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Fosi Schmidt
Born
Afioga Polataivao

1933
Safotu, Savai'i, Samoa
Died19 December 2005 (aged 71–72)
Other namesBrown Hawk, King Pola
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Boxing record
Wins52
Wins by KO52
Losses2
Draws0
No contests0

Polataivao Fosi Schmidt (1933–2005) was a Samoan politician and a member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa from 1964-1999. He was a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.

Before his career in politics, Schmidt was the heavyweight boxing champion of Samoa, and scored over 80 knockouts victories in both amateur and professional boxing.

Boxing career

[edit]

Fosi Schmidt (some sources list Fossi Schmidt) developed a keen interest in boxing from watching members of the United States military forces training in Australia during World War II. After compiling an undefeated amateur record of 30-0-0, 30 knockouts, Schmidt decided to become a professional boxer in 1952.

Schmidt ran up an impressive string of knockouts on the Samoan Islands and won the Samoan Heavyweight Boxing Championship. Schmidt said he trained on a diet of coconuts, coconut milk, and taro (similar to a potato) to give him his power.[1]

On February 10, 1954, in Leififi on the Samoan Islands, Schmidt was sparring with local police constable Vaipou Ainu'u; an amateur heavyweight boxer. The two were training in a ring at the local police station when Schmidt knocked Ainu'u down. Ainu'u's head struck the ring floor and efforts to revive him failed. The 35-year-old Ainu'u died on the way to the hospital. Schmidt was greatly disturbed by Ainu'u's death, but realized it was a terrible accident, and he continued on with his career.

After going 47-0-0, 47 knockouts on the Samoan Islands, Schmidt traveled to Australia to continue his boxing training and career.[2] After three consecutive knockouts in Australia, he became a headliner in the Australian newspapers.[3]

Schmidt was dubbed the "Samoan Sensation" and appeared on the cover of the October 1954 issue of Australian Ring Digest. In October 1954, world lightheavyweight champion Archie Moore was touring Australia and a bout with Schmidt was purposed, but never happened.[4]

The 1955 Ring Record Book credited Schmidt with scoring 50 consecutive knockouts, including knockouts over Tauso M'U KO 2 rounds, Fetuao KO 1 round, Lini KO 2 rounds, Loie KO 3 rounds, Viane KO 1 round, Enesi KO 2 rounds, Pili KO 2 rounds, Silipa KO 2 rounds, Filipo KO 2 rounds, Sefo KO 1 round and KO 2 rounds, Iefata KO 4 rounds.

Schmidt's undefeated knockout streak was ended when he lost to Fiji heavyweight Henry Bray by 5th round knockout (Source: 1955 Ring Record Book).

On 8 December 1954, Schmidt was knocked out in 3 rounds by Ross Jenkins. Schmidt continued to fight, but never again showed the promise of his earlier undefeated career.

Professional boxing record

[edit]
Professional Boxing Record
Result Record Opponent Method Date Round Time Event Location Notes
Win 52-2-0 AustraliaMerv Cobb KO 1955 Feb 17 8 Australia
Win 51-2-0 Australia Steven Zoranich KO 1955 Jan 24 3 Perth, Australia
Loss 50-1-0 AustraliaRoss Jenkins KO 1954 Dec 8 3 New South Wales
Loss 50-0-0 Henry Bray KO 1954 5
Win 50-0-0 Al McCoy KO 1954 Oct 07 1 New South Wales
Win 49-0-0 Harold Davis KO 1954 Sep 23 3 New South Wales
Win 48-0-0 Jack Dempsey TKO 1954 Sep 09 2 New South Wales
Win 47-0-0 Vaipou Ainu'a KO 1954 Feb 10 1 Samoan Islands Ainu'a died of his injuries.
Win 46-0-0 Lefata KO 1954 4 Samoan Islands
Win 45-0-0 Sefo KO 1954 2 Samoan Islands
Win 44-0-0 Sefo KO 1954 1 Samoan Islands
Win 43-0-0 Filipo KO 1954 2 Samoan Islands
Win 42-0-0 Silipa KO 1954 2 Samoan Islands
Win 41-0-0 Pili KO 1954 2 Samoan Islands
Win 40-0-0 Enes KO 1954 2 Samoan Islands
Win 39-0-0 Viane KO 1954 1 Samoan Islands
Win 38-0-0 Loie KO 1954 3 Samoan Islands
Win 37-0-0 Lini KO 1954 2 Samoan Islands
Win 36-0-0 L\Fetuao KO 1954 1 Samoan Islands
Win 35-0-0 Tauso M'U KO 1954 2 Samoan Islands
Win 34-0-0 Loi KO 1953 2 Samoan Islands
Win 33-0-0 Filipo KO 1953 2 Samoan Islands
Win 32-0-0 Isaako KO 1953 1 Samoan Islands
Win 31-0-0 Setu KO 1953 1 Samoan Islands
Win 30-0-0 Afano KO 1953 2 Samoan Islands
Win 29-0-0 Malia KO 1953 2 Samoan Islands
Win 28-0-0 Enes KO 1953 2 Samoan Islands
Win 27-0-0 Idelu KO 1953 1 Samoan Islands
Win 26-0-0 Loie KO 1953 3 Samoan Islands
Win 25-0-0 Filipo KO 1953 2 Samoan Islands
Win 24-0-0 Fetuao KO 1953 1 Samoan Islands
Win 23-0-0 Iona KO 1953 2 Samoan Islands
Win 22-0-0 Leki KO 1952 3 Samoan Islands
Win 21-0-0 Lakupo KO 1952 1 Samoan Islands
Win 20-0-0 Fata KO 1952 1 Samoan Islands
Win 19-0-0 Apelu KO 1952 2 Samoan Islands

Business and political career

[edit]

In the early 1960s, Schmidt opened a number of successful trading stations. He also owned and ran the Apollo 11 nightclub in Saleufi.

In 1964, Schmidt entered politics and was elected to parliament, winning his election by a count of 41 votes to 36, in the electoral district of Gagaifomauga Number 3. He became known to his fellow Samoans as "King Pola". Schmidt was re-elected without opposition in three subsequent elections.[5] Schmidt served in parliament from 1964-1999, but resigned due to bad health.

He was a Minister of Health, a Minister of Labour, and a Minister of Lands and Environment. Schmidt was a founding member of his country's Human Rights Protection Party.

Personal life

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His mother was from Safune and his father from Safotu village on the island of Savai'i. Schmidt is the father of Samoan politician Laauli Leuatea Polataivao.[6]

From 1999-2005, Schmidt underwent dialysis treatment in both New Zealand and Australia. He died on 19 December 2005, of heart failure. He was survived by his wife Ipuniuesea, and his 6 children.

Sources

[edit]
  • Australian Ring Digest, October 1954: SAMOAN SENSATION-FOSSIE SCHMIDT.
  • 1955 Ring Record Book, 1955, page 74: Ring Deaths in 1954.
  • 1955 Ring Record Book, 1955, page 833: Record: FOSSI(BROWNHAWK)SCHMIDT.
  • 1955 Ring Record Book, 1955, page 733: Record: HENRY BRAY.
  • www.eventpolynesia.com
  • Pacific Magazine, March 1, 2006: People's Briefs: IN MEMORIAM.
  • Samoa Newsroom, April 2-April 8, 2006.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Like their coconuts - Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954) - 18 Aug 1954". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Cobb To Fight Williams - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 30 Aug 1954". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Third Fight By Schmidt - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 6 Oct 1954". Sydney Morning Herald. 6 October 1954. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Archie Moore To Tour Here - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 9 Aug 1954". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  5. ^ So'o, Asofou. Democracy & Custom in Samoa: An uneasy alliance, IPS Productions (University of the South Pacific), ISBN 982-02-0390-2
  6. ^ "Samoa's ruling party has new whip". Radio New Zealand International. 9 April 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
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