FREDERICK ‘FRED’ HANSEN

1897 – 1963

CHAMPION AMATEUR & PROFESSIONAL BOXER. 

Hard to verify with any degree of certainty but it’s quite possible that Fred Hansen was the first Tongan born boxer to fight professionally in New Zealand. If he wasn’t the first, he was certainly in the vanguard of what would become a very popular addition to the New Zealand boxing scene in later years.  

Frederick ‘Fred’ Hansen was born, Oct 15, 1897, in the island group of Vava’u part of the Kingdom of Tonga. At age 14, Fred ran away from home, the story goes to escape an abusive stepmother. He got a job aboard the schooner ‘Ysabel’ involved in the Pacific Island’s fruit trade.  

After the better part of six years at sea having visited far off destinations such as Australia, New Zealand & the United States Fred disembarked in Auckland. It wasn’t long before he became involved in boxing eventually becoming a member of Laurie Cadman’s stable of boxers fighting out of Cadman’s Victoria Street West Gym. Under Laurie’s watchful eye Fred developed into a highly accomplished amateur, winning the NZ welterweight title in 1922 & later that year in Hobart securing the Australasian title.  

On his return home from the championships Fred entered the paid ranks, Laurie Cadman remained his trainer. His first professional fight took place in the Town Hall, Eltham, Dec 13, 1922, against local fighter, Bill Scott. Hansen took the decision after 15 rounds. In his next Fight, March 23, 1923, Fred was matched against possibly this country’s greatest lightweight, the legendary Les Murray. They met at welterweight due to Hansen’s 9 lb weight advantage Murray, 138 lbs. It was Hansen’s only advantage in what proved to be a one-sided contest. Les with a record of 18 – 3 – 2 – 4 ND from 27 pro bouts knocked Hansen out in the 15^th & final round before a sold-out Auckland Town Hall. 

May 23, Hansen bounced back to record a good win over 10 rounds against Paul Hannah. On the strength of his performance Fred was given a title shot against NZ Welterweight Champion Jock Graham. The fight went the full 15 rounds, Graham retained his title. In the December of 1923, Graham lost the championship to Aucklander Harry May. May & Hansen were matched over 15 rounds in a non-title fight at the Lyric Theatre in Rotorua, June 14, 1924. To close to call the fight ended in a draw. On August 18, Fred lost over 10 rounds against former NZ Lightweight champion Clarrie Blackburn. Fred didn’t fight again for 2 years. Oct 25, 1926, he was enticed back for one more go against old rival Harry May, this time May took the decision over 10 rounds. Both men hung up the gloves for good after the fight. Fred Hansen’s Ring Record: 7 fights, 2 – 4 – 1  

After the tragic death of Laurie Cadman, June 11^th / 12^th 1924, Hansen took over the running of Cadman’s former gym on Victoria Street West. He worked as a Wharfie for many years, purchased a property that backed onto Pupuke Golf Course on Auckland’s North Shore, where he lived with his wife & 5 children. Fred Hansen died of cancer on December 10, 1963, aged 66.  

MP 2023.