Mick 'The Bomb' Mills

[Giancarlo]

"If I didn't knock 'em out in 2 or 3 rounds I were knackered". That sums up Mick's style nicely.

I remember seeing him on the door of a pub in Thrybergh in the mid 80's. A mate who came from there said Mills was 'cock' of Thrybergh and there was a lot of hard men in that village in those days. Lookin at him in that video he still looks in good nick.

[polecateddy]

I good few years back I read a book bout the Wincobank gym, Mills had a section.
The writer was an idiot, he is one of those tv psychologists.
Anyway I got the impression they were all pulling his plonker and he fell for most of it!

‘On the Ropes’?

That's it, Ive prob still got it somewhere, terrible book

Surprising it looks like 25 years later both his books are being made into a Hollywood film called Giant with Paddy Considine as Brendan Ingle! I suspect Mick Mills will be a character too. https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/internationa ... hollywood/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 235309354/

[JamesPhilips]

‘On the Ropes’?

That's it, Ive prob still got it somewhere, terrible book

Surprising it looks like 25 years later both his books are being made into a Hollywood film called Giant with Paddy Considine as Brendan Ingle! I suspect Mick Mills will be a character too. https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/internationa ... hollywood/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 235309354/

Anyone know what’s happening with this Naz film ‘Giant’?

[polecateddy]

That's it, Ive prob still got it somewhere, terrible book

Surprising it looks like 25 years later both his books are being made into a Hollywood film called Giant with Paddy Considine as Brendan Ingle! I suspect Mick Mills will be a character too. https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/internationa ... hollywood/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 235309354/

Anyone know what’s happening with this Naz film ‘Giant’?

Pre-production. It looks like it will be made at some point soon.

[SeanBrennan]

very timely. My very close friend Bob Mayo was talking of him this week. So many positive memories.

[polecateddy]

That's it, Ive prob still got it somewhere, terrible book

Surprising it looks like 25 years later both his books are being made into a Hollywood film called Giant with Paddy Considine as Brendan Ingle! I suspect Mick Mills will be a character too. https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/internationa ... hollywood/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 235309354/

Anyone know what’s happening with this Naz film ‘Giant’?

Looks like it’s finally going into production with Pierce Brosnan instead of Paddy; https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pierce-brosna ... 33925.html

[SeanBrennan]

"If I didn't knock 'em out in 2 or 3 rounds I were knackered". That sums up Mick's style nicely.

I remember seeing him on the door of a pub in Thrybergh in the mid 80's. A mate who came from there said Mills was 'cock' of Thrybergh and there was a lot of hard men in that village in those days. Lookin at him in that video he still looks in good nick.

that's great Giancarlo, my mate Bob used to run doors and said he was super tough as well as a very good drinker! He's mentioned heavily in the Geoffrey Beattie book On the Ropes. Well worth a read.

[SeanBrennan]

Surprising it looks like 25 years later both his books are being made into a Hollywood film called Giant with Paddy Considine as Brendan Ingle! I suspect Mick Mills will be a character too. https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/internationa ... hollywood/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 235309354/

Anyone know what’s happening with this Naz film ‘Giant’?

Looks like it’s finally going into production with Pierce Brosnan instead of Paddy; https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pierce-brosna ... 33925.html

I look forward to that coming to fruition

[SeanBrennan]

I good few years back I read a book bout the Wincobank gym, Mills had a section.
The writer was an idiot, he is one of those tv psychologists.
Anyway I got the impression they were all pulling his plonker and he fell for most of it!

Spud should contact him for advice on his forthcoming biography.

Geoffrey Beattie - I quite liked it! They were winding him up. He ended u being the psychologist for Big Brother. Ended up falling out with his uni and taking them to court and winning. His memoir is a genuinely good read too.

But deffo a bit of a plonker. Bit vibes of middle class fella hanging out with the hard lads in the boxing book.

[Pugilist-specialist]

Surprising it looks like 25 years later both his books are being made into a Hollywood film called Giant with Paddy Considine as Brendan Ingle! I suspect Mick Mills will be a character too. https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/internationa ... hollywood/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 235309354/

Anyone know what’s happening with this Naz film ‘Giant’?

Looks like it’s finally going into production with Pierce Brosnan instead of Paddy; https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pierce-brosna ... 33925.html

Pierce Brosnan was in the changing room before the Naz v Kelley fight in New York.

[Giancarlo]

"If I didn't knock 'em out in 2 or 3 rounds I were knackered". That sums up Mick's style nicely.

I remember seeing him on the door of a pub in Thrybergh in the mid 80's. A mate who came from there said Mills was 'cock' of Thrybergh and there was a lot of hard men in that village in those days. Lookin at him in that video he still looks in good nick.

that's great Giancarlo, my mate Bob used to run doors and said he was super tough as well as a very good drinker! He's mentioned heavily in the Geoffrey Beattie book On the Ropes. Well worth a read.

Thanks Sean. I will hunt it down.

This Bloody Mary by Jonathan Rendall is a great read too. Not sure how many of the anecdotes are real and how many are Spudisms but it's an entertaining book.

[polecateddy]

Hopefully they have the imagination to go with the I, Tonya film approach rather than a by-the-numbers Back to Black type bio-pic.

[SeanBrennan]

"If I didn't knock 'em out in 2 or 3 rounds I were knackered". That sums up Mick's style nicely.

I remember seeing him on the door of a pub in Thrybergh in the mid 80's. A mate who came from there said Mills was 'cock' of Thrybergh and there was a lot of hard men in that village in those days. Lookin at him in that video he still looks in good nick.

that's great Giancarlo, my mate Bob used to run doors and said he was super tough as well as a very good drinker! He's mentioned heavily in the Geoffrey Beattie book On the Ropes. Well worth a read.

Thanks Sean. I will hunt it down.

This Bloody Mary by Jonathan Rendall is a great read too. Not sure how many of the anecdotes are real and how many are Spudisms but it's an entertaining book.

my pleasure. I read the Rendall book after a recommendation on here a while back. Really enjoyed it. Rendall lived a really interesting life, sad that he passed so young. I ended up finding the documentary he did on gambling. I've got an old copy of the Beattie book, if you can't find one DM me address and I'll bob it in the post.

[Giancarlo]

that's great Giancarlo, my mate Bob used to run doors and said he was super tough as well as a very good drinker! He's mentioned heavily in the Geoffrey Beattie book On the Ropes. Well worth a read.

Thanks Sean. I will hunt it down.

This Bloody Mary by Jonathan Rendall is a great read too. Not sure how many of the anecdotes are real and how many are Spudisms but it's an entertaining book.

my pleasure. I read the Rendall book after a recommendation on here a while back. Really enjoyed it. Rendall lived a really interesting life, sad that he passed so young. I ended up finding the documentary he did on gambling. I've got an old copy of the Beattie book, if you can't find one DM me address and I'll bob it in the post.

Thanks Sean; you're a gentleman.

I live in the sunny climes Down Under these days but I'm sure I can track down a copy.

Yes, Mr Rendall's book is a very vivid book. He had a great writing style.

The best boxing book I ever read (several times) is The Sweet Science by A.J. Liebling. It's from another era but his insights into boxing, boxers and boxing fans are really incisive and much of what he writes is as true today as it was in the 50's.

Sports Illustrated rate it as 'the best American sports book of all time'.

Someone wrote this review:
When you pick up The Sweet Science do not expect a blow-by-blow account of a fight, or a tract on boxing strategy and tactics, though you will find some of that. What you should expect is fine storytelling and compelling prose on some of the greatest figures the sport has ever seen. Liebling was deeply aware of the fact that the people who lace up the gloves are different from the rest of us and, therefore, inherently interesting to the rest of us. What gained Liebling recognition as a writer may have been his erudite, witty and highly approachable style, but what provided the raw subject matter of his writing was his ability to identify the human element at the heart of every story. The Sweet Science is definite proof of that.

[SeanBrennan]

Thanks Sean. I will hunt it down.

This Bloody Mary by Jonathan Rendall is a great read too. Not sure how many of the anecdotes are real and how many are Spudisms but it's an entertaining book.

my pleasure. I read the Rendall book after a recommendation on here a while back. Really enjoyed it. Rendall lived a really interesting life, sad that he passed so young. I ended up finding the documentary he did on gambling. I've got an old copy of the Beattie book, if you can't find one DM me address and I'll bob it in the post.

Thanks Sean; you're a gentleman.

I live in the sunny climes Down Under these days but I'm sure I can track down a copy.

Yes, Mr Rendall's book is a very vivid book. He had a great writing style.

The best boxing book I ever read (several times) is The Sweet Science by A.J. Liebling. It's from another era but his insights into boxing, boxers and boxing fans are really incisive and much of what he writes is as true today as it was in the 50's.

Sports Illustrated rate it as 'the best American sports book of all time'.

Someone wrote this review:
When you pick up The Sweet Science do not expect a blow-by-blow account of a fight, or a tract on boxing strategy and tactics, though you will find some of that. What you should expect is fine storytelling and compelling prose on some of the greatest figures the sport has ever seen. Liebling was deeply aware of the fact that the people who lace up the gloves are different from the rest of us and, therefore, inherently interesting to the rest of us. What gained Liebling recognition as a writer may have been his erudite, witty and highly approachable style, but what provided the raw subject matter of his writing was his ability to identify the human element at the heart of every story. The Sweet Science is definite proof of that.

you are very welcome mate. And thanks for the suggestion re Liebling, I have just taken your advice and ordered a copy for £9 from Amazon, looking forward to reading it. And accidentally used the wife's Amazon account as she was logged in so it's a free book! (Thanks wife, even though you don't know you bought me it)

[SeanBrennan]

and great re living Down Under, we are emigrating hopefully when my daughter finishes secondary school (she is 12) as my in laws emigrated 10 years ago and love it. It's our long term plan and my wife's dream. They live in Cairns and are both nurses and earn twice as much as they did in the UK.

[SeanBrennan]

you are very welcome mate. And thanks for the suggestion re Liebling, I have just taken your advice and ordered a copy for £9 from Amazon, looking forward to reading it. And accidentally used the wife's Amazon account as she was logged in so it's a free book! (Thanks wife, even though you don't know you bought me it)

That's you on 'cold suppers' when she finds out

It's ok I've perfected the pitiful look, I've got this....

[polecateddy]

and great re living Down Under, we are emigrating hopefully when my daughter finishes secondary school (she is 12) as my in laws emigrated 10 years ago and love it. It's our long term plan and my wife's dream. They live in Cairns and are both nurses and earn twice as much as they did in the UK.

It used to be that you earned more in Australia but things were also more expensive. But weirdly the UK economy has tanked so much now that the prices in the UK pretty much match Australia. We did 5 years over there and came back.

[Giancarlo]

and great re living Down Under, we are emigrating hopefully when my daughter finishes secondary school (she is 12) as my in laws emigrated 10 years ago and love it. It's our long term plan and my wife's dream. They live in Cairns and are both nurses and earn twice as much as they did in the UK.

Let us know what you think of The Sweet Science Sean.

Yes, Australia is a great place. Most poms take to it like a duck to water but not all. I seen quite a few couples where one loves it and the other, for various reasons, is unhappy and they end up going back to the UK. Having family already there is a massive help. Hope it works out for you and your family Sean.

[dookus]

Just looking at some records, another name that cropped up was Joey Mack, good pro, fought everyone, abroad too

Joey Mack was a real dangerman who had a puncher's chance with anyone in Europe and deserved a British title shot for the number of upsets he pulled off. The man was built like Tommy Hearns - a lean giant of a welterweight - and liked to draw opponents on to his long right hands. He probably hurt every opponent he ever fought.
Joey didn't turn pro until he was 28, after a stint in the army and then many years on the ABA trail for the Golden Gloves club in Birmingham. He made it to the ABA semi-finals in 1975 but was outscored by strong Welshman Chris Davies and also boxed for England a couple of times. He clearly loved the amateur game but the lure of money wore him down and he caused a sensation in just his fifth paid outing when he smashed reigning British welterweight champion Henry Rhiney in seven rounds in London in 1977. Sadly, it was a non-title affair and he never got a title rematch.
Instead, Joey struggled for fights here and was forced to mainland Europe against some tasty characters until another tasty character by the name of Mick Mills had run out of willing opposition in the UK so Mack and Mills went head-to-head at Wembley in 1979 on a brutal night of boxing topped by a 15-round war between Colin Power and Clinton McKenzie. The unbeaten Mills had one thing left to prove as a fighter: his chin. Mack was the man to test it but he was a big underdog and had to survive an early onslaught from a man who banked everything on winning by knockout. Survive Joey did. In the third round, he found Mills with his long right and the Mills bubble was well and truly burst.
Victory earned Joey a final eliminator with another unbeaten puncher by the name of Colin Jones, a man who didn't blow up and who went all the way to the higher echelons of world class (indeed, a draw for the world title). Mack was never going to win but he stuck it out for 10 rounds and he continued to mix it with fierce opposition in the form of Kirkland Laing, Lloyd Hibbert, Cliff Gilpin, Kostas Petrou and that man Mills again. Amazingly, Mills done him in two rounds with body shots in Sheffield in 1982, which just goes to prove that a puncher never loses his punch. Good old Mick! If only...
Mack never lost his punch either and pulled off upsets well into his 30s over the likes of Martin McGough, John F. Kennedy and London bad boy Colin Derrick, who took the defeat so badly he disappeared off the face of the planet. Mack was 35 when he called it a day after the rugged Petrou stopped him in five rounds in Coventry in 1983 - but he had Petrou down with a crunching right hand. Right to the end, Joey proved a dangerman.

thanks bennie

[SeanBrennan]

and great re living Down Under, we are emigrating hopefully when my daughter finishes secondary school (she is 12) as my in laws emigrated 10 years ago and love it. It's our long term plan and my wife's dream. They live in Cairns and are both nurses and earn twice as much as they did in the UK.

Let us know what you think of The Sweet Science Sean.

Yes, Australia is a great place. Most poms take to it like a duck to water but not all. I seen quite a few couples where one loves it and the other, for various reasons, is unhappy and they end up going back to the UK. Having family already there is a massive help. Hope it works out for you and your family Sean.

Thanks a lot mate.

[SeanBrennan]

and great re living Down Under, we are emigrating hopefully when my daughter finishes secondary school (she is 12) as my in laws emigrated 10 years ago and love it. It's our long term plan and my wife's dream. They live in Cairns and are both nurses and earn twice as much as they did in the UK.

It used to be that you earned more in Australia but things were also more expensive. But weirdly the UK economy has tanked so much now that the prices in the UK pretty much match Australia. We did 5 years over there and came back.

Did you enjoy it?

[polecateddy]

and great re living Down Under, we are emigrating hopefully when my daughter finishes secondary school (she is 12) as my in laws emigrated 10 years ago and love it. It's our long term plan and my wife's dream. They live in Cairns and are both nurses and earn twice as much as they did in the UK.

It used to be that you earned more in Australia but things were also more expensive. But weirdly the UK economy has tanked so much now that the prices in the UK pretty much match Australia. We did 5 years over there and came back.

Did you enjoy it?

Yes I’ve got nothing negative to say about the experience. And as someone said above it’s a lot easier if you have family over there. Think the general age limit for emigrating is around 45 years old.

[SeanBrennan]

It used to be that you earned more in Australia but things were also more expensive. But weirdly the UK economy has tanked so much now that the prices in the UK pretty much match Australia. We did 5 years over there and came back.

Did you enjoy it?

Yes I’ve got nothing negative to say about the experience. And as someone said above it’s a lot easier if you have family over there. Think the general age limit for emigrating is around 45 years old.

thanks for sharing.