Manitisa Vaka Kafalava (6 April 1947 - 21 July 2007)[1][2] was a Tongan heavyweight boxer who won the Tongan Heavyweight title in 1969[1] and the South Seas Heavyweight title in 1973. He was ranked 7th in the world heavyweight division.[1]

He made his boxing debut in November 1968.[3] After defeating Filimone Naliva, Leweni Waqa, and Marika Nailvalu and winning the South Seas Heavyweight title he planned to move to Australia.[4]

In December 2009 he was inducted into the Tonga National Sports Hall of Fame.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Seven named for the National Sports Hall of Fame". Matangi Tonga. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Mani Vaka Kafalava - Tongan Boxing Champion 1970s". YouTube. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Mani Vaka". BoxRec. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  4. ^ "They seek chance to come out fighting". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 43, no. 3. 1 March 1972. p. 45-47. Retrieved 7 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.