British heavyweight Johnny Williams passed away last week in a Nursing home in Rugby. Johnny Williams was a very worthy contender!
R.I.P Champ.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=034757
R.I.P Johnny Williams
Broadribb was trying desperately to 'safeguard' Mills' light-heavyweight status and paving the way for BOTH Mills & Woodcock towards HW titles.
If Freddie couldn't be successful against HWs at least by fighting them his L-HW title was secure.
Mills was first mentioned as a British HW world title 'hopefull' as early as 1940 in the Ring and at numerous other pionts. Anyway it worked perfectly to ensure the L-HW title and the honor was willingly passed over to Woodcock, the better candidate!
Mills "caved" in to outside presure to defend his British L-HW title and even threatened to leave Boxing...Freddie wanted to 'appease' the fans and honor his fellow contenders, Mills was a 'true' fighter and an honorable man very much distressed by the whole dirty business.
Broadribb basically told him; "you worry about the fighting and let me do the match-making.." and of course Ol' Ted had FULL approval from Jack Solomons and the Board...also reported in Ring as well as numerous publications and books on Freddie!
Broadribb was both great for Mills and British boxing, but equally a villian towards Mills and his fellow fighters, everything I've read about him says he took no prisoners and could be a 'nasty' character!
If Freddie couldn't be successful against HWs at least by fighting them his L-HW title was secure.
Mills was first mentioned as a British HW world title 'hopefull' as early as 1940 in the Ring and at numerous other pionts. Anyway it worked perfectly to ensure the L-HW title and the honor was willingly passed over to Woodcock, the better candidate!
Mills "caved" in to outside presure to defend his British L-HW title and even threatened to leave Boxing...Freddie wanted to 'appease' the fans and honor his fellow contenders, Mills was a 'true' fighter and an honorable man very much distressed by the whole dirty business.
Broadribb basically told him; "you worry about the fighting and let me do the match-making.." and of course Ol' Ted had FULL approval from Jack Solomons and the Board...also reported in Ring as well as numerous publications and books on Freddie!
Broadribb was both great for Mills and British boxing, but equally a villian towards Mills and his fellow fighters, everything I've read about him says he took no prisoners and could be a 'nasty' character!