Real name James Peau Name Jimmy Thunder Total fights 49 Role Boxer Losses 14 | Nationality Samoa Martial art Boxing Wins by ko 28 Division Heavyweight | |
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Born 3 February 1966 (age 58) Apia, Upolu, Samoa ( 1966-02-03 ) | ||
Chris Byrd - Jimmy Thunder
James Peau (born 3 February 1966), known professionally as Jimmy Thunder, is a former Samoan professional boxer. He represented New Zealand, but also held the Australian heavyweight title twice, as well as the IBO and WBF heavyweight titles.
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Early life
During his early life and amateur career, Thunder was known as Jimmy Peau. 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. 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 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.
Titles held
Las Vegas. As of 2010, he was working as a personal trainer and part-time bodyguard. Thunder's eldest son, Louis Peau, has played for the Samoa national rugby league team. 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.