Coney Beach Arena Porthcawl

SteveMT · Post by **SteveMT** » 29 Mar 2008, 14:52

Coney Beach Amusement Park in Porthcawl, South Wales, will be celebrating its 90th anniversary this year and we are researching its long and eventful history.

Between 1945 and 68, the Coney Beach Arena hosted many boxing contests and we would like to hear of any of the great ones.

Can you help in any way ?

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 29 Mar 2008, 15:00

Well you probably know that Dick Richardson was a regular there, a few big fights by the looks of it too.

Here's his record

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

I was there a few weeks back, and was told they are planning to knock the place down and replace it, is that still going to happen?

SteveMT · Post by **SteveMT** » 29 Mar 2008, 15:05

The Amusement Park is at the centre of Porthcawl's long-overdue regeneration and will ultimately be developed. The owners, the Evans family, are strong supporters of their community and will ensure any redevelopment benefits the town and those who come here to enjoy themselves.

Dick Richardson was at the centre of the infamous 'Porthcawl Brawl' when Brian London's family disagreed with the TKO awarded against him. What do you know of any world title fights held there ?

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 29 Mar 2008, 15:21

Howard Winstone v Jose Legra, WBC feather world title.

Bennie who posts here will no doubt give you a run down on the big fights

And a couple of the Welsh guys here will know a few as well

tonyevs · Post by **tonyevs** » 29 Mar 2008, 17:25

Howard Winstone is the only World title fight that I know off taking place there - he fought there a few times including against Billy Calvert for the British&European in 1963

Of other Welsh Champions that fought there:
Eddie Thomas v Charles Nunez for the european title 1951
Brian Curvis v Johnny Cook 1964 british/commonwealth
Dai Dower
Eddie Avoth
Joe Erskine
Johnny Williams

reesy · Post by **reesy** » 30 Mar 2008, 00:39

Well im not sayin it was a great one,but my dad boxed there. He beat Len Harvey,not THE Len Harvey,he beat the Fighting Bus Conductor from Cafdiff on the undercard of Richardson v Cooper.
Im proud of him anyway!

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 30 Mar 2008, 09:14

Nothing to really add. The venue is Dick Richardson's due to the infamous Brawl in Porthcawl (which made Hagler-Minter look like a bun fight) and another riot after Richardson was slung out against American Mike de John. Cooper fought there a couple of times (one against Richardson, as Reesy says). He's probably the best-known fighter to fight there. The best is Howard Winstone, who was over the hill when Cuban Jose Legra hammered him in five rounds for the world featherweight title in 1968. Legra dropped him in the opening seconds with a bolo punch.
Frenchman Honore Pratesi and Ghana's Roy Ankrah are two fine fighters who also boxed there.