One of my favourite fighters in the 1970's was the big Tongan swinger Fonomanu Sekona. He was known as "Young" Sekona because his Christian name was a bit of a handful and the sportswriters never spelt it correctly. I recently caught up with the big Tongan at his house in Mangere, Auckland.
"Young" Sekona was brought out from Tonga by the South Pacific Boxing Association in 1975 and he certainly packed the houses for them.
He had already had 9 professional matches in Fiji and Tonga by that stage, after a very good amateur record. He won silver for Tonga at the South Pacific Games in Papua, New Guinea.
The promoters soon changed his name from Fonomanu and he was always known as "Young" Sekona.
He was very fast in the ring and the promoters had hopes of him emulating The Tongan Torpedo, Kitione Lave – big heavyweight star of the 1950's out here. He didn't quite reach the heights of Kitione Lave, who went on to record some big wins in Europe–but he did very well in New Zealand to become a top drawcard for the S.P B.A. from the mid 70's.
He beat some tough ones in Charlie Dunn, Tommy Mears, England, George Jerome, Canada, Maile Haumona, another Tongan, tough Mani Vaka, Randy Stevens, U.S.A. Hartmut Sasse, German Champion. His first loss came in a big outdoor promotion at Carlaw Park, when he faced the Jamaican born Englishman Bunny Johnson, who had a great record and was British and Commonwealth Champion. Johnson caught Sekona in the second with a beautiful left hook and it was all over, ending his unbeaten record.
Sekona lived in Hawaii for a short time and fought there as well as mainland U.S.A. He lost in The United States to Mike Weaver, who at one stage was a top rated fighter. His other losses were to top fighters Tony Moore, a top rated British contender and to tough as teak Aussie fighter Steve Aczel.
Fonomanu Sekona certainly made big waves here in the 1970's and today he leads a quiet life in South Auckland. He doesn't go to the fights any more as his eyes are not so good.
In over 30 fights he lost only 4. Today he stays in shape and looks pretty good.
