Can you remember the first British title fight you went to.

[Mimmy]

So, can you remember the first British title fight you ever went to see.

Mine was Sean Murphy v Johnny Good for the British Featherweight title.

Murphy won the title from John Doherty, not really sure how Good got a title shot to be honest being a 10 fight novice winning only 6 of those 10.

Murphy was leagues above Johnny and knocked him out in 2 rounds. I remember in the arena that night there were loads of postcards with the picture of Gary DeRoux on them saying that this was the next fight. Again DeRoux hadnt really beaten anyone of note to even get a shot of Murphy's title but he knocked out Murphy when the 2 met for the title. That was DeRoux's last win however because along came Colin McMillan who was being hailed as the next best thing since sliced bread.

Murphy did pick up the title again when McMillan relinquished it to fight Maurizio Stecca for the WBO version but Murphy then relinquished to fight Steve Robinson for the world title too.

Murphy would move up Lightweight to fight Billy Schwer for 2 titles but Schwer was far superior for Murphy that night.

Anyway thats the first British title fight i ever saw live. Sean Murphy v Johnny Good.

[bigjack]

Ive just had a look back at the shows i've attended and i don't think there was a british title fight on any of them

[Southy1922]

Moore v jones 3 at the gh carnall leisure centre. Electric atmosphere for a british fight of the year. 2005

[Stuarty]

Alex Arthur v Steve Conway in 2002! Makes me feel faaackin old

[craig_minter]

Just the two, thought there would've been a lot more!

Burton vs Shinkwin
Eubank Jr vs Doran

[rubberneck]

Wayne Rigby vs Bobbie Vanzie for the lightweight title. It was the chief support to Michael Brodie’s EBU challenge.
Vanzie was too slick, quick and strong and stopped Rigby in the 10th. It was a pity for Rigby as he was one win away from winning the Lonsdale belt outright.

[Kilsby]

John Murray Vs Jon Thaxton in Altrincham leisure centre in 2009 (British title)

First European title bout was Jamie Moore Vs Piccirillo in Wigan in 2009.

Fist world title fight was Pacquiao vs Barrera 2 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in 2007

[Darcy Delaney]

I think mine was Ali Forbes vs Fedel Castro Smith at York Hall

[edgey2009]

Wayne Elcock v Darren McDermott W-ton Civic 2008 I think it was.

[MightyWarrior]

Kirkland Laing defending his British welter title against the swashbuckling Rocky Kelly at the Ramada inn Fulham in 1987. Two of boxings real characters, I weirdly saw Rocky a few days before the fight, at a Fulham pub, and noticed him buying some weed off the guy on door.
I jokingly mentioned to him I’d be at his fight, covering it for the Fulham times (local rag ) and he said don’t tell Harry! ( his manager ) I didn’t ..great night, but the gifted one was too much for the brave Kelly, stopping him with a big right hand in the 5th.
I remember Rocky put up a great fight though,

[mickey1975]

Alex Arthur v Steve Conway in 2002! Makes me feel faaackin old

Trained at Hunslet ABC for that fight, Steve.

[mickey1975]

Herol Graham v Rod Douglas, 1989. I was 13. Day off school and two coachfulls down to London from the pub. It was a Wednesday. Wharton's second fight, late sub came in and looked like a cruiser. Went the distance, like. The Bomber put Rod in hospital.

[Coco]

Floyd Havard v Neil Haddock

[ste1983]

Wayne Elcock v Darren McDermott W-ton Civic 2008 I think it was.

Same here, first show I attended.

Was definitely 2008.

[paddy chavez]

So, can you remember the first British title fight you ever went to see.

Mine was Sean Murphy v Johnny Good for the British Featherweight title.

Murphy won the title from John Doherty, not really sure how Good got a title shot to be honest being a 10 fight novice winning only 6 of those 10.

Murphy was leagues above Johnny and knocked him out in 2 rounds. I remember in the arena that night there were loads of postcards with the picture of Gary DeRoux on them saying that this was the next fight. Again DeRoux hadnt really beaten anyone of note to even get a shot of Murphy's title but he knocked out Murphy when the 2 met for the title. That was DeRoux's last win however because along came Colin McMillan who was being hailed as the next best thing since sliced bread.

Murphy did pick up the title again when McMillan relinquished it to fight Maurizio Stecca for the WBO version but Murphy then relinquished to fight Steve Robinson for the world title too.

Murphy would move up Lightweight to fight Billy Schwer for 2 titles but Schwer was far superior for Murphy that night.

Anyway thats the first British title fight i ever saw live. Sean Murphy v Johnny Good.

Johnny's brother Stewart RIP trained me a great guy a decent boxer himself .

The first one I remember was Chris Blake Vs Lloyd Christie it didn't end well for Blakey. I see prince Rodney at the royal Albert hall before that but I think he was British champion but not defending his belt

[Greg Houston]

Alex Arthur v Steve Conway in 2002! Makes me feel faaackin old

Same here. First boxing show I ever went to, with Chacon v Harrison in the main event.

I thin the first British title fight I saw headline a show would have been Arthur v Gomez.

[paddy chavez]

Kirkland Laing defending his British welter title against the swashbuckling Rocky Kelly at the Ramada inn Fulham in 1987. Two of boxings real characters, I weirdly saw Rocky a few days before the fight, at a Fulham pub, and noticed him buying some weed off the guy on door.
I jokingly mentioned to him I’d be at his fight, covering it for the Fulham times (local rag ) and he said don’t tell Harry! ( his manager ) I didn’t ..great night, but the gifted one was too much for the brave Kelly, stopping him with a big right hand in the 5th.
I remember Rocky put up a great fight though,

Rocky was my Idol growing up he was so tough I was at the royal Albert hall when I was about 13 in the changing room and rocky was in there either warming up or getting showered after fighting I can't remember exactly but he was booping around bollock naked and I remember think he's real man .I see him at a show about 4 years ago and had a chat he was still in great shape and quite shy and he was a bit shocked that I used to look up to him but he didn't like being called Hamilton his real name .

[MightyWarrior]

Rocky was my Idol growing up he was so tough I was at the royal Albert hall when I was about 13 in the changing room and rocky was in there either warming up or getting showered after fighting I can't remember exactly but he was booping around bollock naked and I remember think he's real man .I see him at a show about 4 years ago and had a chat he was still in great shape and quite shy and he was a bit shocked that I used to look up to him but he didn't like being called Hamilton his real name .

Ha ha yes that sounds like Rocky, he fought out of Acton in the early days, and was a big hit on ITV for awhile, involved in some real barn burners- had a very tough childhood lost both his parents, and hit the ropes in recent years I heard, hope he’s doing ok now, was a great guy and brave as hell. Good to know you saw him recently.

[paddy chavez]

Rocky was my Idol growing up he was so tough I was at the royal Albert hall when I was about 13 in the changing room and rocky was in there either warming up or getting showered after fighting I can't remember exactly but he was booping around bollock naked and I remember think he's real man .I see him at a show about 4 years ago and had a chat he was still in great shape and quite shy and he was a bit shocked that I used to look up to him but he didn't like being called Hamilton his real name .

Ha ha yes that sounds like Rocky, he fought out of Acton in the early days, and was a big hit on ITV for awhile, involved in some real barn burners- had a very tough childhood lost both his parents, and hit the ropes in recent years I heard, hope he’s doing ok now, was a great guy and brave as hell. Good to know you saw him recently.

He said he still trained over in Putney , he honestly didn't look more than 5 or 6 pounds over the welterweight limit still in perfect shape he had a few demons about Steve watt understandable but seemed content with himself I told him Hagler and him were my idols growing up and he seemed a little embarrassed to be mentioned in the same breath as Marvin but I said you both gave everything in the ring just at different levels.

[bennie]

Kevin Finnegan outscoring Tony Sibson for the British middleweight title in November 1979 at the Albert Hall. Sibbo was a clear favourite but - ever the moody fighter - he didn't sparkle and grew more and more frustrated as the 15-rounder elapsed, hitting Finnegan after the bell a few times which did him no favours with referee Hary Gibbs. It was the start of an amazing few months for the 31-year-old Finnegan, who picked up a Lonsdale Belt outright against Sibson and then lifted the European middleweight title with a brilliant boxing display against Gratien Tonna in Paris. Finnegan, incidentally, was so impressed with Sibson's natural power (particularly his jab, which he compared to a concrete post) that Sam Burns, Finnegan's manager, immediately signed up the Leicester youngster.

[chinarich]

Danny Williams vs Mark Potter and then saw Danny against Julius Francis a year or so later. No British title fights since then...

[Stuarty]

Alex Arthur v Steve Conway in 2002! Makes me feel faaackin old

Same here. First boxing show I ever went to, with Chacon v Harrison in the main event.

I thin kthe first British title fight I saw headline a show would have been Arthur v Gomez.

I was at the Harrison v Santiago show before this one. Had been to a few pro shows before then though. The Chacon fight was an excellent atmosphere

[sweetscience]

Moore v jones 3 at the gh carnall leisure centre. Electric atmosphere for a british fight of the year. 2005

same

[Autobarn]

Johanesson v Gomez at the Doncaster Dome, October 2007 I think.

Tremendous fight. Genuine “small hall classic.”

[josco]

Wow! that tested the ould memory a bit! Way back then I was on the verge of becoming a regular at the old Liverpool Stadium and went to see a big local favourite, Wally Thom, win the British Welterweight title over 15 rounds (I think) against another local favourite Peter Fallon. This was around 1953/4 and as I recall the promoter was Johnny Best (can only remember that because he was the brother of my GP). Had a bit of a break then as went off to sea for a few years but the Stadium was still going when I came back and it was a bit of a regular thing to go to the (free) weigh ins which took place on Thursday lunchtimes. A pal of mine actually married Wally's daughter a few years later. Wally himself (after retiring from boxing partly because of cut eye problems) later did some refereeing at the Stadium but sadly died young in his fifties I think. His Lonsdale Belt was a sight to behold and far superior to the rubbish WBA/WBC/WBO/IBF etc belts which always seem to be designed for guys about 10 feet tall!. He never seemed to have a problem weighing in on the day of the fight.