Jimmy Thunder

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

Jimmy Thunder

Medal record
Competitor for New Zealand
Men's Boxing
Commonwealth Games
Gold	1986 Edinburgh	Heavyweight

Jimmy Thunder (born 3 February 1966 in Apia, Western Samoa as James Peau), is a former Samoan boxer, 2 time Australian Heavyweight Champion as well as former IBO and WBF World Heavyweight Champion.

Early life

During his early life and amateur career, Thunder was known as Jimmy Peau. His mother Papaliitele Milagi Leaupepe is from the village of Fasitoouta, and his father Lupematasila Maalo Faasavalu Peau is from the village of Falelatai. Thunder was born third out of six siblings. They all grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. Jimmy is also a direct descendant of the paramount royal chief of Samoa Malietoa NatuitasinaTaimalelagi from his grandmother's side. She was Malelega, daughter of Aionofaasisina, son of Pouvi Malietoa who was the son of Malietoa Natuitasina Taimalelagi. Thunder was also bestowed the chief title 'Ti'a' in Fasitoouta Samoa in 1996.

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. Later in his professional career he also fought under the name James Thunder. Among his notable victories are wins over Tony Tubbs, Craig Peterson, Trevor Berbick, and Tim Witherspoon. On 18 March 1997 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 had won a number of regional titles, especially being a 2 time Australian Heavyweight Champion 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) [1]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	23-15	Colin Wilson	UD	10	6 December 2002	Parkville, Victoria, Australia	92-98, 92-99, 93-97.
Loss	30-0	Andre Purlette	TKO	2	6 July 2001	Reno, Nevada, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 1:01 of the second round.
Loss	19-3	Paea Wolfgramm	TD	7	1 April 2001	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Bout stopped due to cuts caused by accidental headbuts. 63-68, 64-67, 64-67.
Win	6-6-2	James Vernon Lester	TKO	1	9 March 2001	Reno, Nevada, United States
Loss	14-1	Charles Shufford	TKO	8	7 September 2000	Baltimore, Maryland, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 3:00 of the eighth round.
Loss	22-1	Monte Barrett	TKO	7	24 February 2000	New York City, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 0:52 of the seventh round.
Win	22-5-1	Eli Dixon	TKO	2	18 November 1999	Coachella, California, United States
Win	46-6	Tim Witherspoon	UD	10	7 April 1998	Cherokee, North Carolina, United States	97-92, 97-92, 98-92.
Loss	22-0	Chris Byrd	TKO	9	13 December 1997	Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 1:07 of the eighth round.
Loss	8-8-2	Maurice Harris	KO	7	20 May 1997	Lyndhurst, New Jersey, United States	Thunder knocked out at 2:44 of the seventh round.
Win	20-1	Crawford Grimsley	KO	1	18 March 1997	Flint, Michigan, United States	Grimsley knocked out at 0:13 of the first round.
Loss	29-3	John Ruiz	SD	12	14 January 1997	Kansas City, Missouri, United States	NABF Heavyweight Title. 112-115, 111-116, 115-112.
Win	18-4-1	Quinn Navarre	KO	4	8 October 1996	Flint, Michigan, United States
Win	15-11-1	William Morris	TKO	10	6 August 1996	Flint, Michigan, United States
Win	15-5-1	Will Hinton	KO	7	27 February 1996	Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, United States
Win	20-2-1	Melvin Foster	TKO	8	3 October 1995	Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 1:03 of the eighth round.
Win	19-1	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	15-3-2	Franco Wanyama	PTS	10	16 July 1995	Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win	14-2-1	Bomani Parker	KO	1	17 June 1995	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Parker knocked out at 2:36 of the first round.
Win	16-2	Daniel Dăncuţă	TKO	2	9 May 1995	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 2:52 of the second round.
Win	42-7-1	Trevor Berbick	UD	12	17 March 1995	Mounds View, Minnesota, United States	WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title. 118-110, 119-110, 117-111.
Win	39-5	Tony Tubbs	MD	12	6 December 1994	Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States	IBO World Heavyweight Title. 115-114, 114-113, 114-114.
Win	21-3-1	Richard Mason	UD	12	29 October 1994	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	IBO World Heavyweight Title.
Win	10-3	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	7-9-3	Marion Wilson	UD	10	1 September 1994	Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States	100-90, 100-87, 100-89.
Win	1-14-1	Juan Ramon Perez	TKO	2	3 August 1994	Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Win	3-0	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	23-9-1	Johnny Nelson	UD	12	19 November 1993	Auckland, New Zealand	WBF World Heavyweight Title. 114-115, 112-115, 111-119.
Win	5-4-1	Mitieli Navuilawa	KO	1	9 October 1993	Suva, Fiji
Win	28-4	Melton Bowen	TKO	5	23 July 1993	Townsville, Queensland, Australia	WBF World Heavyweight Title.
Win	7-5-2	David Ravu Ravu	KO	2	17 June 1993	Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
Loss	18-0-1	Henry Akinwande	PTS	12	18 March 1993	Lewisham, London, United Kingdom	Commonwealth Heavyweight Title.
Win	33-17-2	Aisea Nama	KO	2	30 June 1992	Apia, Samoa
Win	18-3-1	Craig Petersen	UD	12	14 June 1992	Auckland, New Zealand	Australia Heavyweight Title. 116-112, 117-113, 116-114.
Win	23-8	Young Haumona	PTS	12	6 December 1991	Otahuhu, New Zealand	IBF Pan Pacific Heavyweight Title.
Loss	16-3-1	Craig Petersen	UD	12	14 November 1991	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	Australia Heavyweight Title. 108-115, 111-115, 111-115.
Win	32-15-2	Aisea Nama	KO	7	24 August 1991	Nadi, Fiji	OPBF Heavyweight Title.
Loss	16-4	Derek Williams	TKO	2	1 May 1991	Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom	Commonwealth Heavyweight Title.
Win	3-24	Rocky Salanoa	KO	1	16 November 1990	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	Salanoa knocked out at 2:45 of the first round.
Loss	15-2-2	Mike Hunter	KO	4	14 August 1990	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Win	26-5	J.B. Williamson	TKO	10	14 July 1990	Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia	Referee stopped the bout at 2:47 of the tenth round.
Win	27-15-1	Mark Lee	KO	1	1 May 1990	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	Lee knocked out at 1:22 of the first round.
Win	19-4	Mauricio Villegas	TKO	4	24 February 1990	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	WBC International Heavyweight Title.
Win	33-4	Bernardo Mercado	TKO	1	8 December 1989	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	Referee stopped the bout at 1:27 of the first round.
Win	7-5	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	15-9	Andre van den Oetelaar	TKO	3	1 September 1989	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Win	7-4	Mosese Vilia	KO	1	14 July 1989	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	Vilia knocked out at 1:18 of the first round.
Win	7-7	Kevin Barry	KO	2	13 May 1989	Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Win	6-7-3	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

External links

• Official website
• Professional boxing record for Jimmy Thunder from BoxRec

Vacant Title last held by Danell Nicholson

IBO Heavyweight Champion 29 October 1994 – July 1995 Stripped

Succeeded by Brian Nielsen