Alex Leapai


Elise "Alex" Leapai is a Samoan Australian professional boxer. His career highlight was a fight against Wladimir Klitschko in 2014, for the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO, The Ring magazine and lineal heavyweight titles.

Professional career

Alex Leapai defeated Denis Boytsov on 23 November 2013 in Germany. Boytsov was the WBO's mandatory challenger for Klitschko, but when Leapai defeated Boytsov, Leapai was named mandatory challenger even though the Boytsov-Leapai bout was not an official elimination bout.
Dan Rafael for ESPN.com reported on 3 February 2014 that "Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will make his 16th title defense when he faces Alex Leapai, one of his mandatory challengers, on April 26 in at the König-Pilsener-Arena in Oberhausen, Germany, as K2 Promotions announced Monday. The Klitschko and Leapai camps had agreed to a deal several weeks ago, which allowed them to avoid a purse bid, but it has now been signed. Leapai, 34, a native of Samoa living in Australia, came out of nowhere to be appointed as the mandatory challenger by the WBO after scoring a major upset."

Leapai vs. Wladmir Klitschko

Despite the fact that Klitschko possessed an overwhelming advantage over his challenger, the Ukrainian was quoted as saying the bout was “the most important fight of my career” due to the political backdrop of the encounter from a Ukrainian point of view. Early in 2014 Russia took the Crimea from the Ukraine and consequently, both nations were mobilising for the possibility of war in the short term. Vladmir’s brother Vitali Klitschko was preparing to run for the Ukrainian presidency in looming May elections and the 37-year-old title holder admitted boxing was second in his mind to the political upheaval in his homeland. As the fight Klitschko claimed the spectacle would be ever important to “boost the morale” of his countrymen.
Former world heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs interrupted a pre-fight press conference in Germany just days before the anticipated bout. Briggs challenged Klitschko for a fight and accused Leapai of being an unworthy opponent for Klitschko.
Leapai was knocked out by Klitschko in the fifth round of a fight scheduled for 12 rounds. Leapai was knocked down barely more than a minute into the bout. Klitschko retained his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO championship belts and used his height and reach advantage to control the fight with Leapai. Leapai reportedly rattled his opponent once in the fight before Klitschko responded with a flurry of blows that eventually dropped the Australian to the canvas.

Personal life

Leapai's parents, Faataui and Leitu, moved their family from Laulii, Samoa when he was 7 to New Zealand, where they lived until he was 12. In New Zealand, Leapai attended Owairaka Primary School in Mt Albert and played rugby league for Marist Saints, as did his one-time sparring partner Sonny Bill Williams. Upon moving to Australia, Leapai's family settled in Logan, Queensland. In Logan, Leapai played junior rugby league for Logan Brothers alongside future Australian rugby league and rugby union international Lote Tuqiri. While playing for Brothers, Leapai was offered a scholarship with the National Rugby League side, the North Queensland Cowboys.
Leapai has four brothers, Leati, Stefano and Faatni, who spent four years with the London Broncos in the Super League. His cousin is Australia and Queensland representative Josh Papalii. Leapai is married to his high school sweetheart, Theresa, and has six children. Four daughters and two sons.
In 2005, Leapai spent six months in Queensland's Woodford Correctional Centre on a grievous bodily harm charge after attacking two bouncers.
An avid rugby league fan, Leapai supports the Brisbane Broncos. Leapai's inspiration is fellow Samoan heavyweight boxer David Tua.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
44Loss31–8–4 Joseph ParkerTKO10, 2:1829 Jun 2019 Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, Rhode Island, US
42Draw31–7–4 Roger IzonriteiTD3, 2:2613 Dec 2017Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia.png" />
41Win31–7–3 Thomas PeatoTKO3, 2:2614 Oct 2017
40Loss30–7–3 Manuel CharrUD1022 May 2015Olympic Indoor Arena, Moscow, Russia.png" />
39Loss30–6–3 Malik ScottUD1031 Oct 2014Logan City, Australia.png" />
38Loss30–5–3 Wladimir KlitschkoTKO5, 2:0526 Apr 2014König Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Germany.png" />For WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles
37Win30–4–3 Denis BoytsovUD1023 Nov 2013Stechert Arena, Bamberg, Germany.png" />Retained WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title
36Win29–4–3 Felipe RomeroTKO9, 1:159 Aug 2013Hengyang, China.png" />Retained WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title
35Win28–4–3 Joe LloydKO1, 1:189 May 2013Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia.png" />
34Win27–4–3 Matt HicksTKO1, 2:428 Feb 2013Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia.png" />
33Win26–4–3 Akmal AslanovTKO5, 1:2721 Dec 2012Zhuzhou Stadium, Zhuzhou, China.png" />Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles
32Loss25–4–3 Kevin JohnsonTKO9, 2:221 Apr 2012Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane, Australia.png" />Lost IBF Australasian heavyweight title
31Win25-3-3 Troy WeidaTKO1, 1:568 Dec 2011The Arena, Brisbane, Australia.png" />
30Win24–3–3 Evgeny OrlovKO4, 1:3721 Oct 2011Broncos Leagues Club, Brisbane, Australia.png" />
29Win23–3–3 Okello PeterKO3 17 Apr 2011Jakarta International Expo, Jakarta, Indonesia.png" />Won vacant IBF Australasian heavyweight title
28Win22–3–3 Jason BarnettKO1, 2:4729 Jan 2011Gold Coast Convention Centre, Gold Coast, Australia.png" />
27Win21–3–3 Darnell WilsonUD84 Dec 2010
26Win20–3–3 Owen BeckTKO6, 2:5012 Aug 2010Southport RSL Club, Gold Coast, Australia.png" />
25Win19–3–3 Travis WalkerTKO4, 2:5230 Jun 2010
24Win18–3–3 Bob MirovicKO1, 2:5729 Apr 2010
23Win17–3–3 Hiriwa Te RangiTKO1, 1:114 Sep 2009Tweed Heads Golf Club, Tweed Heads, Australia.png" />
22Draw16–3–3 Kotatsu TakeharaMD631 Jul 2009
21Win16–3–2 Colin WilsonKO8, 2:1119 Jun 2009Won WBO interim heavyweight title
20Win15–3–2 Oscar TalemairaKO1, 0:5627 May 2009
19Win14–3–2 Oscar TalemairaKO2, 2:4920 Feb 2009
18Win13–3–2 Pieter CronjeUD1014 Nov 2008Won vacant WBF Australasian heavyweight title
17Win12–3–2 Alipate LiavaKO5 27 Sep 2008Town Hall, Christchurch, New Zealand.png" />
16Win11–3–2 Moyoyo MensahUD85 Sep 2008
15Win10–3–2 Mohamed AzzaouiKO2, 1:111 Aug 2008
14Loss9–3–2 Colin WilsonSD1227 Jun 2008Lost OPBF heavyweight title
13Win9–2–2 Michael KirbyUD1214 Mar 2008Retained OPBF heavyweight title
12Win8–2–2 Nathan BriggsKO8, 2:0930 Nov 2007Won vacant OPBF heavyweight title
11Win7–2–2 Ofa Pi Bouvalu UluakiahoeiaRTD2, 3:007 Sep 2007
10Win6–2–2 Jason RetiTKO2, 2:1329 Jun 2007
9Win5–2–2 Oscar TalemairaKO5, 1:4623 Feb 2007
8Win4–2–2 John SzigetiTKO1, 1:4617 Nov 2006Magic Millions Complex, Gold Coast, Australia.png" />
7Win3–2–2 Hiriwa Te RangiTKO4, 2:4610 Nov 2006
6Loss2–2–2 Baden OuiTKO4, 0:5119 Aug 2005
5Win2–1–2 Vai ToevaiUD45 Aug 2005
4Draw1–1–2 Nermin SabanovicPTS620 May 2005
3Loss1–1–1 Yan KulkovUD83 Dec 2004
2Win1–0–1 Danny MorganTKO8, 2:4217 Sep 2004
1Draw0–0–1 Mark de MoriMD630 Jul 2004

Minor titles won