Solomon Haumono


Solomon Haumono is a former professional boxer and former rugby league footballer of Tongan descent.

Early life

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.

Rugby league career

In rugby league, his preferred position was. He played in the NRL for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the Balmain Tigers, the St George Illawarra Dragons, and in the Super League for the London Broncos/Harlequins RL. Haumono played at representative level for New South [Wales Rugby League team|New South Wales] and Australian national [rugby league team|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 made his first grade debut for Manly-Warringah in round 11, 1994 against Balmain, coming off the bench in a 42–0 victory at Leichhardt Oval. In 1995, Haumono featured heavily in the Manly side which won the minor premiership having lost only 2 matches all year. Haumono played from the bench in Manly's shock grand final loss to Canterbury. In 1996, Haumono played 14 games but missed out on selection in Manly's premiership winning side which defeated St. George in the grand final.
In 1997, Haumono signed with Canterbury who aligned themselves with the rival Super League competition during the Super League war. During the NRL season">National Rugby League">NRL season, Haumono walked out on Canterbury midway through the year after devising a plan to get out of his contract with the club. Haumono's plan was to join his supposed girlfriend Gabrielle Richens in England. Haumono elaborated on the plan saying "I was under contract for the Bulldogs so it was decided to come up with a plan that would ultimately force the Bulldogs to rip up my contract, So the plan was formed that I was going to chase after my girlfriend at the time in England. So off I went and before I knew it, the paper got a hold of it and blew it up, making headline news and myself being chased by the media at home and even there in London".
The plan was devised by Haumono and close friend Anthony Mundine but fell over when Canterbury got wind of the plot and instead fined Haumono and put him in reserve grade.
In 1999, Haumono signed with Balmain. Haumono only made 8 appearances for Balmain due to an elbow injury. In 2000, Haumono joined St George but only featured in 2 games, the last of which was the club's humiliating 70–10 loss against Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Return to League

Following a second spell with Manly in 2003, Haumono joined the 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.

Boxing career

2000 to 2002

Haumono first took time out of rugby league after his spell with the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2000. He followed in the footsteps of his father 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. Haumono 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 boxing – post 2008

Haumono resumed his boxing career with a first-round knockout on 7 March 2007. He began training under trainer Johnny Lewis who has assisted Haumono in reaching his 14–0 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. 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 Franklin Egobi in Melbourne on 7 September 2012.
On 31 December 2012, he fought K-1 legend Kyotaro Fuijmoto under boxing rules, defeating him in the fifth round via technical knockout.
On 28 April 2013, he lost by technical to Kevin Johnson.
On 21 July 2016, he lost by technical to Joseph Parker.

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.
He dated English model Gabrielle Richens for a period of time during his time with Canterbury.
In 2015, Haumono revealed he had been suffering a drug addiction during his league career. He was addicted to ice, cocaine and ecstasy.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
30LossTomasz AdamekUD1024 Jun 2017Ergo Arena, Plac Dwóch Miast 1, 80-344 Gdańsk, Gdansk, Poland
29Loss24–3–2Joseph ParkerTKO4, 1:3521 Jul 2016Horncastle Arena, Christchurch, New ZealandFor WBO Oriental heavyweight title
28Win24–2–2Manuel Alberto PuchetaKO6, 2:2927 Apr 2016National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, Redfern, AustraliaPABA heavyweight title;
Won interim WBA Oceania heavyweight title
27Win23–2–2Hunter SamUD1030 Oct 2015National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, Redfern, AustraliaWon interim PABA heavyweight title
26Win22–2–2Filipo Fonoti MasoeKO4, 2:4624 Jul 2015Orange Function Centre, Orange, Australia
25Win21–2–2Marcelo NascimentoTKO3, 0:5317 Oct 2013The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Australia
24Loss20–2–2Kevin JohnsonKO10, 2:5328 Apr 2013Convention & Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia
23Win20–1–2Kyotaro FujimotoTKO5, 0:5731 Dec 2012Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, JapanWon vacant OPBF heavyweight title
22Win19–1–2Franklin EgobiTKO10, 2:057 Sep 2012The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, AustraliaWon vacant Australian heavyweight title
21Draw18–1–2Joey Wilson85 Jul 2012Sky City Convention Centre, Auckland, New ZealandRetained WBC–EPBC heavyweight title;
Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
20Win18–1–1Junior PatiKO2, 1:028 Dec 2011The Arena, Fortitude Valley, Australia
19Win17–1–1Michael KirbyTKO10, 0:2118 Sep 2009Pavilion, Melbourne, AustraliaWon OPBF heavyweight title
18Loss16–1–1Justin WhiteheadSD1016 Aug 2009Peninsula, Shed 14 Central Pier, Docklands, Melbourne, AustraliaFor vacant World Boxing Foundation International heavyweight title
17Win16–0–1Royce SioDQ1, 0:1516 May 2009Blacktown RSL Club, Blacktown, Australia
16Draw15–0–1Colin Wilson1011 Mar 2009The Cube, Campbelltown, Sydney, Australia
15Win15–0Cliff CouserUD827 Aug 2008E.G. Whitlam Recreation Center, Liverpool, Australia
14Win14–0Tommy ConnellyTKO3, 0:2727 Feb 2008Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
13Win13–0Seiaute Ma'ilataKO2, 0:4010 Dec 2007Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
12Win12–0Mosese KavikaKO1, 1:1521 Apr 2012Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
11Win11–0Oscar TalemairaTKO1, 1:3725 May 2007Ex-Services Club, Coffs Harbour, Australia
10Win10–0Alex MeneTKO3, 1:0727 Apr 2007Magic Millions Complex, Bundall, Gold Coast, Australia
9Win9–0Fatu TuimanonoKO1, 1:247 Mar 2007Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
8Win8–0Fatu TuimanonoTKO2,14 Jun 2002Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
7Win7–0Auckland AuimatagiTKO6,10 May 2002Central Coast Rugby League Club, Gosford, AustraliaWon Australia – New South Wales State heavyweight title
6Win6–0Shane WijohnKO5, 1:4019 Apr 2002La Montage Function Centre, Sydney, Australia
5Win5–0Mark AlexanderTKO3,4 Mar 2002Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Broadbeach, Australia
4Win4–0John WybornKO2, 2:3113 Jul 2001The Octagon, Sydney, Australia
3Win3–0Martin OpetaiaTKO7,2 Mar 2001Star City Casino, Sydney, Australia
2Win2–0Paul Srama1,4 Sep 2000Horden Pavilion, Moore Park, Australia
1Win1–0Ken Fuller2,3 Jul 2000Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia