THE MAN with one of the fastest knockout in boxing history Jimmy “Thunder” Peau has died following an operation on a brain tumour.
The 54-year-old, who needed just 1.5 seconds to send American Crawford Grimsley to sleep in 1997, passed away in his sleep in his native New Zealand.
Former heavyweight boxing champ Jimmy Peau has died following an operation on a brain tumourCredit: Getty Images
The star recorded one of the fastest knockouts in history after flooring Crawford Grimsley in just 1.5 seconds in 1997Credit: Getty Images
Ex-IBO and WBF heavyweight champ Peau, a gold medallist at the 1986 Commonwealth Games, turned pro three years later and tasted victory 35 times with 14 losses before retirement in 2002.
The New Zealand trailblazer, , whose original name was Ti’a James Senio Peau, was born in Apia, Samoa, but grew up in Auckland.
Speaking about his lightning-quick victory over Grimsley, Peau said: “I was hungry. I missed out on my lunch and I missed out on dinner, and I was getting ready for the fight and I walked past the buffet and I said `damn man, I wanna go eat’.”
American pair Tim Witherspoon and Tony Tubbs also fell victim to his fists.
Peau fell on hard times after moving to the States after his in-ring career had ended, with a Stuff news team discovering he was living rough on the streets of Las Vegas in 2010.
His brother said: “We know what he went through and what he has achieved.
“He has been quite embarrassed to even face his own family. But he achieved a lot in his career and he has nothing to be ashamed of.”
Peau married Iris Whitemagpie in 2008 but would later suffer immigration problems in the US.
These were not aided by a conviction for assault, battery and substantial bodily harm after an altercation at a Las Vegas street party in 2012.
He eventually moved back to New Zealand.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
