The Votes Are In!
2024 Readers' Choice is back, bigger and better than ever!
View Winners → Arcadia’s Thomas Wu signs professional boxing contract
Arcadia Weekly Jul 29, 2021
Photo courtesy of Tim VanNewhouse
by
share with
On Wednesday, former boxer and current boxing agent, Tim VanNewhouse, announced that he has signed Arcadia-based boxer, Thomas Wu, to a professional-level contract.
Wu, who is 21 years old and comes from Chinese and Vietnamese heritage, is a four-time national champion in the amateur boxing scene where he acquired an impressive 85-11 overall win-loss mark. His favorable results led to his nickname Thomas “Infamous” Wu, as he quickly became one of the most sought-after amateur boxers in the world.
“Aside from his incredible talent, he brings an outside ring presence that most fighters are striving for,” VanNewhouse mentioned in a press release.
His first taste of semi-professional boxing came in 2019 when he competed in a pro-style exhibition in Victory 8’s “Legends of Hoam Kiem,” which is a Vietnamese-run boxing event held in Hanoi. In front of 25,000 people, Wu defeated Australian-born boxer Michael Pengue, who was a belt-holder heading into the fight.
Nearly two years after his victory, Wu was able to sign his first professional contract with VanNewhouse, who himself recently resigned from Split-T Management to become an independent agent. The 21-year-old was his second signing to date, followed by Najee Lopez who is a two-time U.S. amateur champion.
“I’m excited to be working with Tim and the team he is building for me to take the next step in my career,” said Wu. “This is a thrilling new journey for my father and I to be on. We worked hard to get to these next steps.”
Wu graduated from Temple City High in 2018, training as a fighter under his father, Tommy, for the majority of his childhood. He acquired mainstream recognition after he posted a video of himself participating in the “floating ball challenge.” His abilities were acknowledged by several popular sports programs such as ESPN and Barstool Sports.
It has yet to be announced when Wu will make his professional debut and who he will face, along with which individual will be promoting his first fight. An announcement, however, is “forthcoming” according to VanNewhouse.
