 Messam in 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Liam Justin Messam (1984-03-25)25 March 1984 (age 41) Blenheim, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 109 kg (240 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Rotorua Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Sam Messam (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Boxing career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight class | Heavyweight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing record[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Win by KO | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draws | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liam Justin Messam (born 25 March 1984) is a retired New Zealandrugby union player who played in theTOP14 forRC Toulonnais. InSuper Rugby, he previously played for theChiefs, and forWaikato in theITM Cup. Messam predominantly plays as ablindside flanker but can fill in atNumber 8 as well asopenside flanker. After the retirement of then Chiefs captainMils Muliaina, Messam was named the team's new co-captain from2012 onwards, alongsideAaron Cruden.
He is also a professional boxer.
In October 2008, Messam was selected inNew Zealand's end of year tour squad to tour Hong Kong and Europe. He played one test againstScotland and one match againstMunster. He subsequently appeared several more times for New Zealand but was dropped a month out of the2011 Rugby World Cup in favour ofVictor Vito.[3] Since his debut in 2008 he won 40 test caps for the All Blacks.
In 2004, at the age of just 20, he captained theNew Zealand sevens team to its fifth IRB Sevens World Series title and in 2005 led the team to the final. Messam also played in the New Zealand sevens teams that won gold at the2006 Commonwealth Games and2010 Commonwealth Games.[4] In 2004 he was also named New Zealand Sevens Player of the Year.
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Messam was selected for the 2015 Rugby World Cup as part of the All Blacks' 31-man squad. After the tournament was finished, Messam announced his intention to compete in rugby sevens for theRio Olympics 2016. Messam was later named in the All Black Sevens' squad for the Wellington Sevens alongside All Blacks teammate,Sonny Bill Williams. After the Rio Olympics 2016, Messam played for the Chiefs in2012 Super Rugby season, when injuries greatly affected the loose forward's positions.
Of the 43 tests he played in Messam was thehaka leader in 21 of them. He led theKa Mate version of the haka nine times; as well as the newerKapa o Pango haka, twelve times (the third highest number led).[citation needed]
Messam made his professional boxing debut in January 2015 against Rhys Sullivan on a Sonny Bill Williams undercard.[5] Messam won the fight by unanimous decision.[6] Messam returned to the ring six years later to fight in a professional fight for charity to raise funds for Tauranga 8-year-old Antonio Pohatu-Barbarich who is being treated for brain cancer.[7][8] Messam took on Joe Ageli in his return fight in April 2021, winning by unanimous decision. Since returning to professional boxing, he has started training with Hit Fitness HQ under retired professional boxing, Cairo George. In the same camp is Olympic Bronze medalistDavid Nyika.[9] Messam returned one year later in New Plymouth, taking on Thomas Russell.[10] Messam won his third professional fight by unanimous decision. After a charity fight under Fight for Life, Messam returned to the professional ring in July 2022 against Tussi Asafo.[11] Messam won his first win by stoppage. In December, Messam finished his 2022 boxing year by taking on Mathew Matich.[12] Messam won the fight by Unanimous Decision.
| 7 fights | 7 wins | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 6 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Darryl Takerei | UD | 4 | May 25, 2024 | TSB Stadium,New Plymouth, New Zealand | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Kyle Mereweather | UD | 4 | Nov 23, 2023 | YMCA Stadium,Hamilton, New Zealand | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Mathew Matich | UD | 4 | Dec 3, 2022 | Grassroots Trust Velodrome,Cambridge, New Zealand | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Tussi Asafo | TKO | 2 (4) | Jul 30, 2022 | YMCA Stadium,Hamilton, New Zealand | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Thomas Russell | UD | 4 | May 13, 2022 | TSB Stadium,New Plymouth, New Zealand | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Joe Ageli | UD | 4 | Apr 17, 2021 | Don Rowlands Event Centre, Lake Karapiro, New Zealand | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Rhys Sullivan | UD | 4 | Jan 31, 2015 | Qudos Bank Arena,New South Wales,Australia |
Messam's brother,Sam Messam, played in theAll Whites side at the 2008 London Olympics.[13]
Throughout his professional athlete career, Messam developed a preference for natural alternative health options to relieve both physical pain and mental challenges high-profile athletes experience. After witnessing the detrimental effect conventional pain relief and mental health medication has on close friends and family, Messam founded Ora CBD alongsideTeddy Stanaway in 2020.[citation needed]
OfMāori descent, Messam affiliates to theNgāi Tūhoeiwi.[14] Messam has stated that he also hasSamoan andScottish heritage.[15][16] He has played for theNew Zealand Maori, including during the2006 Churchill Cup and the 2010 centenary series, where he captained the side. In 2012 and 2013 Messam was awarded theTom French Cup as Māori Player of the Year.[17][18]
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Tom French Memorial Māori rugby union player of the year 2012, 2013 | Succeeded by |
