Louis Welch (King Of The Gypsies) vs Tim Witherspoon

[bennie]

He fought as Lewis Welch, as opposed to Louis.

[TheGoods]

Louis was born in Hartlepool. As stated now lives in Darlington and is arguably the top Traveller around at the minute. He boxed Witherspoon in an exhibition in Houghton Le Spring. Truth be told it was a bit of a farce with both men clearly going through the motions. Louis is a blood cousin to my mam's sisters lads (work that one out!) and have had the pleasure of his company plenty of times. T-total, he is a fitness fanatic as almost as wide as he is tall. Didn't do anything as a pro, but has a fearsome reputation 'On The Cobbles' and its well merited. He bashed up Joe Boy Gaskin at Appleby about 10 years ago in a cracking fight. Both men slightly past their primes now.

[keithmoonhangover]

Louis was born in Hartlepool. As stated now lives in Darlington and is arguably the top Traveller around at the minute. He boxed Witherspoon in an exhibition in Houghton Le Spring. Truth be told it was a bit of a farce with both men clearly going through the motions. Louis is a blood cousin to my mam's sisters lads (work that one out!) and have had the pleasure of his company plenty of times. T-total, he is a fitness fanatic as almost as wide as he is tall. Didn't do anything as a pro, but has a fearsome reputation 'On The Cobbles' and its well merited. He bashed up Joe Boy Gaskin at Appleby about 10 years ago in a cracking fight. Both men slightly past their primes now.

Were you at the Witherspoon exhibition? How many rounds? What kind of shape was Witherspoon in?

[jameswilson]

Shall I make a Louis Walsh joke or is the same gag 17 times just too much?

[Stevolad]

Louis was born in Hartlepool. As stated now lives in Darlington and is arguably the top Traveller around at the minute. He boxed Witherspoon in an exhibition in Houghton Le Spring. Truth be told it was a bit of a farce with both men clearly going through the motions. Louis is a blood cousin to my mam's sisters lads (work that one out!) and have had the pleasure of his company plenty of times. T-total, he is a fitness fanatic as almost as wide as he is tall. Didn't do anything as a pro, but has a fearsome reputation 'On The Cobbles' and its well merited. He bashed up Joe Boy Gaskin at Appleby about 10 years ago in a cracking fight. Both men slightly past their primes now.

I thought he fought Tony 'TNT' Tucker up at Houghton Le Spring??

[Stevolad]

I was with Louis earlier this week and he is in good shape, as someone said he is as wide as he is tall, great craic and has an aura about him.

Had a back hand off the big fella about 12 year ago when someone tried to take my motorbike off me and crashed into his brothers car as they were driving it into the camp, that was my first introduction to him. He is mentioned in Tel Curries book 'Left Hooks and Dangerous Crooks' as well as Bartley Gorman's 'King of The Gypsies' book.

I'd like to know more about him and his fighting but daren't ask!!!!

[keithmoonhangover]

Louis was born in Hartlepool. As stated now lives in Darlington and is arguably the top Traveller around at the minute. He boxed Witherspoon in an exhibition in Houghton Le Spring. Truth be told it was a bit of a farce with both men clearly going through the motions. Louis is a blood cousin to my mam's sisters lads (work that one out!) and have had the pleasure of his company plenty of times. T-total, he is a fitness fanatic as almost as wide as he is tall. Didn't do anything as a pro, but has a fearsome reputation 'On The Cobbles' and its well merited. He bashed up Joe Boy Gaskin at Appleby about 10 years ago in a cracking fight. Both men slightly past their primes now.

I thought he fought Tony 'TNT' Tucker up at Houghton Le Spring??

I was always lead to believe that it was Tucker, but the only name it mentions on the 'net is Witherpsoon.

[Glyn Leach]

I know it's hard to take me seriously when my thread contains the word Gypsy, BUT Welch walks around in superb condition. I live in Darlington (although I grew up in Mackemland) and have seen Louis (although to be fair I bottled it and called him Mr Welch) come into the place where I work and I was more scared of him than I was when I met Henry Akinwande, Chris Pyatt, Adrian Dodson, James Cook, Frank Bruno, Gary Mason or Naseem Hamed.

The stories about this gentleman are legion in Darlington - a legend in his own lifetime. Like a lot of legendary stuff, much is inflated though there's plenty of merit, no doubt.

But when it comes to boxing, the only gypsy in my lifetime who has been really decent was Henry Wharton. In fact, when it comes to chin, I don't think I've seen a better one.

George Collins was pretty tasty too, though I preferred to watch his brother Tony, one of boxing's many great wasted talents

[CiganoBoxer]

The last true King was Bartley Gorman ...although most real travelers/gypsy's would agree James Mcdonagh Quinn is the man now days ..hes beat a lot of good young fighters in their primes and ent been beat..fcuk me hes beat complete family's of fighting men over in Ireland ..big tall CW and he stands 6 ft 3 .
As for Louis Welch ,well i am a gypsy/traveler me self and although i have heard of the Welches ..steeny/wally...i have never heard of Louis Welch

[manno]

Appleby has loads of fights going on,it can be a dangerous place.As for Louis,he had a brief pro career,one or two fights at around light middle.Another from Darlo,Charlie Moore was a real prospect and i watched him on a few Wharton undercards in the early nineties.Very exciting and looked like he could go a long way.I think he went "on the cobbles" before he ended up doing a long prison sentence for something.

Any more info on Charlie Moore mickey? was on a training wkend with him many moons ago, just after he lost to Benny Collins(younger brother of Tony and George) in schools final. Went pro with Mickey Duff didn't he? along with Wharton,Gale and Browne from Leeds. Thought his heavy left hooking combos would have been made for the pros.

[Stevolad]

The last true King was Bartley Gorman ...although most real travelers/gypsy's would agree James Mcdonagh Quinn is the man now days ..hes beat a lot of good young fighters in their primes and ent been beat..fcuk me hes beat complete family's of fighting men over in Ireland ..big tall CW and he stands 6 ft 3 .
As for Louis Welch ,well i am a gypsy/traveler me self and although i have heard of the Welches ..steeny/wally...i have never heard of Louis Welch

His brother is Billy Welch, gypsy spokesman and organiser of Appleby is he not???

[CiganoBoxer]

The last true King was Bartley Gorman ...although most real travelers/gypsy's would agree James Mcdonagh Quinn is the man now days ..hes beat a lot of good young fighters in their primes and ent been beat..fcuk me hes beat complete family's of fighting men over in Ireland ..big tall CW and he stands 6 ft 3 .
As for Louis Welch ,well i am a gypsy/traveler me self and although i have heard of the Welches ..steeny/wally...i have never heard of Louis Welch

His brother is Billy Welch, gypsy spokesman and organiser of Appleby is he not???

it might be mate ? i would have to ask my old man .

[keithmoonhangover]

The last true King was Bartley Gorman ...although most real travelers/gypsy's would agree James Mcdonagh Quinn is the man now days ..hes beat a lot of good young fighters in their primes and ent been beat..fcuk me hes beat complete family's of fighting men over in Ireland ..big tall CW and he stands 6 ft 3 .
As for Louis Welch ,well i am a gypsy/traveler me self and although i have heard of the Welches ..steeny/wally...i have never heard of Louis Welch

His brother is Billy Welch, gypsy spokesman and organiser of Appleby is he not???

it might be mate ? i would have to ask my old man .

Yes it is. Loius got attcheed by 8 blokes with machetes at Appleby a couple of years back and received something like 30 stab wounds. It was on the local news.

[MPG]

The last true King was Bartley Gorman ...although most real travelers/gypsy's would agree James Mcdonagh Quinn is the man now days ..hes beat a lot of good young fighters in their primes and ent been beat..fcuk me hes beat complete family's of fighting men over in Ireland ..big tall CW and he stands 6 ft 3 .
As for Louis Welch ,well i am a gypsy/traveler me self and although i have heard of the Welches ..steeny/wally...i have never heard of Louis Welch

The Man Himself...Mr Bartley Gorman

[Alba]

So how are Bare knuckle fights organised exactly? do they go through a middleman or what?

[jameswilson]

So how are Bare knuckle fights organised exactly? do they go through a middleman or what?

Martin Rogan wouldn't be happy with that.