Bob Fitzsimmons
British fight fans may find the inclusion of 'Ruby Bob' somewhat controversial, given that he was touted for many years as the only Brit to hold the world heavyweight championship before Lennox Lewis' ascension to the throne.
But in actuality, Fitzsimmons, who was born in Cornwall in 1863 and lived there till the age of nine, honed his boxing skills in the town of Timaru, the place where he and family Fitzsimmons moved to.
A blacksmith by trade, Fitzsimmons established himself as the dominant boxing force in New Zealand before moving to Australia.
Undisputed
Technically, boxing was completely different type sport then, but Fitzsimmons will still be remembered as the only man to hold undisputed world titles at middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight. It was the latter title which was to bring him the most fame, won against Gentleman James J.Corbett in 1897.
Fitzsimmons lived a colourful and nomadic existence, marrying four times and fighting past the age of 50 before dying of pneumonia in Chicago in 1917.
Ted Morgan
Morgan won New Zealand's first Gold Medal in boxing - at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.
But like Fitzsimmons, his roots were English-based. Born in London in 1906, he emigrated to New Zealand with his parents a year later and settled in Wellington. Attending Te Aro School and then Wellington College, it was clear from an early stage that he showed promise as a boxer. He was runner-up in the college bantamweight championships in 1921 and in the lightweight class the following year. Away from the ring, he became an apprentice plumber.
Morgan won the Wellington amateur lightweight championships in 1925 and went on to take the national title. In 1927 he was selected for the New Zealand team to compete at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.
In England on his way to the Olympic Games, Morgan dislocated the first knuckle of his left hand. He also had to step up to the welterweight class at the Games as he had put on weight during the voyage from New Zealand.
Ability
Wins over Sweden's Selfrid Johannson, Italy's Romano Canova of Italy and Rene Catalaud of France saw him through to the final where he faced Paul Landini, an experienced Argentinian noted for his ability to knock out opponents. However, Morgan out-boxed Landini for a unanimous points victory that won him the Gold.
His professional career was less auspicious, with 11 of his 26 bouts ending in defeat.
Morgan's life came to a tragic end at the age of 46, the victim of lung cancer which was apparently brought on by the inhalation of fumes from his work as a plumber.
Tom Heeney
Tom Heeney challenged for the title, losing to champ Gene Tunney when the ref stopped the fight in the 11th round of their bout at New York in July, 1928.
The bout, staged at Yankee Stadium, was the last fight for Tunney before he retired and he outclassed his bigger, but slower challenger.
Kevin Barry
The man who currently guides David Tua also had a boxing career worth remembering, although his name is always indelibly linked with Evander Holyfield.
At the 1984 Atlanta Olympics, Barry, coached by his father Kevin Barry Snr., guaranteed himself and New Zealand their first boxing medal in over 50 years by reaching the semi-finals in the light-heavyweight class.
There, he met Holyfield, the pre-tournament favourite who had easily progressed through to the stage and was looking every inch the future gold medallist.
Tactics
After a round which saw Holyfield in charge, if not totally dominant, the bout heated up in the second, with both fighters engaging in tactics not discussed in the Marquess of Queensbury set of rules.
As the second round closed, the referee was forced to call break for the umpteenth time. But Holyfield, either unaware of the call or purely frustrated, landed a left hook which flattened Barry. The Kiwi arose but was clearly unfit to continue and was awarded the fight on a disqualification. Unfortunately, he was unable to fight for gold in the final because of the blow he sustained and had to settle for the silver.
Barry never turned professional and instead got involved in coaching and writing until beginning his current vocation as Tua's manager.
Jimmy Thunder
Real name Jimmy Peau, this fighter has campaigned at both cruiserweight and heavyweight. He once held the lightly regarded WBF Heavyweight championship, which he lost to Sheffield's Johnny Nelson.