Johnny Owen.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 06 Jul 2005, 14:54

Johnny Owen featured in the top 8 most requested sporting events broadcast in HTV Wales. This was voted for by HTV Wales viewers (which surprised me) on a show called "never to be forgotton".

The segment was very tastefully done but I was shocked when they showed the closing stages of the contest (in a segment which only lasted 5 minutes). Its the first time I have seen the end of that fight in years. Always thought it was a succession of shots that caused the damage, no as Dai Gardiner stated in the piece, it was one shot. It was a very very good punch.

I have seen McClellan vs Benn a few times and other fights in which I know tradgedy strikes - but watching that punch was horrible. I know he faught on for a few days after the fight but the way he went down you knew immediately that there was a severe problem.

Owain · Post by **Owain** » 06 Jul 2005, 20:02

When was this programme shown ? and do you know if there will be a repeat ?

The punch was an uppercut that would under normal circumstances maybe have broken the opponents jaw. Unfortunately, unbeknown to all Johnny had a thicker than usual jaw bone (thus it didn't break) but a thinner skull than usual too - with the resulting consequences. It could have happened in any fight, at any time.

Good to know that he is not forgotten.

LightCruiser · Post by **LightCruiser** » 06 Jul 2005, 20:16

BBC 4 did a documentary about Johnny Owen called
"The Long Journey" It tells the very emotional story about Johnny's father Dick meeting Guadalupe Pintor for the first time in 22 years after the death of his son.
Pintor then travels beck to Merthyr with Dick for a memorial service for Johnny Owen.

A truly heart rending story and the dignified way the Owen family behave toward Pintor makes you realise what special people boxers are.

Owain · Post by **Owain** » 06 Jul 2005, 20:30

The documentary won 2 Bafta (Cymru) awards.
Best Documentary + Best Director.

barry · Post by **barry** » 06 Jul 2005, 20:58

I remember watching Owen go down and it was like Stu stated, I just knew something else was wrong other than just being knocked out. As much as I love boxing, it was a very disturbing scene!

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 07 Jul 2005, 04:10

Is this due to be screened again / can it be gotten hold of (maybe through contacting HTV?)

Any news on the possibility of a film being made about the great man?

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 07 Jul 2005, 15:02

LightCruiser wrote:BBC 4 did a documentary about Johnny Owen called
"The Long Journey" It tells the very emotional story about Johnny's father Dick meeting Guadalupe Pintor for the first time in 22 years after the death of his son.
Pintor then travels beck to Merthyr with Dick for a memorial service for Johnny Owen.

A truly heart rending story and the dignified way the Owen family behave toward Pintor makes you realise what special people boxers are.

Pintor was really overwhelmed with the affection that was shown to him by the Owen family, you could see in his face how nervous he was when meeting them, especially Owens brother who he had never met before came into the room. it is a very good documentary.

Owain · Post by **Owain** » 07 Jul 2005, 18:31

Wales wrote:Is this due to be screened again / can it be gotten hold of (maybe through contacting HTV?)

Any news on the possibility of a film being made about the great man?

A screenplay was written almost ten years ago by 2 guys from L.A. (it's been revised since then), they are still seeking funding for the proposed film. They have previously been offered funding if they 'sexed' the story up, but that's not going to happen. I'm in regular contact with these guys and they are still actively seeking funds and remain true to the story.
If anyone here knows of anyone who may be interested in this film please do let me know.

topper123 wrote:especially Owens brother who he had never met before came into the room. it is a very good documentary.

That would be me. I was nervous as hell too. I'd gone through it in my head more than a few times as I obviously knew that we were going to meet. When it actually happened, Pintor's words and genuine emotions were so heartfelt that all I could think of was to comfort him. Over the years so much has been written and said about how the tragedy affected us (John's family), which obviously it has, but so little has been mentioned about how it must have affected Pintor. He really is a genuine guy. It was an accident, pure and simple.

barry · Post by **barry** » 07 Jul 2005, 18:56

Owain---I'm glad that you mentioned that you are Johnny Owen's brother. I'm a yank, but I'm a fan of Johnny Owen and of Lupe Pintor. It's also really good to hear that the screen-writers are sticking to their guns to stay true to the story and not taking the easy route just to sell it becasue soon enough it will be picked up!

states · Post by **states** » 07 Jul 2005, 20:41

Owain wrote:
Wales wrote:Is this due to be screened again / can it be gotten hold of (maybe through contacting HTV?)

Any news on the possibility of a film being made about the great man?
A screenplay was written almost ten years ago by 2 guys from L.A. (it's been revised since then), they are still seeking funding for the proposed film. They have previously been offered funding if they 'sexed' the story up, but that's not going to happen. I'm in regular contact with these guys and they are still actively seeking funds and remain true to the story.
If anyone here knows of anyone who may be interested in this film please do let me know.

topper123 wrote:especially Owens brother who he had never met before came into the room. it is a very good documentary.
That would be me. I was nervous as hell too. I'd gone through it in my head more than a few times as I obviously knew that we were going to meet. When it actually happened, Pintor's words and genuine emotions were so heartfelt that all I could think of was to comfort him. Over the years so much has been written and said about how the tragedy affected us (John's family), which obviously it has, but so little has been mentioned about how it must have affected Pintor. He really is a genuine guy. It was an accident, pure and simple.

Owain: Shit, I don't know what to say... Just respect, man, that's all I have, or can say. Sorry I can't be more eloquent.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 08 Jul 2005, 03:18

Owain wrote:
Wales wrote:Is this due to be screened again / can it be gotten hold of (maybe through contacting HTV?)

Any news on the possibility of a film being made about the great man?
A screenplay was written almost ten years ago by 2 guys from L.A. (it's been revised since then), they are still seeking funding for the proposed film. They have previously been offered funding if they 'sexed' the story up, but that's not going to happen. I'm in regular contact with these guys and they are still actively seeking funds and remain true to the story.
If anyone here knows of anyone who may be interested in this film please do let me know.

topper123 wrote:especially Owens brother who he had never met before came into the room. it is a very good documentary.
That would be me. I was nervous as hell too. I'd gone through it in my head more than a few times as I obviously knew that we were going to meet. When it actually happened, Pintor's words and genuine emotions were so heartfelt that all I could think of was to comfort him. Over the years so much has been written and said about how the tragedy affected us (John's family), which obviously it has, but so little has been mentioned about how it must have affected Pintor. He really is a genuine guy. It was an accident, pure and simple.

Good to hear from you Owain, thanks for your post.

bish · Post by **bish** » 08 Jul 2005, 14:53

Owain wrote:
Wales wrote:Is this due to be screened again / can it be gotten hold of (maybe through contacting HTV?)

Any news on the possibility of a film being made about the great man?
A screenplay was written almost ten years ago by 2 guys from L.A. (it's been revised since then), they are still seeking funding for the proposed film. They have previously been offered funding if they 'sexed' the story up, but that's not going to happen. I'm in regular contact with these guys and they are still actively seeking funds and remain true to the story.
If anyone here knows of anyone who may be interested in this film please do let me know.

topper123 wrote:especially Owens brother who he had never met before came into the room. it is a very good documentary.
That would be me. I was nervous as hell too. I'd gone through it in my head more than a few times as I obviously knew that we were going to meet. When it actually happened, Pintor's words and genuine emotions were so heartfelt that all I could think of was to comfort him. Over the years so much has been written and said about how the tragedy affected us (John's family), which obviously it has, but so little has been mentioned about how it must have affected Pintor. He really is a genuine guy. It was an accident, pure and simple.

Owain, Respect to you and your family.Johnny will never be forgotten here in Pontypool.

jameswilson · Post by **jameswilson** » 08 Jul 2005, 16:54

Respect Owain.

I grew up in Wales so I know the story well and it is a part of boxing that aint so nice.

Iv seen a documentary on the net and I dunno if this is the one people are talking about but either way its a decent job.

http://www.johnnyowen.fsnet.co.uk/tmm.html

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 08 Jul 2005, 17:55

A very sad story but also in a way uplifting. Johnny was a genuine warrior who from what I have read and heard really lived for his boxing and he has become a genuine legend who will never be forgotten for his courage and ability...

Owain · Post by **Owain** » 10 Jul 2005, 23:14

Barry, states, topper123, bish, jameswilson and silkov many, many thanks for your comments, they really are appreciated.

The video at http://www.johnnyowen.fsnet.co.uk/tmm.html is a short trailer that the 2 Americans put together to publicise the proposed film on the internet - and I uploaded to one of my websites. They did a good job given the constraints of the web.

It is gratifying to know that John is remembered for his ability and achievements rather than just the manner of his passing; which sometimes tends to overshadow the fact that he was champion of Britain, Commonwealth & Europe and IMO could conceivably have achieved the ultimate prize had the unfortunate accident not have occurred.

I'm not saying he would have won a world title but then again he had beaten the odds his entire life. What/who is to say that he couldn't have done so again? Many will say I am biased but, believe me (boxing aside), he really was a unique human being and I am proud, very proud that he is my brother. Even if he hadn't achieved anything in boxing he still was a unique and wonderful person.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 11 Jul 2005, 06:49

Owain wrote:Barry, states, topper123, bish, jameswilson and silkov many, many thanks for your comments, they really are appreciated.

The video at http://www.johnnyowen.fsnet.co.uk/tmm.html is a short trailer that the 2 Americans put together to publicise the proposed film on the internet - and I uploaded to one of my websites. They did a good job given the constraints of the web.

It is gratifying to know that John is remembered for his ability and achievements rather than just the manner of his passing; which sometimes tends to overshadow the fact that he was champion of Britain, Commonwealth & Europe and IMO could conceivably have achieved the ultimate prize had the unfortunate accident not have occurred.

I'm not saying he would have won a world title but then again he had beaten the odds his entire life. What/who is to say that he couldn't have done so again? Many will say I am biased but, believe me (boxing aside), he really was a unique human being and I am proud, very proud that he is my brother. Even if he hadn't achieved anything in boxing he still was a unique and wonderful person.

Johnny was definately a world class fighter and was unlucky in that he met such a tough and outstanding champion as Pintor. From what I can gather (I've never seen the fight all the way through) Johnny was doing very well against Pintor till the last couple of rounds and that in itself is impressive. If he was boxing today then I've little doubt that Johnny would win a world title but in his time world championships were much harder to win and the title holders of the day were all outstanding, Pintor, Chandler, Gomez etc... just to be Europeon champion in the 80s was quite a acheivement especially at the lighter weights... but certainly Johnny had outstanding ability and that should never be overlooked....

Owain · Post by **Owain** » 11 Jul 2005, 15:08

Cheers.

lvlarc · Post by **lvlarc** » 11 Jul 2005, 16:23

Christ, I've had a few chats with you Owain and I had no idea you were Johnny's brother. He was a world class boxer and a tribute to Wales, I remember seeing the statue of him in Merthyr a few years back with my father and he was telling me all about him.

He will always be remembered as a true warrior and an honour to Wales.

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 11 Jul 2005, 16:46

Yes, I remember Owain mentioned this on another thread on the Current Scene a while back. Never mentioned it here in case he didn't want it brought up, plus there are some sad, vile people on the internet who smear at every opportunity.

Nevertheless, Johnny was a true Welsh hero who went into the lion's den and fought his heart out, in the great tradition of his national boxing legends. He came so close away from home that I'd very much give him a big chance if he had had another shot at the title.

Something I've wondered about since first checking his record here on boxrec, hopefully Owain could confim: was Johnny's second pro fight a robbery?

Owain · Post by **Owain** » 12 Jul 2005, 19:45

lvlarc_uk wrote:Christ, I've had a few chats with you Owain and I had no idea you were Johnny's brother. He was a world class boxer and a tribute to Wales, I remember seeing the statue of him in Merthyr a few years back with my father and he was telling me all about him.

He will always be remembered as a true warrior and an honour to Wales.

Thanks mate, and the clues were there. I mentioned in a PM to you, on another site, that I live in Merthyr, my username is Owain (as you know Welsh for Owen) and my web link below is to johnnyowen.com. You were a little slow there butty

Manos de Oro wrote: Yes, I remember Owain mentioned this on another thread on the Current Scene a while back. Never mentioned it here in case he didn't want it brought up, plus there are some sad, vile people on the internet who smear at every opportunity.

Nevertheless, Johnny was a true Welsh hero who went into the lion's den and fought his heart out, in the great tradition of his national boxing legends. He came so close away from home that I'd very much give him a big chance if he had had another shot at the title.

Something I've wondered about since first checking his record here on boxrec, hopefully Owain could confim: was Johnny's second pro fight a robbery?

I did mention it a few weeks ago after the Hatton v Tszyu fight as I was involved in the debate (where many posters were crticising Tszyu for 'quitting' as they called it) and bollox mentioned John twice. As you suggest I have always been a little apprehensive about mentioning it because of 'some sad, vile people on the internet who smear at every opportunity' - agree wholeheartedly with you there.

With regard to the McLaughlin fight (John's 2nd fight) I didn't see the fight myself but I know that my father and John both thought John had won it by a good 3 rounds. Newspaper reports also stated that John had won clearly but not got the verdict. That's boxing

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 13 Jul 2005, 05:42

What was Johnnys Amutuer record?.....

Bladder · Post by **Bladder** » 13 Jul 2005, 07:51

silkov wrote:What was Johnnys Amutuer record?.....

Try looking here:
http://www.johnnyowen.com/Rpts/owen/amateur.html

Why are you always so nasty to people on Ebay if they criticise you on feedback?

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 13 Jul 2005, 11:18

Bladder wrote:
silkov wrote:What was Johnnys Amutuer record?.....
Try looking here:
http://www.johnnyowen.com/Rpts/owen/amateur.html

Why are you always so nasty to people on Ebay if they criticise you on feedback?

Eh?....

8)

.......don't know what you're on about?...