Bowie Tupou


Suliasi Tupou Ahio, better known as Bowie Tupou, is an Australian professional boxer.
Tupou has peaked at 13th in the WBO rankings after winning the WBO African title against Hunter Sam in March 2015. Tupou lost the title in August 2015 against Joseph Parker.

Early life

Tupou moved to Mt Druitt at age of 11, then to Newtown, New South Wales when he got married. Before becoming a boxer, Bowie played professional rugby league football in Australia for the Penrith Panthers in the under 21s. In 2001 Tupou was selected to tour New Zealand, which included a game against Southland under-21 in Queenstown. His NRL career never happened due to being sucked into the booze culture and he fell into that trap like many youngsters can. Tupou wife was the first person to suggest boxing as a sport, to help get him back on track and install some discipline in his life.

Professional boxing career

He began his boxing career training with Johnny Lewis, Australia’s most well-known boxing coach, having trained Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding, Virgil Hill and Kostya Tszyu. After only one amateur bout, he knocked out his opponent in the first round. Tupou made his pro debut on 18 February 2006 in South Windsor, New South Wales, Australia, against Brian Fitzgerald. Tupou won the evenly fought battle by a majority decision. Six months later on a rematch with Fitzgerald, Tupou picked up the lightly regarded New South Wales Heavyweight title. At the end of 2006 he settled in Los Angeles where he started training with Justin Fortune at the Pound4Pound Gym.
In 2007 he signed with Gary Shaw and made his U.S. debut on 7 September. In April 2008 he signed with a new coach Jeff Mayweather. He has beaten his first club fighters in Cisse Salif and Ray Hayes. In 2009 he was KOd by club fighter Demetrice King but a 2011 KO of Manuel Quezada and a points win over Donnell Holmes have restored some credibility. Bowie now resides in Las Vegas, NV. In 2012 he was KOd by Malik Scott and Bryant Jennings.

Returning to Australia

When returning to Australia in 2013, Tupou started training with Jeff French. Since that return he had a three win streak with wins over Hunter Sam, Nick Guivas and Junior Maletino Iakopo. After the three wins Tupou received his first major world rankings, ranked 13th in WBO and winning the WBO African title. Five months after winning the title, Tupou suffered forth lose to Joseph Parker.
In 2016, Tupou won his rematch against Hunter Sam after both boxers taking the fight on a weeks notice. Tupou won the fight by TKO. Tupou had its last regional title shot against the tallest boxer in the world, New Zealand American Julius Long. Long won the Interim WBA title by Split Decision, his biggest win of his career. Tupou has not fought since.

Professional boxing titles

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
33Win27–6 Roger IzonriteiKO1 2 Feb 2019 St Marys Band Club, St Marys, Australia
32Loss26–6 Randall RaymentSD623 Nov 2018 Entertainment Centre, Hurstville, Australia
31Loss26–5 Julius LongSD107 Oct 2016 Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Broadbeach, AustraliaFor WBA interim Oceania heavyweight title
30Win26–4 Hunter SamTKO5, 0:5427 Feb 2016 Darwin’s Convention Centre, Darwin, Australia
29Loss25–4 Joseph ParkerKO1, 1:031 Aug 2015 Stadium Southland, Invercargill, New ZealandLost WBO Africa heavyweight title;
For WBA–PABA, WBO Oriental and vacant WBC–OPBF heavyweight titles
28Win25–3 Hunter Sam1027 Mar 2015 Club Punchbowl, Punchbowl, AustraliaWon vacant WBO Africa heavyweight title
27Win24–3 Nick GuivasTKO6, 0:5319 Mar 2014 Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Broadbeach, Australia
26Win23–3 Junior Maletino IakopoUD620 Dec 2013 Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Broadbeach, Australia
25Lose22–3 Bryant JenningsTKO5, 1:378 Dec 2012 Temple University McGonigle Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USFor USBA heavyweight title
24Loss22–2 Malik ScottTKO8, 0:528 Sep 2012 Oracle Arena, Oakland, California, US
23Win22–1 Donnell HolmesUD1017 Dec 2011 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
22Win21–1 Manuel QuezadaKO7, 0:5314 May 2011 Home Depot Center, Carson, California, US
21Win20–1 Andrew GreeleyUD48 Apr 2011 Event Center, Laredo, Texas, US
20Win19–1 Alexis MejiasRTD2, 3:0021 May 2010 Capitale, New York City, New York, US
19Loss18–1 Demetrice KingKO2, 0:521 Aug 2009 Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, California, US
18Win18–0 Chris KovalTKO3, 0:159 May 2009 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
17Win17–0 Marcus RhodeTKO1, 1:2128 Mar 2009 Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma, US
16Win16–0 Cisse SalifUD610 Jan 2009 Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, US
15Win15–0 Otis TisdaleTKO2, 1:567 Jun 2018 Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, US
14Win14–0 Ramon HayesUD612 Apr 2008 St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, US
13Win13–0 John Clark4, 3:0022 Feb 2008 Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California, US
12Win12–0 Jason BergmanKO2, 1:1430 Nov 2007 Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California, US
11Win11–0 Harvey JollyKO2, 2:375 Oct 2007 Omega Products International, Corona, California, US
10Win10–0 John ClarkTKO4, 0:287 Sep 2007 Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California, US
9Win9–0 Richard TutakiKO3, 1:3010 Nov 2006 Wyong RSL Club, Wyong, Australia
8Win8–0 Alex MeneTKO2, 2:5921 Oct 2006 Roundhouse, Uni of NSW, Kensington, Australia
7Win7–0 Brian Fitzgerald68 Sep 2006 Wyong RSL Club, Wyong, Australia
6Win6–0 Ramba SithsianbohTKO1, 1:094 Aug 2006 Croatian Club, Sydney, Australia
5Win5–0 Terry Tuteru1, 1:5614 Jul 2006 Greek Community Club, Sydney, Australia
4Win4–0 Vai ToevaiKO1 2:359 Jun 2006 Southport RSL Club, Southport, Australia
3Win3–0 John JusticeKO1, 0:5412 May 2006 Croatian Club, Sydney, Australiavacant Australia – New South Wales State heavyweight title
2Win2–0 Corey Wainwright1, 0:5324 Mar 2006 Croatian Club, Sydney, Australia
1Win1–0 Brian Fitzgerald618 Feb 2006 Windsor Rugby League Club, South Windsor, Australia