Manoel "Manny" Santos (11 October 1940 – 2 December 2013) was a Tongan-born New Zealand professional light/

light welterweight Light welterweight, also known as junior welterweight or super lightweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional boxing In professional boxing, light welterweight is contested between the lightweight and welterweight divisions, ...

boxer Boxer most commonly refers to: * Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing *Boxer (dog), a breed of dog Boxer or boxers may also refer to: Animal kingdom * Boxer crab * Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans * Boxer snipe ee ...

of the 1960s and 1970s.

Early life and family

Santos was born in Tonga on 11 October 1940. His father, also called Manoel Santos, had a Portuguese father and a Tongan mother, and served with the Māori Battalion during World War II. Santos Snr and his family emigrated from Tonga to Auckland, New Zealand, in 1957.

Boxing career

Santos won the New Zealand Boxing Association lightweight title, the Australasian Light welterweight title, and the British Commonwealth lightweight title. He was a challenger for the Australasian lightweight title against Hector Thompson. His professional fighting weight varied from , i.e. lightweight, to , i.e.

Professional boxing record

Death

Santos died in Auckland on 2 December 2013, and was buried at Manukau Memorial Gardens.

References

External links

Image - Manny Santos
1943 births 2013 deaths Lightweight boxers Light-welterweight boxers Tongan male boxers New Zealand professional boxing champions New Zealand male boxers Tongan emigrants to New Zealand Commonwealth Boxing Council champions New Zealand people of Portuguese descent Burials at Manukau Memorial Gardens {{NewZealand-boxing-bio-stub Tongan People of Portuguese descent