currently the assistant coach of the Brisbane Broncos and a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Lamb</span> Australian rugby league footballer and coach

Terence John Lamb, also nicknamed "Baa", is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played 350 games, with the Western Suburbs (1980–1983) and Canterbury (1984–1996).

Timothy Alexander Pickup was an Australian Rugby League footballer for the North Sydney Bears, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New South Wales and Australian national side in the 1970s, playing his First Test for Australia in 1972, only 14 games after his NSWRL First Grade debut. A player with blistering acceleration that could step off both feet, he had good hands, a smart kicking game, was a cunning tactician complimented by the unusual combination of being an exceptional defender for a small man. Pickup also played First Grade Rugby Union for the Manly Rugby Club as a teenage prodigy for three seasons from 1966-68. In retirement Pickup was involved in boxing at famed Newtown PCYC and was Jeff Harding's manager when he won the WBC World Light-Heavyweight title in 1989. He was the foundation CEO of the Adelaide Rams franchise of the Australian Super League in 1995. In 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for services to Australian sport. Pickup was named in the North Sydney Bears Team of the Century in 2006 and was a finalist for both the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 70th Anniversary team as well as Manly Rugby Union's Team of the Century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Williams (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer (born 1983)

Joe Williams is an Australian sportsman who played rugby league and boxed as a professional.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 ARL season</span> Rugby league competition

The 1995 ARL premiership was the 88th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the first to be run by the Australian Rugby League following the hand-over of the Premiership's administration by the New South Wales Rugby League. For the first time since 1988, the Premiership expanded again, with the addition of two new clubs from Queensland; North Queensland Cowboys, based in Townsville, and South Queensland Crushers, based in Brisbane. And for the first time ever outside the borders of New South Wales and Queensland, and indeed, Australia, the addition of two other new clubs from Western Australia, Western Reds, based in Perth, and from Auckland, Auckland Warriors, based in Auckland. This saw a total of twenty teams, the largest number in the League's history, compete during the regular season for the J J Giltinan Shield, which was followed by a series of play-off finals between the top eight teams that culminated in a grand final for the Winfield Cup between the newly re-branded Sydney Bulldogs and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

The 1988 NSWRL season was the 81st season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and saw the first expansion of the New South Wales Rugby League Premiership outside the borders of New South Wales, and another expansion outside of Sydney, with the addition of three new teams: the Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast-Tweed Giants. The largest NSWRL premiership yet, sixteen clubs competed during the 1988 season, with the J J Giltinan Shield for minor premiers going to Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The finals culminated in a grand final for the Winfield Cup between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Balmain Tigers. This season NSWRL teams also competed for the 1988 Panasonic Cup.

Adam Nable is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wakefield Trinity, Balmain Tigers, Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys. He later played for the New York Knights in the American National Rugby League, and was vice-captain there. He is the brother of player-turned-filmmaker Matt Nable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Winterstein</span> Australian international rugby league footballer

Frank Winterstein is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for Toulouse Olympique in the Betfred Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Williams (rugby league)</span> Australia and Tonga international rugby league footballer

Tony Williams, also known by the nickname of "T-Rex", is a former professional rugby league footballer. He played for both Tonga and Australia at international level.

Garth Wood is an Australian professional boxer and former professional rugby league footballer. Wood won the 2009/2010 Contender Boxing Series. He played rugby league for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Balmain Tigers in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Wright (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Jonathan Wright is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who most recently played for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He primarily played wing and centre.

Trent Hodkinson is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a halfback in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sio Siua Taukeiaho</span> NZ & Tonga international rugby league footballer

Sio Siua Taukeiaho is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop or loose forward for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL. He plays for Tonga and played for New Zealand at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lloyd Perrett</span> NZ rugby league footballer

Lloyd Perrett is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Ormeau Shearers DMC side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Fualalo</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Danny Fualalo is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reimis Smith</span> New Zealand rugby league footballer

Reimis Smith is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reuben Garrick</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Reuben Garrick is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or winger for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).

References

  1. "Solomon Haumono – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project". rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  2. www.sportingpulse.com NSWCCC Players Representing Australian Schoolboys 1972–2007
  3. 1 2 "Dash was business not pleasure". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  4. "Dragons v Storm: Scott out, Olam and Robson to make debuts". NRL. May 2018.
  5. "Boxing: Haumono's fight not biggest he has faced". The New Zealand Herald. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  6. "Solomon Haumono flattened, felled by more punches as he lay on the canvas". FoxSports. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  7. Daniel Lane (9 December 2012). "Australian champ has sound advice for SBW". Stuff. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  8. "Boxing: Joseph Parker knocks out Solomon Haumono in Christchurch". The New Zealand Herald. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  9. "Solomon Huamono knows its a case of now or never for his boxing career", by: Grantlee Kieza From: The Courier-Mail 7 March 2012 12:00 a.m.
  10. "Drugs, guns and suicide: Solomon Haumono's explosive confessions of out-of-control addiction". The Daily Telegraph. London. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
Vacant
Title last held by
Lucas Browne
Australian Heavyweight Champion
2012-09-07 – Present
Vacant
Title next held by
Hunter Sam
Preceded by
Michael Kirby
OPBF Heavyweight Champion
2009-09-18 – 2009
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Solomon Haumono
Vacant
Title last held by
Solomon Haumono
OPBF Heavyweight Champion
2012-12-31 – 2014-10-02
Stripped
Vacant
Title next held by
Joseph Parker
Preceded by
Joseph Parker
Interim Champion promoted
PABA Heavyweight Interim Champion
30 October 2015 – 27 April 2016
Promoted
Vacant
Title last held by
Joseph Parker
PABA Heavyweight Champion
27 April 2016 – present
Incumbent