1970's ~ Top Heavyweight Upsets

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Upset Special #55 ~

Thursday ~ November 4, 1976

Circle Star Theatre ~ San Carlos, California

Promoter > Nipi Sekona
Attendance > { 802 }

Fonomanu 'Young Sekona' ~ 35-1-0 {20 KO's} ~ 198 lbs. ~ 5' 11 1/2" ~ Reach; 75" ~ {Age; 24 years, 9 months}
vs.
Mike Weaver ~ 14-4-0 {9 KO's} ~ 205 lbs. ~ 6' 1" ~ Reach; 78" ~ {Age; 25 years, 6 months}
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~ The Skinny ~

Fight Promoter - Nipi Sekona is promoting this bout, featuring his nephew {Fonomanu 'Young Sekona'} as the Main Event.

Nipi Skeona is a 'cement contractor' from Tonga, who runs his fight promoting business out of Hawaii.

'Young Sekona', a 6-Year Professional, has been competing since {Age; 18} in 1970. > He won the South Seas
Heavyweight Championship on November 16, 1973 when he defeated {W Dec 15} 'highly-touted' Mani Vaka.
He has defeated Mani Vaka '4-Times'.

'Young Sekona' {from Tonga} had started out his career in Tonga {1971}, then moved to Fiji {February 1974},
and then on to New Zealand in {February 1975} where he is currently based.

He has also had his last '3-Bouts' in Hawaii, to get more exposure. His biggest win was his last bout, when he scored
a {KO 1} over 'big-hitting' Larry Frazier on September 30, 1976.

'Young Sekona' was shipped to Los Angeles in the '1st-Week' of October 1976 to prepare for this bout.

The 'talk' here > Is that if 'Young Sekona' is impressive, he will next get a Television Bout on one of Don King's
fight cards in Las Vegas.

'Young Sekona' has a listed record of 21-1-0 {11 KO's}, but the Fight Poster shows it at > 35-1-0 {20 KO's}.

The Tongan Heavyweight is currently ranked at > #3 British-Commonwealth, and at #17 WBC.

Young Sekona >
"I was in the best shape of my career for my last bout {September 30th} when I 'Knocked Out' {KO 1} Larry Frazier
in Hawaii."

"I came here to Los Angeles, to train for 30-Days. I'm as sharp as a razor, and as quick as a 'Leopard'. I plan on
taking out Mike Weaver early. Look for a 2nd-Round Knockout. It won't go much longer than that."

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Mike Weaver has been brought in as an 'opponent'. Mike is a decided Underdog at {3-1}.

Mike's record is posted at 14-4-0 {10 KO.s}, but it is also listed at 9-6-0 {5 KO's}. Mike has been primarily Ken Norton's
sparring-partner while Ken was in Los Angeles and San Diego.

Mike's last bout was {July 14, 1976}, when he defeated { W Dec 10} Jody Ballard. But before that he last fought in
June 1975. Mike has only had '3-Bouts' in the past 2+ Years.

Mike signed for this bout on October 27th, so he has only had 1-Week to prepare for this 'tough bout'.

Mike Weaver >
"I only had 1-Week to get ready for this bout. It's typical for me to be a last-minute fighter. But, I had to take this
bout because I need the money."

"I know that he's tough, but he has a wide-open offense. He is dangerous early, but he leaves himself open. If I
can get by the first 3-or-4 Rounds, I'll be able to pick him apart later in the bout."