Boxing and boxers

Thanks for that, Midland Red. Some names from the past, looking at both boxers' records.

I remember Jimmy around 1976. I used to see him regularly in 'Nello's' a restaurant that doubled up as a nightclub at weekends. He didn't actually work there but I don't remember there ever being any trouble when Jimmy was in the building! He still liked a game of cards and he was generally an affable guy, always ready for a chat. I've no idea what happened to him after that period of time.

I remember in the 1970s there used to be a boxer who was in the Evening Telegraph a lot. I think he was called Danny McAlinden. Could be wrong there. Just wonder what connection he had to Cov as he hasn't been mentioned here?

Danny McAlinden appears in our list of Famous Coventrians - take a look under "Earned Coventrian Status"

For fight fans, my son informs me that Britain now holds 13 world boxing titles, never been a time like it.

Thanks MR. During the fifties the Opera House used to show full length fights, I saw the Johansson title fights. Imagine my delight and surprise when in 1984 on a Wed morning I was lining up for a 10,000 metres race to find he stood at my side, both down the pack but he was in front of me. on the Sat morning we lined up again for the marathon, we ran side by side for 6/7 miles then he forged ahead. Great days. I was able to introduce him to my son who had just turned pro.

I recall, as a youngster, waking in the early hours of the morning to listen to the World Heavyweight Title fights on my transistor radio - in the days of Patterson and Johansson, etc. Hardly ever missed one. Great memories

The Boxing Board of Control 'chief' in the eighties still writes to my son today about the sport. My son just reffed a fight that entitled the winner to meet Eubanks junior for the Commonwealth title. My son and Eubanks were with same trainer thirty years apart?

Kaga, I think you wrote on one of the threads about Ingemar Johansson. Do you have any stories of earlier boxers - Bruce Woodcock, Freddie Mills, Randy Turpin, Don Cockell, or even the commentators like W. Barrington Dalby or Eamonn Andrews? I think most of these were before TV and their fights were on the radio or newsreels if you were lucky.

Roger Turner. Yes Eamonn had been a boxer, he didn't like the broadcasts he heard, he wrote to Broadcasting House saying he could do better, so they invited him to do a test, he was a hit overnight. Henry Cooper was driving to a fight, his brother alongside, stopped at traffic lights, some skinny guy came alongside full of road rage, threatening Henry. Henry apologised, said he was sorry if he had done something wrong, the guy said if he stepped out the car the guy would make him sorry. The lights changed and they drove on, they laughed. Henry would be stepping in the ring in a few hours time to fight for the British Heavyweight crown, and this little puny guy had just threatened to flatten him. Ten guys were picked to represent Britain in a boxing match in Italy, but 2/3 matches into the fights and Britain was going to win nothing, low punches, elbows, head butt, thumb in the eyes, the ref let it pass, the officials did little. The heavyweight was Brian London, he said if the guy throws one bad punch I will do the same. This alarmed the officials, follow the rules, stiff upper lip, turn the other cheek and all that rot. Brian stood by his word, I think he may have been disqualified. The Italians went wild, their press next morning only contained the one fight. Britain was in disgrace, and Brian was boxing's bad boy. I think he became pro just after. But he went on to be a champion, I watched his fights closely on 'tele'. It seemed to me if a boxer threw a border line punch it passed as 'doubtful' but Brian got marked a 'foul' blow, but over the years, he was hit by punches he would have normally would have blocked or evaded. He seemed to rely more on his strength than skill, then Ali destroyed him easily. The Opera House, Coventry, showed the full length fight of Randy Turpin/Sugar Ray fight, and there in the row in front of me sat Randy himself, all alone. As he stood to leave at the end I spoke a few words to him. He had donned dark glasses and hat, no one else seemed to recognise him. As we left each other I did not say that I thought Sugar had not shown the sharpness and speed of previous fights, was not at his best, I thought like all Americans they always thought little of people outside their own country. If there was a return fight I would fully expect Sugar to win.

That was wonderful Kaga, please keep them coming. I remember Randy Turpin had a heck of a following in this area. Was he from Leamington?

Roger Turner. Yes Randy came from Leamington, he had a brother Dick, also boxed, but there was always that 'rumour' they were a funny family. I think Randy once beat Don Cockell but you can find out from records. I think my old school friend Les Allen once beat Terry Downes but they did have some ding-dong battles. I got to talk to Terry a lot in the eighties as he was a fan of my son. If you google Freddie Mills and read, you will understand a little of the gangland in London of the fifties, you really had to have your eyes peeled.

Yes the family owned a cafe in Windsor St and another elsewhere. Don't think that Randy made a fortune by boxing.rnKaga, was your son a professional, if so who did he fight? I ask this because I did a few rounds for the regiment but not very good I'm afraid. There is a member of this forum whose brother was a boxer. I fought him on the school playground but became good friends afterwards. He was very hard even at that age.

LesMac. Yes, my son was a professional boxer, never had one amateur fight, but had fought, and won and lost, British kick-boxing fights, and someone saw him and introduced him to Ronnie Davis here in Brighton. He won his licence and turned pro'. Yes he sparred with the Eubank twins. But it's a long story, Ronnie's lease with the last pub gym ended when my son was there, all the boxers left except my son, the only place we could find to train was an old cement works, clouds of cement dust, it was awful. Then my son emigrated. But Chris Eubank appeared from the USA and Ronnie found a new gym at a swimming pool complex. Yes, my son was not a world champion, but could hold his own with anyone his own weight. Probably I should take part of the blame for he was not matched properly. He fought the Irish champion and got beat, he fought the ABA champion and got beat. We were at a show, but the lad refused to get in the ring with Mark, and they refused to pay us, then they said, will Mark get in the ring for six rounds with the brilliant Terry Marsh, and we would get paid. Terry was a few weeks away from the European title and needed a really good workout, and got one, and my son got another respected friend. But Mark's finest hour was at Wembley. He was second fight on the 'bill', all keyed up in the dressing room and Bruno walks in. 'Sorry Mark but I'm on next'. My son had to relax again. Because of the fixed television time and the first bout going the full twelve rounds, they advanced Bruno forward. Bruno won in a few rounds, my son was shown in the ring warming up as they interviewed Bruno. So my son was thrown in again, but caught a beaut of a punch to the temple that floored him for the count of nine. Some months later at a show, I was talking to the trainer of the boy, he told me he thought my lad was doing too good, told his boy 'knock him out this round or you will lose to his stamina and strength'. Now my son is a top quality referee at many types of the fight game and well respected in the sport. I couldn't ask more.

LesMac, I take it you are talking about my brother Ron, now deceased, he boxed for Leamington Boys, the Turpin brothers, plus Michael Stack, Willie Croke at that time. He boxed in the first amateur contest on the TV, R.A.F versus the Rest in 1950.