Polataivao Fosi Schmidt (1933–2005) was a Samoan politician and a member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa from 1964-1999. He was a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.

Before his career in politics, Schmidt was the heavyweight boxing champion of Samoa, and scored over 80 knockouts victories in both amateur and professional boxing.

Boxing career

Fosi Schmidt (some sources list Fossi Schmidt) developed a keen interest in boxing from watching members of the United States military forces training in Australia during World War II. After compiling an undefeated amateur record of 30-0-0, 30 knockouts, Schmidt decided to become a professional boxer in 1952.

Schmidt ran up an impressive string of knockouts on the Samoan Islands and won the Samoan Heavyweight Boxing Championship. Schmidt said he trained on a diet of coconuts, coconut milk, and taro (similar to a potato) to give him his power.

On February 10, 1954, in Leififi on the Samoan Islands, Schmidt was sparring with local police constable Vaipou Ainu'u; an amateur heavyweight boxer. The two were training in a ring at the local police station when Schmidt knocked Ainu'u down. Ainu'u's head struck the ring floor and efforts to revive him failed. The 35-year-old Ainu'u died on the way to the hospital. Schmidt was greatly disturbed by Ainu'u's death, but realized it was a terrible accident, and he continued on with his career.

After going 47-0-0, 47 knockouts on the Samoan Islands, Schmidt traveled to Australia to continue his boxing training and career. After three consecutive knockouts in Australia, he became a headliner in the Australian newspapers.

Schmidt was dubbed the "Samoan Sensation" and appeared on the cover of the October 1954 issue of Australian Ring Digest. In October 1954, world lightheavyweight champion Archie Moore was touring Australia and a bout with Schmidt was purposed, but never happened.

The 1955 Ring Record Book credited Schmidt with scoring 50 consecutive knockouts, including knockouts over Tauso M'U KO 2 rounds, Fetuao KO 1 round, Lini KO 2 rounds, Loie KO 3 rounds, Viane KO 1 round, Enesi KO 2 rounds, Pili KO 2 rounds, Silipa KO 2 rounds, Filipo KO 2 rounds, Sefo KO 1 round and KO 2 rounds, Iefata KO 4 rounds.

Schmidt's undefeated knockout streak was ended when he lost to Fiji heavyweight Henry Bray by 5th round knockout (Source: 1955 Ring Record Book).

On 8 December 1954, Schmidt was knocked out in 3 rounds by Ross Jenkins. Schmidt continued to fight, but never again showed the promise of his earlier undefeated career.

Professional boxing record

+ Professional Boxing Record ResultRecordOpponentMethodDateRoundTimeEventLocationNotes style="text-align:center;" Win52-2-0Merv CobbKO1955 Feb 178Australia style="text-align:center;" Win51-2-0 Steven ZoranichKO1955 Jan 243Perth, Australia style="text-align:center;" Loss50-1-0Ross JenkinsKO1954 Dec 83New South Wales style="text-align:center;" Loss50-0-0Henry BrayKO19545 style="text-align:center;" Win50-0-0Al McCoyKO 1954 Oct 071New South Wales style="text-align:center;" Win49-0-0Harold Davis KO1954 Sep 233New South Wales style="text-align:center;" Win48-0-0Jack DempseyTKO1954 Sep 092New South Wales style="text-align:center;" Win47-0-0Vaipou Ainu'aKO1954 Feb 101Samoan IslandsAinu'a died of his injuries. style="text-align:center;" Win46-0-0LefataKO19544Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win45-0-0SefoKO19542Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win44-0-0SefoKO19541Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win43-0-0FilipoKO19542Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win42-0-0SilipaKO19542Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win41-0-0PiliKO19542Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win40-0-0EnesKO19542Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win39-0-0VianeKO19541Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win38-0-0LoieKO19543Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win37-0-0LiniKO19542Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win36-0-0L\FetuaoKO19541Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win35-0-0Tauso M'UKO19542Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win34-0-0LoiKO19532Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win33-0-0FilipoKO19532Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win32-0-0IsaakoKO19531Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win31-0-0SetuKO19531Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win30-0-0AfanoKO19532Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win29-0-0MaliaKO19532Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win28-0-0EnesKO19532Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win27-0-0IdeluKO19531Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win26-0-0LoieKO19533Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win25-0-0FilipoKO19532Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win24-0-0FetuaoKO19531Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win23-0-0IonaKO19532Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win22-0-0LekiKO19523Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win21-0-0LakupoKO19521Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win20-0-0FataKO19521Samoan Islands style="text-align:center;" Win19-0-0ApeluKO19522Samoan Islands

Business and political career

In the early 1960s, Schmidt opened a number of successful trading stations. He also owned and ran the Apollo 11 nightclub in Saleufi.

In 1964, Schmidt entered politics and was elected to parliament, winning his election by a count of 41 votes to 36, in the electoral district of Gagaifomauga Number 3. He became known to his fellow Samoans as "King Pola". Schmidt was re-elected without opposition in three subsequent elections.So'o, Asofou. Democracy & Custom in Samoa: An uneasy alliance, IPS Productions (University of the South Pacific), Schmidt served in parliament from 1964-1999, but resigned due to bad health.

He was a Minister of Health, a Minister of Labour, and a Minister of Lands and Environment. Schmidt was a founding member of his country's Human Rights Protection Party.

Personal life

His mother was from Safune and his father from Safotu village on the island of Savai'i. Schmidt is the father of Samoan politician Laauli Leuatea Polataivao. He was of partial German descent.

From 1999-2005, Schmidt underwent dialysis treatment in both New Zealand and Australia. He died on 19 December 2005, of heart failure. He was survived by his wife Ipuniuesea, and his 6 children.

Sources

Australian Ring Digest, October 1954: SAMOAN SENSATION-FOSSIE SCHMIDT. 1955 Ring Record Book, 1955, page 74: Ring Deaths in 1954. 1955 Ring Record Book, 1955, page 833: Record: FOSSI(BROWNHAWK)SCHMIDT. 1955 Ring Record Book, 1955, page 733: Record: HENRY BRAY. www.eventpolynesia.com Pacific Magazine, March 1, 2006: People's Briefs: IN MEMORIAM. Samoa Newsroom, April 2-April 8, 2006.

References