Manny Santos (boxer)
Manny Santos, born Manoel Santos on 11 October 1940 in Tonga, was a boxing champion who later lived in New Zealand. He boxed as a lightweight and light welterweight in the 1960s and 1970s. He was 5 ft 8 in tall and fought in an orthodox stance. His professional record includes 44 fights: 32 wins (14 by knockout), 9 losses (1 by knockout), and 3 draws.
His father, also named Manoel Santos, had a Portuguese father and a Tongan mother, and served with the Māori Battalion in World War II. The family moved from Tonga to Auckland in 1957.
Manny Santos won the New Zealand Boxing Association lightweight title, the Australasian light welterweight title, and the British Commonwealth lightweight title. He also challenged for the Australasian lightweight title against Hector Thompson. His fighting weight ranged from about 60.4 to 62.7 kg.
He died in Auckland on 2 December 2013, aged 73, and was buried at Manukau Memorial Gardens.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 19:57 (CET).