Lomalito Moala

{{Short description|Tongan Australian boxer (born 2000)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}

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| sport = Boxing

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{{MedalSport | Men's Boxing}}

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{{MedalCompetition|Commonwealth Games}}

{{MedalBronze| 2010 New Delhi |Lightweight}}

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Lomalito Moala is a Tongan Australian boxer who has represented Tonga at the Commonwealth Games. He won a Bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Moala was born in New Zealand and grew up in Lower Hutt,{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/boxing-prodigy-brings-pride/DE2TEKUSSP7XKG2S2JT5NTRVYE/ |title=Boxing prodigy brings pride |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=9 December 2010 |access-date=2 August 2022}} but moved to Australia in 2005 at the age of 15.{{cite web |url=https://www.kanivatonga.nz/2014/07/commonwealth-2014-lomalito-moala-out-of-games/ |title=Commonwealth 2014: Lomalito Moala out of Games |publisher=Kaniva Tonga |date=26 July 2014 |access-date=2 August 2022}}

He competed in the 2010 Commonwealth games in New Delhi, winning bronze in the lightweight class.{{cite web |url=https://matangitonga.to/2010/10/12/boxers-uaine-and-lomalito-win-bronze-medals-tonga |title=Boxers Uaine and Lomalito win Bronze Medals for Tonga |publisher=Matangi Tonga |date=12 October 2010 |access-date=2 August 2022}} In 2012 he was part of the Tongan team at the Oceania Boxing Championships.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/203207/sport-tonga-announce-boxing-squad-for-oceania-champs |title=Sport: Tonga announce boxing squad for Oceania Champs |publisher=RNZ |date=14 March 2012 |access-date=2 August 2022}} He failed to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games by a single point.{{cite web |url=https://www.liverpoolchampion.com.au/story/2325729/nowhere-to-hide-says-moala/ |title='Nowhere to hide', says Moala |publisher=Liverpool City Champion |author=Chris Boulous |date=3 June 2014 |access-date=2 August 2022}}

He was selected for the Tongan team for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/249675/sport-tonga-pin-commonwealth-hopes-on-boxing-repeat |title=Sport: Tonga pin Commonwealth hopes on boxing repeat |publisher=RNZ |date=14 July 2014 |access-date=2 August 2022}} In the leadup to the opening ceremony he tweeted that he would wear the shirt of football club Celtic F.C. if retweeted a hundred times.{{cite web |url=https://www.joe.ie/uncategorized/tongan-boxer-wins-loads-of-new-fans-by-vowing-to-carry-celtic-shirt-at-commonwealth-games-opening-ceremony-448925 |title=Tongan boxer wins loads of new fans by vowing to carry Celtic shirt at Commonwealth Games opening ceremony |publisher=Joe |date= |access-date=2 August 2022}}{{Cite tweet |user=lomalitomoala |number=491304053457293313 |title=Get me 100+ retweets I will carry the Celtic jersey opening ceremony |date=22 July 2014 |access-date=2 August 2022}} He kept his promising at the opening ceremony, attracting media attention and the ire of Tongan fans.{{cite web |url=https://www.kanivatonga.nz/2014/07/tongan-fans-fume-at-moala-over-celtic-shirt/ |title=Tongan fans fume at Moala over Celtic shirt |publisher=Kaniva Tonga |date=25 July 2014 |access-date=2 August 2022}} The next day, he failed to make the weigh-in and so was not able to compete.{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/glasgow-2014-tonga-celtic-fan-boxer-out-games-1530794 |title=Glasgow 2014: Tonga Celtic fan boxer out of Games |publisher=The Scotsman |date=24 July 2014 |access-date=2 August 2022}}

Moala now runs a boxing academy in Sydney.{{cite web |url=https://www.moalaboxingacademy.com/ |title=Moala Boxing Academy |access-date=2 August 2022}}