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WESSEX & MERCIA REFERENCE
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of Interesting Sites
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Click on to the exact word
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 BOXING
HINTS
|
- If you a serious about taking
up boxing, it is a good idea to find yourself a trainer. Professional
tuition can be expensive but even a one-off introductory session with a
trainer will give you a flavour of the sport. You can then decide if
you want to take things further.
- Boxing can be dangerous,
so it is important that you ensure your trainer has insurance and a
solid training background. Better still, try to find someone who is
certified by an established boxing organisation.
- Finding a trainer
is a job which should not be rushed. The ideal candidate will be able
to advise you on nutrition and lifestyle as well as techniques and
equipment. The relationship between boxer and trainer should be one of
mutual respect.
- Recommendations are
often the best way to find someone suitable. Remember to do your
research - check out other clients and find out his or her experiences
as well as references.
- Boxing gyms can point you
in the direction of a trainer. These are gyms dedicated to the sport,
and the exercise, fitness and practice required to excel. These
specialist gyms can also offer advice, and going to a gym regularly is
a great way to meet and train with boxing enthusiasts of all levels.
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BOXING CLUBS & GYMS IN ENGLAND
| Bristol |
Bristol
Boxing Gym, 40 Thomas Street, St Agnes,
Bristol, BS2 9LL, UK, Ph : 0117 9496699, Fax:
0117 9049373, Email: csanigar@aol.com |
| Bristol |
Downend Youth Boxing Foundation,
The Boxing Gym, Moravian Road Business Park, Moravian Rd., Kingswood,
Bristol, England |
| Cambridgeshire |
KC's Gym,
The Old Lincoln Road Boys School, York Road, Peterborough,
Cambridgeshire, England |
| Cambridgeshire |
Pauly's
Gym, Upper Floor, 327 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire,
England PE1 2PF |
| Cheshire |
ACE ABC,
The basement, Hallam Business Centre, Hallam Street, Heavily,
Stockport, Cheshire, England, SK2 6PT, Ph: 07888 75 3330(John) or
07949466798 (Dave), Email: info@ace-abc.com |
| Cheshire |
Bredbury Stockport Boxing Club, Email: john.houghton10@ntlworld.com |
| Cheshire |
Bridgefoot
ABC, 24 Amelia Street, Warrington, Cheshire, England, Ph: 0370 676 0444 |
| Cheshire |
Chester
ABC, 38 Hooton Road, Ellesmere Port, South Wirral, Cheshire, CH65 7DP,
England |
| Cheshire |
Col
Rotunda ABC, The Viscount, Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire,
England, Ph: 0151 207 1690 |
| Cheshire |
Crewe
& Altsager ABC, 5 West Grove, Crewe, Cheshire, England |
| Cheshire |
Crewe
ABC, 26 Jesmond Cresent, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 7NJ, England, Ph: 0127
065 0770 |
| Cheshire |
Golden
Star ABC, 2 Wells Close, Great Sutton, Cheshire, L66 28Z, England, Ph:
0151 339 4214 |
| Cheshire |
Phoenix
Olympic Boxing Club, William Beamont
Specialist Sports College, Long Lane, Warrington, Cheshire, WA2 8PX,
England, Ph: 7787531346, Email: phoenixabc@lycos.co.uk |
| Cheshire |
Punch Perfect Gym, Old Market Tavern,
Church Rd., Altrincham, Cheshire, England. Ph: 0161
924 0137 |
| Cheshire |
Runcorn
ABC, 50 Lockgate East, Windmill Hill, Runcorn, Cheshire, England, Ph:
01928 718 101 or 01928 564 189 |
| Cheshire |
Vauxhalls
ABC, 47 Falcon Road, Gt Sutton, Cheshire, England, Ph: 0151 604 0652 |
| Cheshire |
Warrington
ABC, 47 Broadbent Avenue, Warrington, Cheshire, England, Ph: 01925 575
644 |
| Cheshire |
Warrington
ABC, 88 Chiltern Road, Warrington, Cheshire, England, Ph: 01925 635 436 |
| Cheshire |
Wigan
ABC, 1 Churchfields, Croft, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 7JR, England, Ph:
01925 765 167 |
| Cheshire |
Winsford
ABC, 62 Nixon Drive, Winsford, Cheshire, England, Ph: 01606 551 556 |
| Cheshire |
Widnes
ABC, 29 Drummond Court, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 3LX, England, Ph: 0151
420 6816 |
| Co. Durham |
South
Durham ABC, Fishburn, Co. Durham, UK, Ph: 01429880098 or 07960564005
(Mobile) |
| County Durham |
Spennymoor
Boxing Academy, 21 Deneside, Spennymoor,
County Durham, DL16 6RB, United Kingdom, Ph: +44 (0) 1388 813213, +44
(0) 79 68 20 50 43 (Cell), Email: robert@top-boxer.com |
| Devon |
Apollo Boxing And Sports Club, Barton
Downs, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 8DZ, England |
| East Yorkshire |
Hull Fish Trades Amateur Boxing Club, 42 Heron
Street, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU3 3PF, England, Ph: +44(0)1482 228325
or +44(0)7779024026 (mobile), Email: fishtrades@aol.co.uk |
| Essex |
Alma ABC, The Neighbourhood Centre, Gubbins
Lane, Harold Wood, Essex, UK, Ph: 01245-421768 |
| Essex |
Harlow
ABC, Momples Road, Harlow, Essex, United Kingdom |
| Hampshire |
Golden
Ring ABC, 5 waterloo Rd., Freemantle, Southampton, Hampshire, England,
Ph: 023.8023.0699 |
| Hampshire |
Portsmouth
University ABC, University of Portsmouth Students Union, Cambridge
Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2EF, England, Ph: 07952 707468 |
| Hertfordshire |
Finchley
and District Boxing Club, Anchor Hall, Bulwer
Road, New Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 5EX, England, Ph: 020 8449 6321,
Email: enquiry@finchleyboxing.co.uk |
| Kent |
Aylesham
Boxing Club, Burgess Road, Aylesham, Canterbury, Kent, England |
| Kent |
FIGHTING
FIT GYM (Boxing & Kickboxing), Unit A8 (1st Floor), Maidstone
Industrial Centre, St. Peter Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 0ST,
England, Ph: 01622-688556 |
| Kent |
Hirep
Gym, 69 Wearbay Crescent, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 6BA, UK, Ph: 01303
245119, Email: info@bodybuilding.fsbusiness.co.uk |
| Kent |
Snodland
ABC, Snodland, Kent, England, Ph: 01634
865779, Email: ann.colebourne@btinternet.com |
| Lancashire |
Bullough's
ABC, Newtown, Wigan, Lancashire, England, Ph: 01942 323111 |
| Lancashire |
Burscough
ABC, 22 Manor Drive, Burscough, Lancashire, England, Ph: 01704 893 828 |
| Lancashire |
Huyton
ABC, 25 The Avenue, Huyton, Lancashire, L36 7SD, England, Ph: 0151 292
4749 |
| Lancashire |
Kirkby
ABC, 20 Swan Delph, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 5QG, England,
Ph: 0169 542 3143 |
| Lancashire |
Larches
and Savick Amateur Boxing Club (ABC), Preston, Lancashire, United
Kingdom, Ph: 07739134114, Email: larchesandsavickabc@blueyonder.co.uk |
| Lancashire |
Ringside
Gym, Albert Street, Newtown, Wigan,
Lancashire, WN5 OTR, United Kindgdom, Ph: 01942 323111 |
| Lancashire |
Skem ABC,
Comp Sec John Hallam, 85 Eskbank, Tanhouse, Skelmersdale, Lancashire,
England, Ph: 01695 733102, Mob: 07811 883034 Email:
jh@skemabc.org.uk |
| London |
Brunel
University ABC, Borough Road, Osterley,
Middlesex, London, England, Ph: 0208 908 6545, Email: fijisport@hotmail.com |
| London |
Cityboxer, 70
Ewer Street, Southwark, London, England, SE1 0NR, Ph: 0207 620 1666,
Email: info@cityboxer.com |
| London |
Gleason's
Boxing Gym, 165 Tower Bridge Road, London,
SE1 3LW, England, Ph: 0207 403 6114, Email. info@gleasonsboxinggym.co.uk |
| London |
Islington
Boxing Club, 20 Hazellville Rd., London, N19
3LP, England, Ph: 07956 293768, Email: enzo@boxinglondon.co.uk |
| London |
Kia Boxing, Tooting
Leisure Centre (Sports Hall), Garrett Lane, Grave Place, London,
SW17 0NE, England, Ph/Fax: 0790 44 67 532, Email: seldefenc@yahoo.co.uk |
| London |
Kronk Gym
(UK), 25-27 Talacre Road, Kentish Town, London, NW5 3PH, England |
| London |
Lion ABC,
140 Pitfield Street, London, N16, England |
| London |
McKenzie Boxercise, 10 Half
MoonLane, London, SE24 9HU, England, Ph: 02077372338, Email: angel@mckenzieboxercise.com |
| London |
Third
Space Gym, 13 Sherwood Street, London, W1F 7BR, England |
| London |
TKO
Boxing Gym, 1 Dellow Street, London, E1 OBP, England, Ph: 020 7265 9955 |
| Manchester |
Fighting
Fit Boxing Club, Tollbar House, 1 Manchester Road, Droylsden,
Manchester, M43 6EP, England, Ph: (+44) 161 301 3799, Email: fightclub@btconnect.com |
| Manchester |
Mr
Smart's ABC, 6 Loxton Crescent, Wigan, Manchester, England, Ph: 01942
742 343 |
| Manchester |
Northside
ABC, 215 North Road, Clayton, Manchester, Ph: 0161231 4121, Email CLUB@Northsideabc.8k.com |
| Merseyside |
Avalon
ABC, 46 Belle Vue, Seacombe, Wirral, Merseyside, England, Ph: 0151 637
2327, 0790 963 4630 (Mobile) |
| Merseyside |
Campion
Transport ABC, 9 Ackers Road, Eoodchurch, Wirral, Merseyside, England,
Ph: 0151 677 3893 |
| Merseyside |
Croxteth
ABC, 20 Mollington Avenue, Norris Green, Liverpool, Merseyside,
England, Ph: 0151 287 8047, 07961 834 070 (Mobile) |
| Merseyside |
Everton
Red Triangle ABC, 61 Broad Square, Liverpool, L1 1, Merseyside,
England, Ph: 0151 270 1707 |
| Merseyside |
Gemini
ABC, 67 Kingthorne Road, Hunts Cross, Merseyside, L25 0PJ, England, Ph:
0151 486 2323 |
| Merseyside |
Golden
Gloves ABC, 30 Barnhey House, Meols, Merseyside, England, Ph: 0151 632
4470 |
| Merseyside |
Golden
Gloves ABC, Shorefields CC School, Dingle Lane, Toxteth, Liverpool,
Merseyside, England,
Ph: 151-207-4981, Fax: 151-207-1044 |
| Merseyside |
Goodison
ABC, 101 Goodison Road, Everton, Liverpool, Merseyside, L4, England |
| Merseyside |
Halewood
Youth Club ABC, Halewood YC, Litchfield Road, Halewood, Liverpool,
Merseyside, L25, England, Ph: 0192 854 7932 |
| Merseyside |
Higherside
ABC, 14 Stewart Court, Whiston, Merseyside, England, Ph: 0151 493 1585 |
| Merseyside |
Kirkdale
ABC, 22 Easby Walk, Liverpool, Merseyside, L4 1UX, England, Ph: 0151
933 8061 |
| Merseyside |
Knowsley
Vale ABC, 3 Thistley Hey Road, Kirkby, Merseyside, England, Ph: 0151
546 7864 |
| Merseyside |
Litherland
ABC, 121 Bridge Road, Litherland, Liverpool, Merseyside, L21 2DB,
England, Ph: 0151 920 3101 |
| Merseyside |
Long Lane
ABC, 52 Eastbourne Avenue, Aintree, Liverpool, Merseyside, England |
| Merseyside |
Lowe
House ABC, 29 Grafton Street, St Helens, Merseyside, WA10 4HQ, England |
| Merseyside |
Marsh
Lane ABC, 291 Marsh Lane, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 5SG, England, Ph:
0151 284 7245 |
| Merseyside |
Mersey
ABC, 145 Rodney Street, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 2RN, England, Ph:
0151 647 9723 |
| Merseyside |
North
Mersey ABC, 52 Rawson Road, Seaforth, Merseyside, L21 1BY, England, Ph:
0151 474 8957 |
| Merseyside |
Salisbury
ABC, 33 Claremont Road, Seaforth, Merseyside, England, Ph: 0151 474 5498 |
| Merseyside |
Sefton ABC,
1A Harrops Croft, Netherton, Bootle, Merseyside, L30 OQS, England, Ph:
0151-931-4689, Email: bryn@sefton-abc.fsnet.co.uk |
| Merseyside |
Southport
YMCA ABC, 59 Segars Lane, Southport, Merseyside, England, Ph: 01704 570
231 |
| Merseyside |
St Helens
Town ABC, 6 McCulloch Street, St Helens, Merseyside, England, Ph: 01744
753 289 |
| Merseyside |
St
Teresas ABC, 20 Homestall Road, Liverpool, Merseyside, L11 2TX,
England, Ph: 0151 284 77053 |
| Merseyside |
St
Tersese's ABC, The Strand, Norris Green, Liverpool 11, Merseyside,
England, Email: Juliedjskm5@aol.com |
| Merseyside |
Stockbridge
ABC, 132 Roundhey, Stockbridge Village, Merseyside, L28 1RF, England,
Ph: 0151 230 0447 |
| Merseyside |
Tower
Hill ABC, 5 Hamner Road, West Vale, Kirkby, Liverpool, Merseyside, L32
0RP, England, Ph: 0151 548 1126 |
| Merseyside |
Tuebrook
ABC, 28 Silverdale Avenue, Liverpool, L3, Merseyside, England, Ph: 0151
220 2358 |
| Merseyside |
Vauxhalls
ABC, 48a Ford Road, Upton, Wirral, Merseyside, England |
| Merseyside |
Wallasey
ABC, 25c Berry Lands, Moreton, Wirral, Merseyside, L46 7TU, England,
Ph: 0151 677 7370 |
| Merseyside |
West
Derby ABC, 14 Bremner Close, Liverpool, Merseyside, L14, England, Ph:
0151 280 2728 |
| Merseyside |
West
Wirral ABC, 174 Bidston Avenue, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 0DU,
England |
| Merseyside |
West
Wirral ABC, 21 Wastdale Drive, Moreton, Merseyside, England, Ph: 0151
605 0979 |
| Merseyside |
West
Wirral ABC, 29 Wilmere Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 0JB, England |
| Merseyside |
Willaston
ABC, 26 Sandy Lane, Wallasey Village, Wallasey, Merseyside, England,
Ph: 0151 639 2171 |
| Merseyside |
Willaston
ABC, 9 Churton Road, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, England, Ph: 0151
652 9803 |
| Oxfordshire |
Berinsfeld
ABC, 9 Colwell Road, Berinsfield, Oxfordshire, OX10 7NS, Ph: 01865
341348 or 07860 156 950 |
| Somerset |
Mycon
ABC, 76 Silver Street, Nailsea, Somerset, BS48 2DS, United Kingdom, Ph:
01275 852889, Fax: 01275 856723, Email. myconyc@aol.com |
| South Gloucestershire |
Spaniorum
Farm Gym, Compton Greenfield, Bristol, BS35
5RX, South Gloucestershire, England, Ph: 01454 632 448, Email: texwoodward@aol.com |
| South Yorkshire |
Handsworth
ABC, Hall Road, Handsworth, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, Ph:
07850 471 976 |
| South Yorkshire |
Handsworth
Police Amateur Boxing Club, 42 Lismore Road, Meersbrook, Sheffield,
South Yorkshire, S8 9JD, Ph: 0114 281 80 27, Email: ronnytucker@blueyonder.co.uk |
| South Yorkshire |
Joyce
School Of Amateur Boxing, The Gym, Wingate Hill, Conisbrough,
Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN12 3EH, England, Ph: 01709 868838, Fax:
01709 868838, Email: Joycebox@mjoyce76.fsnet.co.uk |
| South Yorkshire |
Koncrete
Canvas Gym, Castle Court, St.Johns Rd., Sheffield, South Yorkshire,
S25JX, England, Ph: 01142750303/07799456400 |
| South Yorkshire |
Sheffield
Boxing Centre, 70 Oldfield Rd., Stannington, Sheffield, England, Ph:
01142321332, Gym 01142331687 |
| South Yorkshire |
Sheffield
Boxing Centre, 73 Burton Street (Old School), Hillsborough, Sheffield,
6S, England |
| South Yorkshire |
Sheffield
boxing centre, Hatfield House Lane (above Swift-fit tyers), Sheffield
5, South Yorkshire, England, UK, Ph: 0114 240144 |
| South Yorkshire |
SteelCity
Boxing Club, 40 Kilvington Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S13 8AF,
England, Ph: 0114 2655778/07786875576 |
| Tyne & Wear |
Bilton
Hall Boxing Club, Taunton Avenue, Low Simonside, Jarrow, Tyne &
Wear, NE32 4XD, England, Ph: 0191 4223816, Fax: 0191 4223816, Email: mjld@blueyonder.co.uk |
| Tyne & Wear |
Fit Club, First Floor, 10 High
Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 1EN, UK, Ph:
0191 2617050, 07970851648 (cell), Fax: 0191 2617060, Email: info@fitclub.co.uk |
| Warwickshire |
Warwick
Racing ABC (the Famous Turpins Gym), Hampton Road, Warwick,
Warwickshire, UK, Ph: 07932 745275 |
| West Sussex |
Chichester
Boxing Club, 34A Little London, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1PL,
England, Ph : 01243 782462 |
| West Sussex |
Crawley
ABC, Crawley, West Sussex, UK, Ph: 07782375870 Email: k.g.b@blueyonder.co.uk |
| West Yorkshire |
Cleckheaton
Academy Police Boxing Club, South Parade, Cleckheaton, BD19, UK, Ph:
07979 030406 or 01274 873030, Email: y.maclean@sky.com |
| West Yorkshire |
Crawford
Ashley's Boxing Club, 15 Union Street, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, WF13
1BG, England, Ph: 01924 456868, Email: gym@crawfordashley.co.uk |
| West Yorkshire |
Dean
Whites Gym, 102, Bradford Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England, Ph:
01924 438945 |
|
|
BOXING CLUBS
IN WALES
| Cardiff |
St Peters 10 Oakfields Marshfield,
(Next to Adrews, near the fly over), Cardiff, CF4 TYU Wales Tekl:
987-12354-7654 |
| Ammanford |
Ammanford
Sports Association Centre, Ammanford Recreational Ground, Ammanford,
Carmarthenshire, SA18NR- Swansea, SA18 Tel: 01269843204 Email: leontrott@hotmail.com |
| Towy |
http://towyabc.tripod.com, Towy
A.B.C has recently relocated to a Brand new boxing gymnasium within the
town of Ammanford in the county of carmarthenshire(south west Wales). |
| Ammanford |
Cwmgors Boxing Club,9
Oakfield Road Twyn Garnant, Ammanford, Wales |
| PORT
TALBOT |
GLYNCORRWG ABC,THE
BARN, GLYNCORRWG, PORT TALBOT Tel: 01639 852610/07900 474027 Email : mhoar@talktalk.net
Gym has moved locations to a bigger and better place and is now one of
the largest gyms in Wales, so you have plenty of room to work in(15
bags, two rings, weights,
running machines, cross trainers, bikes and loads of room for the bleep
test and hills a plenty for running up) |
| Tredegar |
Tredegar
ABC, Coach Bach, Dukestown, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, South
Wales Tel: 07976400239 Email : tredegarboxingclub@hotmail.com
We are open 3 nights a week Mon, Wed & Thurs from 5pm -
7.30pm. We are prepared to travel to competitions. |
| PortTalbot |
cwmavon hornets abc, gwyddfryn,depot
rd,cwmavon,port talbot ,glam, s.wales ,uk. Swansea, sa129df
cwmavonhornets@aol.com
Western / Olympic style amateur boxing club willing to travel to
Thailand from the UK to train or box against your boxers, can be an
ongoing tournament, please make contact if you are interested, thanks,
Nigel Davies.
http://www.thepunchclinic.com
|
Add a link to your Boxing Gym or club!!
If you have a boxing gym or club and you would like to add it
to our directory, then click on the Email link below and supply your
name/email and the name of the Boxing Gym or club you want included in
the BoxingHelp.com gym and club directory. Also include the address of
your WWW site and we will provide a link to your site. All we ask is
that you please provide a link to BoxingHelp.com at your WWW site. We
will contact you once your Boxing Gym or club has been added. Contact us
|
History of British Boxing
Boxing’s origins lie in the historical willingness of to men
to line up face to face, bare knuckle and punch one another for reasons
that vary widely but include honour, anger and monetary gain. However,
boxing has also long been a sport with matches held for entertainment
as well as competition.
Boxing and Britain have a very long association. References to fist
fighting litter British literary works. Way back in 1681 there is a
mention of a boxing match in the Protestant Mercury, a London
newspaper. The Royal Theatre in London held regular boxing matches way
back in 1698. Fist fighting was even considered something of a
gentleman’s pursuit in the past, King George was a great fan along with
many of his noblemen. The King set up a boxing ring in Hyde Park in
1723.
Then, in 1719 a fighter called James Figg entered the ring and brought
with him considerable skill and tactics and these were to revolutionise
the game. Figg was an expert fencer and had retired decorated and
unbeaten in 1730. He then set up a booth at Southwark Fair where he
would challenge all comers to bouts. He is also credited with the
establishment of a boxing academy, the first of its kind anywhere in
the world. After almost 300 fights James Figg passed away in 1734.
It was during this time that boxing began to develop towards the type
of fighting we would recognise in a ring today as professional boxing.
Back then fights were still brutal, and rules were few and far between.
Champion boxers were very hard men indeed and they took a lot of very
real physical punishment in the ring.
James Figg had a pupil called John ‘Jack’ Broughton. He became champion
from 1729 to 1750 and was known as the father of English boxing.
Broughton laid down some basic rules for boxing to try and organise
what was still pretty much a free for all in the ring. In 1734, the
same year he set out his first set of boxing rules, he established a
school known as Broughton’s Amphitheatre in Oxford Road, near Oxford
Street . Broughton’s rules advocated breaks for a man down and the use
of gloves, but only in training. Despite his long stand in a brutal
sport, Broughton died at the ripe old age of 86 at Walcot Place in
Lambeth . As a Yeoman of the Guard at Westminster Abbey , Broughton was
buried in the West Cloister there along with his wife Elizabeth.
Daniel Mendoza, another London boxer, was champion from 1791 to 1795.
He also taught the art of boxing at his Mendoza School where he put
greater emphasis on footwork, sparring and counter punching than had
previously been used in boxing. His work helped move boxing on from
brutal brawls to more sophisticated fighting, closer to the much more
tactical professional boxing of today.
The 1800s were good years for British fighters with many claiming the
World Title including James Burke, Tom Cribb, Jem Mace and Jim Belcher.
This was the most important era of boxing because of the introduction
of the Queensbury Rules. Boxing moved away from an ugly brawling
spectacle that was at the time more like wrestling with a few punches
thrown. It became the admittedly still brutal but more graceful game
that it is today. The Queensbury Rules of 1867 helped to bring sporting
behaviour, tactics, and sophistication into boxing.
Included in the package of changes brought in by the Queensbury Rules
were the now familiar three minute rounds. Mauling, holding and general
wrestling moves were disallowed. A ten second count on knockouts and
the use of gloves in fights as well as practice were also introduced.
This revolutionary update laid the foundations of modern boxing which
evolved on the basis of fair effort formed by The Queensbury Rules.
|
A ten second count on
knockouts and the use of gloves
in fights as well as practice were also introduced. This revolutionary
update laid the foundations of modern boxing which evolved on the basis
of fair effort formed by The Queensbury Rules.
Despite
being at the fore of boxing development, British boxers were
losing their grip on the World Title. By the end of the 1800s as the
Americans started to take more interest in the sport and were enjoying
most of the success. Although Britain struggled to make heavyweight
champions they did enjoy numerous victories and titles in the lighter
classes. During the early 1900s the UK produced fighters like George
‘Digger’ Stanley (World Bantemweight Champion 1910), Bill Ladbury
(World Flyweight Champion 1913) and Teddy Baldock (World Bantamweight
Champion 1927).
Later in the century Britain enjoyed some Olympic success including in
1956 when East London boxer Terry Spinks won the flyweight gold in
Melbourne. The list of British fighters who managed to claim titles
during the 20th century includes such boxing legends as Loyd Honeyghan,
Welterweight 1986; Nigel Benn , Middleweight 1990, 1992-96; Chris
Eubank , Middleweight 1990-91, 1991-95; Frank Bruno , Heavyweight
1995-1996.
Britain
finally got firmly to the top of boxing again with the success
of Lennox Lewis , Heavyweight champion in 1993-1994, 1997-2001,
2001-2004. While other fighters like Bruno had managed to claim a world
title belt, Lewis did it with the style and consistency of a true world
champion. One of Lennox’s greatest claims to fame is his defeat of the
great Mike Tyson in 2002 with an eighth round knock down.
Boxers love to collect belts. They don’t need them to keep their
trousers up they are the trophies that come with success in the world
of boxing. One such coveted belt is the Lonsdale Belt, the oldest belt
in boxing. The belt gets its name from former patron of the National
Sporting Club Lord Lonsdale and was started in 1909. The belt is
awarded to the winner in each British weight division each year. Any
boxer who can do this three times in a row can keep the handcrafted
belt with its intricate and expensive enamel and gold finishing.
The first boxer to receive the belt was Freddie Walsh who was awarded
it in 1909 for winning the British lightweight title. The first
heavyweight to take the title was ‘Bombadier’ Billy Wells. The boxer
from London’s East End received the belt in 1911 when he knocked out
opponent Ian Hague in the sixth round. British hero Henry Cooper won
three Lonsdale Belts outright during his career! Earlier belts, like
the belt won by Billy Wells, were made to a higher standard, using 22
carat gold. His belt is kept at The Royal Artillery Barracks in
Woolwich , South London, but is unfortunately not on public display.
Sir Henry Cooper, OBE achieved notable
fame despite also never winning
a world title. He became known as ‘Our Henry’, a reference to his
Cockney upbringing and was a superstar both as a boxer and as a
celebrity.
|
|
Cooper did manage to floor
Muhammed Ali at Wembley Stadium
during a non-title fight. Ali went down in the fourth round after being
hit by the left hook known in the business as ‘Enry’s ‘Ammer. Ali got
up, recovered and subsequently won the fight. But Ali later said that
Cooper had hit him so hard “his ancestors in Africa had felt it”.
Frank
Bruno achieved similar all-round success as a media celebrity and
fighter as Henry Cooper before had. Like Henry Cooper he came across as
a people’s fighter, simple, likeable and hard working. However Bruno
got something Cooper never did, a world title. Bruno only held the
title for a short while after defeating Oliver McCall over 12 rounds.
Mike Tyson took the title back from Bruno after a third round knockout.
It was Bruno’s last fight.
Britain
enjoyed great successes in the lower weight divisions, boxers
like Nigel Benn dominated their classes. Benn came onto the
professional boxing scene in 1987, winning 22 consecutive fights. He
became known as the “dark Destroyer’ because of his explosive fighting
displays. He won world titles at both Middleweight and Super
Middleweight level. Unfortunately, Benn’s career reached a low point
after a vicious fight with Gerald McClellan. Benn was knocked out of
the ring in the first round but fought back in a gritty and brutal
fight that eventually left McClellan severely injured. The fighter
remains unable to see, 80% deaf and partially paralysed due to injuries
sustained in the fight.
One of British
Boxing’s most colourful fighters is Brighton based Chris
Eubank. After a childhood spent in poverty growing up in Hackney and
Peckham , Eubank moved to the Bronx with his mother and joined a gym.
By 1984 he was winning amateur boxing titles. But the trouble that was
to feature in his life was already in evidence the next year when he
seemed to bite an opponent’s shoulder during a fight.
Eubank’s career
was also blighted by tragedy. In 1981 he met Michael
Watson in another gruelling contest between two equally brilliant and
determined fighters at Tottenham ’s White Hart Lane in North London.
Late in the fight Eubank looked beaten on points, but he rose from the
canvas in the 11th round to deliver some brutal punches to Watson. The
fight went on to the 12th round but Watson soon collapsed afterwards
and entered a coma. Watson also suffered partial paralysis and hearing
problems as a result of the injuries he sustained in the fight. Eubank
seemed to lose the desire to fight after this bout and as a result he
never really achieved his true potential.
‘Prince’ Naseem
Hamed was one of a new breed of boxer. Always ready to
play to the media, these brash young fighters are confident of their
ability and not afraid to brag and show off the spoils of their
success. However, much of this showmanship seems to come with trouble,
and this has proved to be so in Prince Naseem’s case. The Prince was
jailed for 15 months in may 2006 for dangerous driving, although this
wasn’t his first brush with trouble. His meteoric rise through the
rankings as a young Bantamweight fighter was indeed spectacular. He won
many fights with early knock downs. Unfortunately his fall from grace
has proved to be equally spectacular.
British boxing
has a place in our history, The Queensbury Rules, the
code that underpins boxing, was formulated by the British sportsman
John Graham Chambers on British soil almost 150 years ago. Britain has
enjoyed a good deal of competitive success in boxing over many decades.
Lennox Lewis has made sure that we have had some recent representation
at World Heavyweight level. Meanwhile a myriad of talented boxers have
brought title after title home in the lower weights. Boxing is still
great in Britain!
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