Maselino Francis Masoe Fao (born June 6, 1966 in Apia, Western Samoa) is a retired Samoan boxer who represented American Samoa at three Olympics starting with the

1988 Summer Olympics The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...

. As a professional, Masoe made history becoming the first Samoan boxer to win a major world title, defeating

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born Evans Ashira on May 1, 2004 for the regular WBA world middleweight crown via second round Technical Knockout. He is the brother of rugby player Chris Masoe. Another brother,

Mika Mika is a given name, a nickname and a surname. Notable people and fictional characters with the name include: People known just as Mika * Mika (singer) (born 1983), Lebanese-born British singer-songwriter Michael Penniman, Jr. * Mika (footbal ...

, also represented American Samoa in boxing at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics.

Amateur highlights

Represented American Samoa as a Welterweight at the

1988 Summer Olympic Games The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...

at Seoul. His results were: *Round of 64: Defeated Pedro Fria (Dominican Republic) referee stopped contest in first round *Round of 32: Defeated Fidele Mohinga (Central African Republic) referee stopped contest in second round *Round of 16: Lost to Kenneth Gould (United States) by decision, 0-5 Competed as a Light Middleweight for American Samoa in the

1992 Summer Olympic Games The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...

at Barcelona. Results were: *Defeated

Hiroshi Nagashima (born March 15, 1966 in Kanagawa) is a retired boxer from Japan, who competed for his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Japan sent four boxers to the Barcelona Olympic Games. Nagashima competed in the Men's Light-Mi ...

(Japan) RSCI-3 (00:54) *Defeated Furas Hashim (Iraq) RSCH-1 (00:44) *Lost to

György Mizsei György Mizsei (born November 30, 1971, in Kiskunfélegyháza) is a former professional Hungarian people, Hungarian boxing, boxer, who won a Olympic medalists in boxing, bronze medal in the light middleweight division at the 1992 Summer Olympics. ...

(Hungary) on points, 3-17 Competed as a Light Middleweight for American Samoa in the

1996 Summer Olympic Games The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

at Atlanta. Results were: *Lost to Mohamed Marmouri (Tunisia) on points, 8-11

Pro career

Masoe moved to New Zealand where he began his pro career in 1997 and captured the Vacant WBA Middleweight Title by upsetting undefeated Evans Ashira in 2004. He lost the title to Felix Sturm in 2006.

Professional titles won

*Oceanic Boxing Association middleweight title (1998) 159 Ibs * IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title (1998) 158 Ibs * WBA - PABA middleweight title (2001) 160 Ibs * WBA regular World middleweight crown (2004) 159 Ibs * New Zealand National Boxing Federation super middleweight title (2008) 167 Ibs *

WBO The World Boxing Organization (WBO) is an organization which sanctions professional boxing bouts. It is recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) as one of the four major world championship groups, alongside the World Boxing ...

Asia Pacific super middleweight title (2008) 166 Ibs

Professional boxing record

Awards and recognitions

*2019 Gladrap Boxing Hall of fame

References

External links

* , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Masoe, Maselino New Zealand world boxing champions 1966 births Living people Sportspeople from Apia American Samoan male boxers New Zealand professional boxing champions Middleweight boxers Welterweight boxers Boxers at the 1988 Summer Olympics Boxers at the 1992 Summer Olympics Boxers at the 1996 Summer Olympics Olympic boxers of American Samoa Boxers trained by Kevin Barry World Boxing Association champions