![]() Won vacant WBC International heavyweight title Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, Australia Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Gold Coast, Australia Won Australian and Australasian heavyweight titles Won vacant WBF (Federation) heavyweight titleĬentral Coast Leagues Club, Sydney, Australiaįor vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title Sheraton Breakwater Casino Hotel, Townsville, Australia Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Ĭonvention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. Won vacant WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Prior Lake, Minnesota, U.S. MGM Grand Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Record knockout on first punch recorded in 1.5 secondsĬasino Magic, Bay St. Medieval Times, Lyndhurst, New Jersey, U.S. Harrah's Cherokee, Cherokee, North Carolina, U.S.įoxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S. Spotlight 29 Casino, Coachella, California, U.S. Hammerstein Ballroom, Manhattan, New York, U.S. Teamsters Union Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne, Australia ![]() Throughout his career he won regional titles including the Australian Heavyweight Champion twice as well as winning the lesser IBO and WBF Heavyweight titles. He finished his 49 fight career with 35 victories, 28 by knockout. On the 18 March 1997 edition of the USA Network's Tuesday Night Fights he knocked out Crawford Grimsley with his first punch, scoring the fastest knockout in history at 13 seconds, including the count of 10, which was not even begun, so it lasted 3 seconds, during the quick walk from his corner to the ring centre, immediately throwing the first and only punch with his last step. ![]() Among his notable victories are wins over Tony Tubbs, Craig Peterson, Trevor Berbick, and Tim Witherspoon. Later in his professional career he also fought under the name James Thunder. He changed his surname from Peau to Thunder in 1989 at the suggestion of his manager at the time, Jack Rennie. Thunder turned pro in 1988, after being omitted from New Zealand's Seoul Olympic Games team. As an amateur he had 89 fights, finishing his amateur career with 83-6 record. It was one of the nine gold medals won for New Zealand in that year. He defeated Dougie Young in his hometown by unanimous decision. 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. Preston took on the young Samoan into his boxing gym in Mangere Bridge. His friend introduced Thunder to Gerry Preston. He went to school at Onehunga High School in Auckland. While born in Apia, he grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. Thunder was born third out of six siblings. His mother is from the village of Fasitoouta, and his father is from the village of Falelatai. During his early life and amateur career, Thunder was known as Jimmy Peau.
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