10pxWelcome to the April edition of our Newsletter, as always
thanks to Craig Birch for his contribution.
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Our intrepid Chairman is now back from his trip to America (see Chairman’s Chat), and has been spotted sauntering around Sedgley in denim jeans, occasionally stopping to look at his reflection in the local shop windows whilst practicing his six gun quick-draw technique.
I am hoping that he quickly gets out of this habit, as the thought of him turning up at the next meeting wearing a stetson whilst yelling “Yeee haa, how ya’all doing guys” doesn’t bear thinking about!
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Our President Bunny Johnson recently attended a LEBA meeting where Melanie Lloyd launched her latest book in conjunction with James Cook MBE. Several members, Chairman Gary ‘quick on the draw’ Bate and myself attended a similar event in Wolverhampton where Steve Bunce joined James Cook. His autobiography ‘Guardian of the Streets’ promises to be a cracking read, and a percentage of the profits will go to the Pedro Club. .
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Our regular Newsletter contributor Craig Birch will shortly be launching his first book entitled ‘Tales From the Top Table’. I have read extracts from the book and again, this promises to be a great read for all boxing fans.
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Our next meeting will take place at the Firs Club, Codsall, on Sunday April 28th. Coffee served from 10.30am, meeting starts

James DeGale has hung up his gloves safe in the knowledge
that he’s achieved feats that no one can ever take away from him.
Becoming the first boxer to win a world title after taking gold at the Olympic Games is a stand-out accomplishment, one of two reigns as IBF super middleweight champion.
Anthony Joshua may have emulated that deed since, but he can’t claim to be the first. Those bragging rights will always belong to ‘Chunky.’
British and European belts, along with WBA International and WBC Silver baubles, also came the way of DeGale after what was a 10-year pro career.
The last time he was in there was with Chris Eubank Jr for the IBO world strap, with what proved to be the end of the line.
The old DeGale was nowhere to be seen, as the usually slippery southpaw was tagged at will by the younger man. At points, it didn’t look all that much like he was going to make the final bell and there appeared to be next to no

chance he’d win on points.
Eubank’s hand was rightly raised, unanimously, through scores of 117-108, 115-111 and 114-111. Some fans had previously thought DeGale would box his head off.
The beaten challenger had vowed to “knock it on the head” should he be defeated and stayed true to his word, announcing his retirement all of five days later.
The date, 28 February 2019, was exactly 10 years to the day since he turned over, making his pro debut with a points victory over Vepkia Tchilaia.
Having just turned the age of 33, it was most probably the right decision. He’d lost twice before, but time was increasingly not on his side.
He may have namechecked that decade of being a pro as the best years of his life, but that was by no means where DeGale’s journey in the sport began.
The chubby lad who started out, aged 10, was soon dubbed ‘Chunky’ and it’s a nickname that has followed him to this day.
He was already an angry young man, but he found a calling that kept him on the straight and narrow and, most importantly, taught him discipline.
Dad Delroy frogmarched him into the Trojan club in London to give him somewhere to channel his aggression and it’s been his life from there.
Not really the studious type, he instead forged a path between the ropes as a stylish and gifted switch-hitter, seasoned from the path taken since starting out.
DeGale would prove a natural and switched to represent Dale Youth, over in Shepherds Bush, as he stepped up his ambitions.
He soon gobbled up three senior ABA titles and broke through to the England and Great Britain squads, with whom he went to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Bronze there and successive silvers at the European championships got him picked for the 2008 Olympics, where he would go all of the way.

He was, by no means, the favourite to emerge from that 2008 middleweight group in China with top honours. Every bout was rated as, at least, 50-50.
First he dumped out Greek former gold medallist Bakhtiyar Artayev, before going up against the late and tragic Irishman Darren Sutherland. Sutherland had beaten him four times before, while DeGale had defeated him just once. Making it twice made all of the difference.
Then he frustrated Emilio Correa, from the great Olympic boxing nation
of Cuba, in the final to the point where his opponent had two points deducted for biting his shoulder.
Those Games proved to be the crowning glory for
Hammersmith’s finest and brought, in the fight game, all the fanfare that goes with it.
An MBE followed from the Queen in the following New Year honours, at the grand old age of 22, and made him a household boxing name.
He’d battled hard to get that far, but wouldn’t rest on his laurels. With burning ambitions and, by his own admission, an ego to match, he wanted to go where no fighter had gone before.
Going after a second gold medal at the next Olympics played on his mind, particularly in the knowledge that the next Games would take place in his back-yard of England’s capital.
But there had been double boxing gold medallists before, Brit Henry Mallin the first to successfully defend his status in 1920 and 1924. He never laced on a paid glove.
There’s been triple gold stars in Laszlo Papp, Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon, all taking their hauls in successive tournaments. Only Papp turned pro and he never

won a world title.
For DeGale to do something no Brit had ever done before as a boxer in the Olympic arena – and emulate those three – would have taken him until he was 30.
There are few rich amateurs, even at the highest level, and DeGale would make millions as a pro. In the end, it proved to be an easy decision.
He said: “I’ve been paid well, but when some boxers tell me what they are getting it’s crazy. I just don’t see how they can make ends meet. I know of some who are on the breadline. “Even fighting for a British title you might get £25,000 top whack, maybe just £10,000 and, in some cases, less if you are down the bill. Say two of them a year.
“When you pay tax, your manager, trainer, corner men and training expenses, it’s nothing if you have a family. You can’t live like that.
“There are very few boxers who don’t have to worry about money. I read that only seven per cent of fighters can retire after their careers and not work again. Compare that to footballers.
“I wanted to win the Olympics in 2012 so bad. Then when Frank Warren came in for me after Beijing, I was this close to staying amateur and going for the gold in London.
“But you have to strike while the iron’s hot. I might have sacrificed all this for the Olympics and I could be knocked out in the first round, I could hurt my hand before, I might not qualify.
“Nothing’s guaranteed. Besides, I’ve done it. Not many can say that. I am in the same bracket as Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis and ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard. That’s some pedigree. “You’ve seen me grow up. I was booed in my first pro fight. It was a bit embarrassing and stupid. It has been a battle to be loved.
“I have been an underdog before. I was 8-1 when I went to the Olympic Games, but I performed and came away with the gold medal.
“I’m a buzz fighter. I like the big audience and the big lights.

It’s a massive stage, boxing in front of millions back home and around the world.
“I owe it everything to my family. I wasn’t a horrible kid, I was just mischievous, full of energy, acting up in class, acting Jack the Lad.
“I got expelled a couple of times, school wasn’t for me, I couldn’t get along with it. I did home tuition for a bit, too, then that all fell through because of my behaviour.
“But, luckily, that’s where boxing came good for me. My dad brought me, thought it might help. He was right. Boxing changed me. If anything, it made me a man.
“I remember the second time I went in the ring to spar, I took a right beating – boom, boom, boom, I got battered. But the weirdest thing was I didn’t mind getting hit.

“My dad tells me the only time he tried boxing, he got hit on the nose and said, ‘right that’s it, I’m out of here.’ He never
went back. “My grandad
loved watching, but I don’t think he ever did it.
None of my brothers tried it. And it scared the living daylights out of my mum.
“She never watched me fight – even in the Olympic final she hid in a
cupboard until dad texted her to tell her it was over, so I don’t know where the gene comes from.
“But the moment I was born, my mum apparently said ‘he’s got big hands and a flat nose, he looks like a boxer.’ Maybe it was there from the start, waiting to be discovered.”

Fast forward to the year 2019 and, literally, just weeks before, DeGale’s bitter rival George Groves also quit boxing at the age of just 30.
The two locked horns, amateur and pro, with Groves
outpointing him twice. Especially now, DeGale won’t get the chance to exact his revenge.
It was at Dale Youth, on the site of the tragic Grenfell Tower, where the two first met. They started out as stable-mates, but were soon at loggerheads.
It first came to a head in the North-West area final of the 2007 ABAs, when they were matched together for the first time.
A see-saw battle ensued that was too close to call. Sportsmanship appeared to reign after the bell, too, when they embraced not once but twice at the final bell.
That was until a wafer-thin points decision went Groves’ way. DeGale will be the first to tell you defeat does not sit well with him. He refused to shake his hand and left the ring.
They went their separate ways and DeGale still became an amateur star, a much-vaunted Olympian who every major promoter in Britain wanted to make a pro superstar.
When he left the unpaid game, it took a deal worth which was reported to be around £1.5million for promoter Warren to win that race.
DeGale signed off with a 79-16 record, so was five bouts short of becoming an amateur centurion. He’d put pen to paper and joined Warren’s camp by the time 2008 was out. The following two years built him up to becoming a creditable contender at domestic level, with Groves another hot prospect in the same division.
Bring born to a Grenadian father and an English mother, winning the British title meant an awful lot to DeGale. Again, he would have to silence a hostile crowd.
The pro Scouse-crowd at the Echo Arena in Liverpool that night towards the end of 2010 were all behind the champion, Paul Smith.
DeGale would prove in the ring that he was a cut above

Smith, who was by no means a walk-over for anyone. A ninth round TKO put him on the map.
Earlier that year, Groves had claimed the Commonwealth crown. A unification bout, even at that early stage of their careers, was big news in 2011.
The 18,000 that filled the 02 Arena in the capital proved just how much the public love a good, old grudge match. Groves would find that out again when he met Carl Froch.
But it proved a nightmare night for DeGale, whose performance didn’t reach the heights that he’d hoped for, even if he’d closed the gap on Groves by the final bell.
Early on, Groves had built a lead that DeGale needed to chase as the two went at each other in a gripping affair.
A late salvo from DeGale looked to have saved the fight, but no one could be absolutely sure where the call was heading. The master of ceremonies kept us all in suspense as he went ‘and the winner, still undefeated.’ A couple of seconds passed before we realised both were unbeaten.
‘Saint George’ he went on. Groves had done it again and it was just as close. One judge had it all square, while the other two had just a round in it. DeGale, once again, was gutted.
A trilogy clash was still being talked about as recently as early this year, but didn’t materialise. Nearly eight years on, DeGale can still feel the pain of coming off second best.
Groves was at ringside for DeGale’s last fight against Eubank Jr, having beaten both men. Upon hearing of his rival’s
retirement, he tweeted that he “wished him well.”
DeGale said: “I still can’t stand him and he can’t stand me. With me and him it is, and always will be, a competition between us.
“He’s done his thing and also won a world title, he doesn’t respect me and we don’t like each other, but I’ll give him a bit of respect for that.
“We were never close, to tell you the truth. We existed, we were both members of the same club, but I never really liked him and he never really liked me. What’s the point of lying? “Losing was bad enough, but losing to George Groves? And

not once but twice? The thought of it still makes me sick to the stomach.
“The arguments went on and a lot of boxing people thought I won both fights, but it’s done and finished with now. I have moved on and, finally, got my shot at a world title.
“It’s healthy to have a rivalry in boxing. You’ve got to have that and I’m lucky, in that, I’ve got somebody I dislike and he dislikes me and we’ve got history.
“It goes back. Me and Groves isn’t like other rivalries out there because this is deep. It was never a build-up rivalry, this is proper.”
Go back to the aftermath of the Groves setback in 2011, when DeGale and Warren were growing increasingly apart. Warren had helped him to rebuild before that year was even out, landing him a shot at European champion Piotr Wilczewski with home advantage.
This time, a thin majority decision went DeGale’s way. Two judges had him a couple of rounds ahead, while the other had it a draw.
He wouldn’t stick with Warren, though, and made the
decision to leave his employ to join Mick Hennessey’s camp at the start of 2012.
Warren leaving Sky Sports to launch BoxNation didn’t sit well with DeGale and Hennessey, who had a deal with Channel Five, was the man who made Froch a superstar.
It’s a decision he insists he doesn’t regret, but regular fights live on terrestrial television was about the only good that came of it.
Suddenly, he was boxing in shopping and leisure centres against nobodies, a long way from the bright lights of London. He won the WBC silver title and defended it three times.
Two years passed before he did what he arguably should have done when he and Warren parted company and signed for Matchroom.
The change was clear to see in his very first fight under
Hearn’s stewardship, appearing at Wembley Stadium of the

under-card of Froch versus Groves.
It wasn’t just a run-out either, as a final eliminator for Froch’s IBF title against the undefeated Brandon Gonzales, who was dropped and halted in the fourth round.
Froch taking a year to decide whether he’d box again – before retiring anyway – held up the IBF crown, which then became vacant.
DeGale was the mandatory challenger and was paired with Anthony Dirrell, but had to go to the US after Hearn lost the purse bids.
That night in 2015 was DeGale’s finest hour since winning Olympic gold, as he deservedly outpointed Dirrell by unanimous decision to win the belt.
He could afford to fade towards the end after establishing a significant lead early on, where Dirrell didn’t look likely to see the finish after being decked twice in the second.
Two scores of 114-112 and one as wide as 117-109 were all for DeGale, who was as happy as could be after reaching the promised land.
He said: “In nine fights I won the British title, a European after 12 and I got my chance at a world title in my 22nd bout. It was a long road and I should’ve had my shot two years before.
“There were reasons why I didn’t go with Matchroom after I left Frank, but I don’t regret my time with Mick.
“I was boxing on terrestrial television, making money and raising my profile, I just wasn’t getting the right opportunities.
“It was hard for me to get up for some of those fights. I had already won Olympic gold and topped the bill in front of 10,000 people against Groves.
“All of a sudden, I was fighting in shopping centres in front of 1,000 and I couldn’t go on like that. It’s a short career and you have to earn as much as you can.
“It’s a cut-throat business and boxers are like pieces of meat to some promoters. When we lose or don’t perform, they want to give us the elbow.

“It’s not all glitz and glamour and bundles of cash. Boxing is not only the loneliest sport in the world, it’s the hardest.
Painful in the ring and out.
“It’s real cut-throat, worse than showbiz for the back- stabbing and bitching. Honestly, you’ve got to look out for yourself, with all the hangers-on around.
“I had my family and a good team around me, people that advised me with money and that, otherwise I’d be skint.
“I told everyone I’d become a world champion, so to prove all the haters that doubted me wrong made all of the hard work to get there worth it.
“I made history, as the first Olympic gold medallist to win a world title, and I could have retired the next day and have been happy and humble. In the end, I decided to go on.” Proceed he did and the big fights in mind were to unify world belts. The opportunity to do that wouldn’t come along immediately.
Still miffed Hearn was beaten to stage his crowning glory and working, he claimed, without a contract, he decided to manage himself and get Al Haymon to promote him overseas.
What first transpired was a tricky-looking test against the still-dangerous Lucian Bute, who had previously held the crown and made nine title defences.
Despite being the champion, DeGale agreed to fight the challenger in his backyard of Quebec, Canada. Bute was six years older, but still stood a puncher’s chance.
DeGale instead completely outboxed him to prevail unanimously by scores of 117-111 twice and 116-112. He’d passed the test with flying colours.
The year 2016 would prove a frustrating one, as a clash with WBC boss Badou Jack continued to fall by the wayside.
DeGale would first face his mandatory, Rogelio Medina, who was drafted in after Jose Uzcategui pulled out with illness.
They met at the Washington Armory.
Another unanimous success – ironically, by the same scores by which he’d downed Bute – would prove to be the last

hurdle before taking on Jack.
The Barclays Centre in Brooklyn was the sort of big arena DeGale wanted for such an occasion and, in early 2017, it became a reality.
An exciting unification slug-fest followed where the two tore into each other, with DeGale setting the tone for drama by sending Jack to the canvas in the first round.
Everything both men had went into the rest of the contest, with Jack finishing strongly and scoring a knockdown of his own in the 12th and last session.
Each had battered the other from pillar to post, with DeGale nursing damage to his ear drum and teeth afterwards. Even with that considered, he’d so nearly done enough.
One judge had it 114-112 to DeGale, but the other two were in agreement about a 113-113 stalemate. The result was a majority draw, so it was honours even.
Warning signs DeGale was considered life after boxing were there with his post-match comments, where he openly wondered how many hard fights like that he had left in him. Once again, he opted to continue and still had the IBF strap to fall back on. He took most of the year to recover and then defended against Caleb Truax in the December.
He would come back to the UK to do so, reuniting with Warren to figure on his show at the Copper Box Arena in London. It would not prove a happy homecoming.
Recent shoulder surgery could well have hampered his progress, but this was one of the times when DeGale really didn’t look himself.
Truax, a former world title challenger down at middleweight but still unheralded as a serious contender, made the most of it.
DeGale had to rely on the judges at the final bell, after 12 disjointed rounds, and probably already knew that none of them favoured him. It was definitely an upset.
Truax had his hand raised by majority decision, scoring 116- 112 and 115-112 in his favour plus a 114-114 draw with one official.

Whether there was a rematch clause or not, Truax took the opportunity of a return provided it would be in the bright lights of Las Vegas.
It was Haymon to the rescue, acting as the advisor for both parties, that made that a reality but it was win or bust for DeGale.
In what was his last great performance on the big stage, DeGale did what was expected of him the first time and came out on top.
Redemption and a second reign came his way unanimously. Two judges had it 114-113, while the other wildly had him up by 117-110. DeGale had been docked a point, too, for use of the shoulder.
He boldly proclaimed he was back, but ensuing events have proved that he wasn’t. An ominous sign was when he vacated the IBF title.
His reason was that he was chasing “massive fights,” instead of giving Uzcategui his re-arranged shot. What that ended up being was a showdown with Eubank Jr, promoted by Richard Poxon.
When that went awry, DeGale was left with nothing but the prospect of another rebuilding process that, this time, he didn’t have the desire for.
Calling time seems to be the right decision, so DeGale’s storied career is now a memory. Many opinions are that he was a grossly under-rated fighter who never quite caught on with the public.
His retirement speech read: “It’s been an unbelievable
journey and I’ve had an amazing decade. If I’m honest, it’s been the best years of my life.
“Having started boxing at the age of nine then being selected as part of the England amateurs squad, I’ve collected many memories along the way.
“I’m proud to say that I’ve made history as the first ever British Olympian boxer to turn professional and to win a world title.
“I’m also proud to have been a road warrior – to travel

wherever I needed to be to fight and to win. There’s nothing left to prove.
“Looking back, if someone had told me at the start of my boxing career, when I was in the England squad, what I’d achieve from there, I would never have believed them.
“I did all of that and I’d like to think I did it the clean, honest and hard way with discipline and respect to the sport I love. “It’s hard to admit that I’m not the fighter I once was, but I’m human. Along the way, my injuries have taken a toll – both on mind and body and this has contributed to my performance in the ring.
“The day after the Eubank fight, someone said to me that one fight does not determine a legacy. A majority of the greats go out on a loss.
“Thank you to each and everyone one of you for the part you have played in my career and in making me THE ROAD WARRIOR, THE HISTORY MAN
“For me, it’s the right time to hang up the gloves and to move on with my head held high. Thank you for the memories – over and out.”
And most boxing fans cannot argue that, at some point or another, they’ve been entertained by DeGale in the ring. He should be remembered for that..

We have a small team of volunteers at WBC who give their time and skills freely. Richard Carter’s terrific input with our young people is producing fantastic results.

Here are our most recent achievements:-

Fri 21 Sept Jack Dean Chard went to Huddersfield and beat his opponent Haris Ajaz on home turf with a majority decision.

Congratulations to Lucy Caldicott (15) who fights at 45kg. She has been put forward to the quarter finals, is now Midland Champion and can now proudly wear her white England top.

Bobby Speed (14) also got through on the same weekend at a weight of 51.8k, and is now in the final.

Our last gold medalist Ryan Coterill who is now in the GB squad will be competing at the NAB bouts this year.

In total WBC now has 12 carded boxers all progressing in their own divisions. Well done to all these boxers and special thanks to all the team at WBC.

The Hall of Fame arrangements are coming along well. I am in regular contact with Tommy Burling from Essex EBA who will be hosting next year’s event.

N.B. Our next meeting will take place on Sunday 13th May at the Firs Club, Codsall. Coffee served from 10.30am, meeting starts at 11.00am prompt.

A small delegation of Central Midlands EBA members recently attended a boxing dinner show at the Burlington Hotel where Birmingham City Boxing Club competed against an Irish contingent from Dungarven and a Glen Boxing Club Select.

As always when we choose to attend an event, things didn’t run entirely to plan.

After a few beers at the bar, I was introduced to the inimitable Dr Antonio G. Farruggia Bochnak, (a name to remember).

Unfortunately Antonio had forgotten the seating plan for the guests, but undeterred, he leapt up onto the nearest chair, and proceeded to shout guests’ names and table numbers with gusto. (I could sense I was going to like this guy). The three course meal was excellent, we had just finished dessert and the dishes were all but cleared when our President Mr Bunny Johnson nonchalantly strolls into the room just over two hours late. I told Bunny that he had now missed the excellent meal due to being late, however ‘Mr Cool’ explained to a couple of

waitresses that he was ‘really hungry’, and suddenly he was presented with a hot main course dinner! Dr Antonio G. Farruggia Bochnak (the name just rolls off the tongue) was flitting between tables, spotted Bunny, and proceeded to have an imaginary conversation over his walkie talkie with Frank

O’Sullivan informing him that Bunny had arrived. As Antonio moved on to the next few tables, a couple of guests informed him that the price tags were visibly hanging out from his jacket and trousers. Unabashed, he readily explained that the suit was going straight back to store on Monday as he had no intention of actually buying it (this guy was becoming a legend)! Despite a few minor hiccups with lighting etc. the boxing and evening in general was very enjoyable, and Birmingham won the match 8 – 4.

Well done Frank, and of course well done Antonio on being a great host.

It’s testament to ‘Saint George’ that he’s come up short twice against Carl Froch for a world title – and also to Badou Jack – and still reached the top.

The road back was a long one and, when he came to Bar Sport, he was the reigning WBA ‘super’ champion and the No 1 super middleweight in the world with the Ring Magazine.

The visit Cannock was four days shy of his 30th birthday, as an elder statesman of the division, a 10-year pro with that milestone to be reached on November 15.

He’s the epitome of how determination can beat the odds, after Froch twice took him out and Jack squeezed past him on points. The first time with Froch, at the Manchester Arena in late 2013, was so controversial a stoppage that a rematch simply had to happen.

Hot favourite Froch, defending his IBF and WBA belts, was down in the first round, from overhand right that dropped him heavily. Undoubtedly hurt, he was saved by the bell.

Groves, who was 11 years younger than Froch at the time, became only the second man to put him on the canvas, after Jermain Taylor.

But back came Froch and he forced the finish in round nine, with a barrage of right hands to the head and body that left a tiring Groves on unsteady legs.

He went to clinch but fell short, walking onto more right hands from Froch. In jumped referee Howard Foster, literally grasping Groves in a headlock to separate the two.

Groves was incensed, insisting he was fine to continue, and was ahead on all three scorecards. Two judges had him 76-75 up, the other 78-73.

He immediately chased a rematch and the IBF, who made Groves mandatory challenger for the clash, ordered in early 2014 for Froch to fight him within 90 days or vacate their title. The return was at Wembley Stadium, which was hosting boxing for the first time since it reopened in 2007, with a post-war British record of 90,000 fans turning out to watch.

Due to the finish of the first encounter, the crowd were on

Groves’ side. Froch got on top, but there wasn’t much between them.

That was until Froch threw a left hand, which landed on the gloves, but put Groves wide open for a right hook that flattened him. He attempted to stand up, to no avail.

Froch had put an exclamation mark on their feud, in a round less than their previous meeting, with 17 seconds left of the eighth.

There could be no argument this time.

He was ahead on points, this time, leading 67-66 with two judges and the other going with Groves 68-65. The finish was as emphatic as they come.

Groves returned to action after the two’s defining moment, for the European and WBC Silver belts four months, later.

He showed he was a cut above Christopher Rebrasse at Wembley Arena, unanimously on points by two verdicts that were 118-110 and one of 117-111.

The dynamite in his fists returned in flashes putting up the WBC Silver bauble against Denis Douglin, who was trained by his mother Saphya. ‘The Momma’s Boy’ was finished in seven.

Jack won the WBC crown from Anthony Dirrell in 2015 and Groves was made mandatory challenger, with the two meeting at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on September 12 of that year. Groves took the fight to Jack in the first, only to be wobbled by a straight right hand to the jaw. He took a knee and both gloves touched the floor.

He’d regrouped by the second and a technical tit-for-tat encounter ensued, From there until the final bell, neither man shied away so there was plenty of entertainment value.

The scorecards were called for, with a split decision recorded. The knockdown wasn’t that telling, with tallies of 116-111 and 115-112 for Jack, One had Groves up by a round, 114-113.

The beaten contender stormed out of the ring, feeling he had done enough to force a changing of the guard and knowing another rebuilding process was afoot.

It took all of 2016 to shuffle back into the pack and a third world title setback led to a third coach, joining up with Shane McGuigan after Paddy Fitzpatrick and Adam Booth.

Groves returned against Andrea Di Luisa, who had the towel thrown in for him during the fifth, and then claimed a WBA International strap.

It came against the grossly untested David Brophy, who was overwhelmed in four.

Martin Murray, with those WBA International honours on the line, would be a much bigger test.

It was make-or-break stuff for both parties, but it was Groves who got over the line as the deserved winner over the four-time world title challenger. All three judges had it 118-110.

He finished his year with another defence of the WBA International title against Eduard Gutknecht. The tragic side of boxing would rear its ugly head again.

He had hammered away at a bloodied and swollen Gutknecht in the later rounds, but he saw the final bell. One sided cards were 119-109 twice and 119-110 for Groves.

Gutknecht collapsed in the dressing room after the fight and slipped into a coma. He went on to suffer multiple strokes and was unable to walk or talk. The trauma got to Groves.

There would be little time to get out of a fighting mindset, though. All of 19 days later, it was confirmed Groves would vie with Fedor Chudinov for the vacant WBA ‘super’ title.

Felix Sturm had dropped the belt through injury, after beating Chudinov to make it ‘one one’ between the two. Groves, rated No 3 by the WBA, was preferred over Stanislav Kashtanov.

Groves had to get his mind on the job, whatever had regrettably happened to Gutknecht, before him and Chudinov got it on.

The date 27 May 2017 is one that Groves will never forget. This time, he would not be denied, no matter how hurt he was.

He broke his jaw in round three and was cut above his eye in the fourth, but Groves was walking through walls. He trapped Chudinov in the sixth and let fly, forcing the finish.

Only Frank Bruno springs to mind when you think of an Englishman who had gone all around the houses before getting there, but Groves was finally a world champion.

He said: “My first spar back, after getting chinned by Froch, was a few rounds against Gennady Golovkin. After two days, he broke my rib.

“I’d gone out to where he was (Big Bear, California), which was 8,000ft above sea level. I’d done a few hill sprints and got a bit sunburnt, so I was still out of shape.

“Both of us were told to wear body belts, but I didn’t think I needed one and lived to regret it. We were going home after that.

“Rebrasse was a good opponent, he took an awful lot of punches. I gave it a real good go, but I didn’t manage to get him out of there.

“The WBC title was my target, at that point, and Anthony Dirrell was the champion until he lost it to Jack. I got Douglin, in the meantime, and it was good to knock someone out.

“It might be nice to go out and watch boxing in Vegas, but it’s a bit soulless fighting there. You’re not really treated that well.

“I was trying to get into my changing room and had problems getting past the security guard, because I didn’t have the right credentials. Their rules are their law.

“Jack was the only time where I felt like I’d blew it. If it hadn’t been for that flash knockdown, I think I’d have got the win. That was the lowest point of my career.

“I had cabin fever, I’d been in America for two months before the fight and I was desperate to get the job done and get home. “When I boxed Jack, he was a nothing compared to the contender is now, so I felt like I’d let myself down. It wasn’t a good feeling.

“Di Luisa was my first time under Shane and I think I boxed well. I felt sharp and dictated the pace from the get go.

“Brophy was an unknown quantity, it was more comfortable than Di Luisa and the body shot that finished it I’d been working on with Shane.

“I knew what Murray was about, he’s a skilful fighter and he was never going to let the occasion get to him. I landed big blows and hurt him, but he’s gritty and that got him through.

“Nick Blackwell was already in a similar situation to Eduard, after his fight with Chris Eubank Jnr, and I’d pretty much done all of all of his sparring for that, so it was close to home.

“Then it happens to me and it’s sad and tough to deal with. The best and most efficient way to be is emotionally detached to boxing, because it’s a sport and a business.

“What happened with Eduard does frequently cross my mind, but I needed to carry on boxing. Selfishly, while I’m still fighting I’m always going to struggle with his situation.

“It’s a horrible thing and it’s very distressing. I feel for him and his family. They don’t blame me and to be relieved of that sort of guilt was a wonderful thing that they didn’t need to do.

“I had to put it behind me, I had another world title shot. Winning the belt, at last, was the greatest feeling I could have in boxing. I was sick of feeling sorry for myself about the past.

“It was a long time coming and to go out and finally get one, rather than have to make excuses, and it was do or die stuff. “Chudinov was easy to hit, but was a lot stronger than I thought. I found that out. He throws this weird punches, where his arms don’t move much and his fists come over the top.

“He hit one in the third and I heard this crunch. I’d broken my jaw before, fighting for England in Poland as an amateur, so I knew what it was. I left my gum-shield in between rounds. “We clashed heads in the fourth, which left me with blood

coming into my eye, but it was now or never. I don’t think I would have come again.

“Even if my body was up for carrying on, my brain wouldn’t have been had I lost. It would have been the hardest thing I’d ever done.

“The best commentary I’ve ever had was on that fight – and it came from Froch. He was nice about me. I’d have never thought that.”

Now a man on top, Groves’ focus hasn’t yet been about unifying the belts at 168lbs.

He’s not even the only super middleweight world champion with the WBA, as he holds ‘super’ status.

Regular champion Tyron Zeuge is in possession of the other strap, while WBO boss Gilberto Ramirez is the first Mexican title holder at the weight. David Benavidez is the WBC ruler.

Of interest to Groves will be the outcome when the IBF crown is next contested, as his long-standing rival James DeGale tries to get his revenge on Caleb Truax.

Groves still has his next defence and the final of the World Boxing Super Series to contend with first, with the decider against fellow Englishman Callum Smith set for July 14.

It will be his third world title defence, at the 02 Arena in London where he outpointed DeGale in 2011 to cement his path towards the top level.

The Super Series first saw him vanquish Jamie Cox, with a picture perfect right hand to the body, in just the fourth round. A hotly-anticipated clash with Chris Eubank Jr saw both his opponent and his father, former world champion Chris Eubank Snr, promise much but deliver little on fight night.

Groves, who boxed the 12th with a dislocated shoulder that delayed his fight with Smith, saw off a bloodied Eubank convincingly and unanimously.

Eubank’s IBO world title was never on the line, claimed the

organisation’s president Ed Levine, after an agreement could not be reached on sanction fees.

It didn’t detract from Groves’ success, though, with scores of 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113 all going his way. The inaugural Muhammad Ali Trophy is now in his sights.
Groves said: “I’m the top seed, so I could pick my first opponent. I went with Jamie Cox, as he was the one I knew the most about. We used to be amateur team-mates for England.
“I’ve always been alright against southpaws, he walked onto a few body punches and I knew one or two more would put him down and for good.
“The last shot, every now and again you get one that really smashes in and you can almost hear the air coming out of someone.
“I walked back to the corner and span around to have a look, but I knew he wasn’t getting up. It was a sweet shot.
“Everyone seemed to be fascinated about the Eubank fight and,
as always, there were plenty of boxing experts out there that thought he was going to win. “It left me scratching my head, wondering what I’d missed. I knew a lot about him, as I’d sparred him, and knew he hadn’t been trained right

“I talked about pedigree in the build-up and I should have made it clearer, I was talking about the opposition I’d boxed, both amateur and pro.

“His dad stood up at one press conference and talked about his son’s engine. He can throw more punches than me, he’s a fit lad. The argument continued about hand speed and power.

“Then apparently he has a granite chin, just like his dad, that no one has ever hit him on. You can’t pass that down the family.

Finally, ‘it’s because he’s a Eubank.’ I just laughed.

“If I was on form, I was always going to beat him, and it ended up just feeling like another day at the office. I never had to get out of second gear.

“He let on he was going to fight, for every second of every round, and that was a daunting prospect. I like to stay in my comfort zone, I don’t over-exert myself and waste punches.

“I thought it would be a difficult night having to shut him down, but he really struggled. I was waiting for the wave of pressure that didn’t come.

“For a start, he has bad footwork. He needs you to engage with him, because he can’t close the distance and get himself into range unless you do.

“My jab is better than his, which always allows you to set shots up and let your hands go on the back of that. He was launching in, throwing wild punches and falling over his front foot. “Whatever he wanted to do, I didn’t let him do it, even in the last round. Right at the start of that, I felt my shoulder pop out and then pop back in. All I could was jab to the finish.

“The prospect of winning the tournament by beating three British fighters should tell everyone that I’m the best super middleweight in the UK.

“I’ve only sparred with Callum Smith once, for a couple of

rounds, and there wasn’t really much you could take from it. Like with Eubank, you win nothing in the training ring.

“I don’t think Callum is as good as what he could be. He hasn’t had the tests he should have and gone a bit stale because of that. He’s not looked brilliant so far.
“It might have come too late for him, he’s been a prospect for
some time now and has yet to make that step up. He hasn’t had to box under pressure, which could work against him.
“I’ve supposed to have been his stepping stone for years and now he’s got his world title shot, which he’s been waiting the same amount of time for.
“He’s not boxed anyone who is as good as me. I believe I’ve got his number and will beat him well. Surely I can’t be the underdog for this one as well.”
Groves believes he’s now got the right leadership behind him, with McGuigan in his corner as the man who helped him win that elusive world title.
He started out in the pro ranks with Booth, the highlight of their working relationship that victory over DeGale that put Groves on the map as a pro.
The two fell out when Froch was on the horizon and in came Fitzpatrick, who carried the can for both defeats against ‘the Cobra’ and
the loss to Jack.
Groves said: “I had a bust up with Adam. I felt like my one pro coach had abandoned me, which was hard to swallow. I think I ended up papering over cracks.

“Fitzpatrick started training me for the first Froch fight. We’d only been working together for weeks, rather than months, for it, too.

“Things snowballed after that, I was trying to get Froch again and didn’t have time to assess whether he was the right coach for me.

“We then failed spectacularly in the rematch and that was when I should have made the change, but didn’t.

“I had a couple of fights before another world title shot and, each time, I was getting progressively worse and picking up bad habits.

“Win or lose, Jack was always going to be my last fight with Fitzpatrick, even if he didn’t want to acknowledge that fact. “We’ve had our differences, it was a bit disappointing how he slated me after. He’d gone from running an amateur club in Swindon to working with a guy fighting for a world title.

“There aren’t that many good reputable boxing coaches in the world – let alone in London or the UK – so it’s tough to make those decisions.

“I looked around at the boxers who fought like I wanted to be like and then saw how their coach was. I was impressed by Carl Frampton, so that meant Shane McGuigan.

“Shane encourages me to box like I did when I was on the rise, punching hard and fast and trying to win in dramatic fashion. He understands me.

“I’m not a huge combination puncher, but I have the power to get the job done if I hit you once. I want to fight by throwing

short, sharp and hard blows.”

B – Stands for Balance, both feet on the floor: it’s balance that counts when you lead to the jaw.

C -is for Circling, if circle you must: to your right or his right makes YOU bite the dust.

D – Is for Defence, with your “cushion” in place, to cover the “wind” and the ribs and the face

E – stands for Eyes – watch your man eye to eye, unceasing, like a spider that’s after a fly.

F – is for Footwork – attack or defend, to good solid base you must always attend.

G – for the Grit that you need in the ring: stick out and don’t show that his punches have sting.

H – for the Handshake at the start of the match – Be sporting: shake heartily – not just a snatch.

I – for the Interval, seconds three score – relax and breathe deeply, then ready for more.

J – for the Judgement that has him at sea, not sure what your next little moves going to be.

K – for the Knockout beloved by the ‘pro’s’ – WE’RE after the points that the judges’ card shows.

L – for the Loser still smiling and bright – you’ve lost: never mind, for you put up a fight.

M – for the Mind that must work out a plan that feet and hands execute, beating your man.

N – for the Nose that when hit starts to bleed; so next time your guard must be moved with  more speed

O – for the Opening that YOU’VE got to make, for lead or for counter that makes no mistake.

P – for the Points that you try to collect, with straight lefts and rights that are timed to connect.

Q – for the Quickness of hand, foot and eye, and mind – of all three the directive ally.

R – for the Right, your defence to arrange – when in with the left, it attacks for a change.

S – for the Science pervading the game – you’re boxing, not fighting: they aren’t quite the same.

T – for the Training for even one round – you won’t stand the pace if your wind is not sound.

U – for the Upsetting tactics applied: Result? Your opponents attack has gone wide.

V – for the Verdict you take with a smile: or winning or losing, the match was worthwhile.

W – for the Weakness you’re probing to find, in HIS opposition, but watch for the blind.

X – for eXcel, a motive that’s pure, the one thing to aim for, that’s for sure.

Y – stands for Youth – now’s the time to apply, the training of character, ere the years fly.

Z – is for Zeal that I hope you will show – the game asks – and gives – all the best that you know.

At the time of writing, we still have a limited number of tickets available for ‘An Evening With John Conteh’ to be held at the Firs Club, Codsall on Saturday  May 6th •

Tickets are priced at £35.00ea to include a light buffet.

N.B. Our next meeting will be held at the usual venue, Firs Club, Station Road, Codsall on Sunday April 30th • Coffee served from 10.30am, meeting  starts at 11.00am prompt.

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After reading and thoroughly enjoying ‘Snapper’s Snippets’ this month, and being stuck for something worthwhile to write, I thought I would add a couple of my favourite boxing stories from yesteryear……

In December of 1959 useful New York based heavyweight Bartolo Soni fought  Henry  Wallitsch  in the city’s Island Garden Arena.

Soni made full use of his superior footwork to avoid Wallitsch’s wild onslaughts, until in the 3r d   round Wallitsch thought he’d got Soni trapped on the ropes. Wallitsch threw a mighty punch which Soni again  avoided, this time the momentum  of  his frustrated swing sent him clean through  the ropes, knocking  himself  clean out  on the concrete floor thus losing the bout  by  KO!

And my all time favourite…………..

In April 2006 New York based Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis travelled back to his native Guyana to  challenge  ‘Deadly’  Denny  Dalton  for the Guyanese Super Welterweight title. Despite being ahead on points, during the 7t h  round ‘Six Heads’ suddenly dived out of the ring  and  made  a  mad dash  for  the  changing  rooms! Upon  further

investigation, he claimed that he had consumed a milk shake before the fight, resulting in an explosive case of diarrhoea! He was unable to return to the ring, and Dalton was awarded the decision by TKO!

Collins is now 52-years-old and hasn’t boxed in 20 years, but has been trying to land his last stand against Jones for even longer. ‘The Celtic Warrior’ first set his sights on him after breaking into the super middleweight ranks as the WBO world champion, while still holding the organisation’s title at middleweight.

The Irishman, from Dublin in the Republic, clearly still has that never-say-die attitude, which established him in two divisions after becoming a world champion at the third attempt.

While never stopped, he had twice come second best on the cards for the WBA middleweight title, to two of the best in the business in Mike McCallum and Reggie Johnson.

His prospects looked even bleaker after he was downed for the European crown on points, too, by Sumbu Kalambay directly after the Johnson setback.

The determined Collins finally realised his ambition in 1994,

seizing the WBO middleweight strap in five from Chris Pyatt, who had vanquished Kalambay for the vacant belt.

He would never defend the title, though, instead stepping up to super middle to sensationally thwart Chris Eubank unanimously for another WBO crown.

It ended Eubank’s final reign as a world champion and Collins proved it was no fluke by defeating him again on a split decision. He would also end the career of Eubank’s hated rival Nigel Benn, who would twice try to dethrone the Irishman without success.

First ‘the Dark Destroyer’ was halted in the fourth after picking up an ankle injury, but he retired for good in 1996 after quitting on his stool at the end of the sixth the second time around.

Collins retired after seven defences while still champion in 1997, having backed out of taking on a young Joe Calzaghe. He’d registered 36 wins from 39, with 21 TKOs.

Calzaghe openly holds that against him, along with Collins’ quip that the Welshman, who would later conquer the world, “wouldn’t fill a parish church.”

A similarly nagging feeling lies within Collins, who first announced plans to return against long-time rival Jones at the start of 2013. Still, it hasn’t happened.

Jones never quit boxing either, last winning the WBF world title at cruiser in February at the age of 48. The question is only what weight he could get down to.

Collins insists his long pursuit of the multi-weight great is just business, but he freely admits it’s his dream about and he will never give up on his dreams.

Then there’s Calzaghe, now 45 and happily retired, having last seen Jones on points in 2008 to hang up his gloves undefeated, with 46 wins from 46 paid bouts.

Calzaghe could have Collins now if he really wanted to, in the same way as Collins wants Jones, but he would still be a second choice.

Collins said: “I spend a lot of my time working on my farm in Ireland now, I watch what I eat and I still wear the same size suits now as I did         then.

“I haven’t retired, I’m still waiting for the Jones fight to come off but there’s a big gap since my last fight, that’s for sure!

“I’ve signed the contract, he hasn’t so it’s down to him which I can’t understand because he’s still going. He’s a friend, actually, and a lovely guy but I still want to fight him!

“We’ve been in talks for 20 years and he keeps pulling out at the last minute. I’ve told him l1m not interested in fighting anybody else.

“I want to fight Jones, even if it’s just a 10-rounder. It doesn1t matter – it1s just something l1d wanted to do for a long time. Everybody wants to see this, whether it 1s for the right or the wrong reasons.

“There are a lot of the younger generation who have never seen us in the ring that would love to see us do it, so we1 ve got three generations backing us.

“The reason my drive to carry on boxing went was because there was no more big names out there for me, there was only Jones and a couple of kids that no one knew about that didn’t appeal. “There was Calzaghe, he went on to become one of the best champions Britain ever had but he was an up-and-coming guy, at that time.

“If he’d had come along five years earlier, he’d have been in the mix, but he’s the one apart from Jones now who’d I consider fighting. 11 11 beat the man who beat the man –  why not?

“Jones is the one I want still. It should happen. I’ll give it until l1m 60 and then 11 II retire.”

Don’t think that the Collins versus Eubank rivalry is dead either, rather than taken into the next generation through their children. Steve Collins Jr is now a professional boxer, having turned his back on the game of rugby to keep up the family name.

The 27-year-old is still unbeaten after 11 contests in the cruiserweight division, with his uncle Paschal working his corner. Chris Eubank Jnr, while also 27, is further down the line and has won British, WBA interim and 180 world honours going up from middleweight to super middle.

Eubank Jnr challenged David Haye’s conqueror Tony Bellew, who last boxed at heavyweight but is the WBC emeritus world champion at cruiser, to a catchweight clash after a row on Twitter. With that in mind, Collins doesn’t think Eubank Jnr would have any problem jumping up the weights to reignite the rivalry between the two families.

Dad Collins said: “My son started his career at heavyweight and he was 16 and a half stone then, because he used to be a professional rugby player.

“He now campaigns at light heavyweight, he’s got himself a good team around him and the weight has just dropped off him.

“Mr brother has got him, he’s an excellent coach, and I talk boxing whenever I see him. He never boxed amateur, he’s only ever been a pro, but he’s grown up with the sport.

“Everyone one in our family has boxed, so I encouraged him to learn the sport. To stay with it was his option. It’s a great discipline, it teaches kids respect and gets them off the street. “He’s coming along well, now we need to get him some sponsors in the UK to help him fight in America, like I did at the start of my career.

“There’s no reason why he can’t fight Eubank Jr, there’s only really one weight between them and I moved up a division to fight Eubank Snr.

“I    wouldn’t have thought Eubank Jnr would have a problem stepping up to light heavy, he’s a tall kid and, if they want it, my son would have it tomorrow.

Watch this space!”

Sadly our Chairman Gary Marston was unable to be in attendance at the meeting due to an extremely sensitive family matter and the Association would like to send Gary our very best wishes for a prompt conclusion to the matter.

Should there be anybody with a passion for our great sport who wishes to  join our friendly, welcoming Association  please feel free to contact Secretary Richard Vaughan on 07985 468004 or  by e-mail at rich0906@yahoo.co.uk or simply pop in at The Leopard, 21 Market Place, Burslem on the first Tuesday of the month  at 8pm.

Welcome to the first Newsletter of 2017, once again thanks to Craig Birch for his ever popular contributions.
Our next meeting will take place at the Firs Club, Codsall on Sunday March 5t h • Coffee served from 10.30am, meeting starts at 11.00am prompt. This meeting will be our AGM, nominations are invited for the posts of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
Nominations should be received in writing by myself no later than 14 days prior to the meeting date.

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During my recent travels I spent some time in New Zealand. As usual whilst indulging in local Irish bars the conversations turned to boxing, and I was asked my opinion on recently crowned WBO Heavyweight Champion Joseph Parker. It almost seems that locals cannot quite believe that they have a World Champion on their hands, (he is New Zealand’s first) and are seeking confirmation that this is really true. I spoke to a number of people who thought that his victory over Andy Ruiz last year was questionable, with a fair amount of late night bar­ room experts giving the decision to Ruiz.
Joseph Parker is of Samoan descent, whose native name – as I’m sure you are all aware is Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa. I’m nearly sure that during several conversations in local bars in the wee small hours, certain locals seemed to be referring to the lad by that name (or something similar).
Parker represented New Zealand in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, after which he was hyped as being the country’s most promising boxer since David Tua. He switched to the paid ranks in 2012, flattening a string of opponents in double quick time. I will be following his career with interest in future, there is talk of a match with Hughie Fury amongst others.
I can’t wait to visit the Fiddler Irish bar again next year for many more expert late night opinions on Joseph Parker, Brexit, Donald Trump, the meaning of life, all of which has to be discussed between music, song and great craic in the early hours! Xmas holidays in Auckland can be tough!.

I have always admired for the skills that they demonstrated inside the ring, made even more magnificent by their modesty outside of the ring.

Dave Harris, Jane Davidson and others worked very hard to present a splendid occasion for everyone at this superb location in Hastings. There have been several British boxing Champions who have
graced the world stage with style and dignity, whose presence as fighters remained etched in the memories of boxing fans throughout the world.
I came to this country as a teenager in the 1960s with the dedicated aim to become a professional boxer, and there were two fighters that to my mind, stood out from the rest of the brilliant fighters around at that time.
They were Ken Buchanan MBE, and Dick McTaggart MBE. McTaggart had competed at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne Australia, and at the 1960 Olympics that were held in Rome, Italy. He won a gold medal in Melbourne and a bronze medal in Rome, losing out in the third round to eventual winner, Jerzy Kule of Poland. However, our hero, McTaggart won the Val Baker trophy for best boxing {Val Barker, was the first General Secretary, of the International Amateur Boxing Federation). This award is usually awarded to the fighter of the games who displays the most evident style and technique. A prolific winner, was Dick McTaggart, he won ABA titles in 1956, 1958, 1960, 1963 and 1965. He was inducted in the Scottish Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002.
Ken Buchanan was also a trophy laden fighter who any aspirant fighter would love to emulate. He was a lightweight fighter who had all the moves and techniques of a fighter who would make it to the highest rung of his professional career. Another quality that I found most accommodating but unusual for a top fighter was his undying modesty that he displayed at all times. Now that I’ve met him decades later, he’s all that he seemed to me as a young man back then, looking for heroes. He speaks quietly and assuredly and does not make one entertain the belief that he is too busy to talk with you. Still a Champion now as he was then, and purportedly will be always!
Ken Buchanan, MBE, was born on the 28th. June, 1945, and was an undisputed World Lightweight Champion when he beat Ismael Laguna in his back yard, in Puerto Rico. This win must have been so satisfying for the champ, as it was against the expectations of most of the boxing scribes who predicted that he would lose because of the heightened temperature of the weather in Puerto Rico. However, champions don’t mind predictions they fight and win fights they are not expected to win. In another test of Buchanan determination the politics of boxing prevented Buchanan from boxing in Britain, and as a result had to fight overseas until the boxing politics had been resolved between the parties. It is sometimes said that great Champions do overcome great difficulties when they must!

‘Dr Steelhammer’ – a nickname coined by virtue of his and brother Vitali’s PhDs – must now hope his trademark jab knocks Joshua out of his stride.
It worked at will for Holmes, who was in possession of what is rated as one of the best left jabs ever, as he closed in on history during his own career.
The American came within a fight of matching Rocky Marciano’s unbeaten record of 49-0, but was beaten for the IBF title Joshua now holds by Michael Spinks in 1985.
Holmes said: “I could see the potential Anthony has and I’ve been in boxing for a long time. The way he’s going, he might even break my record!
“I told him that when I was there that night (in 2013). The fights shouldn’t get easier but, if you train right, the result should stay the same right across the board.
“You have got a big boy here who is capable of boxing properly, not like Lennox Lewis! He was great, but had no jab.
“We have been friends since Lennox came to my gym and I was trying to teach him how to jab, he started using it but he was always trying to kill somebody.
“This kid reminds me of Lennox and he sounds like him, too, they must
be from the same place! He’s got a great future.”
Holmes’ slice of folklore ended up with him becoming the only man to have stopped Muhammad Ali in a pro contest.
Despite not taking up boxing until he was 19, Holmes competed 97 times amateur and pro, with 22 unpaid. The last was a disqualification loss against Duane Babick in the 1972 Olympic trials. He then spent nearly 20 years as a pro, debuting in 1973 before finally calling time in 2002. He featured 75 times, with 69 wins and 44 inside thedistance.

Now aged 67, the man considered to have possessed one of the best left jabs ever is a double legend, having been inducted into the International and World Boxing Hall of Fame.
He defeated the likes of Earnie Shavers and Ken Norton, the latter winning him the WBC title, before taking on friend and perennial sparring partner Ali in 1980.
Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee retired him at the end of the 10th round after a performance, at age 38, not befitting of ‘the Greatest.’
Rocky actor Sylvester Stallone, who was watching on at ringside, famously called the fight “like watching an autopsy on a man who is still alive.”
Holmes recalled: “The hardest puncher I ever fought was Earnie. He knocked me down but I got up, took him around the ring and showed him how to box. He was in trouble then.
“Everybody told me I couldn’t beat these guys. When someone says you can’t do something, it only makes me more determined.
“My opponents knew to how to box, but they really didn’t know how to box like I do. It was Ali who taught me. I first met him in 1973. “When I first got into boxing, he had a camp that I went to and, at first, he’d give me a real beating when we sparred. We used to put exhibitions and, once, he gave me a black eye but I didn’t quit. “From then on, he was my friend and he gave me a job for four years and I travelled around the country with him.
“I learned so much from watching him and learning. When it became my time, I knew all of the tricks. He was a mentor to me.
“I didn’t think that we would fight, I couldn’t see how it would benefit me.
If I won, I beat an old man and, if I lost, people would think I didn’t have it.
“It was about the money, for him, and I understood that and he still believed he could do it in the ring. I was banging him around and he was like ‘you ain’t got nothing boy, show me something.’
“I hurt him in the ropes and whispered to him ‘Ali, don’t take any more of this.’ He turned round and told me ‘shut up, boy, I’m going to knock you out!’
“I asked the referee to stop the fight, because I was hurting this man. He told meto shut up. Once it was over, I was happy.

“I went to his dressing room after and they were rubbing him down, wherever the bruises were on his body. I told him he was still on the greatest fighters of all time and how much I loved him.
“He joked with me ‘if you love me so much, why did you beat me up like that?’ We had a good laugh about it.”
Holmes held onto the WBC crown until 1983, the same year he outpointed Tim Witherspoon in a title defence that was hotly­ disputed.
He was later awarded the newly-formed IBF’s belt, a reign which ended when he lost to Spinks, one of six contests where he was defeated.
He came out of retirement for a mega-money offer to fight an on-fire Mike Tyson, the only man to remove him before the final bell. He halted a 38-year-old Holmes in the sixth on 22 January 1988. Holmes said: “Witherspoon was a good and determined fighter, but I still believe that he didn’t win. I did things to him that got me the result. “How you believe in yourself is a big part of whether you win or lose. No one ever told meI could achieve what I did.
“I wasn’t perfect in my fight game, at first I was but time went against
me and I let myself down a little bit. In theend, I quit.
“I was retired, I was sitting in the house and watching television. I like watching basketball games. Then the door goes one day and it was Don King (promoter). “He asked me to hear him out and the next thing he’s talking about Mike Tyson. I hadn’t trained for two years,
I’d only left the house to hang out at the bar.
“I didn’t want to fight Tyson, no one did, but he offered me so much money ($2.8 million) that I was never going to turn it down.
“It was a hard fight that I shouldn’t have taken, I wasn’t in shape and, if I had have been, I’d have whooped him, like with a lot of the other young guys. I’d have knocked them out early.”

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This year’s Golf Day was another resounding success, after much hard work by Shaun Messer. Numbers were slightly down this year, with eight teams taking part, but considering the present economic climate we all agree that Shaun did a fantastic job in putting it all together. Thanks also to Brian and Stephen for their help on the day, as well as Martin for his behind the scenes efforts.

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I recently attensaid Johnny Nelson.ded a Ron & Steve Gray Sporting Luncheon where Johnny Nelson was the guest speaker, and a very enjoyable afternoon was had by all. The pictures show our latest newsletter contributor Gary ‘Snapper’ Bate and Don Bartlett with the 

Gary ‘Snapper’ Bate and Don Bartlett with the said
Johnny Nelson.

N.B. Our next meeting will take place at the Firs Club, Station Road, Codsall on Sunday 11th September.