Lloyd Honeyghan in hospital

[banjo]

Is there a reason why he never crossed paths with Kirkland Laing and Colin Jones who were both top welters in the UK at that time he was around? I must admit while I was too young to really know who he was while he was at his peak I have enjoyed watching his bouts via Youtube. Seems a bit like Conteh though a very short prime ended by excess partying and injuries to his hand. Hopefully he recovers from his health problems.

[bigjack]

Wasn't it his fight with Gene Hatcher in the Spanish Bull ring that was shown on the BBC in the middle of their coverage of the seoul Olympics.

A criminally underrated and forgotten fighter - I often think what would have happened if he was a few years older or if Terry Marsh did not have to retire so early. He fought and beat some excellent fighters and future champions (his win over Maurice Blocker is especially overlooked), but a shame he missed out on the glory fighters of his generation - like Ray Leonard, Benetez, Hearns etc... and then missed out on Marsh also.

It was yes,and if i remember correctly,the fight was scheduled for the day before but it rained heavily and it was then postponed to the next day,can't see that ever happening now but i'm pretty sure that's what the case.

[MightyWarrior]

Wasn't it his fight with Gene Hatcher in the Spanish Bull ring that was shown on the BBC in the middle of their coverage of the seoul Olympics.

A criminally underrated and forgotten fighter - I often think what would have happened if he was a few years older or if Terry Marsh did not have to retire so early. He fought and beat some excellent fighters and future champions (his win over Maurice Blocker is especially overlooked), but a shame he missed out on the glory fighters of his generation - like Ray Leonard, Benetez, Hearns etc... and then missed out on Marsh also.

It was yes,and if i remember correctly,the fight was scheduled for the day before but it rained heavily and it was then postponed to the next day,can't see that ever happening now but i'm pretty sure that's what the case.

That's right, an electrical storm blew in over Marbella and it was put back a day, too dangerous at an open air Plaza de Toros - we all had to hang around till the following night - good times, and now you mention it, quite weird for that to happen.

I recall Lewis/Bruno was in danger of being cancelled in Wales, due to heavy rains...

Old Frank was on the under card in Marbella too.

The crowd was filled with east end gangster types, most of them running bars out in sunny Spain

Colin Jones called out Lloyd, but he had just been beaten easily by Curry, so no dice. And Lang could never get it together for long enough to earn a world title shot - plus same stable as Lloyd, and too dangerous for an up and coming Honey to be risked against.

[bennie]

Is there a reason why he never crossed paths with Kirkland Laing and Colin Jones who were both top welters in the UK at that time he was around? I must admit while I was too young to really know who he was while he was at his peak I have enjoyed watching his bouts via Youtube. Seems a bit like Conteh though a very short prime ended by excess partying and injuries to his hand. Hopefully he recovers from his health problems.

Laing and Honeyghan were managed by Mickey Duff so a meeting was never likely, particularly as both fighters were determined to do it their way. Terry Lawless, who previously managed Honeyghan, just couldn't tame the belligerent Londoner and there was a confrontation between Honeyghan and trainer Jimmy Tibbs when the fighter turned up late for training. In the end Lawless handed over the reins to Duff, who was able to tolerate Honeyghan. Bobby Neill, a laid back Scot, trained him. While all this was going on, Laing was fighting infrequently but once Honeyghan won the world title, he made do with multiple defences of the British welterweight title (and a brief spell as EBU champ). As for Jones, he never fought again after the Curry mauling in January 1985, at which point Honeyghan was still developing, although he had just won the European title in great style. Honeyghan came along just after Jones, much like Ricky Hatton came along just after Shea Neary. There was never any great clamour for showdowns between them because there just wasn't, as strange as that sounds many years later.

[banjo]

Thanks for that bennie

[Coco]

X2

[stujones]

Is there a reason why he never crossed paths with Kirkland Laing and Colin Jones who were both top welters in the UK at that time he was around? I must admit while I was too young to really know who he was while he was at his peak I have enjoyed watching his bouts via Youtube. Seems a bit like Conteh though a very short prime ended by excess partying and injuries to his hand. Hopefully he recovers from his health problems.

Laing and Honeyghan were managed by Mickey Duff so a meeting was never likely, particularly as both fighters were determined to do it their way. Terry Lawless, who previously managed Honeyghan, just couldn't tame the belligerent Londoner and there was a confrontation between Honeyghan and trainer Jimmy Tibbs when the fighter turned up late for training. In the end Lawless handed over the reins to Duff, who was able to tolerate Honeyghan. Bobby Neill, a laid back Scot, trained him. While all this was going on, Laing was fighting infrequently but once Honeyghan won the world title, he made do with multiple defences of the British welterweight title (and a brief spell as EBU champ). As for Jones, he never fought again after the Curry mauling in January 1985, at which point Honeyghan was still developing, although he had just won the European title in great style. Honeyghan came along just after Jones, much like Ricky Hatton came along just after Shea Neary. There was never any great clamour for showdowns between them because there just wasn't, as strange as that sounds many years later.

In saying this, Dickie Davies on the ITV broadcast of Curry vs Honeyghun read a statement from Jones calling out Honeyghun after his win.

[bennie]

Is there a reason why he never crossed paths with Kirkland Laing and Colin Jones who were both top welters in the UK at that time he was around? I must admit while I was too young to really know who he was while he was at his peak I have enjoyed watching his bouts via Youtube. Seems a bit like Conteh though a very short prime ended by excess partying and injuries to his hand. Hopefully he recovers from his health problems.

Laing and Honeyghan were managed by Mickey Duff so a meeting was never likely, particularly as both fighters were determined to do it their way. Terry Lawless, who previously managed Honeyghan, just couldn't tame the belligerent Londoner and there was a confrontation between Honeyghan and trainer Jimmy Tibbs when the fighter turned up late for training. In the end Lawless handed over the reins to Duff, who was able to tolerate Honeyghan. Bobby Neill, a laid back Scot, trained him. While all this was going on, Laing was fighting infrequently but once Honeyghan won the world title, he made do with multiple defences of the British welterweight title (and a brief spell as EBU champ). As for Jones, he never fought again after the Curry mauling in January 1985, at which point Honeyghan was still developing, although he had just won the European title in great style. Honeyghan came along just after Jones, much like Ricky Hatton came along just after Shea Neary. There was never any great clamour for showdowns between them because there just wasn't, as strange as that sounds many years later.

In saying this, Dickie Davies on the ITV broadcast of Curry vs Honeyghun read a statement from Jones calling out Honeyghun after his win.

That is interesting. Jones had been out 18 months when Honeyghan destroyed Curry and before that looked terrible in a last-round win over lanky American Billy Parks and against Curry, so Mickey Duff would probably have taken the match but for Eddie Thomas, Colin's manager, who refused to deal with Duff unless there was something in it for him. Duff was never going to do Thomas any favours. Don't get me wrong, a peak Jones was a frightening proposition for anyone but Jones was past his peak, much like Johnny Bumphus, Honeyghan's first challenger.

[bennie]

Wasn't it his fight with Gene Hatcher in the Spanish Bull ring that was shown on the BBC in the middle of their coverage of the seoul Olympics.

A criminally underrated and forgotten fighter - I often think what would have happened if he was a few years older or if Terry Marsh did not have to retire so early. He fought and beat some excellent fighters and future champions (his win over Maurice Blocker is especially overlooked), but a shame he missed out on the glory fighters of his generation - like Ray Leonard, Benetez, Hearns etc... and then missed out on Marsh also.

Although Terry Marsh was a very good technical boxer,he was a light welter and i think Lloyd would have been far too strong for him.

I agree with your prediction, still these were two of the big names at the same time. Boxing was massive in the 1980s - and these were two (of not many) credible world champion. Probably 2 of the 4 biggest and most well known boxers of the mid 80s (Bruno and McGuigan being the other two) - it would have been a box office smash.

Stu, Terry Marsh was never linked to a showdown with Lloyd Honeyghan but with Hector Camacho, who was at ringside for what proved to be Marsh's last fight against Japanese scrapper Akio Kameda at the Albert Hall in 1987. Camacho, a southpaw like Kameda, was unbeaten (and remained unbeaten throughout the 1980s) and a two-weight world champion but refused to get too involved after Edwin Rosario hurt him badly in their 12-rounder in 1986 and often stank the joint out. The superfit Marsh might just have pipped Camacho in this country.

[nobleart1978]

I hope Lloyd will be ok.
The first fighter who got me excited about boxing in 87 when I was nine years old. Great Days.

I remember looking in the back of Hugmans boxing yearbook when I was a kid where it had Lloyds address in the "Managers" section.
It was The Heygate Estate. I remember thinking how rich Lloyd must have been and imagined it to be be like Blenheim Palace.

Only years later did I find out it was a concrete jungle DHSS estate in Walworth !!!!

[J]

Sending much love to Lloyd, I remember I was playing cricket in Ottery St Mary in Devon and the curry fight was on ITV, I opened the batting kicked my wicket so I could watch the fight, was worth it in hindsight.

Be strong ragamuffin man, jah bless!

[stujones]

Although Terry Marsh was a very good technical boxer,he was a light welter and i think Lloyd would have been far too strong for him.

I agree with your prediction, still these were two of the big names at the same time. Boxing was massive in the 1980s - and these were two (of not many) credible world champion. Probably 2 of the 4 biggest and most well known boxers of the mid 80s (Bruno and McGuigan being the other two) - it would have been a box office smash.

Stu, Terry Marsh was never linked to a showdown with Lloyd Honeyghan but with Hector Camacho, who was at ringside for what proved to be Marsh's last fight against Japanese scrapper Akio Kameda at the Albert Hall in 1987. Camacho, a southpaw like Kameda, was unbeaten (and remained unbeaten throughout the 1980s) and a two-weight world champion but refused to get too involved after Edwin Rosario hurt him badly in their 12-rounder in 1986 and often stank the joint out. The superfit Marsh might just have pipped Camacho in this country.

Yes - I know, but Honeyghun vs Marsh would surely have been only a matter of time and a huge huge fight. I would have tipped Camacho vs Marsh - just too quick for me.

[blanca]

Anyone know how lloyd is?

[bennie]

I hear that Lloyd is now out of hospital, which can only be good news. I googled a few recent pics of Lloyd and was shocked at how much weight he's put on. Hopefully he will shift a few stone and come again.

[stujones]

Laing and Honeyghan were managed by Mickey Duff so a meeting was never likely, particularly as both fighters were determined to do it their way. Terry Lawless, who previously managed Honeyghan, just couldn't tame the belligerent Londoner and there was a confrontation between Honeyghan and trainer Jimmy Tibbs when the fighter turned up late for training. In the end Lawless handed over the reins to Duff, who was able to tolerate Honeyghan. Bobby Neill, a laid back Scot, trained him. While all this was going on, Laing was fighting infrequently but once Honeyghan won the world title, he made do with multiple defences of the British welterweight title (and a brief spell as EBU champ). As for Jones, he never fought again after the Curry mauling in January 1985, at which point Honeyghan was still developing, although he had just won the European title in great style. Honeyghan came along just after Jones, much like Ricky Hatton came along just after Shea Neary. There was never any great clamour for showdowns between them because there just wasn't, as strange as that sounds many years later.

In saying this, Dickie Davies on the ITV broadcast of Curry vs Honeyghun read a statement from Jones calling out Honeyghun after his win.

That is interesting. Jones had been out 18 months when Honeyghan destroyed Curry and before that looked terrible in a last-round win over lanky American Billy Parks and against Curry, so Mickey Duff would probably have taken the match but for Eddie Thomas, Colin's manager, who refused to deal with Duff unless there was something in it for him. Duff was never going to do Thomas any favours. Don't get me wrong, a peak Jones was a frightening proposition for anyone but Jones was past his peak, much like Johnny Bumphus, Honeyghan's first challenger.

I know Jones spoke on Welsh TV after the Curry fight and even for a long time after it absolutely distraught. He really believed (believes) that but for the injury he would have got to Curry. He must have said "I have so much left" at least 10 times in his post fight interview and has said frequently since that he felt he had taken Curry's best - he wasn't hurting him (but obviously damanging him).

Not sure how much that took from Colin's heart and perhaps his call out was because he was looking for a payday - as you say, he was off the scene - but he definately did make the statement.

[dr_devious]

Colin Jones got absolutely battered by Curry, one of the most one sided fights I've seen. Curry was the next big thing in boxing and for a while he looked like SRL mark 2, until he came unstuck with Lloyd Honeyghan and Mike McCallum a year later. Even then he was out-pointing McCallum until he got KO'd. Curry was a sensational win for Lloyd Honeyghan, best British away win of all time for me. Hope the Ragamuffin Man gets well soon

[jamesmcdonnell]

I hear that Lloyd is now out of hospital, which can only be good news. I googled a few recent pics of Lloyd and was shocked at how much weight he's put on. Hopefully he will shift a few stone and come again.

Yeah I saw him at a show about 10 years ago and he was absolutely huge. I'd imagine he's only gotten bigger.

[detamour]

Wasn't it his fight with Gene Hatcher in the Spanish Bull ring that was shown on the BBC in the middle of their coverage of the seoul Olympics.

A criminally underrated and forgotten fighter - I often think what would have happened if he was a few years older or if Terry Marsh did not have to retire so early. He fought and beat some excellent fighters and future champions (his win over Maurice Blocker is especially overlooked), but a shame he missed out on the glory fighters of his generation - like Ray Leonard, Benetez, Hearns etc... and then missed out on Marsh also.

LLoyd, would of Killed Colin tbh..

It was yes,and if i remember correctly,the fight was scheduled for the day before but it rained heavily and it was then postponed to the next day,can't see that ever happening now but i'm pretty sure that's what the case.

That's right, an electrical storm blew in over Marbella and it was put back a day, too dangerous at an open air Plaza de Toros - we all had to hang around till the following night - good times, and now you mention it, quite weird for that to happen.

I recall Lewis/Bruno was in danger of being cancelled in Wales, due to heavy rains...

Old Frank was on the under card in Marbella too.

The crowd was filled with east end gangster types, most of them running bars out in sunny Spain

Colin Jones called out Lloyd, but he had just been beaten easily by Curry, so no dice. And Lang could never get it together for long enough to earn a world title shot - plus same stable as Lloyd, and too dangerous for an up and coming Honey to be risked against.

[detamour]

I hope Lloyd will be ok.
The first fighter who got me excited about boxing in 87 when I was nine years old. Great Days.

I remember looking in the back of Hugmans boxing yearbook when I was a kid where it had Lloyds address in the "Managers" section.
It was The Heygate Estate. I remember thinking how rich Lloyd must have been and imagined it to be be like Blenheim Palace.

Only years later did I find out it was a concrete jungle DHSS estate in Walworth !!!!

That Estate is now Elephant Park after a Massive dstruction of it for the Super Rich!

[Onamastus]

Colin Jones got absolutely battered by Curry, one of the most one sided fights I've seen. Curry was the next big thing in boxing and for a while he looked like SRL mark 2, until he came unstuck with Lloyd Honeyghan and Mike McCallum a year later. Even then he was out-pointing McCallum until he got KO'd. Curry was a sensational win for Lloyd Honeyghan, best British away win of all time for me. Hope the Ragamuffin Man gets well soon

Jones got beaten on a cut in the fourth! It was nothing like an "absolute battering". Was Jones even hurt?

[dr_devious]

Curry outclassed Jones, it wasn't pretty to watch

[banjo]

Yeah the cuts came from the amount of punches Curry landed on Jones.

[Onamastus]

Cut, singular. On the bridge of his nose.

[kevo]

The Curry fight was 34 years ago today!

[Fray Bentos]

The Curry fight was 34 years ago today!