David Letele

David Letele (born September 9, 1979 in Auckland, New Zealand), also known as the Brown Buttabean, is a professional boxer from New Zealand.^[1]

Weight loss motivation

Letele has lost over 90 kg by April 2016. His weight loss inspired him to help others out by supporting and educating everyday people on their health and wellness journey.^[2][3] At first it was only a Facebook group that Letele created which has reached over 5600 and growing everyday.^[4] Most people lose a minimum of 5 kg each and many have lost up to 50 kg which is over 25,000+ kg's combined.^[2][5] Buttabean motivation helps people lose weight by doing weekly boot camps, dieting programs, support groups, fitness plans, community work and occasional school visits.^[6]

In June 2015, Letele announced that he had launched a new website to help motivate people on their weight-loss journey.^[7]

Rugby League

Letele played League at an early age, establishing himself very quickly. At the age of 16, Letele was already training with Maori representative New Zealand team, however Letele wasn't able to see the field due to shattering his knee in training.^[8]

Letele was signed onto the New Zealand A team, attracting the National Rugby League (NRL) team the New Zealand Warriors, however due to knee problems he was sidelined again.^[9]

Letele signed on to play for the minor premiership team, North Sydney Bears. While being with the bears, the team has won three titles. Letele has also played for Cootamundra Bulldogs and AS Carcassonne in France before retiring.^[10][11]

Boxing

Letele was an accomplished corporate boxer fighting multiple times on Duco Event's card before turning pro. He has his nobility as a professional boxer, public figure and has made unique, prolific or innovative contributions to a field of entertainment as he puts on a character when he is in the ring with a mic, in the media or at the weigh in as the Brown Buttabean. His alias the "Brown Buttabean" is inspired by Eric Esch's Butterbean. Letele has gotten mixed reactions from the media and the general public, calling him Ducos Circus act.^[13]

Duco Event's created their own title, which is the exact replica from the Rocky (film series).^[14] With this title Letele puts out an open challenge to the locals to fight him at 4x2 minute rounds at a weight limit of 100 kg. The added stipulation is that if Leteles opponent knocks him out, they will receive ten thousand dollars.

In July 2015, WBA Oceania ranked Letele in their regional ratings.^[15]

In 2016, Letele moved to a new gym and trainer, trained by John Conway.

John Lomu

Letele won the title against John Lomu (who is the brother of Jonah Lomu) on 16 October 2014.^[16] Letele won by TKO in the second round.

Loni Uhila I

Letele defended his title for the second time against Waikato Rugby Union Prop Loni Uhila on 6 December 2014.^[17] Letele won by SD event though a lot of people thought Uhila won. The NZPBA recognize Leteles fights from here onwards as professional fights and not corporate fights, even though the rules stayed at corporate rules.

AyJay Su'a

In March 2015, fought on the Cairo George vs Nort Beauchamp undercard against Tamati Keefe. The bout was for the inaugural King of the Coromandel Heavyweight boxing title. Letele won the bout by Unanimous decision.^[18]

Finau Maka

On 4 March 2015, the day before his fight against Finau Maka at the weigh in, both fighters got into a fight. Letele grabbed Maka on the throat pushing him back, Maka retaliated by tackling him to the ground, however the fight was broken off quickly.^[19]

Letele defended the title for the third time against former Tonga national rugby union team star Finau Maka on 5 March 2015. Letele won by TKO in the first round.^[20]

Two in one night

Letele defended his title for the forth and fifth time by fighting two people on the same night. This was the only time NZPBA did not recognize Letele's fights as pro bouts since fighting Loni Uhila. The NZPBA did not recognizes the two bouts as pro due to both bouts didn't make minimum scheduled time limit of either 4x2 minute rounds or 3x3 minute rounds. Both of the bouts were scheduled for 3x2 minute rounds. Letele fought the winner of the Christchurch Corporate Boxing Tournament Jae Jae Smith and local Lordly Kaihua. Letele won both bouts in the third round by TKO.^[21]

Kaleni Taetuli I

Letele defended his title for the sixth and final time on 1 August 2015 against former Southland Rugby Football Union player Kaleni Taetuli. Letele lost the bout in 22 second in the first round by TKO.^[22]

Kaleni Taetuli II

On 14 October 2015 the day before his second fight against Kaleni Taetuli at the weigh in, Letele lashed out and try to attack Taetuli while screaming out "You won the lottery last time". Leteles team grabbed him before he could get his hands onto Taetuli.^[23]

Kaleni Taetuli defended the title against Letele on 15 October. If Taetuli won by knockout, he would have received fifteen thousand dollars instead of the usual ten thousand dollar stipulation.^[24] It has been reported that win, lose or draw this will be Taetuli's last fight.^[25] Letele won the fight by majority decision.^[26]

Loni Uhila II

Letele defended his regained title against Loni Uhila in a rematch, one year after their first bout. Uhila won against Letele by UD, making this the second loss in Letele's boxing career.^[27] Since their last fight Uhila has signed on to Hurricanes (rugby union).

Batman

In January 2016, Letele fought Silivelio Pekepo aka Batman in Samoa.^[28] This was the first time that Letele has fought in Samoa. Pekepo called Letele out back in 2015 when Letele fought two boxers in one night, however Letele fought someone else. Letele declared the bout to be for the Duco Event's USA Heavyweight title and the Duco Event's Intercontinental Heavyweight title.^[29] Letele won the bout against Pekepo by Unanimous decision.^[30]

Wayne Pepe

In April 2016, Letele fought in Australia for the second time. This time he fought for what was called the vacant Duco Event's Corporate World Australia Title. Letele fought Australian Kickboxer Wayne Pepe. Letele easily won by TKO in the first round.^[31]

Conrad Lam

In May 2016, Letele fought in more of a traditional bout then he is usually use to. Letele fought Conrad Lam at 4x3 min rounds with no standing 8 counts.^[32] Conrad Lam won the bout by split decision.^[33]

JaeJae Smith II

Letele will be fighting against JaeJae Smith for the second time. The last the two fought was in Palmerston North back in June, 2015, where Letele fought two people in one night.^[34] Letele won both fights by TKO.^[35]

Corporate boxing record

5 Wins (3 knockouts, 2 decisions), 0 Losses, 0 Draws
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes
Win	5–0	George Hola	UD	4	2016-07-01	ASB Stadium, Auckland
Win	4–0	Lordly Kaihua	TKO	3 (3)	2015-06-13	Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North, Manawatu	Retained Duco Event's Corporate World Heavyweight title.
Win	3–0	JaeJae Smith	TKO	3 (3)	2015-06-13	Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North, Manawatu	Retained Duco Event's Corporate World Heavyweight title.
Win	2–0	John Lomu	TKO	2 (4)	2014-10-16	Trusts Stadium, Henderson, Auckland	Won vacant Duco Event's Corporate World Heavyweight title.
Win	1–0	Lopini Vatuvei[36]	UD	4	2014-07-05	Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau, Auckland

Professional boxing record

14 Wins (6 knockouts, 8 decisions), 3 Losses, 0 Draws[12]
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes
Win	14-3	Che Barlow	UD	4	2016-10-29	War Memorial Hall, Waitara, New Zealand
Win	13-3	Clarence Tillman	UD	4	2016-10-01	Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau City
Win	12–3	JaeJae Smith	TKO	4, (4)	2016-07-21	Horncastle Arena, Christchurch
Lose	11–3	Conrad Lam	UD	4	2016-05-21	Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau City
Win	11–2	Wayne Pepe	TKO	1, (4) 1:45	2016-04-27	Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Queensland	Won Duco Event's Corporate World Australian Heavyweight title.
Win	10–2	Silivelio Pekepo	UD	4	2016-01-23	Faleata Sports Complex, Apia, Tuamasaga	Won vacant Duco Event's Corporate USA Heavyweight title Won vacant Duco Event's Corporate Intercontinental Heavyweight title
Lose	9–2	Loni Uhila	UD	4	2015-12-05	Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, Waikato	Lose Duco Event's Corporate World Heavyweight title.
Win	9–1	Gavin Somers	TKO	2, (4) 1:38	2015-11-06	ABA Stadium, Mount Eden, Auckland
Win	8–1	Kaleni Taetuli	MD	4	2015-10-15	Trusts Stadium, Henderson, Auckland	Won Duco Event's Corporate World Heavyweight title.
Loss	7–1	Kaleni Taetuli	TKO	1, (4) 0:22	2015-08-01	Stadium Southland, Invercargill, Southland	Lost Duco Event's Corporate World Heavyweight title.
Win	7–0	James Levao	TKO	3, (4)	2015-05-02	Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty
Win	6–0	Rob Manual	UD	4	2015-04-17	ABA Stadium, Mount Eden, Auckland
Win	5–0	Tamati Keefe	UD	4	2015-03-21	War Memorial Civic Centre, Thames, Waikato	Won vacant King of the Coromandel Heavyweight Title
Win	4–0	Finau Maka	TKO	1, (4) 1:48	2015-03-05	Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau, Auckland	Retained Duco Event's Corporate World Heavyweight title.
Win	3–0	AyJay Su'a	SD	4	2014-12-13	ABA Stadium, Mount Eden, Auckland
Win	2–0	Loni Uhila	SD	4	2014-12-06	Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, Waikato	Retained Duco Event's Corporate World Heavyweight title.
Win	1–0	Rhys Sullivan	TKO	4, (4)	2014-10-31	Logan Metro Sports Centre, Crestmead, Queensland	Professional debut.

Titles in boxing

Minor World Titles:

• (2) Duco Event's Corporate World Heavyweight Champion (274 lbs)
• King of the Coromandel Heavyweight Champion (302 lbs)
• Duco Event's Corporate Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion (242½ lbs)
• Duco Event's Corporate USA Heavyweight Champion (242½ lbs)
• Duco Event's Corporate World Australia Heavyweight Champion (266 lbs)

Post boxing

In December 2015, Letele announced that he will be retiring from boxing at the end of 2016. Letele plans on opening his own, become a personal trainer and continue his Buttabean motivation group.^[37]

Personal life

From an early age he endured a uniquely tough upbringing. His father, Dave, joined the Mongrel Mob at just 13. Six years later, he became Auckland president. That troubled path led to six years in jail for armed robbery. Letele's uncle also spent half his life behind bars. Since their release they helped form a foundation - called Grace - to support families facing similar problems. But, at the time, Letele was forced to find his own way in the world. Not long ago Letele, who played professional rugby league in Australia and France, tipped the scales at a whopping 210 kg. His weight blew out after suffering difficult, lonely times in Australia. The problems stemmed from taking on two supermarkets, only for finance to bottom out.^[38] Close friend and former Selwyn College classmate, Duco promoter David Higgins, was concerned about Letele's health and offered him a lifeline on Parker's undercard. Having moved back to Auckland he's now doing everything possible to support his three sons.^[13][39]

References