Solomon Haumono

Solomon Haumono (born 13 October 1975) is a former professional boxer and former rugby league footballer of Tongan descent.

Solomon Haumono
Personal information
Born (1975-10-13) 13 October 1975
Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight111 kg (17 st 7 lb)
PositionProp, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1994–96 Manly Sea Eagles 39 6 0 0 24
1997–98 Canterbury Bulldogs 25 7 0 0 28
1999 Balmain Tigers 8 1 0 0 4
2000 St. George Illawarra 2 0 0 0 0
2003–04 Manly Sea Eagles 37 1 0 0 4
2005–06 London Broncos 48 15 0 0 60
Total 159 30 0 0 120
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003 NSW City 1 0 0 0 0
1997 New Sth Wales (SL) 3 0 0 0 0
1997 Australia (SL) 1 0 0 0 0
1995–06 Tonga 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
Statistics
Nickname(s)Solo
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
BornAuckland, New Zealand
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights30
Wins24
Wins by KO21
Losses4
Draws2

Early life

He attended Newtown Boys High School, Newtown, New South Wales. He then went on to Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham and represented them in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges Australian Schoolboys team 1993.[2]

Rugby league career

In rugby league, his preferred position was second-row. He played in the NRL for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the Balmain Tigers, the St George Illawarra Dragons, and in the Super League for the London Broncos/Harlequins RL. Haumono played at representative level for New South Wales and Australia, although these three state matches and one international match were in 1997, when Super League contracted players were ineligible for State of Origin selection. He also captained Tonga.

Haumono made his first grade debut for Manly-Warringah in round 11 1994 against Balmain, coming off the bench in a 42-0 victory at Leichhardt Oval. In 1995, Haumono featured heavily in the Manly side which won the minor premiership having lost only 2 matches all year. Haumono played from the bench in Manly's shock grand final loss to Canterbury. In 1996, Haumono played 14 games but missed out on selection in Manly's premiership winning side which defeated St. George in the grand final.

In 1997, Haumono signed with Canterbury who aligned themselves with the rival Super League competition during the Super League war. During the 1998 NRL season, Haumono walked out on Canterbury midway through the year after devising a plan to get out of his contract with the club. Haumono's plan was to join his supposed girlfriend Gabrielle Richens in England. Haumono elaborated on the plan saying I was under contract for the Bulldogs so it was decided to come up with a plan that would ultimately force the Bulldogs to rip up my contract, So the plan was formed that I was going to chase after my girlfriend at the time in England. So off I went and before I knew it, the paper got a hold of it and blew it up, making headline news and myself being chased by the media at home and even there in London".

The plan was devised by Haumono and close friend Anthony Mundine but fell over when Canterbury got wind of the plot and instead fined Haumono and put him in reserve grade.[3]

In 1999, Haumono signed with Balmain. Haumono only made 8 appearances for Balmain due to an elbow injury. In 2000, Haumono joined St George but only featured in 2 games, the last of which was the club's humiliating 70-10 loss against Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.[4]

Return to League

Following a second spell with Manly in 2003, Haumono joined the London Broncos and played in the capital for two seasons. In December 2006, with a year remaining on his contract, Haumono quit rugby league to return to professional boxing.

Boxing career

2000 to 2002

Haumono first took time out of rugby after his spell with the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2000. He followed in the footsteps of his father (Australian former heavyweight champion Maile Haumono) to take up a career in professional boxing. He fought eight times between 2000 and 2002, winning all of his heavyweight contests inside the distance. Solomon briefly held the title of New South Wales heavyweight champion before rejecting an offer to join the stable of American promoter Don King and returning to rugby league.

Return to boxing - post 2008

Haumono resumed his boxing career with a first-round knockout on 7 March 2007. He began training under well respected trainer Johnny Lewis who has assisted Haumono in reaching his 14–0 (all by K.O) record in the heavyweight ranks]. He fought Cliff Couser on 27 August 2008 and won the fight by unanimous decision. He fought Colin Wilson on 11 March 2009 with the fight going to a draw after ten rounds. Solomon won his next fight by disqualification on 16 May 2009 against Royce Sio (1w-0l-0d). Haumono was floored in the eleventh second of the first round by a right hook from Sio, but Sio then leaned down and hit Haumono again while Haumono's back was on the ground, leading to an instant disqualification. Haumono was back on his feet a few seconds later.

Haumono fought Justin Whitehead on 16 August 2009 and lost for the first time in his career by split decision. He defeated Michael Kirby by tenth-round TKO for the OPBF Heavyweight Title on 18 September 2009, and became the Australian Heavyweight Champion after a tenth-round TKO of Frankin Egobi in Melbourne on 7 September 2012.

On 31 December 2012, he fought k1 legend Kyotaro Fuijmoto under boxing rules defeating him in the fifth round via TKO.

On 28 April 2013, he lost by TKO to Kevin Johnson.

On 21 July 2016, he lost by TKO to Joseph Parker.

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
30 fights 24 wins 4 losses
By knockout 21 2
By decision 2 2
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
30 Loss 24–4–2 Tomasz Adamek UD 10 24 Jun 2017 Ergo Arena, Plac Dwóch Miast 1, 80-344 Gdańsk, Gdansk, Poland
29 Loss 24–3–2 Joseph Parker TKO 4 (12), 1:35 21 Jul 2016 Horncastle Arena, Christchurch, New Zealand For WBO Oriental Heavyweight Title.
28 Win 24–2–2 Manuel Alberto Pucheta KO 6 (10), 2:29 27 Apr 2016 National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, Redfern, Australia PABA Heavyweight Title. Won interim WBA Oceania Heavyweight Title.
27 Win 23–2–2 Hunter Sam UD 10 30 Oct 2015 National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, Redfern, Australia Won interim PABA Heavyweight Title.
26 Win 22–2–2 Filipo Fonoti Masoe KO 4 (6), 2:46 24 Jul 2015 Orange Function Centre, Orange, Australia
25 Win 21–2–2 Marcelo Luiz Nascimento TKO 3 (8), 0:53 17 Oct 2013 The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Australia
24 Loss 20–2–2 Kevin Johnson KO 10 (12), 2:53 28 Apr 2013 Convention & Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia
23 Win 20–1–2 Kyotaro Fujimoto TKO 5 (12), 0:57 31 Dec 2012 Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Japan Won vacant OPBF Heavyweight Title
22 Win 19–1–2 Franklin Egobi TKO 10 (10), 2:05 7 Sep 2012 The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Australia Won vacant Australian Heavyweight Title
21 Draw 18–1–2 Joey Wilson SD 8 5 Jul 2012 Sky City Convention Centre, Auckland, New Zealand Retained WBC–EPBC heavyweight title;
Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
20 Win 18–1–1 Junior Pati KO 2 (6), 1:02 8 Dec 2011 The Arena, Fortitude Valley, Australia
19 Win 17–1–1 Michael Kirby TKO 10 (12), 0:21 18 Sep 2009 Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia Won OPBF Heavyweight Title .
18 Loss 16–1–1 Justin Whitehead SD 10 16 Aug 2009 Peninsula, Shed 14 Central Pier, Docklands, Melbourne, Australia For vacant World Boxing Foundation International Heavyweight Title.
17 Win 16–0–1 Royce Sio DQ 1 (6), 0:15 16 May 2009 Blacktown RSL Club, Blacktown, Australia
16 Draw 15–0–1 Colin Wilson PTS 10 11 Mar 2009 The Cube, Campbelltown, Sydney, Australia
15 Win 15–0 Cliff Couser UD 8 27 Aug 2008 E.G. Whitlam Recreation Center, Liverpool, Australia
14 Win 14–0 Tommy Connelly TKO 3 (6), 0:27 27 Feb 2008 Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
13 Win 13–0 Seiaute Ma'ilata KO 2 (6), 0:40 10 Dec 2007 Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
12 Win 12–0 Mosese Kavika KO 1 (6), 1:15 21 Apr 2012 Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
11 Win 11–0 Oscar Talemaira TKO 1 (6), 1:37 25 May 2007 Ex-Services Club, Coffs Harbour, Australia
10 Win 10–0 Alex Mene TKO 3 (6), 1:07 27 Apr 2007 Magic Millions Complex, Bundall, Gold Coast, Australia
9 Win 9–0 Fatu Tuimanono KO 1 (4), 1:24 7 Mar 2007 Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
8 Win 8–0 Fatu Tuimanono TKO 2 (6), 14 Jun 2002 Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
7 Win 7–0 Auckland Auimatagi TKO 6 (10), 10 May 2002 Central Coast Rugby League Club, Gosford, Australia Won Australia - New South Wales State Heavyweight Title.
6 Win 6–0 Shane Wijohn KO 5 (6), 1:40 19 Apr 2002 La Montage Function Centre, Sydney, Australia
5 Win 5–0 Mark Alexander TKO 3 (6), 4 Mar 2002 Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Broadbeach, Australia
4 Win 4–0 John Wyborn KO 2 (10), 2:31 13 Jul 2001 The Octagon, Sydney, Australia
3 Win 3–0 Martin Opetaia TKO 7 (8), 2 Mar 2001 Star City Casino, Sydney, Australia
2 Win 2–0 Paul Srama KO 1 (6), 4 Sep 2000 Horden Pavilion, Moore Park, Australia
1 Win 1–0 Ken Fuller KO 2 (4), 3 Jul 2000 Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia Professional debut

Personal life

Haumono is married to Margaret, who is a cousin of his friend and fellow rugby league player-turned boxer Anthony Mundine. Solomon and Margaret have five children.[5]

He dated English model Gabrielle Richens for a period of time during his time with Canterbury.

In 2015, Haumono revealed he had been suffering a drug addiction during his league career. He was addicted to ice, cocaine and ecstasy.[6]

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gollark: I shut down the bot before it went too far.
gollark: ++search test
gollark: Or $search wen switzerland, actually.
gollark: ++search !wen Switzerland

References
  1. "Solomon Haumono - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  2. www.sportingpulse.com NSWCCC Players Representing Australian Schoolboys 1972–2007
  3. "Dash was business not pleasure". SMH.
  4. "Dragons v Storm: Scott out, Olam and Robson to make debuts". NRL.
  5. "Solomon Huamono knows its a case of now or never for his boxing career", by: Grantlee Kieza From: The Courier-Mail 7 March 2012 12:00 a.m.
  6. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/drugs-guns-and-suicide-solomon-haumonos-explosive-confessions-of-his-outofcontrol-addiction/news-story/d5778c03b654865a4f706bdfa94d0fac
Vacant
Title last held by
Lucas Browne		 Australian Heavyweight Champion
2012-09-07 – Present		 Vacant
Title next held by
Hunter Sam
Preceded by
Michael Kirby		 OPBF Heavyweight Champion
2009-09-18 – 2009
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Solomon Haumono
Vacant
Title last held by
Solomon Haumono		 OPBF Heavyweight Champion
2012-12-31 – 2014-10-02
Stripped		 Vacant
Title next held by
Joseph Parker
Preceded by
Joseph Parker
Interim Champion promoted		 PABA Heavyweight Interim Champion
30 October 2015 – 27 April 2016		 Promoted
Vacant
Title last held by
Joseph Parker		 PABA Heavyweight Champion
27 April 2016 - present		 Incumbent
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