Jimmy Thunder

Jimmy Thunder

Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
Men's Boxing
Commonwealth Games
	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	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

External links

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