Polidori wrote: ↑15 Feb 2022, 07:45
@Bennie
Speaking of Shaun Doyle/Barnsley Civic Hall I went to what was possibly the worst attended British title fight in history when he promoted Henry Rhiney v Billy Waith for the British Welterweight title.
Luton v Wales in Barnsley .. bizarre (terrible undercard as well)
Like the ill fated Aird v Dunn fight the enterprising Mr Doyie seemed to specialise in title fights no one else wanted, both Rhiney and Waith were highly skilled wily craftsmen who were never involved in exciting fights, Rhiney had lost several non title fights since winning the title and Waith was coming off a KO loss on the continent (I confess I had to check that) so Doyie ended up with the fight as the only bidder.
It was an interesting display of boxing from both with any real highlights, Rhiney had a superb jab and Waith's defense was superb in front of I'd say less than 200 people, including a small but vocal group who had come from Wales to support Waith.
I remember when Duke McKenzie took on Charlie Magri in May 1986 at the cavernous Wembley Arena, there were only a few hundred fans in attendance, which is shame for a British and European title fight. They were all rooting for Magri, who was a big draw at his peak but was well past it by 1986 and McKenzie stopped him in the middle rounds. It was Magri's last fight.
The Rhiney-Waith fight was quite intriguing in its own way.
Boxing News tipped Waith to win because he was boxing better than ever while Rhiney, as you mention, had endured a miserable two years as British champion, losing non-title fights and switching everyone off. The trade rooted for Waith, a marvellous servant to the domestic game, but Rhiney proved too good and went on to win the European title with a stunning knockout overseas. The Luton stylist, brilliant in the gym, toyed with Carlos Palomino in sparring when Palomino was over here for the Stracey fight.
As for Waith, I never saw him for real until he faced Leicester's Chris Pyatt at the Albert Hall in 1983, on a bill topped by Frank Bruno against Eddie Neilson. It was only Pyatt's second pro outing and Billy, a veteran of 91 fights, would surely mess him around and lose on points. Pyatt attacked hard but Waith's defensive moves were a joy and it looked done and dusted when Billy got nailed right at the end and down he went. He beat the count but Pyatt jumped on him and referee Sid Nathan dived in with only five seconds to go in the eight-rounder. Waith didn't complain. In victory, Pyatt joined a select group who can say they actually stopped Billy Waith.
Waith only had two more fights before walking away and I missed him at a boxing 'do' in Cardiff in 2002, which is a regret. Micky Vann, who fought Waith in the pros, later told me that Billy had been there. Meanwhile, Pyatt kept on winning and looked a tremendous prospect but he never developed a decent left jab and that cost him at world level, although he did eventually win the WBO middleweight title with an 'iffy' decision over Sumbu Kalambay in Leicester in 1993, throwing everything at Kalambay in the closing rounds.
