Bowie Tupou
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | Bo |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Born | Suliasi Tupou Ahio 3 August 1982 |
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | Heavyweight |
| Boxing career | |
| Reach | 1.92 m (75+1⁄2 in) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record[1] | |
| Total fights | 34 |
| Wins | 28 |
| Win by KO | 20 |
| Losses | 6 |
Suliasi Tupou Ahio (born 3 August 1982), better known as Bowie Tupou, is an Australian professional boxer.
Tupou has peaked at 13th in the WBO rankings after winning the WBO African title against Hunter Sam in March 2015.[2] Tupou lost the title in August 2015 against Joseph Parker.[3]
Early life
Tupou moved to Mt Druitt at age of 11, then to Newtown, New South Wales when he got married. Before becoming a boxer, Bowie played professional rugby league football in Australia for the Penrith Panthers in the under 21s.[2] In 2001 Tupou was selected to tour New Zealand, which included a game against Southland under-21 in Queenstown.[2] His NRL career never happened due to being sucked into the booze culture and he fell into that trap like many youngsters can. Tupou wife was the first person to suggest boxing as a sport, to help get him back on track and install some discipline in his life.
Professional boxing career
He began his boxing career training with Johnny Lewis, Australia's most well-known boxing coach, having trained Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding, Virgil Hill and Kostya Tszyu. After only one amateur bout, he knocked out his opponent in the first round. Tupou made his pro debut on 18 February 2006 in South Windsor, New South Wales, Australia, against Brian Fitzgerald. Tupou won the evenly fought battle by a majority decision. Six months later on a rematch with Fitzgerald, Tupou picked up the lightly regarded New South Wales Heavyweight title. At the end of 2006 he settled in Los Angeles where he started training with Justin Fortune at the Pound4Pound Gym.
In 2007 he signed with Gary Shaw and made his U.S. debut on 7 September. In April 2008 he signed with a new coach Jeff Mayweather. He has beaten his first club fighters in Cisse Salif and Ray Hayes. In 2009 he was knocked out by club fighter Demetrice King but a 2011 knock out of Manuel Quezada and a points win over Donnell Holmes restored some credibility. Bowie now resides in Las Vegas, NV. In 2012 he was knocked out by Malik Scott and Bryant Jennings.
Returning to Australia
When returning to Australia in 2013, Tupou started training with Jeff Fenech.[4] Since that return he had a three win streak with wins over Hunter Sam, Nick Guivas and Junior Maletino Iakopo. After the three wins Tupou received his first major world ranking, ranked 13th in WBO and winning the WBO African title. Five months after winning the title, Tupou suffered his fourth loss to Joseph Parker.[5]
In 2016, Tupou fought a rematch against Hunter Sam after both boxers took the fight on a week's notice. Tupou won the fight by TKO. Tupou had his last regional title shot against the tallest boxer in the world, New Zealand American Julius Long.[6] Long won the Interim WBA title by Split Decision, his biggest win of his career.
Professional boxing titles
- Australian New South Wales State
- Australia – New South Wales State heavyweight title (262½Ibs)
- World Boxing Organisation
- WBO Africa heavyweight title (284½Ibs)
Professional boxing record
| 36 fights | 29 wins | 7 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 20 | 5 |
| By decision | 9 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Loss | 29–7 | Joseph Goodall | TKO | 4 (10), 2:53 | 26 Apr 2025 | Nissan Arena, Nathan, Australia | For WBA Oceania heavyweight title |
| 35 | Win | 29–6 | Arsene Fosso | SD | 6 | 19 Oct 2024 | Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden Valley, Australia | |
| 34 | Win | 28–6 | Randall Rayment | KO | 3 (10), 0:28 | 26 Apr 2019 | Entertainment Center, Hurstville, Australia | Won vacant JNI heavyweight title |
| 33 | Win | 27–6 | Roger Izonritei | KO | 1 (6) 1:58 | 2 Feb 2019 | St Marys Band Club, St Marys, Australia | |
| 32 | Loss | 26–6 | Randall Rayment | SD | 6 | 23 Nov 2018 | Entertainment Centre, Hurstville, Australia | |
| 31 | Loss | 26–5 | Julius Long | SD | 10 | 7 Oct 2016 | Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Broadbeach, Australia | For WBA interim Oceania heavyweight title |
| 30 | Win | 26–4 | Hunter Sam | TKO | 5 (6), 0:54 | 27 Feb 2016 | Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin, Australia | |
| 29 | Loss | 25–4 | Joseph Parker | KO | 1 (12), 1:03 | 1 Aug 2015 | Stadium Southland, Invercargill, New Zealand | Lost WBO Africa heavyweight title; For WBA–PABA, WBO Oriental and vacant WBC–OPBF heavyweight titles |
| 28 | Win | 25–3 | Hunter Sam | SD | 10 | 27 Mar 2015 | Club Punchbowl, Punchbowl, Australia | Won vacant WBO Africa heavyweight title |
| 27 | Win | 24–3 | Nick Guivas | TKO | 6 (8), 0:53 | 19 Mar 2014 | Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Broadbeach, Australia | |
| 26 | Win | 23–3 | Junior Maletino Iakopo | UD | 6 | 20 Dec 2013 | Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Broadbeach, Australia | |
| 25 | Lose | 22–3 | Bryant Jennings | TKO | 5 (12), 1:37 | 8 Dec 2012 | McGonigle Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | For IBF–USBA heavyweight title |
| 24 | Loss | 22–2 | Malik Scott | TKO | 8 (8), 0:52 | 8 Sep 2012 | Oracle Arena, Oakland, California, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Donnell Holmes | UD | 10 | 17 Dec 2011 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Manuel Quezada | KO | 7 (10), 0:53 | 14 May 2011 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Andrew Greeley | UD | 4 | 8 Apr 2011 | Event Center, Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Alexis Mejias | RTD | 2 (6), 3:00 | 21 May 2010 | Capitale, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 19 | Loss | 18–1 | Demetrice King | KO | 2 (8), 0:52 | 1 Aug 2009 | Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, California, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Chris Koval | TKO | 3 (8), 0:15 | 9 May 2009 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Marcus Rhode | TKO | 1 (10), 1:21 | 28 Mar 2009 | Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Cisse Salif | UD | 6 | 10 Jan 2009 | Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Otis Tisdale | TKO | 2 (10), 1:56 | 7 Jun 2008 | Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Ramon Hayes | UD | 6 | 12 Apr 2008 | St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | John Clark | RTD | 4 (6), 3:00 | 22 Feb 2008 | Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Jason Bergman | KO | 2 (6), 1:14 | 30 Nov 2007 | Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Harvey Jolly | KO | 2 (6), 2:37 | 5 Oct 2007 | Omega Products International, Corona, California, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | John Clark | TKO | 4 (6), 0:28 | 7 Sep 2007 | Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Richard Tutaki | KO | 3 (6), 1:30 | 10 Nov 2006 | Wyong RSL Club, Wyong, Australia | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Alex Mene | TKO | 2 (6), 2:59 | 21 Oct 2006 | Roundhouse, Uni of NSW, Kensington, Australia | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Brian Fitzgerald | UD | 6 | 8 Sep 2006 | Wyong RSL Club, Wyong, Australia | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Ramba Sithsianboh | TKO | 1 (6), 1:09 | 4 Aug 2006 | Croatian Club, Sydney, Australia | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Terry Tuteru | TKO | 1 (4), 1:56 | 14 Jul 2006 | Greek Community Club, Sydney, Australia | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Vai Toevai | KO | 1 (6) 2:35 | 9 Jun 2006 | Southport RSL Club, Southport, Australia | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | John Justice | KO | 1 (8), 0:54 | 12 May 2006 | Croatian Club, Sydney, Australia | Won vacant New South Wales State heavyweight title |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Corey Wainwright | KO | 1 (6), 0:53 | 24 Mar 2006 | Croatian Club, Sydney, Australia | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Brian Fitzgerald | MD | 6 | 18 Feb 2006 | Windsor Rugby League Club, South Windsor, Australia |
References
- ^ "Boxing record for Bowie Tupou". BoxRec.
- ^ a b c "Bowie Tupou's journey from rugby player to taking on NZ heavyweight Joseph Parker". Stuff. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ^ "Joseph Parker knocks out Bowie Tupou in Invercargill". TVNZ. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Parker vs Tupou an NZ first". RNZ. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ^ "Bowie Tupou didn't dive in round one, says Joseph Parker". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ^ "Julius Long set to fight Bowie Tupou in heavyweight blockbuster on the Gold Coast". Gold Coast Bulletin. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2022.