Solomon Haumono

Solomon Haumono

Personal information
Nickname	Sol, Solo
Born	(1975-10-13) 13 October 1975 Auckland, New Zealand
Height	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	111 kg (17 st 7 lb)
Playing information
Position	Prop, Second-row
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1994–96	Manly Sea Eagles	39	6	0	0	24
1997–98	Canterbury Bulldogs	25	7	0	0	28
1999	Balmain Tigers	8	1	0	0	4
2000	St. George Illawarra Dragons	2	0	0	0	0
2003–04	Manly Sea Eagles	37	1	0	0	4
2005–06	London Broncos	48	15	0	0	60
	Total	159	30	0	0	120
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2003	City	1	0	0	0	0
1997	New South Wales (SL)	3	0	0	0	0
1997	Australia (SL)	1	0	0	0	0
1995–06	Tonga	2	0	0	0	0
As of 6 December 2006

Solomon Haumono (born 13 October 1975 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand-born Australian professional boxer and former rugby league player of Tongan descent. He attended Newtown Boys High School, Newtown, New South Wales. He then went on to Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham and represented them in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges Australian Schoolboys team 1993.^[1]

Career

League career

In rugby league, his preferred position was second row. He played in the NRL for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Canterbury Bulldogs, Balmain Tigers, St George Illawarra Dragons, and in Super League for London Broncos/Harlequins RL. Soloman played at representative level for New South Wales and Australia, although these three state matches and one international match were in 1997, when Super League contracted players were ineligible for State of Origin selection. He also captained Tonga. Haumono was renowned as one of the hardest hitters in the game during his football career.

Haumono was also involved in a bizarre on-field incident, where after being left prone on the field after being on the receiving end of a heavy tackle, his mother ran onto the pitch to render assistance. He dated Gabrielle Richens for a period of time during his time with the Bulldogs. They have since separated.

Boxing career

Haumono first took time out of rugby after his spell with the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2000. He followed in the footsteps of his father (former Australian heavyweight champion Maile Haumono) to take up a career in professional boxing. He fought eight times between 2000 and 2002, winning all of his heavyweight contests inside the distance. Solomon briefly held the title of New South Wales heavyweight champion before rejecting an offer to join the stable of American promoter Don King and returning to rugby league.

Return to League

Following a second spell with Manly in 2003, Haumono joined London Broncos and played in the capital for two seasons. In December 2006, with a year remaining on his contract, Haumono quit rugby league to return to professional boxing.

Return to boxing

Haumono resumed his boxing career with a first-round knockout on 7 March 2007. He began training under well respected trainer Johnny Lewis who has assisted Haumono in reaching his 14–0 (all by K.O) record in the heavyweight ranks]. He fought Cliff Couser on 27 August 2008 and won the fight by unanimous decision. He fought Colin Wilson on 11 March 2009 with the fight going to a draw after ten rounds. Solomon won his next fight by disqualification on 16 May 2009 against Royce Sio (1w-0l-0d). Haumono was floored in the eleventh second of the first round by a right hook from Sio, but Sio then leaned down and hit Haumono again while Haumono's back was on the ground, leading to an instant disqualification. Haumono was back on his feet a few seconds later.

Haumono fought Justin Whitehead on 16 August 2009 and lost for the first time in his career by split decision. He defeated Michael Kirby by tenth-round TKO for the OPBF Heavyweight Title on 18 September 2009, and became the Australian Heavyweight Champion after a tenth-round TKO of Frankin Egobi in Melbourne on 7 September 2012.

On 31 December 2012 he fought k1 legend Kyotaro Fuijmoto under boxing rules defeating him in the fifth round via TKO.

On 28 April 2013 he lost by TKO to Kevin Johnson.

On 21 July 2016 he lost by TKO to Joseph Parker (New Zealand)

Personal life

Haumono is married to Margaret, who is a cousin of his friend and fellow rugby league player-turned boxer Anthony Mundine. Solomon and Margaret have five children.^[2]

References

External links

• Solomon Haumono's Official Website
• Professional boxing record for Solomon Haumono from BoxRec