title: Manny Santos (boxer)
text: # Manny Santos (boxer)
  
  Manoel "Manny" Santos (11 October 1940 – 2 December 2013) was a Tongan-born New Zealand professional light/light welterweight boxer of the 1960s and 1970s.
  
  ## Early life and family
  
  Santos was born in Tonga on 11 October 1940. His father, also called Manoel Santos, had a Portuguese father and a Tongan mother, and served with the Māori Battalion during World War II. Santos Snr and his family emigrated from Tonga to Auckland, New Zealand, in 1957.
  
  ## Boxing career
  
  Santos won the New Zealand Boxing Association lightweight title, the Australasian Light welterweight title, and the British Commonwealth lightweight title. He was a challenger for the Australasian lightweight title against Hector Thompson. His professional fighting weight varied from 133+1⁄4 lb (60.4 kg; 9 st 7.3 lb), i.e. lightweight, to 138+1⁄4 lb (62.7 kg; 9 st 12.3 lb), i.e. light welterweight.
  
  ## Death
  
  Santos died in Auckland on 2 December 2013, and was buried at Manukau Memorial Gardens.
  
  