Boxing and boxers

Whilst out with the camera this morning I came across this mural which reminded me that the names of Bobby Arthur and Mick Leahy needed to be added to our list of "Famous Coventrians"

When I was an apprentice at Wickman there was a Bobby Arthur and I'm sure he was an ex-boxer. Love to know if he was "The" Bobby Arthur

Midland Red, can you check Les Allen's birthplace, he went to Foxford School, and I believe he was born in Grange Road or Blackhorse Road, and Les was by far the best boxer I knew to come from Coventry. In the top three middleweights in the country. He only trained at Bedworth as a schoolboy. My son was born in Foleshill, and was a professional boxer, appearing at Wembley on the Bruno-McGuigan card, where he got beaten by the Irish champion. He held the British welter-weight kick-boxing title back in the eighties, before turning to pro boxing. Reverting back to kick-boxing he took three state titles in Australia, then came over here to take the English title again, and now is a well known referee at both sports in Australia.

My apologies, of course Bobby Arthur was a great fighter, but I've always been swayed by the middleweights, and I suppose biased because Les was my friend and training partner when we were kids.

I was privileged to meet Les Allen on a couple of occasions through mutual friends. I was told a tale which everyone assured me was true, it concerns the time when Les kept the off-licence in Bedworth Road, Longford at the corner of Sydnall Road. Some young thug looks into the shop and sees an older gentleman wearing glasses behind the counter. He goes into the off-licence and threatens said old chap with a knife and tells him to hand over the money out of the till. The next thing the young thug remembers is waking up in the hospital where a nice friendly policeman advised him to do a bit of research into famous boxers before he threatened any more harmless looking old chaps - particularly when you are standing within range of a pair of such famous fists. Another good boxer from Coventry was Peter Boddington. He was a good heavyweight during the 1970's I think. He had a builders yard, or similar business, in Radford Road opposite to the Savoy.

Does anyone remember the Coventry boxer Charlie Squires, a flyweight. I used to see him when he'd packed up and worked at Morris Engines in the early sixties. I last saw Les Allen in the early fifties when he was training in an upstairs gym in The Swanswell Inn, a mate of mine trained up there. Les was training under Les Dobbins, Peter Heath was training there as well. Les Dobbins showed us a photo of a boxer who was in the army in Korea. The photo was of Jimmy Lynas who I met in later years as I lived opposite his elder bother Dave.

MARK SIMPSON Born 16.4.62. Elmsdale Avenue, Coventry Pro-Boxer-kickboxer-Referee.

A son to be proud of there Kaga.

not local, yes very proud. Mark's record. Kickboxing; 1983 British Welterweight champion 1992 British Middleweight champion Australia - Western state champion, Queensland state champion, NSW state champion Pro Boxing; Fought Terry Marsh (world champion) Fought Irish champion Fought ex-ABA champion (names I've forgotten - all this without having an amateur fight)

Plenty here about your son, Kaga

Midland Red, thank you for the link, I'm sure there will be a few people interested.

Hello, what about James Cooke, I think he fought for the England youth team

Not quite Coventry, but for fight fans, my son has just been nominated to referee a world kick-boxing fight. 15 Nov, Perth, Oz. Talks with the 'Man' Henry Cooper with his brother alongside was driving to his British heavyweight title fight, suddenly a guy pulled up in front of him, came round, Henry wound down his window, the guy was ranting and raving, threatening to punch his head in if he dare get out the car. Henry came out of his corner, touched hands with his red headed opponent, went back to his corner, came out, bald headed guy Henry surprised took a mighty whack to the head.

Does anyone remember Jimmy Linus, a well known face in Coventry in the 60's. He was reputed to have beaten a cruiserweight world champion, or British champion in a non title fight - the opponent might have been called Dick Tiger or something similar. Jimmy frequented the gambling club in Hillfields and was overweight and gave the impression of being a bit "punchy" or "punch-drunk", but he was reputedly still sharp as a razor when it came to playing cards. He still commanded respect in Coventry at the time. Would love to know what happened to him. He was a nice guy and I seem remember his catch-phrase was "always a gentleman".

Jimmy Lynas on BoxRec This shows he fought Dick Tiger three times, winning the first and losing the other two He also fought, and lost to, Terry Downes