A Tony Sibson Story

[forcefraser]

Sibson v Mugabi

Tony was a moody fighter. Literally. The slightest thing could put him off . But I'll tell you this. When Tony felt like it he was up there with the very best. When Ken Squires trained him, and got him away from thinking too much, he was spot on. Sibson was at his fittest and strongest when he was on the building sites. Of course you can't have a British European and Commonwealth champion carrying bricks for living. Squires had him out chopping trees for hours on end and then wading through marshes with heavy boots. Then watch him go!
In that condition put him in with ANYONE from 11 sts 6 lbs to 12 sts 7 lbs. Tony wouldn't accept it, but in that frame of mind Andries and Tate wouldn't have survived the onslaught. Hagler had too much skill, but Ken Squires maintains the delay in getting Hagler into the ring messed with Tony's head.He lost focussed, started talking to family at the ringside and picking out TV stars. When asked if Tony could have beaten Hagler, Squires still maintains that if he'd managed to take 'Marvelous' to the later rounds he'd have stopped him.
Who knows.

Squires is obviously not very objective though is he. No one ever stopped Hagler or looked even remotely close to it and let`s have it right, he fought far better men than Sibson.

[revporl]

I saw an interview with Hagler and Sibbo before they fought and Tony was so apologetic to Hagler about what had happened during/after the Minter fight and said that he would like it even if their fight couldn't be made for the UK (Hagler said he wouldn't fight there again after the Minter "riot"), he would like to invite Hagler to the UK as his guest just to prove that not everyone in the UK was a racist hooligan. Hagler seemed genuinely touched by this, it was a nice gesture. Their fight was scheduled for the US a little while after this interview and I think it helped to push Tony along to get the challenge.

[dalcumly]

Everybody always assumes that when someone travels abroad for a world title fight nothing is left to chance and all arrangements are professionally made.
Tony and his trainer Ken Squires had never been involved in an event like the Hagler fight and remember this was pre-Internet days. Tony had no sparring from before they left England due to a nose injury at the final press day at the gym. (See book for details).
Thereafter on the night of the fight 'somebody' bought brand new boots and protector which had never been worn until the dressing room. The protector was for heavyweights and Squires had to cut it and repair with cellotape. After the fight Tony's most painful injury was his feet which were covered in blood.
The book is on Amazon and entitled ' Sibbo' , not surprisingly.

[Bricks]

8 months after losing to Marvin Hagler for the world title, Tony was still demoralised. His manager Mickey Duff took him out to Atlantic City to fight the 'new' star in the middleweight division, John Collins, who was being lined up for a crack at Hagler. George Francis was brought along as Sibson's trainer, and his 'real' trainer Ken Squires was left at home.
Sibson had never felt as lonely or insecure in all his life. THe day after they arrived Duff took him down to a local gym for sparring. All Tony could see was 'black' faces none of which he recognised. The first sparring partner came in and all the gym were watching out the side of their eyes. Sibson was hopeless, and Mickey Duff called the session off. That night Tony was all for heading home. He phoned his dad in Leicester who basically told him to 'man up'. 'Something' in him changed. THe next day when Duff asked for sparring partner volunteers there was a queue from welterweights to heavyweights desperate to get in the ring. THe first, probably a cruiserweight got in, and within a minute was on his back and finished. The next came in and sixty seconds later Duff had to call off the sparring. That night Duff found a bookmaker and put a lot of money on a Sibson knockout.
THe next night the 'new' superstar lasted less than six minutes, and Duff was very much a richer man.
What Tony remembers though is a lot different. With him was John Mugabi who Tony thought was a 'poor soul' and didn't seem to have a penny to his name. Everyday he told Tony about how he admired George Francis's lovely green tracksuit. When they were all packed up to leave Francis's bags were full and the tracksuit couldn't fit in. He offered it to Mugabi - and the poor lad had to buy it. Sibson is certain that the tracksuit had been donated to Francis by the manufacturer ( Adidas/Nike). THAT was Sibson's lasting memory of the trip.

great little read

[Bricks]

8 months after losing to Marvin Hagler for the world title, Tony was still demoralised. His manager Mickey Duff took him out to Atlantic City to fight the 'new' star in the middleweight division, John Collins, who was being lined up for a crack at Hagler. George Francis was brought along as Sibson's trainer, and his 'real' trainer Ken Squires was left at home.
Sibson had never felt as lonely or insecure in all his life. THe day after they arrived Duff took him down to a local gym for sparring. All Tony could see was 'black' faces none of which he recognised. The first sparring partner came in and all the gym were watching out the side of their eyes. Sibson was hopeless, and Mickey Duff called the session off. That night Tony was all for heading home. He phoned his dad in Leicester who basically told him to 'man up'. 'Something' in him changed. THe next day when Duff asked for sparring partner volunteers there was a queue from welterweights to heavyweights desperate to get in the ring. THe first, probably a cruiserweight got in, and within a minute was on his back and finished. The next came in and sixty seconds later Duff had to call off the sparring. That night Duff found a bookmaker and put a lot of money on a Sibson knockout.
THe next night the 'new' superstar lasted less than six minutes, and Duff was very much a richer man.
What Tony remembers though is a lot different. With him was John Mugabi who Tony thought was a 'poor soul' and didn't seem to have a penny to his name. Everyday he told Tony about how he admired George Francis's lovely green tracksuit. When they were all packed up to leave Francis's bags were full and the tracksuit couldn't fit in. He offered it to Mugabi - and the poor lad had to buy it. Sibson is certain that the tracksuit had been donated to Francis by the manufacturer ( Adidas/Nike). THAT was Sibson's lasting memory of the trip.

Great story.

With regards to Mickey Duff - Monek Prager was a shyster and manipulator who didn't care about his fighters, just the money. Filthy man

I saw him in Selfridges on New Bond Street just before he died.....he was wearing a camel skin fottball managers from the 1970s style fur coat. I said hello which he replied to. He than told me he was "dying for a shhit" and had to find the bathroom.....great guy he never said anything wrong to me

[boxingknockout]

8 months after losing to Marvin Hagler for the world title, Tony was still demoralised. His manager Mickey Duff took him out to Atlantic City to fight the 'new' star in the middleweight division, John Collins, who was being lined up for a crack at Hagler. George Francis was brought along as Sibson's trainer, and his 'real' trainer Ken Squires was left at home.
Sibson had never felt as lonely or insecure in all his life. THe day after they arrived Duff took him down to a local gym for sparring. All Tony could see was 'black' faces none of which he recognised. The first sparring partner came in and all the gym were watching out the side of their eyes. Sibson was hopeless, and Mickey Duff called the session off. That night Tony was all for heading home. He phoned his dad in Leicester who basically told him to 'man up'. 'Something' in him changed. THe next day when Duff asked for sparring partner volunteers there was a queue from welterweights to heavyweights desperate to get in the ring. THe first, probably a cruiserweight got in, and within a minute was on his back and finished. The next came in and sixty seconds later Duff had to call off the sparring. That night Duff found a bookmaker and put a lot of money on a Sibson knockout.
THe next night the 'new' superstar lasted less than six minutes, and Duff was very much a richer man.
What Tony remembers though is a lot different. With him was John Mugabi who Tony thought was a 'poor soul' and didn't seem to have a penny to his name. Everyday he told Tony about how he admired George Francis's lovely green tracksuit. When they were all packed up to leave Francis's bags were full and the tracksuit couldn't fit in. He offered it to Mugabi - and the poor lad had to buy it. Sibson is certain that the tracksuit had been donated to Francis by the manufacturer ( Adidas/Nike). THAT was Sibson's lasting memory of the trip.

Great story.

With regards to Mickey Duff - Monek Prager was a shyster and manipulator who didn't care about his fighters, just the money. Filthy man

I saw him in Selfridges on New Bond Street just before he died.....he was wearing a camel skin fottball managers from the 1970s style fur coat. I said hello which he replied to. He than told me he was "dying for a shhit" and had to find the bathroom.....great guy he never said anything wrong to me

[Oiky]

Tony sibson, legend