Domestic fighters that never got the respect they deserved

[polecateddy]

Akinwande, who would have beaten most of the British heavies bar Lewis and Fury.

[olij999]

Des Morrison was in some thrilling fights at 10 stone when I first started following boxing.

Bennie and a few others here will remember him for sure.

Yes, Des is a throwback and his British title wars with Colin Powers, Pat McCormack and Clinton McKenzie are legendary. Harry Mullan was ecstatic when Des, who was considered finished, pulled off a shock win over Sylvester Mittee at the Albert Hall in 1980 because Winston Spencer also lost on the night, both of them Cartel fighters. Mullan hated the Cartel.

The Mullan era - Great times - I used to look forward to getting Boxing News on a friday morning and reading it cover to cover on the bus to work from Maltby to Sheffield. Then read it again on the way back.

Joe Tetteh vs Des Morrison in an important fight in British title history.

Great post. Tetteh and Morrison were the kind of fighters who would fight absolutely any opponent anywhere. Think BN quoted Morrison in his dressing room afterwards saying how little he'd got paid for that 15-round war - think it was £1000 gross. And I'd love to find footage of Morrison flattening Louis Acaries in France, but have never managed it.

[bennie]

Yes, Des is a throwback and his British title wars with Colin Powers, Pat McCormack and Clinton McKenzie are legendary. Harry Mullan was ecstatic when Des, who was considered finished, pulled off a shock win over Sylvester Mittee at the Albert Hall in 1980 because Winston Spencer also lost on the night, both of them Cartel fighters. Mullan hated the Cartel.

The Mullan era - Great times - I used to look forward to getting Boxing News on a friday morning and reading it cover to cover on the bus to work from Maltby to Sheffield. Then read it again on the way back.

Joe Tetteh vs Des Morrison in an important fight in British title history.

Great post. Tetteh and Morrison were the kind of fighters who would fight absolutely any opponent anywhere. Think BN quoted Morrison in his dressing room afterwards saying how little he'd got paid for that 15-round war - think it was £1000 gross. And I'd love to find footage of Morrison flattening Louis Acaries in France, but have never managed it.

I remember that BN had a picture of Acaries going down in the first round against Morrison. It was the only time Acaries ever got chinned like that.

[Old bones Ian]

Just reading a bit on Des Morrison and he went to school with Joe Bugner and they started boxing together

[Giancarlo]

Here's a fascinating video.

A snapshot of British boxing in 1973.

A work of art I had never seen until this week.

So many faces of that era.

https://youtu.be/ol0vHxTGhQ0

[bennie]

Here's a fascinating video.

A snapshot of British boxing in 1973.

A work of art I had never seen until this week.

So many faces of that era.

https://youtu.be/ol0vHxTGhQ0

Some good ol' boys. Spotted Les Stevens, Tim Wood, Harry Levene, Pat McCann, Winston McKenzie and Frankie Taylor among the more usual suspects. Without checking, I seem to remember that Stracey hit Bobby Arthur after the bell in their first British title fight, and he got chucked out, although Stracey destroyed Arthur in the rematch. Burt McCarthy is interviewed about the breakdown of a fighter's purse - reluctantly. Burt later went to court with Terry Lawless over who had signed Frank Bruno first. Lawless won. George Francis was a great conditioner.

[Giancarlo]

Some good ol' boys. Spotted Les Stevens, Tim Wood, Harry Levene, Pat McCann, Winston McKenzie and Frankie Taylor among the more usual suspects. Without checking, I seem to remember that Stracey hit Bobby Arthur after the bell in their first British title fight, and he got chucked out, although Stracey destroyed Arthur in the rematch. Burt McCarthy is interviewed about the breakdown of a fighter's purse - reluctantly. Burt later went to court with Terry Lawless over who had signed Frank Bruno first. Lawless won. George Francis was a great conditioner.

Yeah, poor old Burt always looked very shifty in any interview.

I remember later on he (mis)managed Errol Christie. He was also involved with Nigel Benn early on but I think that turned to custard pretty quickly

I guess we owe him some sort of thanks though as I seem to recall he helped bankroll Warren's successful 'war' that finally broke The Cartel's monopoly on televised boxing in the UK.

[THEBUTCH]

Almost finished watching it and the way it's put together is very enjoyable (although the continued folk singing does grate after a while).

A wonderful array of the boxers of that day.


Reminded me a little of Ron Peck's "Fighters" in the early 1990s. Think it was shown on Channel 4.

[johnty1888]

What a great “throwback” video

Reminds me of this

[margaret thatcher]

for ppl too lazy to click

[bennie]

Some good ol' boys. Spotted Les Stevens, Tim Wood, Harry Levene, Pat McCann, Winston McKenzie and Frankie Taylor among the more usual suspects. Without checking, I seem to remember that Stracey hit Bobby Arthur after the bell in their first British title fight, and he got chucked out, although Stracey destroyed Arthur in the rematch. Burt McCarthy is interviewed about the breakdown of a fighter's purse - reluctantly. Burt later went to court with Terry Lawless over who had signed Frank Bruno first. Lawless won. George Francis was a great conditioner.

Yeah, poor old Burt always looked very shifty in any interview.

I remember later on he (mis)managed Errol Christie. He was also involved with Nigel Benn early on but I think that turned to custard pretty quickly

I guess we owe him some sort of thanks though as I seem to recall he helped bankroll Warren's successful 'war' that finally broke The Cartel's monopoly on televised boxing in the UK.

I found it best to steer clear of Burt because he knew the twins, the Richardsons and other diamond geezers. Burt goes back a long way. I think he fell out with Benn in the wake of Benn's win over Abdul Umaru Sanda of Ghana for the Commonwealth middleweight title. Benn celebrated wildly and Burt asked him to tone it down in future, which is fair comment. Benn wasn't interested. Burt also also split with David Pearce after the Welshman's shocking loss to Lucien Rodriguez in France in March 1984 for the European heavyweight title. Pearce walked on to a lot of punishment and ringsider Harry Mullan was scathing of his Banzai! tactics, although they nearly worked in the eighth round when Rodriguez went down twice.

[Giancarlo]

What a great “throwback” video

Reminds me of this

Watched the first half of Boxing For Hartlepool. Will watch the rest when I get back from the Titans vs Warriors game.

Took a few minutes to get used to but I'm really enjoying it now. Thanks for bringing it my attention johnty.

Just got to the bit about George Feeney - Him and his brother John, along with trainer George Bowes are probably the epitome of what the title of this thread is about.

[bennie]

What a great “throwback” video

Reminds me of this

Great documentary. Paul Keers came down to London and pulled off a few upsets but he turned pro too young and burned out. George Feeney is seen retaining his British lightweight title against Paul Chance at Dudley Town Hall. Chance was a very game fighter with good boxing skills but Feeney proved the better man on the night. Feeney had won the title in a 14-round war with Ray Cattouse in November 1982, after which the Board quickly reduced championship fights to 12 rounds. Feeney, by the way, suffered his detached retina (mentioned in the documentary) against Rene Weller in a shot at the European title in Germany. Weller won on points and George never fought again.
The first fighters in the documentary are Dave Heaver and Peter Flanagan. Sadly, Flanagan now has dementia due to boxing. The Foreman brothers were good lads, always gave a good account of themselves. Ken quit the sport after Dave Dent, behind on points, kayoed him in the ninth round of a British title eliminator in London in 1989. Dent also walked away after the fight. Maybe he didn't fancy challenging Kirkland Laing or maybe the Foreman knockout upset him because it was a bad one. Dave Garside had ability and plenty of guts but lacked a heavyweight punch.

[THEBUTCH]

Good boxer Dave Dent. Enjoyed watching him from the amateurs, Commonwealth games and then turning pro.

Felt he should have come away from the pros with more, but you could be right Bennie....Laing was terribly difficult to beat with that British title on the line !

[johnty1888]

It irks George Feeney that they used a local actor “Mike Elliot” for George’s voiceover…
Mike was from Sunderland and George is a proud poolie.
John Feeney is in a home now with Pugilistic dementia
Big Dave has semi retired from running his Door/Security business, but he’s still around.

[bennie]

It irks George Feeney that they used a local actor “Mike Elliot” for George’s voiceover…
Mike was from Sunderland and George is a proud poolie.
John Feeney is in a home now with Pugilistic dementia
Big Dave has semi retired from running his Door/Security business, but he’s still around.

Jesus! I didn't know that about John Feeney and it sickens me. Of course, John goes back to the days of 15-rounders. He was outscored by Johnny Owen over 15 rounds at Wembley in 1980 (Owen was phenomenal) and was later thrown out in the 13th round against Hugh Russell in Belfast, which was a travesty of justice and John swore he would never fight in Ireland again but he calmed down and gave one of the greatest displays of his career when he returned to Belfast and crushed Davy Larmour (who had deposed Russell) in three rounds. John always had a touch of class in the ring.

[bennie]

Good boxer Dave Dent. Enjoyed watching him from the amateurs, Commonwealth games and then turning pro.

Felt he should have come away from the pros with more, but you could be right Bennie....Laing was terribly difficult to beat with that British title on the line !

They probably sparred together at the Royal Oak gym in Canning Town but it's a strange one. Who walks away after winning a British title eliminator? Peter Harris did as a featherweight in the early 1990s but Peter had been around a long time whereas Dent was in his prime and showed against Foreman that he could dig when necessary. Moreover, Dent never lacked anything in confidence. I remember him saying he'd "piss it" the night before his ABA final with Dave Griffiths at Wembley in 1983, and that's exactly what he did.

[Coco]

Good boxer Dave Dent. Enjoyed watching him from the amateurs, Commonwealth games and then turning pro.

Felt he should have come away from the pros with more, but you could be right Bennie....Laing was terribly difficult to beat with that British title on the line !

They probably sparred together at the Royal Oak gym in Canning Town but it's a strange one. Who walks away after winning a British title eliminator? Peter Harris did as a featherweight in the early 1990s but Peter had been around a long time whereas Dent was in his prime and showed against Foreman that he could dig. Moreover, Dent never lacked anything in confidence. I remember him saying he'd "piss it" the night before his ABA final with Dave Griffiths at Wembley in 1983, and that's exactly what he did.

Harris didn't walk away from a British title fight, in fact they gave the shot to the fella he beat, Wilson Docherty, leaving Harris to see out his career with 3 tough foreign jobs

The problems away fighters get when they win when they are not supposed to!

[SamWise72]

Another one just slotted in from my memory bank...Brummie favourite Pat Cowdell

Seems to get remembered from getting iced by Ghanaian great Azumah Nelson, but his herculean world title challenge to the even greater Salvador Sanchez should never be forgotten

Bennie, surely you have a few nice words to say about Cowdell's incredible effort against a true great of the ring ?

Sanchez wasn't greater. Nelson came within a hair of beating him after about 15 fights, and their fights with Cowdell are a benchmark. Nelson was a spectacular fighter. Sanchez was also great, but is only held in the regard he is because he's dead. Look at what Nelson did to people in rematches.....

[THEBUTCH]

Couldn't disagree more !

After a great battle Nelson was eventually beaten limp and pulverised by Sanchez. The finish was emphatic and Sanchez proved he indeed was the greater of the two.

Came within in hair of beating Sanchez ? By that licence...if Nelson wasn't stopped and somehow made it out for a 16th round he may well have ended up with life changing injuries such was the physical state he was in by the finish. Nelson was "done", Sanchez probably could have carried on for another 5 rounds. Nelson was simply incapable of getting the better of Sanchez.

We're not comparing two great fighters who didn't meet. As world champion, Sanchez took on all comers and dismissed each and every one of them, including stopping Nelson.

By the time Sanchez was a world champion, he didn't need rematches to put the record straight...many tried to dethrone him, all failed

[bennie]

Good boxer Dave Dent. Enjoyed watching him from the amateurs, Commonwealth games and then turning pro.

Felt he should have come away from the pros with more, but you could be right Bennie....Laing was terribly difficult to beat with that British title on the line !

They probably sparred together at the Royal Oak gym in Canning Town but it's a strange one. Who walks away after winning a British title eliminator? Peter Harris did as a featherweight in the early 1990s but Peter had been around a long time whereas Dent was in his prime and showed against Foreman that he could dig. Moreover, Dent never lacked anything in confidence. I remember him saying he'd "piss it" the night before his ABA final with Dave Griffiths at Wembley in 1983, and that's exactly what he did.

Harris didn't walk away from a British title fight, in fact they gave the shot to the fella he beat, Wilson Docherty, leaving Harris to see out his career with 3 tough foreign jobs

The problems away fighters get when they win when they are not supposed to!

I don't know the ins and outs. Peter, a cracking little fighter, defeated Wilson Docherty in a final eliminator for the British title so a shot was guaranteed and the three overseas fights wouldn't have affected his mandatory status. At some point, he must have ruled out the shot.

[Counter-puncher]

Couldn't disagree more !

After a great battle Nelson was eventually beaten limp and pulverised by Sanchez. The finish was emphatic and Sanchez proved he indeed was the greater of the two.

Came within in hair of beating Sanchez ? By that licence...if Nelson wasn't stopped and somehow made it out for a 16th round he may well have ended up with life changing injuries such was the physical state he was in by the finish. Nelson was "done", Sanchez probably could have carried on for another 5 rounds. Nelson was simply incapable of getting the better of Sanchez.

We're not comparing two great fighters who didn't meet. As world champion, Sanchez took on all comers and dismissed each and every one of them, including stopping Nelson.

By the time Sanchez was a world champion, he didn't need rematches to put the record straight...many tried to dethrone him, all failed

I can see both sides to the argument

certainly i always had to wonder how a more seasoned Zumah would have done against SS, given how well the green version did (and at late notice, to boot)

there's another part of me that thinks the brilliant effort Zumah put out in their fight was almost because of and benefitting from, rather than in spite of and harmed by, his inexperience; that it was an almost psychotic balls-to-the-wall effort that wouldn't ever again be replicated.

like Z thought 'this is my one chance I'm going at it hard', a more seasoned Zumah in a boxing match with SS, I'm not sure he does any better. his success against SS came from him applying his tremendous speed and power with almost constant aggression, being able to outland him in exchanges and so on

[Ruthless-RKO]

Great documentary. Paul Keers came down to London and pulled off a few upsets but he turned pro too young and burned out. George Feeney is seen retaining his British lightweight title against Paul Chance at Dudley Town Hall. Chance was a very game fighter with good boxing skills but Feeney proved the better man on the night. Feeney had won the title in a 14-round war with Ray Cattouse in November 1982, after which the Board quickly reduced championship fights to 12 rounds. Feeney, by the way, suffered his detached retina (mentioned in the documentary) against Rene Weller in a shot at the European title in Germany. Weller won on points and George never fought again.
The first fighters in the documentary are Dave Heaver and Peter Flanagan. Sadly, Flanagan now has dementia due to boxing. The Foreman brothers were good lads, always gave a good account of themselves. Ken quit the sport after Dave Dent, behind on points, kayoed him in the ninth round of a British title eliminator in London in 1989. Dent also walked away after the fight. Maybe he didn't fancy challenging Kirkland Laing or maybe the Foreman knockout upset him because it was a bad one. Dave Garside had ability and plenty of guts but lacked a heavyweight punch.

Weller passed away today.

[Steveh583]

Michael Jennings was a tidy little boxer. always bugs me he didnt fight for the european.

[maverick23]

Michael Jennings was a tidy little boxer. always bugs me he didnt fight for the european.

Yeah. A tidy boxer.

It’s amazing really that he fought for the WBO title given who he beat. Brian Hughes did great with him and hope he retired with a good chunk of his house paid off due to the Cotto fight.