At the age of 18 he became the South Pacific heavyweight champion and in 1956 he, unsuccessfully, challenged Joe Bygraves for the vacant Commonwealth title.

As well as fighting professionally, Lave also found work as a gardener at the Auckland residence of Queen Sālote Tupou III.

Described as a "boxing promoter's dream drawcard", Lave was young, good looking and was able to knockout opponents with either hand, and in his first three months in Auckland he fought six times, winning all of them within the distance.

[2] This string of wins brought Lave to the public's attention and he was summoned to meet with Queen Sālote, who wished to advise him on his role as a cultural ambassador for Tonga.

A month later, Lave was matched with experienced English fighter Ken Brady, who had also beaten Mullett earlier in the year.

Lave continued to be matched against top opponents, and his very next fight was against Australian Allen Williams, the New South Wales State Heavyweight Champion.

A second rematch was quickly arranged and two days before Christmas Lave and Brady travelled to New Zealand to fight at Carlaw Park in Auckland.

[1] Lave was back in Australia at the start of 1955, and in January he beat Ross Jenkins in Sydney following this with a win over Steve Zoranich in Perth.

Three weeks later Lave beat Eddie Hearn, before resting for seven days to travel to Birmingham to face the dangerous Jamaican Joe Bygraves.

The result was met with derision by the British Press, as Lave not only put Gardner down for the first time in his career, but also did enough throughout the match to take the decision.

Cockell retired after his contest with Lave, having just a year earlier faced Rocky Marciano for the World Heavyweight title.

Lave ended the year with a win over American Young Harry Wills at the ice rink in Nottingham, before travelling to Germany to knockout Guenter Nurnberg in the first round in an encounter in Berlin.

This was followed by a third defeat to Bygraves, yet another points decision, and finally a loss against German heavyweight title challenger Hans Friedrich.

He then returned to Fiji, where on 25 August he regained his South Seas belt by defeating Mosese Varasikete in a first round knockout display.

Lave ended the year back in Europe, facing the European champion Franco Cavicchi in Bologna, Italy.

He ended 1960 with a win over former ABA champion Dave Rent, before losing to both Ulli Nitzschke in Germany and Tony Smith back in England.

[5] He wrestled in Sheffield where he owned his night club, and while in Singapore he was managed by Emile Czaja, fighting alongside the likes of Prince Kumali.