Who in your opinion is the best / most accomplished fighter to come from New Zealand? David Tua and Bob Fitzsimmons obviously come to mind (I reckon it's fair that you can partly claim Fitz), but who else?
Here's a couple of older names that come to mind.........Manny Santos (fought and beat a number of our locals) and Kahu Mahanga (great rivalry with Tony Mundine)
Attn N2 Shape
I think New Zealand has produced many tough, competitive guys, probably more so in the years gone by, I personally think its a shame that some of our boys are used as cannon fodder by the Australian promoters to build up there fighters records. However its also fair to say some of our fighters dont train with the discipline required and would have gone firther had they applied themselves.
In anycase I'll work my way through the divisions:
Heavyweight
It's probably fair to say David Tua is the best fighter we have produced at heavyweight, Shane Camerons now on the rise also. But there are guys like Tom Heeney who fought Gene Tunney for the Heavyweight World Title a look through Heeneys record wil show many tough contests. Maurice Strickland wasnt pretty handy as was Harry Laing 33-1-3 way bay in the 1800's. Guys like Young Haumona and Toakipa Tasefa were not bad either.
Cruiserweight
No one really, Sean Sullivan now fights occasionally at this weight but he gets his mention later on. Monty Betham 1-0-0 is now fighting professionally
Light-Heavyweight
No real standouts but some very tough fighters like Anthony Bigeni, Eddie Parker, Lance Revill, Roy Stevens and the like
Super-Middleweight
Earl Nikora and Mike Makata once again not world beaters but very good fighters none the less.
Middleweight
Maselino Masoe one the WBA Middleweight title, before losing to Felix Sturm not so long ago. He knocked out Evans Ashira. Some very good talent in the divison here over the years though with guys like Monty Betham Sr., Battling La'avasia, Stan Jenkin, Artie Hay, Kahu Mahanga, Tuna Scanlin, Jim Griffin etc
Light-Middleweight
This was probably Sean Sullivans best weight, we all know how much of a warrior he is going the distance with Danny Green and fighting Mundine twice. Some other good fighters in the 80's were Fred Taufua and Syeve Renwick. Barry Brown also deserves a mention
Welterweight
No real standouts Charlie Purdy and Ali Afakasi were tough customers though
Light-Welter
Joey Santos was a very good fighter at this weight but dont really know much else about the lighter weights
Lightweight
Manny Santos and Les Murray were two very good NZ Lightweights
Super-Feather
Jeff Smith was ok
I really no nothing about any of the other lower weights.
Hope that wasnt too long, think I may have gotten carried away! haha.
Santos Pakau, Jimmy Thunder, Paea Wolfgramm also deserve mentions all good fighters out of NZ. Pakau is still fighting up in the states and fought Paul Williams recently!
In anycase I'll work my way through the divisions:
Heavyweight
It's probably fair to say David Tua is the best fighter we have produced at heavyweight, Shane Camerons now on the rise also. But there are guys like Tom Heeney who fought Gene Tunney for the Heavyweight World Title a look through Heeneys record wil show many tough contests. Maurice Strickland wasnt pretty handy as was Harry Laing 33-1-3 way bay in the 1800's. Guys like Young Haumona and Toakipa Tasefa were not bad either.
Cruiserweight
No one really, Sean Sullivan now fights occasionally at this weight but he gets his mention later on. Monty Betham 1-0-0 is now fighting professionally
Light-Heavyweight
No real standouts but some very tough fighters like Anthony Bigeni, Eddie Parker, Lance Revill, Roy Stevens and the like
Super-Middleweight
Earl Nikora and Mike Makata once again not world beaters but very good fighters none the less.
Middleweight
Maselino Masoe one the WBA Middleweight title, before losing to Felix Sturm not so long ago. He knocked out Evans Ashira. Some very good talent in the divison here over the years though with guys like Monty Betham Sr., Battling La'avasia, Stan Jenkin, Artie Hay, Kahu Mahanga, Tuna Scanlin, Jim Griffin etc
Light-Middleweight
This was probably Sean Sullivans best weight, we all know how much of a warrior he is going the distance with Danny Green and fighting Mundine twice. Some other good fighters in the 80's were Fred Taufua and Syeve Renwick. Barry Brown also deserves a mention
Welterweight
No real standouts Charlie Purdy and Ali Afakasi were tough customers though
Light-Welter
Joey Santos was a very good fighter at this weight but dont really know much else about the lighter weights
Lightweight
Manny Santos and Les Murray were two very good NZ Lightweights
Super-Feather
Jeff Smith was ok
I really no nothing about any of the other lower weights.
Hope that wasnt too long, think I may have gotten carried away! haha.
Santos Pakau, Jimmy Thunder, Paea Wolfgramm also deserve mentions all good fighters out of NZ. Pakau is still fighting up in the states and fought Paul Williams recently!
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king_kali_rocks
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 56
- Joined: 19 Aug 2006, 20:16
Wheres Meehan
Surely Kali Meehan would rank in the heavies somewhere...based in Oz but only left NZ to further his boxing.
He was a good honest scrapperYea Sean Sullivan fought Mohammed Azzaoui for the PABA Cruiserweight Title. His last fight was against Rico Chong Nee many thaught Sullivan deserved the nod in that fight. Even now he has amazing stamina but he's lost some of his reflexes speed (not that he was ever hugely fast) he's a bit punchy also. Still an amazing brawler/scrapper