Indian Summers.....

[Autobarn]

James Cook had a good run towards the end of his career , British and EBU Supermiddle champion.

That's a really good call. After he was stopped by Herol Graham for the British middleweight title, he was 12-8, with his only big win a shock 8-round decision over Michael Watson - no-one would have expected too much at title level from that point. The arrival of the supermiddle division was perfectly timed for him. Given his name, it was fitting that he had to travel to win his titles; British title away in Belfast, European title away in Paris. If only he had added to the set by sailing to Australia for a Commonwealth title win...

I’ve never seen Cook v Watson. How was it? Seems hard to find.

Cool v Kaylor offered tremendous action, I recall. Both trading wicked shots and Kaylor being pulled out as he wasn’t getting out of the way of enough of them.

[stujones]

Herol Graham vs Chris Johnson and Vinny Paz.

[rd350lc]

Where is old Stuarty nowadays , hope he is ok ?

He was the king of smut .

[brilo33]

Vinny Pazienza

[littlepug]

Jon Thaxton

[bennie]

James Cook had a good run towards the end of his career , British and EBU Supermiddle champion.

That's a really good call. After he was stopped by Herol Graham for the British middleweight title, he was 12-8, with his only big win a shock 8-round decision over Michael Watson - no-one would have expected too much at title level from that point. The arrival of the supermiddle division was perfectly timed for him. Given his name, it was fitting that he had to travel to win his titles; British title away in Belfast, European title away in Paris. If only he had added to the set by sailing to Australia for a Commonwealth title win...

I’ve never seen Cook v Watson. How was it? Seems hard to find.

Cool v Kaylor offered tremendous action, I recall. Both trading wicked shots and Kaylor being pulled out as he wasn’t getting out of the way of enough of them.

Cook-Watson was a hard fight with both men throwing plenty of punches and maintaining a hot pace. It got messy at times but but never dull. Cook's greater experience told more in the final half of the fight but there was really nothing in it and referee Tony Walker did well to find a winner. Sadly, it was seen by just a few hundred fans at the cavernous Wembley arena because Duke McKenzie's showdown with Charlie Magri in the main event didn't appeal. Those who did turn up turned up for Magri.

[Controversial]

I thought Mannys rolled back the years a bit as well

yeah its a real mystery how he's done it

[levi billups]

Affif Djelti springs to mind.

At the ripe old age of 41 he came over here and beat Charlie Shepherd, Dean Pithie, Ian Mcleod and Alex Moon in quick succession at the start of the century. Finished his career much more strongly than he started it (0-4)

[Autobarn]

That's a really good call. After he was stopped by Herol Graham for the British middleweight title, he was 12-8, with his only big win a shock 8-round decision over Michael Watson - no-one would have expected too much at title level from that point. The arrival of the supermiddle division was perfectly timed for him. Given his name, it was fitting that he had to travel to win his titles; British title away in Belfast, European title away in Paris. If only he had added to the set by sailing to Australia for a Commonwealth title win...

I’ve never seen Cook v Watson. How was it? Seems hard to find.

Cool v Kaylor offered tremendous action, I recall. Both trading wicked shots and Kaylor being pulled out as he wasn’t getting out of the way of enough of them.

Cook-Watson was a hard fight with both men throwing plenty of punches and maintaining a hot pace. It got messy at times but but never dull. Cook's greater experience told more in the final half of the fight but there was really nothing in it and referee Tony Walker did well to find a winner. Sadly, it was seen by just a few hundred fans at the cavernous Wembley arena because Duke McKenzie's showdown with Charlie Magri in the main event didn't appeal. Those who did turn up turned up for Magri.

Thanks the the info. I wish Cook v Watson was on dvd somewhere. Cook is an unjustly forgotten part of Britain’s great ‘80s and ‘90s middleweight scenes.

Not bad at all, wins over Watson and Kaylor in hard or exciting fights. And British and European super middleweight titles.

[forcefraser]

Wlad? I mean he's a friend and I like him, but He could never have endeared himself to the crowd more than he did last Saturday night.

[bennie]

Kirkland Laing's blowout win for the European title at 36 was a great end-of-career touch

+1. Particularly after an ABA title at the age of 17.

True, although Vernon Sollas was robbed against him but showed wonderful sportsmanship at the verdict. Sollas was all done by the age of 23 as a pro fighter and moved into training fighters with mixed success. He took Eltham's Dave Smith to Soweto in South Africa and Smith was winning the fight when his opponent began placing his foot behind Smith's and then judo throwing him to the floor. Smith went back to his corner at the bell and said, "If I win this, we're going to get lynched."
"What do you mean we!" barked Sollas. "I'm the right colour."

[harrygreb]

vernon was a brilliant prospect - sadly it didnt happen

[bennie]

vernon was a brilliant prospect - sadly it didnt happen

Aye, Sollas had it all: speed, power, confidence, seasoning... The London-based Scot had only one thing left to prove as a fighter and that was the ability to do 15 rounds. Sadly, he lacked that ability.

[margaret thatcher]

i've herard that buncey met kirk once...

[bennie]

Dennis Andries going to the Kronk at 67 years old...

In retrospect - Pat Cowdell schooling Najib Daho to regian the British super feather weight title.

Neville Meade winning the British title at nearly 40 by chinning Gordon Ferris in a round.

Big Nev looked 40 when he flattened Ferris but he was around his peak for a heavyweight at the age of 33 and the Ferris win was the culmination of an amazing run for the Swansea man which saw him flatten Dave Pearce (then unbeaten), Winston Allen, Stan McDermott and Terry Mintus - all of whom were tipped to beat him by Boxing News , as was Ferris himself. Nice guy Neville found this highly amusing and went over to rib Harry Mullan and Tim Mo after his victories.
Indeed, he looked so good that Terry Lawless, unrivalled as a domestic boxing manager at the time, snapped him up. Then he went and matched Meade with American Leroy Boone in a 10-rounder at the Albert Hall, which ranks as a particularly stupid piece of matchmaking because Boone was notoriously durable and had been the distance with the likes of Earnie Shavers, Renaldo Snipes and Alfonzo Ratliff. Sure enough, Nev was unable to budge the visitor and ran out of steam and dropped the decision. That killed his momentum and he never regained the heights.

[Verdi]

George Groves finally won a strap late on his career.