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Elise Leapai (born 16 October 1979) is a Samoan Australian former professional boxer. His career highlight was a fight against Wladimir Klitschko in 2014, for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, The Ring magazine and lineal heavyweight titles.
Alex Leapai | |
|---|---|
| Born | Elise Leapai 16 October 1979 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Other names | The Lionheart |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Heavyweight |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Reach | 190 cm (75 in) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 44 |
| Wins | 32 |
| Wins by KO | 26 |
| Losses | 8 |
| Draws | 4 |
Leapai's parents, Faataui and Leitu, moved their family from Laulii, Samoa when he was 7 to New Zealand, where they lived until he was 12. In New Zealand, Leapai attended Owairaka Primary School in Mt Albert and played rugby league for Marist Saints, as did his one-time sparring partner Sonny Bill Williams. Upon moving to Australia, Leapai's family settled in Logan, Queensland. In Logan, Leapai played junior rugby league for Logan Brothers alongside future Australian rugby league and rugby union international Lote Tuqiri. While playing for Brothers, Leapai was offered a scholarship with the National Rugby League side, the North Queensland Cowboys.[1][2]
Leapai has four brothers, Leati, Stefano and Faatni (known as Leroy), who spent four years with the London Broncos in the Super League.[1] His cousin is Australia and Queensland representative Josh Papalii.
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Alex Leapai defeated Denis Boytsov on 23 November 2013 in Germany. Boytsov was the WBO's mandatory challenger for Klitschko, but when Leapai defeated Boytsov, Leapai was named mandatory challenger even though the Boytsov-Leapai bout was not an official elimination bout.[3]
Dan Rafael for ESPN.com reported on 3 February 2014 that "Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will make his 16th title defense when he faces Alex Leapai, one of his mandatory challengers, on 26 April in at the König-Pilsener-Arena in Oberhausen, Germany, as K2 Promotions announced Monday. The Klitschko and Leapai camps had agreed to a deal several weeks ago, which allowed them to avoid a purse bid, but it has now been signed. Leapai (30-4-3, 24 KOs), 34, a native of Samoa living in Australia, came out of nowhere to be appointed as the mandatory challenger by the WBO after scoring a major upset."[4]
Leapai vs. Wladmir Klitschko
Despite the fact that Klitschko possessed an overwhelming advantage over his challenger, the Ukrainian was quoted as saying the bout was "the most important fight of my career" due to the political backdrop of the encounter from a Ukrainian point of view.[5] Early in 2014 Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and consequently, both nations were mobilising for the possibility of war in the short term.[6] Vladmir's brother Vitali Klitschko was preparing to run for the Ukrainian presidency in looming May elections and the 37-year-old title holder admitted boxing was second in his mind to the political upheaval in his homeland.[5] As the fight Klitschko claimed the spectacle would be ever important to "boost the morale" of his countrymen.[7]
Former world heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs interrupted a pre-fight press conference in Germany just days before the anticipated bout.[8] Briggs challenged Klitschko for a fight and accused Leapai of being an unworthy opponent for Klitschko.[8]
Leapai was knocked out by Klitschko in the fifth round of a fight scheduled for 12 rounds.[9] Leapai was knocked down barely more than a minute into the bout.[9] Klitschko retained his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO championship belts and used his height and reach advantage to control the fight with Leapai.[10] Leapai reportedly rattled his opponent once in the fight before Klitschko responded with a flurry of blows that eventually dropped the Australian to the canvas.[10]
Career after world title shot
In his next fight, Leapai fought Malik Scott. Leapai lost the fight via unanimous decision, losing 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 on the scorecards.[11]
On two weeks notice, Alex Leapai took a fight against former WBO champion Joseph Parker (boxer) after his deal with Eric Molina fell through during the signing stages.[12] Leapai went on to lose after a tenth-round stoppage. Despite protests from Leapai, the referee Ricky Gonzalez stopped the fight after Parker landed seven straight punches to the head of his opponent.[13]
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Leapai is married to his high school sweetheart, Theresa, and has six children. Four daughters (Cyanne, Maria, Menime and Ivona) and two sons (Alex and EJ).[2]
In 2005, Leapai spent six months in Queensland's Woodford Correctional Centre on a grievous bodily harm charge after attacking two bouncers.[2]
An avid rugby league fan, Leapai supports the Brisbane Broncos.[14] Leapai's inspiration is fellow Samoan heavyweight boxer David Tua.[15]
| 43 fights | 31 wins | 8 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 25 | 4 |
| By decision | 6 | 4 |
| Draws | 4 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | Loss | 31–8–4 | Joseph Parker | TKO | 10 (12), 2:18 | 29 Jun 2019 | Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, Rhode Island, US | |
| 42 | Draw | 31–7–4 | Roger Izonritei | TD | 3 (8), 2:26 | 13 Dec 2017 | Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 41 | Win | 31–7–3 | Thomas Peato | TKO | 3 (8), 2:26 | 14 Oct 2017 | Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 40 | Loss | 30–7–3 | Manuel Charr | UD | 10 | 22 May 2015 | Olympic Indoor Arena, Moscow, Russia | |
| 39 | Loss | 30–6–3 | Malik Scott | UD | 10 | 31 Oct 2014 | Logan Metro Sports Centre, Logan City, Australia | |
| 38 | Loss | 30–5–3 | Wladimir Klitschko | TKO | 5 (12), 2:05 | 26 Apr 2014 | König Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Germany | For WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 37 | Win | 30–4–3 | Denis Boytsov | UD | 10 | 23 Nov 2013 | Stechert Arena, Bamberg, Germany | Retained WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title |
| 36 | Win | 29–4–3 | Felipe Romero | TKO | 9 (12), 1:15 | 9 Aug 2013 | Hengyang, China | Retained WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title |
| 35 | Win | 28–4–3 | Joe Lloyd | KO | 1 (8), 1:18 | 9 May 2013 | Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 34 | Win | 27–4–3 | Matt Hicks | TKO | 1 (8), 2:42 | 8 Feb 2013 | Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 33 | Win | 26–4–3 | Akmal Aslanov | TKO | 5 (12), 1:27 | 21 Dec 2012 | Zhuzhou Stadium, Zhuzhou, China | Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles |
| 32 | Loss | 25–4–3 | Kevin Johnson | TKO | 9 (12), 2:22 | 1 Apr 2012 | Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane, Australia | Lost IBF Australasian heavyweight title |
| 31 | Win | 25-3-3 | Troy Weida | TKO | 1 (10), 1:56 | 8 Dec 2011 | The Arena, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 30 | Win | 24–3–3 | Evgeny Orlov | KO | 4 (8), 1:37 | 21 Oct 2011 | Broncos Leagues Club, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 29 | Win | 23–3–3 | Okello Peter | KO | 3 (12) | 17 Apr 2011 | Jakarta International Expo, Jakarta, Indonesia | Won vacant IBF Australasian heavyweight title |
| 28 | Win | 22–3–3 | Jason Barnett | KO | 1 (8), 2:47 | 29 Jan 2011 | Gold Coast Convention Centre, Gold Coast, Australia | |
| 27 | Win | 21–3–3 | Darnell Wilson | UD | 8 | 4 Dec 2010 | Gold Coast Convention Centre, Gold Coast, Australia | |
| 26 | Win | 20–3–3 | Owen Beck | TKO | 6 (10), 2:50 | 12 Aug 2010 | Southport RSL Club, Gold Coast, Australia | |
| 25 | Win | 19–3–3 | Travis Walker | TKO | 4 (10), 2:52 | 30 Jun 2010 | Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 24 | Win | 18–3–3 | Bob Mirovic | KO | 1 (10), 2:57 | 29 Apr 2010 | Gold Coast Convention Centre, Gold Coast, Australia | |
| 23 | Win | 17–3–3 | Hiriwa Te Rangi | TKO | 1 (6), 1:11 | 4 Sep 2009 | Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club, Tweed Heads, Australia | |
| 22 | Draw | 16–3–3 | Kotatsu Takehara | MD | 6 | 31 Jul 2009 | Hilton Hotel, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 21 | Win | 16–3–2 | Colin Wilson | KO | 8 (12), 2:11 | 19 Jun 2009 | Southport RSL Club, Gold Coast, Australia | Won vacant WBO Oriental interim heavyweight title |
| 20 | Win | 15–3–2 | Oscar Talemaira | KO | 1 (4), 0:56 | 27 May 2009 | Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 19 | Win | 14–3–2 | Oscar Talemaira | KO | 2 (6), 2:49 | 20 Feb 2009 | Southport RSL Club, Gold Coast, Australia | |
| 18 | Win | 13–3–2 | Pieter Cronje | UD | 10 | 14 Nov 2008 | Gold Coast Convention Centre, Gold Coast, Australia | Won vacant WBF Australasian heavyweight title |
| 17 | Win | 12–3–2 | Alipate Liava | KO | 5 (6) | 27 Sep 2008 | Town Hall, Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 16 | Win | 11–3–2 | Moyoyo Mensah | UD | 8 | 5 Sep 2008 | Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 15 | Win | 10–3–2 | Mohamed Azzaoui | KO | 2 (8), 1:11 | 1 Aug 2008 | Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 14 | Loss | 9–3–2 | Colin Wilson | SD | 12 | 27 Jun 2008 | Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane, Australia | Lost OPBF heavyweight title |
| 13 | Win | 9–2–2 | Michael Kirby | UD | 12 | 14 Mar 2008 | Kedron Wavell Services Club, Brisbane, Australia | Retained OPBF heavyweight title |
| 12 | Win | 8–2–2 | Nathan Briggs | KO | 8 (12), 2:09 | 30 Nov 2007 | Kedron Wavell Services Club, Brisbane, Australia | Won vacant OPBF heavyweight title |
| 11 | Win | 7–2–2 | Ofa Pi Bouvalu Uluakiahoeia | RTD | 2 (4), 3:00 | 7 Sep 2007 | Broncos Leagues Club, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 10 | Win | 6–2–2 | Jason Reti | TKO | 2 (6), 2:13 | 29 Jun 2007 | Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 9 | Win | 5–2–2 | Oscar Talemaira | KO | 5 (6), 1:46 | 23 Feb 2007 | Southport RSL Club, Gold Coast, Australia | |
| 8 | Win | 4–2–2 | John Szigeti | TKO | 1 (6), 1:46 | 17 Nov 2006 | Magic Millions Complex, Gold Coast, Australia | |
| 7 | Win | 3–2–2 | Hiriwa Te Rangi | TKO | 4 (4), 2:46 | 10 Nov 2006 | Logan Diggers Club, Logan City, Australia | |
| 6 | Loss | 2–2–2 | Baden Oui | TKO | 4 (4), 0:51 | 19 Aug 2005 | Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 5 | Win | 2–1–2 | Vai Toevai | UD | 4 | 5 Aug 2005 | Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 4 | Draw | 1–1–2 | Nermin Sabanovic | PTS | 6 | 20 May 2005 | Broncos Leagues Club, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 3 | Loss | 1–1–1 | Yan Kulkov | UD | 8 | 3 Dec 2004 | Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Danny Morgan | TKO | 8 (8), 2:42 | 17 Sep 2004 | Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Mark de Mori | MD | 6 | 30 Jul 2004 | Broncos Leagues Club, Brisbane, Australia |
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- WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title
- WBO Oriental heavyweight title
- IBF Australasian heavyweight title
- OPBF heavyweight title
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