Here is my little story.
I grew up in a little pit village in Doncaster, one day me and my dad were out walking when this bloke walked by us, my dad said to me thats Bruce woodcock. At the time it never meant anything to me i was only 6 or 7.
He ran a boozer called The Tumbler, when i was old enough to drink i went into the pub but he had long gone and retired into sheltered housing somewhere in Donny, mind you i'm glad because the pub served Stones, and it was the worse pint ive ever had.
Years later 1997, I put a little write up in Boxing News, and mentioned Bruce, Apro from Balby near Doncaster gave me a ring and asked me if id like to meet Bruce. I was over the moon. Unfortunalty not long after around Christmas that year old Bruce died.
I was always too young to remember Mr Woodcock and his achievements but im sure he was a good fighter in his era.
Does anyone remember Bruce Woodcock
EXCLUDING Bob Fitzsimmons & Lennox Lewis for reasons of where their true nationality actually belongs...
many good sourses would have Bruce placed at Britain's No.2 heavyweight behind Tommy Farr, he's definitely one of Britain's best HWs and I might even be inclined to call him Britain's best, based on a thorough examination of his career.
Bruce's career was 'rushed' along!
In a period where most Brit fighters were fighting in 100 and many more battles Woodcock had just 39 and was off to America for a deciding fight (which he was winning, before he carelessly left himself open for a knock out blow), in his 25th contest...
they really could have got so much more out of Woodcock, but they wasted him, it has always been said; rushing him along - such was the English desperation for a world title among the bigboys at the time.
I've got Woodcock on film in 4 battles, maybe 5. He was a very good basic stand up 1-2 boxer and could hit with tremendous force, a pleasure to watch, nothing at all like todays marauding, plodding, grabbing, slow and out of breath HW shams!
many good sourses would have Bruce placed at Britain's No.2 heavyweight behind Tommy Farr, he's definitely one of Britain's best HWs and I might even be inclined to call him Britain's best, based on a thorough examination of his career.
Bruce's career was 'rushed' along!
In a period where most Brit fighters were fighting in 100 and many more battles Woodcock had just 39 and was off to America for a deciding fight (which he was winning, before he carelessly left himself open for a knock out blow), in his 25th contest...
they really could have got so much more out of Woodcock, but they wasted him, it has always been said; rushing him along - such was the English desperation for a world title among the bigboys at the time.
I've got Woodcock on film in 4 battles, maybe 5. He was a very good basic stand up 1-2 boxer and could hit with tremendous force, a pleasure to watch, nothing at all like todays marauding, plodding, grabbing, slow and out of breath HW shams!
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dr_devious
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 5348
- Joined: 29 Dec 2005, 09:19
So where do Bruno, Bugner and Cooper come on the list of British heavies?jimglen wrote:EXCLUDING Bob Fitzsimmons & Lennox Lewis for reasons of where their true nationality actually belongs...
many good sourses would have Bruce placed at Britain's No.2 heavyweight behind Tommy Farr, he's definitely one of Britain's best HWs and I might even be inclined to call him Britain's best, based on a thorough examination of his career.
Bruce's career was 'rushed' along!
In a period where most Brit fighters were fighting in 100 and many more battles Woodcock had just 39 and was off to America for a deciding fight (which he was winning, before he carelessly left himself open for a knock out blow), in his 25th contest...
they really could have got so much more out of Woodcock, but they wasted him, it has always been said; rushing him along - such was the English desperation for a world title among the bigboys at the time.
I've got Woodcock on film in 4 battles, maybe 5. He was a very good basic stand up 1-2 boxer and could hit with tremendous force, a pleasure to watch, nothing at all like todays marauding, plodding, grabbing, slow and out of breath HW shams!
P4P lists and 'fantasy fight' match ups are always discussed and viewed with the fighters at their absolute best and have nothing to do with what a fighter achieved or not...ligit belt, alphabet belts or the like don't come into head to head, p4p or fantasy bout match ups!
of the 3 you mentioned Bugner at his best would be best, then Cooper followed by Bruno
but Tommy Farr and Woodcock were harder, better and more rugged fighters...watch the films and check some of the lists to see where their rated.
of the 3 you mentioned Bugner at his best would be best, then Cooper followed by Bruno
but Tommy Farr and Woodcock were harder, better and more rugged fighters...watch the films and check some of the lists to see where their rated.
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dr_devious
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 5348
- Joined: 29 Dec 2005, 09:19
They might be more rugged, but that doesnt mean to say they were better or would have won in head to head match ups. Jake Kilrain was probably more "rugged" than Joe Louis, he still wouldnt have stood a chance!
Of the 3, I'd find it hard to separate Bruno and Bugner - both totally different fighters and both came up a little short at top level. Cooper for me would rank behind them.
Of the 3, I'd find it hard to separate Bruno and Bugner - both totally different fighters and both came up a little short at top level. Cooper for me would rank behind them.