Former South Pacific Games silver medallist and New Zealand heavyweight boxing title holder Fonomanu Sēkona dies aged 72.
A post on Facebook this morning confirmed his death.
His son Hano Sēkona said: “I really idolize and adore this man. Sorry, Dad. I’ve yet to cry. I’m just trying to stay strong for Mom. I’m concerned for her well-being and don’t want her to see me break down.”
It is understood, the former heavy weight champion was recently admitted to a hospital in New Zealand.
Known by the ring name “Young” Sēkona, he was described as difficult to easily beat because “his left was too quick and feet too fast”. Some commentators compared him to former Tongan “Torpedo, Kitione Lave – the big heavyweight star of the 1950s”.
Sēkona, from Tonga’s Fo’ui village, won nine professional matches in Fiji and Tonga by that stage, after a very good amateur record, according to a report by the Magazine Fight Time.
He won silver for Tonga at the South Pacific Games 1969 in Papua, New Guinea.
He beat some tough ones such as Charlie Dunn, Tommy Mears, England, George Jerome, Canada, Maile Haumona, another Tongan, tough Mani Vaka, and Randy Stevens, U.S.A. Hartmut Sasse, German Champion.
His first loss came in a big outdoor promotion at Carlaw Park, when he faced the Jamaican-born Englishman Bunny Johnson, who had a great record and was British and Commonwealth Champion. Johnson caught Sekona in the second with a beautiful left hook, and it was all over, ending his unbeaten record.
Sekona lived in Hawaii briefly and fought there and in mainland U.S.A. He lost in The United States to Mike Weaver, who was a top-rated fighter at one stage. His other losses were to top fighters Tony Moore, a top-rated British contender, and to tough as teak Aussie fighter Steve Aczel.
His name has been listed as holder of the New Zealand Professional Heavyweight Championship title in March 1982.
In over 30 fights he lost only four.
