Andy Smith - RIP

[bennie]

The great Andy Smith, trainer of champions and father of Board chief Robert, has died at the age of 78.
He passed away at a nursing home in Eastrea, Cambridgeshire this morning after a long illness.
Smith guided Dave 'Boy' Green and Joe Bugner to European titles, Des Morrison to a British title, and was renowned for his shrewd, caring attitude. He instilled a keen business sense in his fighters.
Green, a millionaire, said today: "In my opinion Andy was the best boxing manager this country has ever seen because he was more than that - he was a father figure, an adviser and a great man.
"Andy got me two shots at the world title which was a great achievement.
"We signed one contract and never needed another one which is the way it should be."
But Smith's greatest achievement was steering the reluctant, faint-hearted Bugner to a crack at the world heavyweight title in Kuala Lumpur in 1975.

[silkov]

He wasn't that fainthearted against Frazier Bennie.
I've always thought Joe got a raw deal from the British public.
Smith was a very good manager who seemed to handle his fighters well... Green came very close to beating Palomino and may well have won had his eye not closed.