BoxingTalk Video |
13/02/2020
Sad news out of New Zealand: Jimmy Peau, who fought under the name Jimmy Thunder, has died at the age of 54. Details of Thunder's death are unclear, but the New Zealand Herald reported he recently underwent brain surgery for a tumor. Reports also say that Thunder was homeless in his retirement years. Thunder was an exciting heavyweight who fought many times on USA Network's legendary Tuesday Night Fights series. As an amateur, he won gold at the Commonwealth Games, but somehow was left off the 1988 New Zealand Olympic team. Thunder's pro career stretched from 1989-2002. Although he wasn't a slick boxer, the heavily muscled Thunder always entertained and ususally had success. His resume is highlighted by wins over three former title holders,Tim Witherspoon, Tony Tubbs and Trevor Berbick. A 1994 majority decision win over Tubbs brought Thunder the IBO heavweight championship. But Thunder is best remembered for his 1997 win over Crwaford Grimsely. Fighting on Tuesday Night Fights, Thunder stormed out of his corner at the opening bell and threw a single overhand right that immediately put Grimsley to sleep. A vidoe of the eight-second fight is included with this story.Briefly seen on the video is the wake of the KO- it came so fast that while laying flat on his back, Grimsley thought the fight was still going on and threw some punches while he was laying on the canvas. Boxingtalk sends it deepest condolences to the friends and family of Jimmy Peau a/k/a Jimmy Thunder, a man who provided boxing fans with many thrills throught the 1990s.