The North East Heavyweight Scene of the 1980's

[Fray Bentos]

Though people might say that the heavyweight scene in those days were a bit dire - it wasn't in the North East! They had some great domestic heavyweights up there - and what's more - they all fought each other! Let's see who was there...

Stewart Lithgo (Fought Bruno and went to Australia and won the Commonwealth Cruiserweight crown)
George Scott (also fought Bruno)
Glenn McCrory (went down to cruiserweight and won the IBF title...)
John Westgarth (took Steffen Tangstad to a split decision for the EBU title)
Dave Garside (fought Horace Notice for the British and Commonwealth, dropped down to cruiser and beat Anthony Witherspoon - brother of Tim - an excellent result as Witherspoon was world class)
Paul Lister (also fought Horace Notice for the British and Commonwealth titles in front of his hometown fans - well, Sunderland! Did OK! The fight was live on 'Fight Night'.)
Manny Burgo (built and good record and then stopped boxing...)

I think that's about it! Any memories from those days? Anyone I have missed out? (I always miss someone out! )

[JamesPhilips]

Was Neil Malpass from NE?

[Polidori]

No he was from South Elmsall but he was based in the North East when he was managed by John 'The Northern Barry Hearn' Spenceley.

[Polidori]

Cross post, sorry

[mickey1975]

I thought he was from Doncaster. He still has a big name there. I think he got rid of our Palooka for talking about him on here.

[Stobbo]

Garside was the pick of them for me .
Not a big heavy as such but stopped mc crory, westgarth and lister. Westgarth was a handful on his night though and probably the biggest puncher of the lot. Lister wasn't a great boxer, better street fighter though.
Lithgo was tough as they come but not a big lad.
Garside ran the doors down teesside for years and is still well respected.

[JamesPhilips]

Garside was the pick of them for me .
Not a big heavy as such but stopped mc crory, westgarth and lister. Westgarth was a handful on his night though and probably the biggest puncher of the lot. Lister wasn't a great boxer, better street fighter though.
Lithgo was tough as they come but not a big lad.
Garside ran the doors down teesside for years and is still well respected.

Didn’t westgarth beat Razor Ruddock?

[Polidori]

No he got stopped in the seventh, really random fight that, wonder why Ruddock was in the UK ?

[JamesPhilips]

No he got stopped in the seventh, really random fight that, wonder why Ruddock was in the UK ?

My mistake it was Dave Jaco who weirdly stopped Ruddock. But you're right no idea how the Westgarth fight came about.

[Polidori]

No he got stopped in the seventh, really random fight that, wonder why Ruddock was in the UK ?

My mistake it was Dave Jaco who weirdly stopped Ruddock. But you're right no idea how the Westgarth fight came about.

Was that when Ruddock had the asthma attack?

[JamesPhilips]

No he got stopped in the seventh, really random fight that, wonder why Ruddock was in the UK ?

My mistake it was Dave Jaco who weirdly stopped Ruddock. But you're right no idea how the Westgarth fight came about.

Was that when Ruddock had the asthma attack?

Yeah that’s right

[bennie]

No he got stopped in the seventh, really random fight that, wonder why Ruddock was in the UK ?

My mistake it was Dave Jaco who weirdly stopped Ruddock. But you're right no idea how the Westgarth fight came about.

It was a routine fight at the time. Westgarth was coming off a big performance in a shot at the European heavyweight title in Denmark against Steffen Tangstad and Ruddock was only 10-1-1 as a pro. He was actually losing when he switched to the body in the seventh and Westgarth crumpled.

[cormack]

Garside was the pick of the bunch for sure .

Burgo was would be hard guy especially picking on easy targets in bars around whitley bay but wouldnt mix it with big lads who could fight back .

[Bigdogsnose]

Ha ha, had no idea manny burgo was a boxer. I work in byker, some of the older lads tell stories about him. Mostly to do with him chinning folk and the size of his cock!

[Polidori]

Mostly to do with him chinning folk and the size of his cock!

[Polidori]

Carl Gaffney fought him and he said he was brute strong, but one of the two weakest punchers he'd faced (the other being Francesco Damiani)

He didn't mention 'the size of his cock' however.

[Polidori]

Look at the size of Burgo now

[bennie]

Ha ha, had no idea manny burgo was a boxer. I work in byker, some of the older lads tell stories about him. Mostly to do with him chinning folk and the size of his cock!

Apparently Roy Gumbs had a huge cock (and still has, presumably). Boxing News previewed one of his fights with the headline 'Gumbs' power should swing it'.