David Letele

David Letele (born 9 September 1979), also known as the Brown Buttabean, is a New Zealand social activist and retired professional boxer and rugby league footballer from Auckland. After retiring, Letele became a motivational speaker. He created his own fitness gym with no equipment, giving out free meals for the homeless and runs a foodbank for people in need.

Rugby league Letele played rugby league at an early age, establishing himself very quickly. At the age of 16, Letele was already training with the Māori representative New Zealand team. However, Letele was not able to see the field due to shattering his knee in training.

Letele was signed onto the New Zealand A team, attracting the National Rugby League (NRL) team the New Zealand Warriors. However, due to knee problems, he was sidelined again.

Letele signed on to play for the minor premiership team, North Sydney Bears. While with the Bears, the team won three titles. Letele has also played for Cootamundra Bulldogs and AS Carcassonne in France before retiring.

Boxing Letele was an accomplished corporate boxer fighting multiple times on Duco Events’ card before turning pro. He has his nobility as a professional boxer, public figure and has made unique, prolific or innovative contributions to a field of entertainment as he puts on a character when he is in the ring with a mic, in the media or at the weigh in as the Brown Buttabean. His alias the "Brown Buttabean" is inspired by Eric Esch's Butterbean. Letele has received mixed reactions from the media and the general public, calling him Duco's circus act.

Duco Events created their own title, which is an exact replica from the Rocky film series. With this title Letele puts out an open challenge to the locals to fight him at 4x2 minute rounds at a weight limit of 100 kg. The added stipulation is that if Leteles opponent knocks him out, they will receive ten thousand dollars.

Corporate world Champion to professional fighter 2014–2015 Letele won the title against John Lomu (who is the brother of Jonah Lomu) on 16 October 2014. Letele won by TKO in the second round. Letele lost the first fight but defended his title for the second time against Waikato Rugby Union Prop Loni Uhila on 6 December 2014. Letele won by split decision. The NZPBA recognise Letele's fights from this point onwards as professional fights and not corporate fights, although the rules stayed at corporate rules. In March 2015, fought on the Cairo George vs Nort Beauchamp undercard against Tamati Keefe. The bout was for the inaugural King of the Coromandel Heavyweight boxing title. Letele won the bout by Unanimous decision.

On 4 March 2015, the day before his fight against Finau Maka at the weigh in, both fighters got into a fight. Letele grabbed Maka on the throat pushing him back, Maka retaliated by tackling him to the ground, however the fight was broken off quickly. Letele defended the title for the third time against former Tonga national rugby union team star Finau Maka on 5 March 2015. Letele won by TKO in the first round. In July 2015, WBA Oceania ranked Letele in their regional ratings. Letele defended his title for the fourth and fifth time by fighting two people on the same night. This was the only time NZPBA did not recognize Letele's fights as pro bouts since fighting Loni Uhila. The NZPBA did not recognizes the two bouts as pro due to both bouts didn't make minimum scheduled time limit of either 4x2 minute rounds or 3x3 minute rounds. Both of the bouts were scheduled for 3x2 minute rounds. Letele fought the winner of the Christchurch Corporate Boxing Tournament Jae Jae Smith and local Lordly Kaihua. Letele won both bouts in the third round by TKO.

First defeat with redemption 2015 Letele defended his title for the sixth and final time on 1 August 2015 against former Southland Rugby Football Union player Kaleni Taetuli. Letele lost the bout in 22-second in the first round by TKO. In 2015, Letele moved to a new gym and trainer, trained by John Conway. On 14 October 2015, the day before his second fight against Kaleni Taetuli at the weigh in, Letele lashed out and tried to attack Taetuli while screaming out "You won the lottery last time". Leteles team grabbed him before he could get his hands on Taetuli. Kaleni Taetuli defended the title against Letele on 15 October. If Taetuli won by knockout, he would have received fifteen thousand dollars instead of the usual ten thousand dollar stipulation. It has been reported that win, lose or draw this will be Taetuli's last fight. Letele won the fight by majority decision.

Second Defeat, Redemption to retirement 2015–2016 Letele defended his regained title against Loni Uhila in a rematch, one year after their first bout. Uhila won against Letele by UD, making this the second loss in Letele's boxing career. Since their last fight Uhila has signed on to Hurricanes (rugby union). In January 2016, Letele fought Silivelio Pekepo aka Batman in Samoa. This was the first time that Letele has fought in Samoa. Pekepo called Letele out back in 2015 when Letele fought two boxers in one night, however Letele fought someone else. Letele declared the bout to be for the Duco Event's USA Heavyweight title and the Duco Event's Intercontinental Heavyweight title. Letele won the bout against Pekepo by Unanimous decision. In April 2016, Letele fought in Australia for the second time. This time he fought for what was called the vacant Duco Event's Corporate World Australia Title. Letele fought Australian Kickboxer Wayne Pepe. Letele won by TKO in the first round. In May 2016, Letele fought in more of a traditional bout then he is usually use to. Letele fought Conrad Lam at 4x3 min rounds with no standing 8 counts. Conrad Lam won the bout by split decision. Letele will be fighting against JaeJae Smith for the second time. The last the two fought was in Palmerston North back in June 2015, where Letele fought two people in one night. Letele won both fights by TKO. Letele fought Barlow twice in his career, first in Waitara, New Zealand as the main event in October 2016. Second time they fought was on the Joseph Parker vs. Andy Ruiz undercard. The fight was not televised, however it was the opener of the event. This fight was Letele's retirement fight.

Boxing records

Exhibition Opponent Date Location