Elise Leapai (born 16 October 1979) is a Samoan-Australian former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2019. He challenged once for the unified WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, The Ring magazine heavyweight titles in 2014.

Early life Leapai's parents, Faataui and Leitu, moved their family from Laulii, Samoa when he was 7 to New Zealand, where they lived until he was 12. In New Zealand, Leapai attended Owairaka Primary School in Mt Albert and played rugby league for Marist Saints, as did his one-time sparring partner Sonny Bill Williams. Upon moving to Australia, Leapai's family settled in Logan, Queensland. In Logan, Leapai played junior rugby league for Logan Brothers alongside future Australian rugby league and rugby union international Lote Tuqiri. While playing for Brothers, Leapai was offered a scholarship with the National Rugby League side, the North Queensland Cowboys.Burgin, Robert (24 April 2014). "Brothers in Arms". Rugby League Week, p. 36.

Leapai has four brothers, Leati, Stefano and Faatni (known as Leroy), who spent four years with the London Broncos in the Super League. His cousin is Australia and Queensland representative Josh Papalii.

Professional career Alex Leapai defeated Denis Boytsov on 23 November 2013 in Germany. Boytsov was the WBO's mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko, but when Leapai defeated Boytsov, Leapai was named mandatory challenger even though the Boytsov-Leapai bout was not an official elimination bout.

Dan Rafael for ESPN.com reported on 3 February 2014 that "Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will make his 16th title defense when he faces Alex Leapai, one of his mandatory challengers, on 26 April in at the König-Pilsener-Arena in Oberhausen, Germany, as K2 Promotions announced Monday. The Klitschko and Leapai camps had agreed to a deal several weeks ago, which allowed them to avoid a purse bid, but it has now been signed. Leapai (30–4–3, 24 KOs), 34, a native of Samoa living in Australia, came out of nowhere to be appointed as the mandatory challenger by the WBO after scoring a major upset."Dan Rafael (2014). ESPN, 3 February 2014.

Leapai vs. Wladimir Klitschko

Despite the fact that Klitschko possessed an overwhelming advantage over his challenger, the Ukrainian was quoted as saying the bout was "the most important fight of my career" due to the political backdrop of the encounter from a Ukrainian point of view. Early in 2014 Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and consequently, both nations were mobilising for the possibility of war in the short term. Wladimir's brother Vitali Klitschko was preparing to run for the Ukrainian presidency in looming May elections and the 37-year-old title holder admitted boxing was second in his mind to the political upheaval in his homeland. Vitali would be elected Mayor of Kyiv in 2014. Klitschko claimed the spectacle of the fight would be ever important to "boost the morale" of his countrymen.

Former world heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs interrupted a pre-fight press conference in Germany just days before the anticipated bout. Briggs challenged Klitschko for a fight and accused Leapai of being an unworthy opponent for Klitschko.

Leapai was knocked out by Klitschko in the fifth round of a fight scheduled for 12 rounds."Wladimir Klitschko beats Alex Leapai to keep titles". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2016. Leapai was knocked down barely more than a minute into the bout. Klitschko retained his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO championship belts and used his height and reach advantage to control the fight with Leapai. Leapai reportedly rattled his opponent once in the fight before Klitschko responded with a flurry of blows that eventually dropped the Australian to the canvas.

Career after world title shot

In his next fight, Leapai fought Malik Scott. Leapai lost the fight via unanimous decision, losing 100–90, 99–91 and 98–92 on the scorecards.

On two weeks notice, Alex Leapai took a fight against former WBO champion Joseph Parker after his deal with Eric Molina fell through during the signing stages. Leapai went on to lose after a tenth-round stoppage. Despite protests from Leapai, the referee Ricky Gonzalez stopped the fight after Parker landed seven straight punches to the head of his opponent.

Personal life Leapai is married to his high school sweetheart, Theresa, and has six children. Four daughters (Cyanne, Maria, Menime and Ivona) and two sons (Alex and EJ).

In 2005, Leapai spent six months in Queensland's Woodford Correctional Centre on a grievous bodily harm charge after attacking two bouncers.

An avid rugby league fan, Leapai supports the Brisbane Broncos. Leapai's inspiration is fellow Samoan heavyweight boxer David Tua.Kiwi connection to take on Wladimir Klitschko, Fairfax NZ News, dated 4 February 2014.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes44LossJoseph ParkerTKO10 (12), 29 Jun 201942Draw31–7–4Roger IzonriteiTD3 (8), 13 Dec 201741Win31–7–3Thomas PeatoTKO3 (8), 14 Oct 201740Loss30–7–3Manuel CharrUD1022 May 201539Loss30–6–3Malik ScottUD1031 Oct 201438Loss30–5–3Wladimir KlitschkoTKO5 (12), 26 Apr 201437Win30–4–3Denis BoytsovUD1023 Nov 201336Win29–4–3Felipe RomeroTKO9 (12), 9 Aug 201335Win28–4–3Joe LloydKO1 (8), 9 May 201334Win27–4–3Matt HicksTKO1 (8), 8 Feb 201333Win26–4–3Akmal AslanovTKO5 (12), 21 Dec 201232Loss25–4–3Kevin JohnsonTKO9 (12), 1 Apr 201231Win25–3–3Troy WeidaTKO1 (10), 8 Dec 201130Win24–3–3Evgeny OrlovKO4 (8), 21 Oct 201129Win23–3–3Okello PeterKO3 (12)17 Apr 201128Win22–3–3Jason BarnettKO1 (8), 29 Jan 201127Win21–3–3Darnell WilsonUD84 Dec 201026Win20–3–3Owen BeckTKO6 (10), 12 Aug 201025Win19–3–3Travis WalkerTKO4 (10), 30 Jun 201024Win18–3–3Bob MirovicKO1 (10), 29 Apr 201023Win17–3–3Hiriwa Te RangiTKO1 (6), 4 Sep 200922Draw16–3–3Kotatsu TakeharaMD631 Jul 200921Win16–3–2Colin Wilson KO8 (12), 19 Jun 200920Win15–3–2Oscar TalemairaKO1 (4), 27 May 200919Win14–3–2Oscar TalemairaKO2 (6), 20 Feb 200918Win13–3–2Pieter CronjeUD1014 Nov 200817Win12–3–2Alipate LiavaKO5 (6)27 Sep 200816Win11–3–2Moyoyo MensahUD85 Sep 200815Win10–3–2Mohamed AzzaouiKO2 (8), 1 Aug 200814Loss9–3–2Colin WilsonSD1227 Jun 200813Win9–2–2Michael KirbyUD1214 Mar 200812Win8–2–2Nathan BriggsKO8 (12), 30 Nov 200711Win7–2–2Ofa Pi Bouvalu UluakiahoeiaRTD2 (4), 7 Sep 200710Win6–2–2Jason RetiTKO2 (6), 29 Jun 20079Win5–2–2Oscar TalemairaKO5 (6), 23 Feb 20078Win4–2–2John SzigetiTKO1 (6), 17 Nov 20067Win3–2–2Hiriwa Te RangiTKO4 (4), 10 Nov 20066Loss2–2–2Baden OuiTKO4 (4), 19 Aug 20055Win2–1–2Vai ToevaiUD45 Aug 20054Draw1–1–2Nermin Sabanovic PTS620 May 20053Loss1–1–1Yan KulkovUD83 Dec 20042Win1–0–1Danny MorganTKO8 (8), 17 Sep 20041Draw0–0–1Mark de MoriMD630 Jul 2004

Minor titles won WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title WBO Oriental heavyweight title IBF Australasian heavyweight title OPBF heavyweight title

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