Remember a UK fighter thread

[Jeff Thomas]

Might bomb- might be full of win- who cares. Name fighters who time seems to have forgot but deserve a bit of kudos!!!

Name: Dean Pithie
Age: 38
Town: Coventry
Record: 25-5-2 (10KO's)

Status: Former Commonwealth Super Feather Champion, former WBO/WBC Intercontinental Champion

Best Wins:W Pts 12 Mzonke Fana, W Rsf 9 Paul Griffin, W Pts 12 Alex Moon, W Rsf 11 Stefy Bull

Significant Losses: L Pts 12 Michael Gomez, L KO 8 Gary Thornhill, L KO 6 Afif Djelti

Best fight: Prob the win over Matabola (rsf6)

Strengths: Nice compact boxing style, left hook, combination punching, hand speed

Weaknesses: Little fragile at top level, stopped a couple of times with body shots

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W78FC02tUSc (bit of Pithie Sparring - all I could find)

[bennie]

He liked a night out with the boys too much, another Keith Wallace.

[oliverfennell]

Good idea, Jeff. I'd suggest adding to your criteria why they were memorable - either generally or to the poster personally. If the intention is, as you say, the fighters "that time forgot", then putting up someone like Lewis or Eubank would be pointless, so if readers are unfamiliar with a selection, then let's say why they deserve to be remembered. Obviously their signature wins and losses are part of this, though.

[THEBUTCH]

Good thread and a real coincidence....I was only thinking about boxers from the past couple of decades a short while back and Pithe sprang to mind. Had a win over Naseem Hamed in the amateurs I believe.

Shame we never got Pithe v Evatt.

[Poncey]

Jack Doyle - how good could he have been had he stayed sober and kept his willy out of most of Hollywood?

[Chambers2]

Lets all take a moment to think back over "Jamie 'Relentless' McKeever's" efforts in the square ring. Not sure if he's retired as he only fought last May (after a 2 year lay-off), but he was never in a bad fight and he has the heart of Lion. He's a proper old fashioned blood and guts fighter who gave his all.

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


Jamie McKeever I salute you

[CB]

Good thread and a real coincidence....I was only thinking about boxers from the past couple of decades a short while back and Pithe sprang to mind. Had a win over Naseem Hamed in the amateurs I believe.

Shame we never got Pithe v Evatt.

It was the fight everyone wanted here and it would have made for a great night but it was never sorted.

Personally, think that Evatt would have knocked him out, he could really bang (and still can, he knocked one of mates tooths out the other month ) and as the OP says Pithie was a little lightweight and didn't carry much power.

Evatt and Pithie both liked a night out way too much and both have struggled since giving it up. Rich in particular is in a bit of a downward spiral.

[bennie]

Jack Doyle - how good could he have been had he stayed sober and kept his willy out of most of Hollywood?

Doyle drew 90,000 fans to his fight with Jack Petersen at White City in 1933, went beserk with low blows and was slung out in round two.
He had found the occasion too much for him and lived the rest of his life with sipphilus and alcoholism.

[Andypittcov]

Good thread and a real coincidence....I was only thinking about boxers from the past couple of decades a short while back and Pithe sprang to mind. Had a win over Naseem Hamed in the amateurs I believe.

Shame we never got Pithe v Evatt.

It was the fight everyone wanted here and it would have made for a great night but it was never sorted.

Personally, think that Evatt would have knocked him out, he could really bang (and still can, he knocked one of mates tooths out the other month ) and as the OP says Pithie was a little lightweight and didn't carry much power.

Evatt and Pithie both liked a night out way too much and both have struggled since giving it up. Rich in particular is in a bit of a downward spiral.

Personally I think dean would have won,I know rich carried the power but dean was the better boxer technically IMO with the far better amatuer background.
I would be a little bias tho because I worked with dean for 5 years and trained with him regulary,great lad who's also having personal problems these days unfortunately.

[oliverfennell]

Name: Tom Collins

Age: 55

Town: Leeds

Record: 26-22-2 (19)

Status: European light-heavyweight champion, 1987-1990
British light-heavyweight champion, 1987-1989
British light-heavyweight champion, 1982-1983
Central Area light-heavyweight champion, 1980

WBC light-heavyweight title challenger, 1989
WBO light-heavyweight title challenger, 1991
European light-heavyweight title challenger, 1988
British light-heavyweight title challenger, 1984 x 2
WBF cruiserweight title challenger, 1993

Best Wins: w pts 15 Dennis Andries, ko 4 Trevor Cattouse, ko 3 Yawe Davis, ko 2 Alex Blanchard, ko 9 Mark Kaylor, tko 2 Tony Wilson, ko 9 Eric Nicoletta

Significant Losses: l pts 8, l ko 6, l pts 12, l pts 12 Dennis Andries, l pts 10 Leslie Stewart, l pts 8 Chisanda Mutti, l pts 8 Ralf Rocchigiani, l pts 8 Alex Blanchard, l tko 2 Jeff Harding, l tko 6 Leeonzer Barber, l tko 8 Henry Maske, l tko 1 Johnny Nelson

Best fight: First title loss to Andries? KO win over Kaylor?

Strengths: Raw power, excitement, determination, experience.

Weaknesses: The archetypal vulnerable puncher, also liable to be outboxed at the higher level.

Video Link: will look later

Memorable for: Many, many upsets. Unpredictability. The perennial chance of a knockout win. A journeyman who grafted his way to two world title shots. Possibly the last British boxer to engage in a five-fight rivalry (could be wrong but nothing else springs to mind). And a piece of negative legacy - was involved in the first WBF (in fact, first non-big 4) title fight in Britain, which opened the floodgates...

[THEBUTCH]

Collins carried a real bomb in his right hand. A very relaxed boxer who was quite cagey too.

Determination :?? Not sure about that. Sure, when the mood took him, but I'd say erratic was more accurate. I know he claimed a punch to the throat in his loss to Jeff Harding, but considering it was for a world title I don't think everyone was convinced that Tom had put in a decent effort.

Like you said, he had his share of glory nights.

[jessi]

Good thread and a real coincidence....I was only thinking about boxers from the past couple of decades a short while back and Pithe sprang to mind. Had a win over Naseem Hamed in the amateurs I believe.

Shame we never got Pithe v Evatt.

yes, last man to beat naz in the amateurs.

[black panther]

Name: Chris Saunders
Age: 43
Town: Barnsley
Record: 23-23-1 (10KO's)

Status: Former British Welterweight Champion

Best Wins:W KO4 Kevin Lueshing, W KO2 Jose Varela, W PTS 12 Del Bryan

Significant Losses: L KO3 Billy Schwer, L KO 1 Billy Schwer, L TKO 4 Jason Matthews, L TKO3 Kevin Lueshing, L TKO4 Derek Roche, L TKO5 Michael Jennings

Best fight: Prob the win over future world title challenger Kevin Lueshing (WTKO4) who famously floored Tito Trinidad.

Strengths: Southpaw, hit harder than record suggests.

Weaknesses: Prone to cuts,questionable defence, needed a better manager (matched very tough from day one).

Notes: A guy who was "much better than his record" got some great wins like Lueshing and former european champ Varela which showed his ability. Ven at the end of his career managed to floor the very decent Michael Jennings before being stopped on cuts.

Links:

Record: http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

Lueshing rematch Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBi3R3o5eNY

[orbtastic]

Name: Chris Saunders
Age: 43
Town: Barnsley
Record: 23-23-1 (10KO's)

Status: Former British Welterweight Champion

Best Wins:W KO4 Kevin Lueshing, W KO2 Jose Varela, W PTS 12 Del Bryan

Significant Losses: L KO3 Billy Schwer, L KO 1 Billy Schwer, L TKO 4 Jason Matthews, L TKO3 Kevin Lueshing, L TKO4 Derek Roche, L TKO5 Michael Jennings

Best fight: Prob the win over future world title challenger Kevin Lueshing (WTKO4) who famously floored Tito Trinidad.

Strengths: Southpaw, hit harder than record suggests.

Weaknesses: Prone to cuts,questionable defence, needed a better manager (matched very tough from day one).

Notes: A guy who was "much better than his record" got some great wins like Lueshing and former european champ Varela which showed his ability. Ven at the end of his career managed to floor the very decent Michael Jennings before being stopped on cuts.

Links:

Record: http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

Lueshing rematch Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBi3R3o5eNY

The two fights with Lueshing were great, the 2nd one in particular one of those real "did you see that?" type moments.

I emailed Lueshing a while ago as he was auctioning Benn's stuff for charity and mentioned that fight to him, he laughed and said it was easily his career highlight.

[chiggsy]

Might bomb- might be full of win- who cares. Name fighters who time seems to have forgot but deserve a bit of kudos!!!

Name: Dean Pithie
Age: 38
Town: Coventry
Record: 25-5-2 (10KO's)

Status: Former Commonwealth Super Feather Champion, former WBO/WBC Intercontinental Champion

Best Wins:W Pts 12 Mzonke Fana, W Rsf 9 Paul Griffin, W Pts 12 Alex Moon, W Rsf 11 Stefy Bull

Significant Losses: L Pts 12 Michael Gomez, L KO 8 Gary Thornhill, L KO 6 Afif Djelti

Best fight: Prob the win over Matabola (rsf6)

Strengths: Nice compact boxing style, left hook, combination punching, hand speed

Weaknesses: Little fragile at top level, stopped a couple of times with body shots

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W78FC02tUSc (bit of Pithie Sparring - all I could find)

First ever boxing show I went to was dean pithie vs gary thornhill at the everton park sports centre.
Wayne llewelyn,ian napa and the guy from birkenhead that won the british featherweight title was on the undercard (forgot his name).
The main event was supposed to be wenton vs barrera,then wenton vs another yank (the guy that beat jnr jones) but ended up being pithie vs thornhill

*edit* the birkenhead fella was jamie mckeever

[palooka]

There're lots on here who know loads more than me. Would someone please do a Mickey Driscoll? He could fight for fun and had bottle to burn

(Peter Culshaw was another good n)

[CB]

Good thread and a real coincidence....I was only thinking about boxers from the past couple of decades a short while back and Pithe sprang to mind. Had a win over Naseem Hamed in the amateurs I believe.

Shame we never got Pithe v Evatt.

It was the fight everyone wanted here and it would have made for a great night but it was never sorted.

Personally, think that Evatt would have knocked him out, he could really bang (and still can, he knocked one of mates tooths out the other month ) and as the OP says Pithie was a little lightweight and didn't carry much power.

Evatt and Pithie both liked a night out way too much and both have struggled since giving it up. Rich in particular is in a bit of a downward spiral.

Personally I think dean would have won,I know rich carried the power but dean was the better boxer technically IMO with the far better amatuer background.
I would be a little bias tho because I worked with dean for 5 years and trained with him regulary,great lad who's also having personal problems these days unfortunately.

As they say styles make fights and this one would have been a cracker! Just a shame they never made it.

Would have been a cracking night for Coventry boxing which at the time was going through a bit of a purple patch.

Oh well.....

[orbtastic]

Driscoll makes me think of Ross Hale
Culshaw makes me think of Ady Lewis

I'll throw in Johnny Armour

[Old bones Ian]

One from way back was Len Johnson, not only was he a top boxer, but he was a victim of the colour bar in this country.

Len learned his trade in the boxing booths, his father ran one up and down the country. Len's father was from Sierra Leone and his mother was from Manchester, back then mixed marriages were not looked at in a good light, and it led to Len's mother being abused and attacked in the street.

Len turned pro in 1922, and fought tough guys from the start (as most did), in 1926 he defeated form British and euro champ Roland Todd twice, . Also in 1926 Len went to Australia where he won the Empire middle title defending it twice over there and winning 6 out of 8 fights , boxing 130 rounds and all of that in 4 months!!!

Len should of returned to Britain a hero, instead when he returned here the National Sporting Club (who ran boxing in the uk), said he wasn't champion, and had installed another boxer as Empire champion

1927 he added the name of Len Harvey to his record winning on points, he followed that up by beating a faded Ted 'kid' Lewis by retirement in 9 rounds. 1928 beating Gypsy Daniels on points, and reigning Euro Middle champ Leone Jaccovacci in a none title fight. He also beat Euro cruiser champ Michele Bonaglia, the Italian won the EBU light heavytitle in his next fight.

Len at this time had gone on an 18 fight unbeaten run, but because the Board of Control wouldn't allow a mixed race boxer to fight for a British title , he never got the chance to fight for the British title, all because he was the 'wrong' colour.

have a look at his record and think how he sailed to Australia and back in 1926 , and also fought 12 times, taking part in 210 rounds.

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... r&pageID=1

[Jeff Thomas]

Brilliant input guys

The one on eastside is doing well as well. Pleae try and stick to the format where possible just for ease of reference. Unless of course your terry Dooley then just do what you want.

[hurlock]

mickey "ice man" hughes

rocky kelly.

colin dunne.

[black panther]

Driscoll makes me think of Ross Hale
Culshaw makes me think of Ady Lewis

I'll throw in Johnny Armour

I was thinking Armour too. His fights with Ampofo were some of the best I've ever seen in a British ring.

[boxerrob2005]

What ever happend to Geoff McCreesh when he retired?

[Old bones Ian]

What ever happend to Geoff McCreesh when he retired?

I don't know, but i never knew this fight happened. What a finish!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9xaIIcLt_k

[oliverfennell]

Collins carried a real bomb in his right hand. A very relaxed boxer who was quite cagey too.

Determination :?? Not sure about that. Sure, when the mood took him, but I'd say erratic was more accurate. I know he claimed a punch to the throat in his loss to Jeff Harding, but considering it was for a world title I don't think everyone was convinced that Tom had put in a decent effort.

Like you said, he had his share of glory nights.

Re. determination, what I meant was in his overall career rather than in individual performances. A lot of boxers would either have given up or settled into the journeyman role, but he got all the way to two world title shots by virtue of an "if at first you don't succeed...." mentality.