Who are the best boxers in the history of New Zealand?
When you think of boxers from New Zealand, the first name that springs to mind will be Auckland heavyweight hero Joseph Parker.
New Zealand is a very sporting country, most famously known for their success in rugby, winning the Rugby World Cup three times with the inspiring, intimidating, indomitable 'All-Blacks'.
But it is a country with diverse interests and sporting activities, also excelling in cricket, basketball, netball, football and boxing.
It was Joe Parker who really put the country on the boxing map when he became the first ever heavyweight boxer from New Zealand to become a world champion in 2016.
The island in the South Pacific Ocean is home to over 5 million people and there are various other sporting themes available, such as the evolution of online casinos in New Zealand, online slots and, of course, sports betting.
Since 1885 New Zealand have been producing boxing champions and has a rich history that the country isn' really well known for, so here is a list of the top 10 champions from the 'Land of the Long White Cloud':
1. Joseph Parker (30-2, 21KOs)
The pride of New Zealand, now 30, became only the second Kiwi in history to hold a world boxing title by defeating Andy Ruiz in 2016. In the same feat, he also became the first ever heavyweight world champion from his country.
He made two defences of the WBO title in 2017, before losing it to Anthony Joshua in their 2018 unification clash in Cardiff. That same year, he suffered a second successive loss to another Brit, Dillian Whyte, but he has since been on a six-fight winning streak. In 2022, he aims to fight for a world title once again.
His father, Dempsey, was named after a boxing hero, and Joe can recall being taught how to throw combinations as early as three-years-old, so he was always destined for a life in boxing. Find out more about Joe Parker and his upbringing HERE
2. Tom Heeney (37-22-8, 15KOs)
'The Hard Rock from Down Under' Tom Heeney became famous after winning a national heavyweight title in Gisborne in 1921 by beating Albert Pooley in what was just his fourth fight! The amateur standout went straight into 15-round bouts from his pro debut onwards.
In 1928, he fought Gene Dunney for the World heavyweight title, known back then as the NBA (National Boxing Association) World heavyweight title, before the split that caused the formations of various governing bodies. The aforementioned boxing legend Jack Dempsey was in his corner, but Heeney was stopped in round 11 of 15 in New York.
3. Ted Morgan (11-11-2, 5KOs)
Ted Morgan became the first Kiwi to win a gold medal in the 1928 Summer Olympics despite competing with throughout the entire tournament with a dislocated knuckle in his left hand. The southpaw from Wellington was born in London and won a New Zealand and Australasian welterweight title in his short five-year pro career.
4. David Nyika (2-0, 2KOs)
David Kieran Nyika is considered as one of the country's greatest amateur boxers of all-time. He was the first Kiwi to obtain two Commonwealth Games gold medals and also won bronze in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The cruiserweight made his pro debut on the undercard of Joe Parker vs Junior Fa on February 27, 2021. He currently has two first-round knockouts in the paid ranks.
5. Bill Byrne
William Byrne won ten senior national titles in two weight divisions. In 1975 he won the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles in a single evening. This record has never been beaten until the NZBA rules have changed and boxers couldn’t compete in several weight divisions at the same time. He also won a silver medal at the 1974 Commonwealth Games.
6. David Tua (52-5-2, 43KOs)
Samoan-born New Zealander David Tua competed from 1992-2013 and became known for his formidable left hook. The Ring Magazine voted him 48th in the list of 100 greatest punchers.
The Tuamanator earned the first World Championship medal for New Zealand when he obtained bronze in 1991 in Sydney. He defeated Felix Savon, a famous Cuban boxer to win. In 1992, the top amateur secured a bronze Medal at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
The Tuaman won WBC, IBF and WBO regional titles in his professional career and retired in 2013 as one of the best heavyweights to never win a world title.
7. Jimmy 'Thunder' Peau (35-14, 28KOs)
Jimmy Peau was trained by Gerry Preston and became popular internationally due to earning three national heavyweight crowns. He also won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in 1986 and altogether had 88 wins in 97 contests.
8. Billy Murphy (90-51-24, 76KOs)
'Torpedo' Billy Murphy was the boxer from New Zealand to win a world title. It was in 1890 when he knocked out Ike Weir in the 14th round to win the World featherweight championship. He had well over 200 professional fights, some of his bouts going up to 40 rounds. He was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
9. Sean Sullivan (51-22, 22KOs)
Sullivan was ranked the seventh-best welterweight by the IBF and WBA. He holds NZ titles in six divisions. Sean left the professional sport in 2008 after losing his eight fights and has been working as a debt-collector since 2009.
10. Harry Laing (32-1-5, 31KOs)
'The Maori' was the first ever Kiwi to be crowned as a New Zealand national heavyweight champion. He defeated the 'Pacific Coast Wonder' Richard Matthews to win the title and went on to knockout 31 from 32 victims.