R.I.P Jimmy 'Thunder' Peau - 3/2/66 - 13/2/20 - The man behind the fastest KO in history

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by kiwi_boxer, Feb 12, 2020.


Page 1 of 4
  1. kiwi_boxer

    kiwi_boxer nighty night, ellerbe ☠ ☠ ☠ banned Full Member

    5,716
    5,745
    Aug 25, 2013
    A sad day for boxing fans across the world, Samoa and New Zealand. Heavyweight boxer Jimmy Thunder has died, at just 54.

    During his brief time at the top of the Heavyweight division Jimmy 'Thunder' Peau was one of the biggest names in New Zealand sport. He had wins over Tony Tubbs, Trevor Berbick and Tim Witherspoon.

    I remember watching him as a kid and my father showing me the video of him winning gold at the 1986 Commonwealth Games by knocking out the local hero in the final.

    Not to mention the fastest knockout in history! (see below)

    In 1987 his boxing boots slipped on the canvas in the heat , so he discarded them and boxed barefoot. Unfortunately the remedy made the situation worse, when his feet stuck to the canvas and the skin peeled off!

    Jimmy had a lengthy professional career but terrible management in the U.S.
    After Jimmy's hardships within the boxing industry, he fell on very difficult times and ended up homeless in the streets of Las Vegas.

    --

    Rest in peace champ
    Jimmy Thunder Peau
    3 February 1966 - 13 February 2020

    This content is protected
     
    kiwi_boxer, Feb 12, 2020
    kiwi_boxer, Feb 12, 2020
    #1
    Deew, latineg, It's Ovah and 21 others like this.
  2. Big Ukrainian

    Big Ukrainian Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,647
    9,457
    Jan 10, 2007
    Thunder was VERY exciting fighter.

    R.I.P. Samoan Warrior
     
    Big Ukrainian, Feb 12, 2020
    Big Ukrainian, Feb 12, 2020
    #2
    latineg, Inglis_1, lloydturnip and 6 others like this.
  3. ForemanJab

    ForemanJab Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,682
    11,658
    May 8, 2014
    Rip
     
    ForemanJab, Feb 12, 2020
    ForemanJab, Feb 12, 2020
    #3
    UnleashtheFURY, Pimp C, Sandman_ and 2 others like this.
  4. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

    34,268
    17,014
    Jul 29, 2004
    F

    What a legend!! So sad.

    Malolo i le filemu champ.
     
    WhataRock, Feb 12, 2020
    WhataRock, Feb 12, 2020
    #4
    juppity, ohwat049, Lith and 4 others like this.
  5. kiwi_boxer

    kiwi_boxer nighty night, ellerbe ☠ ☠ ☠ banned Full Member

    5,716
    5,745
    Aug 25, 2013
    :thumbsup: He sure was!

    Like most Samoan New Zealander's (Samoans in general), he was a gentle giant that had the time to talk to anyone.

    A family man that seemed to have a big heart. Another sad example of the struggles post fame and mental health battles. Ultimately leading to a much harder life than he should have had to live.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2020
    kiwi_boxer, Feb 12, 2020
    kiwi_boxer, Feb 12, 2020
    #5
    Inglis_1, Serge, UnleashtheFURY and 7 others like this.
  6. Sandman_

    Sandman_ Undisputed Full Member

    5,056
    6,486
    Feb 20, 2009
    I was there for his pro debut. It was on the Jeff Fenech v Marcos Villasana undercard. I remember it like yesterday. KO4 Niko Degei. Stopped him on his feet. He stood out as a tremendous prospect.

    Until I saw Justis Huni, I always regarded the Thunderman as the most naturally talented H/W to ever come out of the South Pacific. That includes David Tua & Joseph Parker.

    Tremendous physical strength & punching power. I speculate that his chin would have been much better had it not been cracked once too often early in his career.

    RIP Jimmy. Gone far too soon but to a better place.
     
    Sandman_, Feb 12, 2020
    Sandman_, Feb 12, 2020
    #6
    It's Ovah, Serge, juppity and 14 others like this.
  7. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    26,749
    43,819
    Mar 3, 2019
    RIP champ, respect for many a great fight, blessings for the next life.
     
    George Crowcroft, Feb 12, 2020
    George Crowcroft, Feb 12, 2020
    #7
    robert ungurean, ohwat049, Holler and 4 others like this.
  8. LoadedGlove

    LoadedGlove Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,527
    4,279
    Dec 6, 2019
    I remember him knocking out Doug Young in that final. Boxing has too many sad stories like this one. RIP.
     
    LoadedGlove, Feb 12, 2020
    LoadedGlove, Feb 12, 2020
    #8
    ohwat049, George Crowcroft, Pimp C and 3 others like this.
  9. Dangerwood84

    Dangerwood84 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,544
    12,493
    Sep 21, 2017
    As a kid I remember Thunder making a name for himself in Australia in his very early pro days. He really was a bit of a supèrstar in Australia for a short period of time. The local media was calling him 'Australia's version of Mike Tyson...lol' even though he wasn't an aussie! I remember Mike Hunter derailing Jimmy's train but he did well in the states later on of course. I also wasn't aware of his post career struggles. RIP.
     
    Dangerwood84, Feb 12, 2020
    Dangerwood84, Feb 12, 2020
    #9
    juppity, Sandman_, ohwat049 and 4 others like this.
  10. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas FRANKINAUSTIN

    27,928
    34,115
    Jul 24, 2004
    RIP Samoan Warrior.
     
    FrankinDallas, Feb 12, 2020
    FrankinDallas, Feb 12, 2020
    #10
    Sandman_, ohwat049, JC40 and 3 others like this.
  11. Pimp C

    Pimp C Too Much Motion Full Member

    122,543
    34,349
    Jun 23, 2005
    Rest in Peace you will be missed.
     
    Pimp C, Feb 12, 2020
    Pimp C, Feb 12, 2020
    #11
    northpaw, Sandman_, ohwat049 and 2 others like this.
  12. kiwi_boxer

    kiwi_boxer nighty night, ellerbe ☠ ☠ ☠ banned Full Member

    5,716
    5,745
    Aug 25, 2013
    Fantastic post.

    Respect @Sandman_ :beer-toast1:
     
    kiwi_boxer, Feb 12, 2020
    kiwi_boxer, Feb 12, 2020
    #12
    Sandman_, ohwat049, WhataRock and 1 other person like this.
  13. VBOX

    VBOX JOURNEYMAN Full Member

    5,701
    3,814
    Feb 8, 2012
    Watching Thunder vs. Grimsley never gets old. Thanks for the highlights, RIP Jimmy.
     
    VBOX, Feb 12, 2020
    VBOX, Feb 12, 2020
    #13
    Sandman_, ohwat049 and kiwi_boxer like this.
  14. thanosone

    thanosone Love Your Brother Man Full Member

    6,495
    2,430
    Sep 23, 2007
    RIP
     
    thanosone, Feb 12, 2020
    thanosone, Feb 12, 2020
    #14
    DONT B SCARED, Sandman_, ohwat049 and 1 other person like this.
  15. fistsof steel

    fistsof steel Boxing Addict Full Member

    7,161
    3,015
    Nov 13, 2010
    Very sad....RIP.
     
    fistsof steel, Feb 12, 2020
    fistsof steel, Feb 12, 2020
    #15
    Sandman_ and kiwi_boxer like this.
Page 1 of 4