Paea Wolfgramm

Paea Wolfgramm (born December 1, 1971 in Vava'u) is a former Tongan boxer. Nicknamed "Tongan Warrior", Wolfgramm won the Super Heavyweight silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Personal

Wolfgramm has 6 children - 4 boys and 2 girls, and 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

He resides in South Auckland New Zealand, where he is a hostel parent at a well-known New Zealand school, Wesley College.

Professional career

At 6'4" and 325 pounds, the huge Wolfgramm turned pro that same year but had limited success. He lost a decision to journeyman Marion Wilson in 1998. Although he was able to beat former Cuban Olympian Jorge Luis Gonzalez by decision to set up a fight with Wladimir Klitschko, he was crushed in the first round in a rematch of their 1996 Super Heavyweight Olympic finals bout. The loss to Klitschko would end any hopes of future success for Wolfgramm. He later lost a decision to Eliecer Castillo, but beat Jimmy Thunder to set up a fight with Corey Sanders in late 2001. Sanders won via 9th round TKO, and Wolfgramm announced his retirement shortly after this fight. In 2003 Wolfgramm fought in an exhibition match where he lost to Niu Paea

Amateur Highlights

*1994 3rd place at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada.
*1995 won the Oceanian Championships in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
*1996 Representing Tonga, Wolfgramm won the Super Heavyweight Silver Medal at the Atlanta Olympics. Results were:
**Defeated Serguei Lyakhovich (Belarus) PTS (10-9)
**Defeated Alexis Rubalcaba (Cuba) PTS (17-12)
**Defeated Duncan Dokiwari (Nigeria) PTS (7-6)
**Lost to Vladimir Klitschko (Ukraine) PTS (3-7)

External links

*
* [http://101olympians.blogspot.com/2008/08/paea-wolfgramm-mild-mannered-silver.html Paea Wolfgramm: Mountain Man, Mountain Heart] from [http://101olympians.blogspot.com 101 Greatest Olympic Moments]