Dean Lonergan
Lonergan in 2012
Personal information
Full nameDean Robert Lonergan
Playing information
PositionSecond-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
City-Newton Dragons
19??–89 Glenora Bears
1988 Canberra Raiders 4 0 0 0 0
1989 Rochdale Hornets
1986–87 Bramley RLFC 8 0 0 0 0
Total 12 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1986–91 Auckland
1986–91 New Zealand 15 4 0 0 16
Source: [1]

Dean Robert Lonergan MNZM is a New Zealand retired professional rugby league player, former Radio host, former co owner of Duco Events and boxing promoter in Australia and New Zealand under D & L Events. Under the tutelage of Duco founder David Higgins, Lonergan co-promoted world champion boxers Joseph Parker and Jeff Horn. With his son Liam, he has promoted Jai Opetaia, Lani Daniels, Mea Motu, and more.[2][3][4][5][6]

Rugby League career

Lonergan represented the New Zealand national rugby league team from 1986 to 1991 and also represented Auckland. He played for the Glenora Bears and City Newton Dragons in the Auckland Rugby League competition and the Canberra Raiders in the NSWRL Premiership.[7] He spent 1989 with the Rochdale Hornets in England.[8]

In a Test match against Australia in Melbourne in 1991, Lonergan clashed famously with Kangaroo forward Steve Roach and had to be carried from the field.[9] However he returned to the field and New Zealand won the match.

Warriors

Lonergan was a board member of the Auckland Warriors from 1996 until 1997.[7]

Boxing

Beginning of Fight for Life, Shane Cameron 2000 - 2008

Lonergan started promoting boxing in the late 90s with one of his most successful shows being Fight for Life. Fight For Life started being televised from 2001 more than $500,000 for charity.[10] Lonergan first Boxrec recognised professional boxing event was June 2007 with Shane Camerson headlining the event.[11] Shane Cameron was originally scheduled to take on former IBF World Cruiserweight champion Kelvin Davis who was dubbed "Little Tyson".[12][13] In a bizaare turn of events Davis had to pull out after breaking his back from jumping over Auckland's Greenhithe bridge. Lonergan believed that Davis got a frieght from cars being on the otherside of the road and jumped the bridge to escape.[14] The event was successful with Cameron winning his fight with last minute replacement, Brazilian Jucimar Francisco Hipolito.[15]

Duco Events 2009 - 2017

Fight of the Century 2009

Lonergan began working with Duco Events as head of corporate sales and eventually co promoter & co owner in 2009 where Duco hosted their first event dubbed Fight of the Century.[16] The event was quite successful with Duco Events turning a profit.[17] It was confirmed that 7500 tickets were sold (750 corporate tables of 10 people), and 88,000 Pay Per Views buys for the event. The PPV buys were considered a world record on a per-capita country basis.[18]

Fight for life continues, After Fight of the century 2010 - 2013

Duco continued promoting Tua, Cameron and Fight for Life after Fight of the Century. The first fight night after Tua vs Cameron was Tua taking on the person who stopped Cameron, Friday Ahunanya.[19] Even though Ahunanya had stopped Cameron in the past, it was a hard job for Lonergan to sell out the event, with New Zealand at the time in 2010 was considered a "soft Market" for commercial professional boxing.[20] Tua won the fight by unanimous decision.[21] Throughout 2011, Duco worked had to make a big fight night in December 2011. Many fights were in the talks including Sonny Bill Williams vs Jonah Lomu, Lonergan himself against "Truth Sports Hack" writer John Matheson.[22][23] Unfortunately, all three Williams, Lomu and Matheson pulled out of the event.[24][25][26] The event would be headlined by Shane Cameron vs Monty Betham in a grudge match after the two fought each other in a bar a few years prior to the fight.[27] Duco added a $20,000 knockout bonus to the fight for an extra incentive.[28] Cameron won the fight by unanimous decision with no one gaining the knockout bonus. The event cost around 1.3 Million dollars with $166,000 donated to Prostate awareness charity.[29][30] Duco promoted David Tua and Shane Cameron in 2013. In November 2013, in David Tua retirement fight against Aleksandr Ustinov with Wladimir Klitschko's promoter Alexander Krasyuk watching in the crowd.[31] In December 2013, Shane Cameron fight in his second to last fight and last fight with duco against Brian Minto with the winner fighting Joseph Parker.[32]

Joseph Parker and Jeff Horn 2011 - 2017

Joseph Parker Pro Debut, New Zealand Title, International Stage 2011 - 2013

In 2011, Duco, began to take interest with amateur boxer Joseph Parker and began negotiations with Parker for his eventual pro career.[33] Parker made his pro debut on the Shane Cameron vs Monte Barrett undercard.[34] After five fights, Parker was thrown into the deep end to take on Francois Botha. Lonergan acknowledge this was a major risk for Parker who was early in his career.[35] This fight comes after Botha lost a controversial split decision to Sonny Bill Williams.[36] Parker won the fight by second-round KO. Lonergan stated he has full intentions to push Parker hard and keep him busy.[37] In 2013, Duco offered Sonny Bill Williams one millian dollar purse to take on Joseph Parker for his New Zealand title.[38] Williams never took the bout. Parker would took on Afa Tatupu for Tatupu New Zealand National (NZNBF version) Heavyweight title in October 2013.[39] Parker won the fight by second round Knockout, however, Parker received the worst cuts you can ever get for a boxer.[40] Lonergan described it less of a cut and more of a canyon.[41] The cut would put Parker career on hold as it needed time to heal.

Joseph Parker and Jeff Horn Rankings Climb 2014 - 2016

In 2014, Jeff Horn signed with Duco.[42] From here Duco Events became very successful promoting on average five events a year between New Zealand, Australia and one special event in Samoa. One of the highlights during this time was the fight between Joseph Parker and Kali Meehan with six regional titles.[43]

Joseph Parker World title 2016 - 2017
Australian High Commissioner Sue Langford and Joseph Parker.

In late October, the Parker vs. Ruiz Jr. world title fight had been officially sanctioned by the World Boxing Organization. The organisation had granted permission to Parker fighting Ruiz Jr. for their belt with their championship committee voting unanimously in favor of the title fight.[44] Discussions and negotiations began after Fury was expected to be stripped of his WBO title over inactivity and testing positive for cocaine.[45] There was a chance that the fight would not happen in New Zealand as it was a significant cost to host a world title in New Zealand with Lonergan stating there was potencial the event would make a financial loss.[46] Parker won a Majority Decision. Parker would defend the title again in New Zealand in May 2017 and in the UK in September 2017.

Expansion into Australia 2016 - 2017

Lonergan would expand Duco to Australia with their first fight night being on 24 April 2016 with Jeff Horn being the main eventer.[47]

Jeff Horn World title 2017
Jeff Horn

The bout was initially announced in January 2017.[48] The fight was finalized in April 2017,[49] with the city of Brisbane and the Queensland government financing it.[50] Lonergan accused Pacquiao for not taking the fight seriously as Pacquiao was using his phone during press conferences, calling him a "world champion texter".[51] The event was very successful selling over 40,000 with less than a month to go before the fight.[52] Horn won the fight by unanimous decision.[53]

Duco Split

In May 2017, it was announced that the co owners of Duco Events between Lonergan and David Higgins had officilly begun splitting their partnership.[54] It was noted that this was going to be a complicated process. Essentially Lonergan would get the Australian boxing market and take Jeff Horn while Higgins would keep the New Zealand boxing market and take Joseph Parker. The "business divorce" between the two has estimated to have been finalised in 2018.[55]

D & L Events

After Spliting with Duco, Lonergan created a new event company, going into business with his son Liam, to create D & L Events.[56]

Australia 2018 - 2022

Lonergan first boxing event under his new business was with Jeff Horn vs Anthony Mundine in November 2018 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.[57][58] In 2019 and 2020, Lonergan would sign a full roster of boxers in Australia including Isaac Hardman, Jai Opetaia, Justis Huni, Brock Jarvis, Jayde Mitchell and Campbell Somerville. Lonergan was able to continue promoting shows during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia. In 2022, it was announced that Opetaia will fight reigning IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis.[59] The fight was postponded multiple times due to injury and illnesses.[60][61] The fight was rescheduled for July 2.[62] Opetaia won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 116–112, 116–112 and 115–113.[63] During the fight, Opetaia badly broke his jaw in two places. In 2023, Lonergan lost the FOX Sports TV Rights in Australia.[64] Due to this, his contracts with his roster became null void.[65]

New Zealand 2022 - Present

Mea motu and Lani Daniels after Daniels second fight against Sequita Hemingway in March 2023

Fight for Life returned to New Zealand in July 2022.[66] In 2022, Lonergan would sign multiple boxers from Peach Boxing including Jerome Pampellone, Andrei Mikhailovich, Mea Motu and Zain Adams. In April 2023, Lonergan will have his first female main event with Mea Moto to fight for the IBO World Super Bantamweight title.[67] Motu won the fight by Unanimous Decision.[68] Lonergan would sign IBF World Heavyweight Champion Lani Daniels.[69] Both Mea Motu and Lani Daniels would co main event Lonergans events.

Other Events

Lonergan has held many other events outside of boxing including Cirque Rocks. Lonergan noted this event cost 2.5 millon but only turned over about $1.5 million, putting him in 1.8 million in debt.[70][71] Along with David Higgins with Duco Events, Lonergan promoted multiple sporting events including NRL Nines and Brisbane Global Rugby Tens.[72][73]

Other Work

Media

Lonergan was a columnist for NZ Herald.[74][75] He was also a radio announcer for multiple radio stations, mostly focused on Sports.[76]

Politics

Following the resignation of Robert Muldoon, Lonergan stood in the 1992 Tamaki by-election for a seat in the 43rd New Zealand Parliament, as a stunt for Radio Hauraki.[77] Of 14 candidates, he came sixth with 105 votes with the percentage of 0.60% .[78]

Controversies

In 2013, Lonergan was heavily criticised for trying to save money by failing to provide a properly registered doctor ringside at Fight for Life. While there was a doctor present, he was not registered to practice in New Zealand and thus declined to stitch up one of the competitors.[79]

Former two-time WBA Super-Middleweight Champion Anthony Mundine has described Lonergan as a "despicable human being,"[80][81]

Broadcast partner Fox Sports who cancelled their deal with Lonergan's D & L Events in December 2022.[80] Lonergan unsuccessfully sued the fighters who abandoned him,[82] and has since returned to New Zealand to re-start his promoting business.

Honours

In the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours, Lonergan was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport and philanthropy.[83]

Boxer Estimated Date of Signed Estimated Date of Departure Number of fights Promoted by Lonergan
Mea Motu 2023 Present 3
Lani Daniels 2023 Present 3
Jerome Pampellone 2022 Present 6
Andrei Mikhailovich 2021 Present 5
Isaac Hardman 2019 2022 9
Jai Opetaia 2020 2022 3
Justis Huni 2020 2022 7
Brock Jarvis 2019 2022 3
Jayde Mitchell 2019 2020 2
Campbell Somerville 2020 2022 2
Joseph Parker August 2012 June 2019 22
Jeff Horn July 2014 2020 16
David Letele July 2014 December 2018 16
Robert Berridge October 2013 January 2015 4
Izuagbe Ugonoh October 2014 December 2016 8
Bowyn Morgan 2015 2016 6
Nikolas Charalampous 2013 2016 4

References

  1. ↑ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". Rugby League Project. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Manny Pacquiao beaten by Jeff Horn in one of boxing's greatest upsets". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 2 July 2017. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  3. ↑ "'Next chapter is going to be huge': Jai Opetaia's knockout legal blow in bitter contract dispute". Fox Sports. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Split decision for Duco Events? Rumours rife over possible fracturing". Stuff NZ. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Split decision for Duco Events? Rumours rife over possible fracturing". Stuff NZ. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Mea Motu and Lani Daniels set to defend their world titles on 'emotional' homecoming show". Stuff NZ. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  7. 1 2 Profile at BSport.co.nz Archived 31 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Division 2, 1 December 1991
  9. ↑ Deane, Steve (23 October 2009). "Top 10 moments in Kiwi league". The New Zealand Herald. APN Holdings NZ Limited. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  10. ↑ "Boxing: Fight for Life raises $500,000". New Zealand Herald. 30 March 2001. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "Dean Lonergan promoted event". Boxrec. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "Boxing: Cameron to fight 'Little Tyson'". New Zealand Herald. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Shane Cameron Gets First Test With Davis". Boxing Scene. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Boxing: Cameron's opponent in hospital with broken back". New Zealand Herald. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  15. ↑ "Cameron Destroys Hipolito, Targets Holyfield". Boxing Scene. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  16. ↑ "Boxing: Tua-Cameron fight goes to Hamilton". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  17. ↑ "Boxing: Date fixed for Tua's next big test". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  18. ↑ "Sky TV vs Duco: The bout for boxing's money". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "David Tua has Friday Ahunanya on his mind". Stuff NZ. 7 March 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  20. ↑ "Tua a home boy – for now". Sunday Star Times. 28 February 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "Unanimous points decision for Tua". RNZ. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "Fight for Life". Sunday Star Times. 5 September 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Jonah v SBW in boxing sensation". Sunday Star Times. 24 April 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "'Bucket' boy dodges big Deano". Sunday Star Times. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  25. ↑ "SBW sidesteps Jonah's boxing challenge". Sunday Star Times. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  26. ↑ "Lomu withdrawal verified". The Press. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  27. ↑ "Betham's scuffle with Cameron goes to ring". Stuff NZ. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "Cash for knockout in Cameron-Betham fight". Stuff NZ. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Fight for Life: Fight for men not a knockout". New Zealand Herald. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  30. ↑ "Fight for Life exceeds target, raises $166,000". New Zealand Herald. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  31. ↑ "Boxing: Tua has eyes on Klitschkos". New Zealand Herald. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  32. ↑ "Brian Minto beats Shane Cameron by TKO". Stuff NZ. 15 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  33. ↑ "Heavyweights back hot Kiwi prospect". Sunday Star Times. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  34. ↑ "Boxing: Duco in Parker's corner". New Zealand Herald. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  35. ↑ "Parker risking Botha bout with another fight". Stuff NZ. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  36. ↑ "Sonny Bill Williams reflects on Frans Botha controversy ahead of planned ring return". Stuff NZ. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  37. ↑ "Boxing: Parker to be kept active this year". Otago Daily Times. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  38. ↑ "Boxing: SBW offered $1m purse". Otago Daily Times. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  39. ↑ "Tatupu happy to get chance to fight Parker". Stuff NZ. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  40. ↑ "Boxing: Parker wins brutal fight by knockout". New Zealand Herald. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  41. ↑ "Boxing: Cut could put Parker's plans on hold". New Zealand Herald. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  42. ↑ "Boxing: Teacher packs a big punch". New Zealand Herald. 5 July 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  43. ↑ "Joseph Romanos: No dignity in Joseph Parker knocking out no-names". Stuff NZ. 27 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  44. ↑ Duncan Johnstone. "WBO give green light to Joseph Parker fighting Andy Ruiz for heavyweight title in New Zealand". Stuff. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  45. ↑ Sachin Nakrani. "Tyson Fury set to be stripped of WBO title over 'inactivity' and drug claims". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  46. ↑ Patrick McKendry. "Duco scraps to keep Joseph Parker v Andy Ruiz Jr fight in Auckland". NZ Herald. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  47. ↑ "Jeff Horn calls out WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas after Bailey win". FoxSports. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  48. ↑ "Manny Pacquiao to defend welterweight title against Australian Jeff Horn on April 22". Espn.com. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  49. ↑ "Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn set for July in Australia, Top Rank says". Espn.com. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  50. ↑ AP. "Manny Pacquiao to fight Jeff Horn in Australia on July 2". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  51. ↑ AP. "Manny Pacquiao's phone-obsession proof he's taking fight lightly, says Jeff Horn". ESPN. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  52. ↑ "40,000 tickets already sold for Pacquiao-Horn". Boxing News. 1 June 2017. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  53. ↑ AP. "Jeff Horn shows the scars of victory after Manny Pacquiao epic". NZ Herald. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  54. ↑ "Duco directors David Higgins and Dean Lonergan announce split". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  55. ↑ Liam Napier. "Boxing: Duco's split gets uglier as duo cannot find compromise". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  56. ↑ "DEAN LONERGAN'S NEW BIZ". Sunday Herald. 23 September 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  57. ↑ "River City Rumble". D&L Events. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  58. ↑ "Jeff Horn scores devastating knockout as Anthony Mundine bows out". Guardian. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  59. ↑ Donovan, Jake (13 February 2022). "Mairis Briedis vs. Jai Opetaia IBF Title Fight Set For April 6 In Australia; Venue TBD". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  60. ↑ Stumberg, Patrick L. (16 February 2022). "Mairis Briedis comes down with COVID, Jai Opetaia title defense delayed". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  61. ↑ Stumberg, Patrick L. (8 April 2022). "Jai Opetaia injures ribs, Mairis Briedis fight delayed again". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  62. ↑ "Mairis Briedis Vs Jai Opetaia On July 2 In Australia". boxingnews24.com. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  63. ↑ Donovan, Jake (2 July 2022). "Jai Opetaia Outboxes Mairis Briedis, Claims Cruiserweight Championship In Upset". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  64. ↑ "'Next chapter is going to be huge': Jai Opetaia's knockout legal blow in bitter contract dispute". Fox Sports. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  65. ↑ "Justis Huni joins Eddie Hearn's Matchroom after split with promoter Dean Lonergan". Nine News. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  66. ↑ "Jerome Pampellone in line for world title shot against newly crowned Australian champion". Stuff NZ. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  67. ↑ "Fight For Life: Mea Motu v Tania Walters tops bill in first ever female main event". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  68. ↑ "Fight For Life 2023: Mea Motu claims IBO super bantamweight world title with win over Tania Walters". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  69. ↑ "World champions Mea Motu and Lani Daniels to top Auckland bill". Stuff NZ. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  70. ↑ "Between Two Beers podcast: Dean Lonergan - How I got myself out of a $1.8 million dollar hole". New Zealand Herald. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  71. ↑ "Past Events with 11 Degrees". 11 Degrees. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  72. ↑ "NRL Nines reaps $9million return for Auckland". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  73. ↑ "Rugby: Brisbane Global Tens: Where the bloody hell are ya?". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  74. ↑ Lonergan, Dean (24 November 2008). "Kiwis' success should Sparc rethink from bureaucrats". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  75. ↑ Lonergan's the Main Man New Truth & TV Extra, 28 May 2004
  76. ↑ "Scrap of the radio airwaves looming". The Southland Times. 22 October 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  77. ↑ Masters, Catherine (2 June 2006). "Hard man's new game plan". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  78. ↑ Voting Statistics for the Electoral Referendum Held on 19 September 1992, The Tamaki By-Election Held on 15 February 1992 (Report). Electoral Commission.
  79. ↑ "Fight for Life under fire". NZ Herald. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  80. 1 2 "Boxing bombshell as Huni KO's Aussie promoter". 31 January 2023.
  81. ↑ "Anthony Mundine fires off barrage of verbal blows at Dean Lonergan – 'He's a despicable human being'". 1 News. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  82. ↑ "Huni makes call on future after split with promoter". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  83. ↑ "Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee honours list 2012". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
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