Samoan-born New Zealand boxer Jimmy "The Thunder" Peau has died.
After recent brain surgery on a tumour, Peau died peacefully in his sleep in Auckland Hospital this morning, aged 54.
Thunder grew up in Auckland and attended Onehunga High School.
He passed away in Auckland after surgery on a brain tumour.
In 1986, he won Commonwealth Games gold for New Zealand in Edinburgh.
After turning professional, Peau won the Australian heavyweight title twice and also won the IBO and WBF heavyweight titles.
In an interview with the Holmes show, Peau spoke about his nickname and the cutthroat nature of boxing.
His professional record of 49 fights includes 35 wins - 28 by knockout, and 14 losses.
There had been an outpouring of grief from the boxing community who remembered Peau fondly, commentator Mike Angove said.
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