Jimmy Thunder
| Jimmy Thunder | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | James Peau |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Nationality | Samoa |
| Born |
3 February 1966 Apia, Upolu, Samoa |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 49 |
| Wins | 35 |
| Wins by KO | 28 |
| Losses | 14 |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  New Zealand
| ||
| Men's Boxing | ||
| Commonwealth Games | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 1986 Edinburgh | Heavyweight |
Jimmy Thunder (born James Peau; 3 February 1966) is a Samoan former professional boxer. He held the Australian heavyweight title twice, as well as the IBO and WBF heavyweight titles.
Early life
During his early life and amateur career, Thunder was known as Jimmy Peau.[1] His mother is from the village of Fasitoouta, and his father is from the village of Falelatai. Thunder was born third out of six siblings. They all grew up in Auckland, New Zealand.
He went to school at Onehunga High School in Auckland. His friend introduced Thunder to Gerry Preston. Preston took on the young Samoan into his boxing gym in Mangere Bridge. In his early amateur days, Thunder became the first Samoan-born fighter to win a gold medal in the heavyweight division, representing New Zealand at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland. He defeated Dougie Young in his hometown by unanimous decision. It was one of the nine gold medals won for New Zealand in that year.
Career
Thunder turned pro in 1988, after being omitted from New Zealand's Seoul Olympic Games team. He changed his surname from Peau to Thunder in 1989 at the suggestion of his manager at the time, Jack Rennie.[1] Later in his professional career he also fought under the name James Thunder.[2] Among his notable victories are wins over Tony Tubbs, Craig Peterson, Trevor Berbick, and Tim Witherspoon. On the 18 March 1997 edition of the USA Network's Tuesday Night Fights he knocked out Crawford Grimsley with his first punch, the fight lasting 1.5 seconds before the count; the record for the world's fastest knockout. He finished his 49 fight career with 35 victories, 28 by knockout. Throughout his career he won regional titles including the Australian Heavyweight Champion twice as well as winning the lesser IBO and WBF Heavyweight titles.
Professional boxing record
| 35 Wins (28 knockouts, 7 decisions), 14 Losses (7 knockouts, 7 decisions)[3] | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 35-14 |  Colin Wilson |
UD | 10 | 6 December 2002 | Parkville, Victoria, Australia |
92-98, 92-99, 93-97. |
| Loss | 35-13 |  Andre Purlette |
TKO | 2 | 6 July 2001 |  Reno, Nevada, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 1:01 of the second round. |
| Loss | 35-12 |  Paea Wolfgramm |
TD | 7 | 1 April 2001 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
Bout stopped due to cuts caused by accidental headbutts. 63-68, 64-67, 64-67. |
| Win | 35-11 |  James Vernon Lester |
TKO | 1 | 9 March 2001 | Reno, Nevada, United States |
|
| Loss | 34-11 | Charles Shufford |
TKO | 8 | 7 September 2000 |  Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 3:00 of the eighth round. |
| Loss | 34-10 | Monte Barrett |
TKO | 7 | 24 February 2000 |  New York City, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 0:52 of the seventh round. |
| Win | 34-9 | Eli Dixon |
TKO | 2 | 18 November 1999 |  Coachella, California, United States |
|
| Win | 33-9 | Tim Witherspoon |
UD | 10 | 7 April 1998 |  Cherokee, North Carolina, United States |
97-92, 97-92, 98-92. |
| Loss | 32-9 | Chris Byrd |
TKO | 9 | 13 December 1997 |  Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 1:07 of the eighth round. |
| Loss | 32-8 | Maurice Harris |
KO | 7 | 20 May 1997 |  Lyndhurst, New Jersey, United States |
Thunder knocked out at 2:44 of the seventh round. |
| Win | 32-7 | Crawford Grimsley |
KO | 1 | 18 March 1997 |  Flint, Michigan, United States |
Grimsley knocked out at 0:13 of the first round. |
| Loss | 31-7 | John Ruiz |
SD | 12 | 14 January 1997 |  Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
NABF Heavyweight Title. 112-115, 111-116, 115-112. |
| Win | 31-6 | Quinn Navarre |
KO | 4 | 8 October 1996 | Flint, Michigan, United States |
|
| Win | 30-6 | William Morris |
TKO | 10 | 6 August 1996 | Flint, Michigan, United States |
|
| Win | 29-6 | Will Hinton |
KO | 7 | 27 February 1996 |  Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, United States |
|
| Win | 28-6 | Melvin Foster |
TKO | 8 | 3 October 1995 | Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 1:03 of the eighth round. |
| Win | 27-6 |  Ray Anis |
TKO | 7 | 8 August 1995 | Coachella, California, United States |
IBO World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:56 of the seventh round. |
| Loss | 26-6 | .svg.png){kind=small} Franco Wanyama |
PTS | 10 | 16 July 1995 | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
|
| Win | 26-5 | Bomani Parker |
KO | 1 | 17 June 1995 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
Parker knocked out at 2:36 of the first round. |
| Win | 25-5 |  Daniel Dăncuţă |
TKO | 2 | 9 May 1995 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 2:52 of the second round. |
| Win | 24-5 |  Trevor Berbick |
UD | 12 | 17 March 1995 |  Mounds View, Minnesota, United States |
WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title. 118-110, 119-110, 117-111. |
| Win | 23-5 | Tony Tubbs |
MD | 12 | 6 December 1994 | Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States |
IBO World Heavyweight Title. 115-114, 114-113, 114-114. |
| Win | 22-5 | Richard Mason |
UD | 12 | 29 October 1994 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |
IBO World Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 21-5 | Ed Donaldson |
TKO | 2 | 27 September 1994 | Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 2:52 of the second round. |
| Win | 20-5 | Marion Wilson |
UD | 10 | 1 September 1994 |  Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States |
100-90, 100-87, 100-89. |
| Win | 19-5 |  Juan Ramon Perez |
TKO | 2 | 3 August 1994 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States |
|
| Win | 18-5 | Don Mackay |
TKO | 1 | 18 March 1994 | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
Australia Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:35 of the first round. |
| Loss | 17-5 |  Johnny Nelson |
UD | 12 | 19 November 1993 | Auckland, New Zealand |
WBF World Heavyweight Title. 114-115, 112-115, 111-119. |
| Win | 17-4 | Mitieli Navuilawa | KO | 1 | 9 October 1993 |  Suva, Fiji |
|
| Win | 16-4 |  Melton Bowen |
TKO | 5 | 23 July 1993 | Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
WBF World Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 15-4 | David Ravu Ravu |
KO | 2 | 17 June 1993 | Gosford, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Loss | 14-4 | Henry Akinwande |
PTS | 12 | 18 March 1993 | Lewisham, London, United Kingdom |
Commonwealth Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 14-3 | Aisea Nama |
KO | 2 | 30 June 1992 |  Apia, Samoa |
|
| Win | 13-3 | Craig Petersen |
UD | 12 | 14 June 1992 | Auckland, New Zealand |
Australia Heavyweight Title. 116-112, 117-113, 116-114. |
| Win | 12-3 | Young Haumona |
PTS | 12 | 6 December 1991 | Otahuhu, New Zealand |
IBF Pan Pacific Heavyweight Title. |
| Loss | 11-3 | Craig Petersen |
UD | 12 | 14 November 1991 | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Australia Heavyweight Title. 108-115, 111-115, 111-115. |
| Win | 11-2 | Aisea Nama |
KO | 7 | 24 August 1991 | Nadi, Fiji |
OPBF Heavyweight Title. |
| Loss | 10-2 | Derek Williams |
TKO | 2 | 1 May 1991 | Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom |
Commonwealth Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 10-1 | Rocky Salanoa |
KO | 1 | 16 November 1990 | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Salanoa knocked out at 2:45 of the first round. |
| Loss | 9-1 | Mike Hunter |
KO | 4 | 14 August 1990 | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
|
| Win | 9-0 | J.B. Williamson |
TKO | 10 | 14 July 1990 | Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia |
Referee stopped the bout at 2:47 of the tenth round. |
| Win | 8-0 | Mark Lee |
KO | 1 | 1 May 1990 | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Lee knocked out at 1:22 of the first round. |
| Win | 7-0 | Mauricio Villegas |
TKO | 4 | 24 February 1990 | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
WBC International Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 6-0 |  Bernardo Mercado |
TKO | 1 | 8 December 1989 | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Referee stopped the bout at 1:27 of the first round. |
| Win | 5-0 | August Tanuvasa |
TKO | 5 | 20 October 1989 | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
OPBF Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:21 of the fifth round. |
| Win | 4-0 |  Andre van den Oetelaar |
TKO | 3 | 1 September 1989 | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
|
| Win | 3-0 | Mosese Vilia |
KO | 1 | 14 July 1989 | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Vilia knocked out at 1:18 of the first round. |
| Win | 2-0 | Kevin Barry |
KO | 2 | 13 May 1989 | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
|
| Win | 1-0 | Niko Degai |
TKO | 4 | 8 April 1989 | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
|
Titles held
- IBO Heavyweight Title
- OPBF Heavyweight Title
- WBC International Heavyweight Title
- IBF Pan Pacific Heavyweight Title
- Australian Heavyweight Title
- WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title
Las Vegas.[4] As of 2010, he was working as a personal trainer and part-time bodyguard.[5] Thunder's eldest son, Louis Peau, has played for the Samoa national rugby league team.[6] In April 2010, Thunder was arrested after police discovered he has not held an American green card since 2003. He had been detained in a Nevada immigration centre from August 2010 to August 2011, when he was released on bail.[7]
References
- 1 2 Coffey, John (3 July 1998). "Trainer adamant Jimmy Thunder can go all the way". The Christchurch Press.
- ↑ Pascoe, Bruce (10 May 1995). "Thunder scores easy TKO". The Las Vegas Review-Journal.
- ↑ "Jimmy Thunder". BoxRec.
- ↑ Kilgallon, Steve (21 March 2010). "'Thunder' Jimmy Peau on the canvas". The Sunday Star-Times. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ↑ "Whatever happened to Jimmy?". Stuff.co.nz. 29 June 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ↑ Mackey, Turei (29 June 2010). "Tough son of 'Thunder'". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ↑ Kilgallon, Steve (17 July 2011). "Former boxing champ held as US illegal alien". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
External links
| Vacant Title last held by Danell Nicholson |
IBO Heavyweight Champion 29 October 1994 – July 1995 Stripped |
Succeeded by Brian Nielsen |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Craig Petersen |
Australian heavyweight Championship | Succeeded by Vince Cervi |