David Tua's famous moment on Wheel of Fortune where he said "O for awesome".
David Tua's famous moment on Wheel of Fortune where he said "O for awesome".
Opinion
In anticipation of the Parker vs. Ruiz bout, NZ On Screen’s Nicky Harrop goes in search of some knockout screen gems.
Tonight Auckland will host its first WBO title fight, with Joseph Parker facing off against Mexico's Andy 'The Destroyer' Ruiz. While, to date, we've never had a world heavyweight champion, New Zealand has seen its fair share of memorable screen moments from the boxing community.
At the 1948 London Olympics, New Zealand was represented by just seven athletes - among them, the youngest member of the team, 20-year-old Wellington featherweight Bob Goslin. While Goslin (or any of his teammates) failed to win any medals, he would go on to become a professional boxer, his three pro bouts resulting in one win and two losses. This newsreel footage profiles him and the rest of the team as they prepare to depart for London via boat.
In February 1979, Aotearoa received a visit from the King of the Ring - the legendary Muhammad Ali. Capturing the trip, this Eyewitness feature sees the reigning heavyweight champ jogging, sparring with school kids and wooing crowds (while also attempting to woo reporter Karen Sims). Aged 37, Ali was in the twilight of his storied career, announcing his first retirement just a few months later. Full of his trademark quips, he advises Kiwi students to "Go to college and get some knowledge, stay there until you're through. If thinking made penicillin out of mouldy bread, it can sure make something out of you!"
Watch Eyewitness - Muhammad Ali in NZ here:
In 1985, a long-time local boxing enthusiast possibly took his love of the sport a step too far. Then New Zealand Party leader Bob Jones was enjoying a spot of fishing near Turangi when he was interrupted by a TVNZ film crew, seeking comment on the party's just-announced hiatus. Jones was not amused, infamously breaking reporter Rod Vaughan's nose and punching cameraman Peter Mayo. Claiming harassment and backed by public opinion, Jones filed a court writ claiming $250,000 in damages. Later, after being fined $1000, he asked the judge if paying $2000 would allow him to do it again.
See Eyewitness footage of the altercation here:
David Tua is one of New Zealand's most celebrated boxers, but we share his success with his native Samoa. In this clip from documentary Children of the Migration Tua and other well-known Pacific Island New Zealanders are interviewed about their immigration stories, with Tua reflecting on his early years in Auckland.
See an excerpt from Children of the Migration here:
It's not just his signature left hook that Tua is known for - a certain TV appearance has dogged him for decades. In 1992, Tua appeared in a celebrity episode of Wheel of Fortune. Clearly a fighter not a speller, he infamously requested the letter O, "for Awesome". The rest, as they say, is pop culture history.
See David Tua's "O for Awesome" moment near the end of Part One here:
The boxing world has also provided a backdrop for more than the odd local drama. In short film Blood and Bone, 19-year-old Haami starts hanging around with a local underground boxing promoter. When things turn a little ugly, his uncle Moko, an ex-street fighter, must make one last sacrifice and step up to fight in order to keep Haami safe.
