13 Feb 2020

Boxing legend Jimmy Peau remembered as gentle giant

From Checkpoint, 6:23 pm on 13 February 2020

Samoan-born New Zealand boxer Jimmy Peau is being remembered as a gentle giant of the sport.

The Commonwealth Games heavyweight gold medalist - who recently had surgery on a brain tumour - died in Auckland this morning aged 54.

As well as winning Commonwealth gold - Peau won two world titles and was widely known for producing one of the fastest knockouts in boxing history.

Boxing NZ executive member John McKay was head coach of the national team during Peau's days as a South Auckland amateur.

He told Clay Wilson he ran into Peau around 18 months ago - shortly after his return to New Zealand from the US.