Jimmy Thunder

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

^[1]</ref>

Statistics
Jimmy Thunder
Real name	James Peau
Rated at	Heavyweight
Nationality	Samoa
Birth date	February 3, 1966 (1966-02-03) (age 42)
Birth place	Apia, Upolu, Samoa
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	49
Wins	35
Wins by KO	28
Losses	14

Jimmy Thunder (born February 3, 1966 in Apia, Samoa as James Peau), is a former Samoan boxer who fought in several noteworthy boxing matches in the 1990s and 2000s. Thunder is also a cousin of professional wrestling and film superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

1 Early life
2 Career
3 Major title held
4 Minor titles held
5 External links

[edit] Early life

He went to school at Onehunga High School Auckland, New Zealand with his sister Shelly. Jimmy discovered boxing after he arrived home from school with his torn shirt from an after-school fight with a local maori boy who he later became friends with. Jimmy was impressed by the skilled boxing from the maori boy who later on introduced Jimmy to his long-time mentor and Boxing Coach the late Jerry Preston. Preston took on the raw samoan talent into his boxing ring in Mangere Bridge, which later on Jerry's boxing ring became an icon for more locals to join boxing. From then on, Jimmy found his heart in the sport of boxng. In his early amateur days, Jimmy became the first samoan born in 1986 known as Jimmy Thunder Peau to win a gold medal for the heavyweight division, representing New Zealand at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. He defeated the local scotsman Douggie Young in their hometown by unaninamous points. It was one of a total of 9 gold medals won for New Zealand in that year. His mother Papaliitele Milagi Leaupepe is from the village of Fasitoouta, and his father Lupematasila Maalo Faasavalu Peau is from the village of Falevai, Falelatai. Jimmy is also a direct descendant of the paramount royal chief (Samoa) Malietoa Natuitasina Taimalelagi from his grandmother's side. She was Malelega, daughter of Aionofaasisina, son of Pouvi Malietoa who was the son of Malietoa Natuitasina Taimalelagi. Jimmy's strengths can be safely assumed to be inherited from this line, as the Sa Malietoa clan are renowned in history for their victories in the Aana wars using brutal and savage strength. Jimmy was also bestowed the chief title 'Ti'a' in Fasitoouta Samoa in 1996.

[edit] Career

Known for his heavy punching power and for becoming the first Samoan heavyweight champion in history, Thunder turned pro in 1989 and fought many future champions in the heavyweight division in his career. Among his notable victories are wins over Tony Tubbs, Craig Peterson, Trevor Berbick, and Tim Witherspoon, all of whom were on the downward slope of their careers at the time. He is best known for his losses, often dramatic KO's at the hands of heavy punchers. In his pro career, Thunder has lost to Mike Hunter, Henry Akinwande, John Ruiz, Maurice Harris, Chris Byrd, Monte Barrett, Charles Shufford, Andre Purlette, and Paea Wolfgramm.

On the March 18, 1997, edition of USA's Tuesday Night Fights, Thunder met Crawford Grimsley (20-1)in a scheduled 10 round main event. In the first 1.7 seconds of the first round, Grimsley threw a lazy left and Thunder countered with an overhand right hand that sent Grimsley crashing to the canvas. By the time the referee had waved the fight as a knockout the time of the fight had been recorded as 10 seconds in the first round. Thunder's KO victory was viewed as highly impressive, because Crawford had previously gone the distance against noted power-puncher George Foreman. He is credited with the fastest knock-out ever recorded in a professional boxing event. "Thunder" was last known to be living in Las Vegas.