We lose champion boxer Manny Santos

Sad news with the passing of Tongan born Manny Santos, one of our all time great fighters. I was a big fan of Manoel Santos and used to watch him spar at the Waverley Street Gym in the mid 1960s. I recall the first time I ever spoke to Manny. He had been sparring with his great friend Toro George and also in the gym were Bobby Stininato and several other notable boxers. Manny came and spoke to me and asked me where I lived. When I told him I lived on the North Shore he offered to give me a lift home. And that was the first time I had ever met him. He was a kind hearted man and that has always kept in my mind. When he went to Wellington to meet Bunny Grant of Jamaica for the British Empire (later Commonwealth) Lightweight Crown, I was there to see him. I went down to Wellington on the overnight train and was there to witness a great win on points by Manny. I waited outside the Town Hall to take a picture of a beaming Manny and his trainer Ron Grimmer. Then I went to catch the bus and in the bus shelter was there was a great poster advertising the fight. I still have that poster today.

Manny was possibly the most scientific boxer we ever produced. He was a world rated fighter in early 1970s. He turned professional in 1965 when he beat Don Smith over six rounds. Also on that same fight card was Toro George. The lighter boys were huge favourites in Wellington and many of their matches were there.

Manny suffered some eye damage in the fight with Bunny Grant and was refused a medical clearance here by The New Zealand Boxing Association. He went home to Tonga and got a medical clearance and then went to Australia, where he became a top attraction on channel 7. Boxing was booming in Australia at that time. He had 25 fights in Australia and was a firm favourite, but had some hard punishing fights.

In 1974 he came back to New Zealand and had a fight in Auckland against Matt Ropis, which he won. Then he went to Jamaica where he lost his Commonwealth crown to Percy Hayles on points over fifteen rounds. This was to be Mannys last ever fight.

His record was 44 fights —32 wins–9 losses 3 draws.

I will miss Manny Santos. He came to visit on several occasions and was always a gentleman.