One of the true gentlemen of the ring was the Samoan star Alex Sua. I saw Alex in action on many occasions ad I was always impressed with his sportsman ship and his general approach to his boxing.
Recently I have seen Alex on many accessions in his capacity of manager of New Zealand boxing star Sean Sullivan. He never fails to impress me with his professionalism and vast knowledge of the sport.
Recently I asked Alex who his toughest opponent was and without hesitation he replied, Lance Revill. “Without a doubt he was by far my most experienced and also my toughest opponent”.
Lance and Alex clashed on three occasions with Alex winning twice.
Alex was known as the quiet man of boxing, but he was a tough young fighter, and I can well recall going to his match at Alexandra Park Raceway when he met top English fighter Tom Collins. The crowd thought Alex had won by a mile and erupted in disbelief when the decision was given to the Englishman.
However Alex did win against some top opposition, including wins over Young Haumona, Johnny Layton of Australia, Wally Carr another top Australian, English born Ken Wagstaff and the prize win of all was against world rated Tony Mundine.
One of the Auckland fight programs saw Alex this way. “The quiet man” Alex Sua whose best fighting weight is 12 stone, 7lbs is a fighter with the best defence in the business. He now believes in himself and is fast becoming a formidable opponent at any level. Tonight’s opponent Sam N’Gata (a Tongan based in Australia) is a man already seen in New Zealand and the fans know his action packed hard-hitting style.
Alex must beat N’Gata to reach Lance Revill to decide the number one light heavyweight in New Zealand. Alex has set his sights on Mundine. Alex did win the fight against N’Gata after a hard fought match.
Alex appeared in Zambia and fought a non-title fight with Lottie Mwale, the Zambian who was Commonwealth Champion. He took the fight at very short notice and did very well to lose on a point’s decision.
Alex was trained by the amazing “trainer of champions” George Cammick, and was one of the best ever light heavyweights.
When Alex beat the well –performed Young Haumona at Alexandra Park, the following headline was in the Auckland newspaper.
SUA PROVES HE’S RIGHT FOR MUNDINE
Alex Sua last night bowled over the old boxing theory that a good big man will always beat a good little man.
Giving away a stone in weight, the Auckland light heavyweight was too smart, too crisp and too sharp for his youthful Australian opponent Young Haumona in a ten round heavyweight non-title fight.
The quality of Sua’s performance suggested he was ready for the proposed light heavyweight title contest against world rated Australian Tony Mundine early next year.
Sua, making good use of a strong left jab and right cross, won a unanimous points decision win Haumona.
And afterwards astute Sydney fight manager Bernie Hall agreed Sua was ripe to trade blows with Mundine.
“From what I saw here, Sua is a very tidy and competent fighter. He knows how to look after himself and he can hit too.”
After his great win against Young Haumona a contract was soon winging its way across to Australia, trying to entice Tony Mundine, the celebrated Australian light heavyweight, into an Australasian title fight against Alex Sua early the next year.
“Alex showed at Alexandra Park on Tuesday night that he is ready for Mundine,” said Brian Edwards, promoter of the five-bout carnival.
“I know that Tony is keen to fight in New Zealand – Its not a question of how big the opponent, but the size of the purse, for he tends to talk in telephone numbers.”
“Alex looked really good, a very solid pro, in beating Young Haumona on Tuesday night.”
“I am thinking of staging that bout for the Australasian title in late February or early March,” said Mr Edwards.
The Mundine fight certainly did take place, and Alex was a handsome winner on points. Tony Mundine retired at the end of this fight and never fought again.
The Auckland newspaper saw the big fight in this way.
SUA QUITS FOR GOD
“I WANT TO SERVE MY CHURCH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE”
Faith in God rather than faith in his two fists carried Alex Sua to a unanimous points victory over Australia’s Tony Mundine at Carlaw Park this week.
And now that the 31 year old Auckland has won the biggest prize of his professional career – with the promise of even further riches ahead – he wants to leave it all behind in search of even greater fulfilment. “This will be my last year as a boxer,” he says after packing Mundine into retirement by taking the Australasian light heavyweight title. As the defending heavyweight and cruiserweight champion, Mundine automatically conceded those titles to Sua at the same time.
But while Sua seem to care for neither fame or fortune, he is keen for a few more paydays before, like Mundine, he leaves the smell of liniment and leather all behind.
“I’m not getting any younger, and I’d like to have a crack at the Commonwealth titles straight away” he says. “That all depends on the promoters. But this is definitely my last year in boxing. After that I have some plans for the future which don’t include fighting.”
Alex Sua’s greatest moment came when he decisively beat Tony Mundine at Carlaw Park. Mundine was a veteran of some 96 fights, and was still without doubt the most respected and formidable fighter in this part of the world. Sua dropped Mundine after 1 minute 25 seconds of the start and continued to build up a handy points lead. Mundine did threaten to steal the fight away from Alex in the latter rounds, but his early lead stood him in good stead, and he got the unanimous decision.
Today Alex drives a taxi, and is seen at all the fights around Auckland. He keeps very active and is involved with training some up and coming boys.
