Billy Gray 60s heavyweight

[bobmee]

Sad to hear of the passing of 1960s heavyweight Billy Gray on Jan 20th in a Wolverhampton hospital. From a boxing family in Norton Canes near Cannock, though usually billed out of Walsall, Billy was a junior ABA champion with Wolverhampton ABC. He was a pro from 1964-69, won a Jack Solomons heavyweight competition at the World Sporting Club and sparred with Muhammad Ali before Ali's title defence against Brian London. He also boxed on the undercard and beat the American Tommy 'Hurricane' Sims. Boxed as well on the big outdoor shows at St Andrew's and Molyneaux football grounds when Henry Cooper defended against Johnny Prescott and Jack Bodell. He promoted a couple of shows with brother Ron before promoting his own cards in Kingston-on-Thames, when he was based in Weybridge, Surrey. Gray leaves a widow, Penny, and seven children. I remember him well from long boxing conversations, too, at the old Wolverhampton Sporting Club. The funeral is at Streetly Crematorium, Sutton Coldfield, at noon on Friday, 6th Feb. The family has asked for any donations to be made to Wolverhampton amateur boxing club.

[Sklar]

Before my time but I'll think of him every time I stop for a break on the M6 Toll (Norton Canes) now. Great bit of footage from British Pathé - Stallone thought he was the first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHvdLRmDXwI

[bobmee]

Never seen that before - great find.

[Coco]

RIP, lovely guy

[bennie]

Forever a gentleman.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

R.I.P Billy Gray - didn't he fight in America? Seemed a decent, domestic level battler who could have got a title shot at Henry Cooper with a few more wins.

Just checked his record, beat some pretty decent guys in there like Bepi Ros who was champion of Italy and challenged Joe Bugner for the European heavyweight title and Spanish hard case (and their heavyweight champion) Mariano Echerevia - also got a draw with Ray Patterson - the hallmarks of a good, talented fighter.