The Career of Boxer Manny Santos
Manoel “Manny” Santos (11 October 1940–2 December 2013) was a Tongan-born New Zealand professional boxer who competed at lightweight and light-welterweight. The New Zealand Boxing Hall of Fame records his dates; BoxRec lists 44 bouts.
Titles and career
Santos won the New Zealand Boxing Association lightweight title and the British Empire (later Commonwealth) lightweight crown. Boxing writer Dave Cameron recalled seeing Santos defeat Jamaica’s Bunny Grant on points for the Empire title; Cameron also reported Santos was world-rated in the early 1970s and fought extensively in Australia. Cameron’s account of Santos’ career provides the fight recollection.
After an eye injury in the Grant bout, Santos was denied a medical clearance in New Zealand, according to Cameron. He later returned to Auckland for a 1974 win over Matt Ropis, then travelled to Jamaica, where he lost his Commonwealth title to Percy Hayles on points over 15 rounds. Cameron identifies that as Santos’ final fight. His professional record was 32 wins, 9 losses and 3 draws, including 14 wins by knockout, as recorded by BoxRec.
Santos died in Auckland in 2013. His career remains part of New Zealand’s boxing history.
Sources
- New Zealand Boxing Hall of Fame: Manny Santos
- BoxRec: Manny Santos professional record
- Dave Cameron, “We lose champion boxer Manny Santos”
Career Milestones
Santos’s professional career followed his amateur representation of Tonga and his later move into the New Zealand boxing scene. The Commonwealth title supplied an international professional achievement, while national titles reflected his place in the domestic circuit. Those honors belong to distinct championship histories. The dated bouts provide the most useful guide to when he challenged for, won or defended a particular belt, rather than treating every stage as one uninterrupted reign.
New Zealand’s National Library dates Santos’s professional debut to February 1965 and his Empire-title victory over Grant to March 15, 1967. Its catalog identifies the same Tongan-born boxer, distinguishing him from similarly named competitors in other countries and eras.
Sources
New Zealand Boxing Hall of Fame; BoxRec lists 44 bouts; Supporting source.
Article Tags
Manny Santos, Boxing, Sports History
