Gary Mason

Fearful_Freddie · Post by **Fearful_Freddie** » 07 Jun 2009, 07:29

Interesting article from Eastside. Apparently now does security at a hospital.....

Remembering British Heavyweight Champ Gary Mason

by James Slater - Talk about a fighter who once occupied his fair share of the spotlight disappearing completely from view. Who has seen or heard a thing from the once very popular former British heavyweight champion Gary Mason lately? At one time on one UK T.V station or another almost constantly - both during and after his active career - the big Londoner who was born in Jamaica in 1962 was a genuine household name in Britain.

A very capable and enjoyable to watch in-studio expert on Sky Sports' Ringside boxing show in the 1990s, Mason looked set to enjoy a long running career as a T.V pundit.. But, unlike ex-fighters such as Glenn McCrory and other Brits who went into commentating fights, big Gary stopped working for some reason. What reason? Not being in full possession of the facts, and therefore not wanting to put out erroneous info, I did hear a rumour a number of years back about Gary having uttered bad language (using the dreaded C word no less) when he mistakenly thought the T.V cameras at Sky were switched off. Is this why Mason's T.V career disappeared as rapidly as his profile?

I liked Mason. He was a limited but brave and strong fighter, and he had a good, easygoing way about him. Never quite as popular as Frank Bruno - a rival fighter who Gary occasionally had opposing views to - Mason may have actually been the better heavyweight. Gary never got as far as big Frank, but bad luck had a lot to do with it - eye problems in particular bringing Mason the broken mirrors. But let's not forget, Mason was only ever beaten once as a pro - by the emerging Lennox Lewis, in 1991. Even here, Mason was not knocked out. Battered and half blinded, he was TKO'd in the 7th round, but he never went down. Mason had a good chin, that's for sure. Better than Bruno's? I'd say so.

But, despite his ability to take a decent shot upstairs, Mason's career was all but over after the loss to Lewis. Due to his detached retina, Gary was a spent force in the U.K. Two fights did follow, in the U.S three years after his sole defeat, but this comeback, such as it was, soon came to an end. Finally retiring with a fine record of 37-1(34), the former British champ concentrated on his T.V work - along with a brief stint playing for Rugby team The London Broncos. Mason also ran a jewellery store called "Punch 'N' Jewellery" for a while.

But in the past few years we have seen nothing of Mason. Indeed, he would certainly be a great subject for a where are they now article. A useful fighter in his day, who managed wins over decent men like Tyrell Biggs, Alonzo Ratliff, James Tillis and Hughroy Currie, Mason also displayed a fine knowledge of the fight game when he was working for Sky. It is a shame Gary is not enjoying some time in the public eye today - I for one would welcome him back as a commentator on his former sport and I suspect I wouldn't be the only one.

Whatever he's doing with himself nowadays, let's hope Gary Mason is in good health and is happy with his life. And if he reads this article, he will see he has not been forgotten.

Post by **The Law** » 07 Jun 2009, 09:11

I've dropped him a message and hopefully he will read this article.

Solid fighter whose career was unfortunately cut short.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 07 Jun 2009, 09:20

Was it the eye injury that ended his career?

He had the 2 fights in the USA , i thought he just lost interest in it after them.

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 07 Jun 2009, 09:32

I always liked Mason, a quality fighter, but Duff's usual precise matchmaking came unstuck against Lewis, a fight that effectively ended Gary's career.
I'm sure Mason would have been very competitive in the world championship mix at the time

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 07 Jun 2009, 09:36

I remember him destroying Jess Harding in 2 rounds, was there bad blood between the 2?

snoopyboymason · Post by **snoopyboymason** » 07 Jun 2009, 09:57

Old bones Ian wrote:I remember him destroying Jess Harding in 2 rounds, was there bad blood between the 2?

Remember that fight on Itv i'm sure it was in a big tent the knockout was chilling

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 07 Jun 2009, 12:15

I liked Gary Mason too.

As he showed against Lewis, he was one tough man.

Were it not for his eye injury, I think he might have been able to make some (small) waves in the HW division in the early 1990s.

yiddo14 · Post by **yiddo14** » 07 Jun 2009, 12:25

Didn't he try his hand at Promotion?

I have a few family members who lived near him at one stage and played snooker in the local hall where he used to have the odd game of cards.
Always spoke highly of him. He used to have quite a nice gaff.
Can't see him being a Security Guard at a Hospital though. Didn't he used to do Security for some pretty big and naughty nightclubs in London at one point?

tonyevs · Post by **tonyevs** » 07 Jun 2009, 12:45

He was one of my favourites commentators ... he brought humour without really trying - and he told it as he saw it, the latter probably being a reason they let him go ... I`d certainly rate him much higher than McGuigan, McKenzie and the terrible Rawlins

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 07 Jun 2009, 13:26

yiddo14 wrote:Didn't he try his hand at Promotion?

I have a few family members who lived near him at one stage and played snooker in the local hall where he used to have the odd game of cards.
Always spoke highly of him. He used to have quite a nice gaff.
Can't see him being a Security Guard at a Hospital though. Didn't he used to do Security for some pretty big and naughty nightclubs in London at one point?

I'm sure I read somewhere a few years back he was doing hospital security, perhaps he just wanted to keep a low profile and didn't want the hassle of nightclubs

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 07 Jun 2009, 13:33

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/300380 ... anvas.html

It's all in here, apparently he got sacked from the hospital for always chatting the birds up!

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 07 Jun 2009, 13:36

http://www.globalafrica.com/PigRaids.htm

Also looks like he got stitched up over the jewellery shop

Jon Saxon · Post by **Jon Saxon** » 07 Jun 2009, 14:05

He's a character I always liked him.
I remember when he was commenting on Holy V Douglas
"good shot ee's done im, ee's done im!"

Pricelss stuff!

Couldn't find a thing about him on youtube which was a shame.

Jon Saxon · Post by **Jon Saxon** » 07 Jun 2009, 14:13

Coco wrote:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/300380 ... anvas.html

It's all in here, apparently he got sacked from the hospital for always chatting the birds up!

thanks for that it was good and also sad reading.

hurlock · Post by **hurlock** » 07 Jun 2009, 14:37

good fighter mason,he gave lewis hell in there fight.

when ever i find myself reading on mason im allways laughing,as he allways seems to land himself in it.i read he pulled a transvestite & never realised

met mason a few times & he's a gent a real freindly guy,shame he dont get the work.

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 07 Jun 2009, 16:09

I liked Gary - he was a character, something the sport & in particular the HW division, could currently do with having!

Hearing & seeing him in the TV studio commentating on bouts, Gary always came across as a guy who just wantwed a laugh. He seemed easy going!

The article is a nice touch & hopefully Gary sees he is not forgotten. Not yet anyway lol!

I heard in 1989, Mason wanted a fight with Tyson. Is this accurate? If so, no disrespect to Gary, but he would have been hammered. It would have been over in the first evne if he did have a good chin!

Tyson back then would have proved too fast, too explosive!

doctorkindo · Post by **doctorkindo** » 07 Jun 2009, 16:14

hate hearing people ending up badly. hope gary turns it around.

ERIC GUY · Post by **ERIC GUY** » 08 Jun 2009, 19:12

I will let gary know that he is remembered!! he still duck and dives, he has a facebook page if you wanna contact him,

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 08 Jun 2009, 19:23

christ eric, you have lost some hair since that photo...

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 08 Jun 2009, 19:24

mason was security at medway hospital in chatham im led to believe.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 09 Jun 2009, 03:58

Good puncher, expertly matched but he lost to a 14-fight Lewis (compared to Mason's unbeaten 35) and was not as good as Bruno. I remember American Alfonso Ratliff rocking Gary to his boots and giving him hell before he was put down in the sixth round. The experienced Ratliff beat the count easily and then suffered a Dave Parris 'no second chance' stoppage.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 09 Jun 2009, 07:13

I remember that Tyrell Biggs gave Mason alot of problems, think he may of been in front on the scorecards, there was a few raised eyebrows when Biggs went down from a solid righthand, he looked as if he could of got up , but didn't.

streak · Post by **streak** » 09 Jun 2009, 07:29

Interesting

tonyevs · Post by **tonyevs** » 09 Jun 2009, 09:27

How do we start a `Get Gary Mason back on the box` petition? .. come on Buncey get Gary in the studio

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 09 Jun 2009, 09:27

tonyevs wrote:How do we start a `Get Gary Mason back on the box` petition? .. come on Buncey get Gary in the studio

That is a great idea!

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