Thunder loses

By Brian Finn

JIMMY Thunder Peau was a clear and obvious favourite go ing into his first World Boxing Federation heavyweight title de fence at Auckland in November. And why not. He was in top shape. He was fighting at home on one of the biggest boxing cards ever assembled in New Zealand. And in beat ing American Melton Bowen for the relatively-new WBF

belt in September, he had shown signs of new-found form and vigour.

So on November 19, his challenger British cruiserweight Johnny “The En tertainer” Nelson was expected to be another living example of a good small guy being beaten by a good big guy at Auckland’s Mt Smart Supertop.

He wasn’t. And by the end of the night, the small guy had lifted the WBF crown and with it, much of Peau’s new found confidence, on the strength of a convincing 12-round unanimous points victory. While Nelson was soaking up the limelight and a possible return visit to New Zealand, Peau was left alone to ponder another frustratingly poor per formance at home. On the night, Nelson proved he was a better boxer than many gave him credit for. The former WBF cruiserweight champion gave away a 10kg weight advantage to Peau but made the most of a six-inch reach advantage.

Nelson scored easily from the outside, tied up Peau’s normally-lethal inside punching, and used his speed to stay clear of the sluggish home fighter. The conclusion became obvious well before the end of the fight even to Peau’s trainer, Ces Waters. Peau, who had been trying to land a knockout punch from round one, looked unlikely to land even a fairly damaging blow before round 12.

Peau admitted afterwards he aban doned the pre-fight tactics to go for a knockout to try and please his home crowd. But that has now placed his relationship with Waters who he credited earlier for his boxing revival in jeopardy. Says Waters “I felt I was looking at the Jimmy Thunder of five years ago. “There was no power in his punching, no snap. I couldn’t believe I

was looking at a fighter I trained.”

Waters says while Peau had lost his WBF title, he too has lost some of his prestige as a trainer and will need to reassess his relationship with Peau.

Now, Peau is left again with the prospect of resurrecting his professional career. Ironically, it could begin with a title fight in Auckland. But the Samoan Aucklander is reluctant to fight at home

again.

“I really feel the pressure here,” he says. Peau says he expects too much of himself at home in Auckland and would prefer to fight Nelson in Britain or possibly elsewhere. Regardless of the

Jason Dorday

Thunder defends: Nelson scores with a left jab

venue, Peau believes he can come back.

“I’m still on a mission,” says the man who aims to make the world’s top 10 rankings. “I’m doing it the hard way but the road is still there and I’m still going.”

Surprisingly, his aspirations are backed by the world famous trainer of fellow manager boxer David Tua. Lou Duva, who was an interested spectator at the fight together with Tua and the rest of his entourage, says Peau is a better prospect than he snowed.

“He’s got the attributes to be a good fighter. He’s fast, he’s got a good punch but he needs to put it together.” Says Duva “One fight can turn it right around.” Peau who now sports a record of 16 wins and five losses must hope that one fight is his next one.

On the undercard, Samoan Auckland based boxer Dennis Leui’i scored an upset majority points decision over former Eng lishman Ted Cofie from Australia to take the Australian cruiserweight title. That was the first of four wins for former Fijian Brij Sain’s Ringside Gym.

Based in Otahuhu, Sain’s fighters won Him a perfect record with Alberto Ma Chong scoring an unanimous points de cision over Sililo Figota to retain his New Zealand light middleweight title.

Ma Chong, in the bext contest of the night, was industrious throughout and maintained a punishing work rate against the former Olympic Games representative.

In another light middleweight encounter, Fa’a ititi Seufale who fought as Seve Timani scored a third round knockout over New Zealand toughman champion

Tony Watson.

And to round out Sain’s successful night, former New Zealand champion August Tuanavasa KOs replacement opponent Rocky Thompson in the fourth round of their heavyweight contest. The only fight other than Peau’s title fight that didn’t go to Sain’s gym was the South Pacific heavyweight title bout between

defending champion Fijian Mitieli

Navuilawa and New Zealander Lindsay Christensen. Navuilawa, who has come under the guidance of Ces Waters, retained his belt with a sixth round TKO for his second win over Christensen. □