Jimmy Thunder won the Gold Medal for boxing in the heavyweight division during the 1986 Commonwealth Games while representing New Zealand.
Jimmy Thunder is a cousin of professional wrestling and film superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and can pull off the exact same signature "look" when joking around.
Jimmy discovered boxing after he arrived home from school with his torn shirt from an after-school fight with a local maori boy who he later became friends with. Jimmy was impressed by the skilled boxing from the maori boy who later on introduced Jimmy to his long-time mentor and Boxing Coach the late Jerry Preston. Preston took on the raw Samoan talent into his boxing ring in Mangere Bridge
Known for his heavy punching power and for becoming the first Samoan heavyweight champion in history, Thunder turned pro in 1989 and fought many future champions in the heavyweight division in his career.
His mother Papaliitele Milagi Leaupepe is from the village of Fasitoouta, and his father Lupematasila Maalo Faasavalu Peau is from the village of Falelatai. Thunder was born third out of six siblings. He has only one sister, Shelley, and four other brothers, Arthur, Niu, Jhonnie & Christopher. They all grew up in Auckland New Zealand. Jimmy is also a direct descendant of the paramount royal chief of Samoa Malietoa NatuitasinaTaimalelagi from his grandmother's side. She was Malelega, daughter of Aionofaasisina, son of Pouvi Malietoa who was the son of Malietoa Natuitasina Taimalelagi. Thunder was also bestowed the chief title 'Ti'a' in Fasitoouta Samoa in 1996.
Jimmy's strengths can be safely assumed to be inherited from the Sa Malietoa clan gene pool as they are renowned in history for their victories in the Aana wars using brutal and savage strength.