Has a Welsh fighter ever won a 'world' title overseas?
Has a Welsh fighter ever won a 'world' title overseas?
Gavin Rees challenges for the vacant WBO super-featherweight title on July 15 in the States. This got me thinking: has any Welsh fighter ever won a 'world' title abroad? I can think of some gallant failures (Tommy Farr, Colin Jones, etc), but I can't think of a Welsh winner.
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DIRT SUGAR
- Heavyweight
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journeyman
- Heavyweight
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freddie welsh (thomas)? didn't he win the world lightweight title in the states? i know all-time 135lb great benny 'the ghetto wizard' leonard beat him for the title in the mid 1910s in the us
i remember stevie robinson going down to kovacs in hungary for the wbc (?) featherweight title not too long ago.
i remember stevie robinson going down to kovacs in hungary for the wbc (?) featherweight title not too long ago.
Just checked up on Freddie Welsh, and he won the world lightweight title in London in 1914 and defended it successfully twice in the States before - as you say - the great Benny Leonard relieved him of the title in New York in 1917.journeyman wrote:freddie welsh (thomas)? didn't he win the world lightweight title in the states? i know all-time 135lb great benny 'the ghetto wizard' leonard beat him for the title in the mid 1910s in the us
He was close.
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MightyWarrior
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Another failure...not that he could ever be called that ...Jimmy Wilde got beat in the seventh for the world flyweight title at the Polo Grounds.
Was his last fight in 1923. One of the all-time greats.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=009023
Was his last fight in 1923. One of the all-time greats.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=009023
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journeyman
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:x damn! that was my best bet. reckon it must be a no, then. the only other welsh greats i can think of - jimmy wilde and johnny owen - definitely won their titles on uk shores.bennie wrote:Just checked up on Freddie Welsh, and he won the world lightweight title in London in 1914 and defended it successfully twice in the States before - as you say - the great Benny Leonard relieved him of the title in New York in 1917.journeyman wrote:freddie welsh (thomas)? didn't he win the world lightweight title in the states? i know all-time 135lb great benny 'the ghetto wizard' leonard beat him for the title in the mid 1910s in the us
He was close.
I've just checked out a few Welsh newspaper sites and found what I was looking for:
From the South Wales Echo:
GAVIN Rees will have history against him when he flies to Texas next month to bid for the WBO super-featherweight belt, an opportunity revealed in yesterday's Echo.
The 24-year-old Newbridge fighter's July 15 vacant title showdown in Dallas with another unbeaten youngster, Mike Anchondo, will be the first time a Welshman has tried for a world crown in the States since Colin Jones' WBC welterweight defeat by Milton McCrory in Las Vegas in August 1983.
And no Welsh boxer has ever won a world championship on foreign soil. Even Freddie Welsh, who lived in the States, claimed his world lightweight honour in London, although he did defend successfully across the Atlantic.
Beginning with US-based Cardiffian middleweight Tommy West, way back in 1898, it has been a list of gallant failures.
Jones, admittedly, drew his first meeting with McCrory, but Tommy Farr, Dai Dower, Howard Winstone, Johnny Owen and Nicky Piper were all beaten.
'Peerless' Jim Driscoll famously outboxed world feather king Abe Attell in New York in 1909, but those were the days when boxing in that state was officially outlawed and all bouts were regarded as 'No Decision' exhibitions.
If Driscoll had knocked Attell out, he would have been recognised as champion, but, instead, he never was.
Rees will have to go some to end the jinx. A 22-year-old Californian, Anchondo, already the WBC Youth champion, has won all 24 fights, stopping 18 of his opponents.
Managed by Joel de la Hoya, whose son, Oscar, will stage the bout through his Golden Boy Promotions, he has friends in high places as well as the crowd support likely to fill the American Airlines Arena
PS: Thanks for all your help
From the South Wales Echo:
GAVIN Rees will have history against him when he flies to Texas next month to bid for the WBO super-featherweight belt, an opportunity revealed in yesterday's Echo.
The 24-year-old Newbridge fighter's July 15 vacant title showdown in Dallas with another unbeaten youngster, Mike Anchondo, will be the first time a Welshman has tried for a world crown in the States since Colin Jones' WBC welterweight defeat by Milton McCrory in Las Vegas in August 1983.
And no Welsh boxer has ever won a world championship on foreign soil. Even Freddie Welsh, who lived in the States, claimed his world lightweight honour in London, although he did defend successfully across the Atlantic.
Beginning with US-based Cardiffian middleweight Tommy West, way back in 1898, it has been a list of gallant failures.
Jones, admittedly, drew his first meeting with McCrory, but Tommy Farr, Dai Dower, Howard Winstone, Johnny Owen and Nicky Piper were all beaten.
'Peerless' Jim Driscoll famously outboxed world feather king Abe Attell in New York in 1909, but those were the days when boxing in that state was officially outlawed and all bouts were regarded as 'No Decision' exhibitions.
If Driscoll had knocked Attell out, he would have been recognised as champion, but, instead, he never was.
Rees will have to go some to end the jinx. A 22-year-old Californian, Anchondo, already the WBC Youth champion, has won all 24 fights, stopping 18 of his opponents.
Managed by Joel de la Hoya, whose son, Oscar, will stage the bout through his Golden Boy Promotions, he has friends in high places as well as the crowd support likely to fill the American Airlines Arena
PS: Thanks for all your help
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MightyWarrior
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 23 Jan 2003, 14:01
Mighty Mike.....looks like Robin Reid's younger brother..
From Goldenboy promotions:
Sometimes looks are deceiving. Junior lightweight Mike Anchondo could probably pass for a matinee idol on the streets of Hollywood, much like his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya. But beneath the surface lies a fighter, one who has taken on all life has thrown at him and is still able to stand tall.
It's the stuff of which champions are made.
Raised in La Puente, California, Anchondo was first brought to a boxing gym at the age of five by his grandfather. "He took me to the gym and I still remember the first day I stepped in there," said Anchondo.
The youngster fell in love with the sport almost immediately, and fought in exhibition bouts from the age of six until he was able to fight in sanctioned bouts at eight years old.
But while things were going well for him in the ring, his life was unsettled outside of it. Mike admits he saw things a lot of youngsters shouldn't see growing up, but luckily, when he was 11, his grandparents gained custody over him, his brother and his three sisters.
Anchondo's home life was now settled, but money was still tight for the up and coming amateur boxer and his family. Enter some good Samaritans who put together the money to put Mike through a private high school, and who sponsored him for out of state amateur tournaments.
"These people are like family to me," said Anchondo. "I've seen a lot and things have been fortunate. I've gotten lucky as far as meeting people."
Not as fortunate were his amateur opponents, who weren't able to keep up with the heavy hands of "Mighty" Mike. Anchondo logged over 130 amateur fights, winning numerous amateur titles and medals along the way. All the while, he kept to himself as the press clippings mounted, even finding time to wrestle on his high school team, a team that took home a state championship.
As Anchondo entered the year 2000, he had dreams of making the US Olympic team, but a cyst in his arm forced him to the sidelines for some key tournaments. Once healthy, the dream was now to win a world title as a professional, and he got started on that dream on May 6, 2000, when he turned pro with a fourth round knockout of Ramon Ortiz.
"Mighty Mike" started fast in the pros, scoring knockouts in his first ten fights. He quickly gained a following in California, not only for his charisma, but his action-packed style and knockout power.
In fight number 11, Anchondo squared off against Juan Carlos Aranday on April 26, 2001. Aranday took everything Anchondo had, but wouldn't go down, losing an eight round decision. More importantly, the young prospect learned a valuable lesson.
"Towards the end of the fight I did slow down a bit," he admitted. "But it was experience and as I've gone on fighting I've learned to pace myself better."
The wins kept piling up, and in 2002, Anchondo, who was now being managed by Joel De La Hoya and promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, picked up his level of competition considerably, scoring impressive wins over top quality foes like Ever Beleno and Isidro Tejedor.
In 2003, the stakes will be even higher for "Mighty Mike", and he's ready for whatever the sport will bring him.
"This is my philosophy," said Anchondo. "I figure that if I'm going to reach my goal, which is the world title, the media is going to be there, the money's going to be there, and it will all come in due time."
From Goldenboy promotions:
Sometimes looks are deceiving. Junior lightweight Mike Anchondo could probably pass for a matinee idol on the streets of Hollywood, much like his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya. But beneath the surface lies a fighter, one who has taken on all life has thrown at him and is still able to stand tall.
It's the stuff of which champions are made.
Raised in La Puente, California, Anchondo was first brought to a boxing gym at the age of five by his grandfather. "He took me to the gym and I still remember the first day I stepped in there," said Anchondo.
The youngster fell in love with the sport almost immediately, and fought in exhibition bouts from the age of six until he was able to fight in sanctioned bouts at eight years old.
But while things were going well for him in the ring, his life was unsettled outside of it. Mike admits he saw things a lot of youngsters shouldn't see growing up, but luckily, when he was 11, his grandparents gained custody over him, his brother and his three sisters.
Anchondo's home life was now settled, but money was still tight for the up and coming amateur boxer and his family. Enter some good Samaritans who put together the money to put Mike through a private high school, and who sponsored him for out of state amateur tournaments.
"These people are like family to me," said Anchondo. "I've seen a lot and things have been fortunate. I've gotten lucky as far as meeting people."
Not as fortunate were his amateur opponents, who weren't able to keep up with the heavy hands of "Mighty" Mike. Anchondo logged over 130 amateur fights, winning numerous amateur titles and medals along the way. All the while, he kept to himself as the press clippings mounted, even finding time to wrestle on his high school team, a team that took home a state championship.
As Anchondo entered the year 2000, he had dreams of making the US Olympic team, but a cyst in his arm forced him to the sidelines for some key tournaments. Once healthy, the dream was now to win a world title as a professional, and he got started on that dream on May 6, 2000, when he turned pro with a fourth round knockout of Ramon Ortiz.
"Mighty Mike" started fast in the pros, scoring knockouts in his first ten fights. He quickly gained a following in California, not only for his charisma, but his action-packed style and knockout power.
In fight number 11, Anchondo squared off against Juan Carlos Aranday on April 26, 2001. Aranday took everything Anchondo had, but wouldn't go down, losing an eight round decision. More importantly, the young prospect learned a valuable lesson.
"Towards the end of the fight I did slow down a bit," he admitted. "But it was experience and as I've gone on fighting I've learned to pace myself better."
The wins kept piling up, and in 2002, Anchondo, who was now being managed by Joel De La Hoya and promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, picked up his level of competition considerably, scoring impressive wins over top quality foes like Ever Beleno and Isidro Tejedor.
In 2003, the stakes will be even higher for "Mighty Mike", and he's ready for whatever the sport will bring him.
"This is my philosophy," said Anchondo. "I figure that if I'm going to reach my goal, which is the world title, the media is going to be there, the money's going to be there, and it will all come in due time."
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hitman_hatton1
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mccrory deserved that 
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hitman_hatton1
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i just think that knockdown in the 1st rd swayed it mccrory's waylamphey wrote:If I remember right, Colin's manager Eddie Thomas was convinced Jones won the second fight moreso than the first. Also, I think Boxing News editor Harry Mullan favoured Jones in the second bout.
I agree with them both ... but I'm biased.
plus i thought he nicked a rd in the 2nd half of the fight where he boxed and moved quite beautifully, rd 8 i think it was.he had him on toast in rd 7 if only that bell hadn't rung
thats one of those occassions where u kidnap the timekeeper. 
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knockout artist
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journeyman
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Re: Has a Welsh fighter ever won a 'world' title overseas?
bennie wrote:Gavin Rees challenges for the vacant WBO super-featherweight title on July 15 in the States. This got me thinking: has any Welsh fighter ever won a 'world' title abroad? I can think of some gallant failures (Tommy Farr, Colin Jones, etc), but I can't think of a Welsh winner.
Gavin Rees isn't fighting for a world title, he's fighting for a WBO title and an interim one at that.