BoxRec

OK, I generally hate these threads, because they descend into testosterone filled cesspools for troglodytes and wanna-be tough guys to compare hard-man exploits and anecdotes and how the true test of a man is “awn vah cobbowls” and other such bullsh1t.

But, I’m interested to know if any current or modern day fighters have supplemented their income with some paid for, illegal on the cobbles stuff. I don’t mean getting into rows in pubs or decking a few bouncers or getting into family or gypsy feuds that had to be ‘settled’ -- but actually paid for stuff.

I was under the impression Michael Gomez had, for some reason, although I may have that all wrong, but I wonder if there was anyone else?

Insider info, gossip, rumour all accepted, but “Nah, yaoo mappet. You ain't godda clue. I know fayve yer owlds harwder van yaoo” isn’t.

Believe Micky Steeds used to.

I doubt any of the "well known " guys do this but i may be wrong , Ive heard anecdotes of immigrants doing this as when they arrive they have no employment and use there boxing skills to make some quick money
apart from that im not to educated on this side of the fight world as im more interested in the sport of boxing

The Smith brothers from Stourport.

I have heard that Wayne Barker used to do a few knuckle fights in his younger days.

Chris Little had a poor Pro record but was a very scary man on the streets. Got his brains blown out a few years ago though.

Henry Wharton came out of retirement briefly to smash a huge fellar in a gypsy cobbles fight.

Think that was a pride/honour thing though more than an 'earner' for him though.

Apparently Henry Wharton used to, but I imagine many of the travelling community have at one time or other.
Many ex pro's are involved in the unlicensed game, Mark Potter, Sven Hamer, Pat Mullings, Leo O'Reilly to name a few.
The reason most pro's do not and have not is there is obviously much more money to be earned in the pro game and it would be stupid to jeopordise that.
Most of these so called on the cobbles men, do it because they are not good enough to cut it in the ring

Know of a couple of current pro's who fight unlicenced (possibly EBF) under another name, although wouldnt like to post on here as it may jepordise their pro licence.

Chris Bacon is currently fighting unlicenced.

Unlicensed boxing isn't cobbles fighting though is it? Its just a low grade version of licensed boxing.

I thought Carbo was talking about bare knuckle?...

rob h wrote:I have heard that Wayne Barker used to do a few knuckle fights in his younger days.

Chris Little had a poor Pro record but was a very scary man on the streets. Got his brains blown out a few years ago though.

Wayne Barker definitely did, think he had more bare knuckle fights than pro fights, his son heavily involved in that scene as well

TerribleTerry wrote:Unlicensed boxing isn't cobbles fighting though is it? Its just a low grade version of licensed boxing.

I thought Carbo was talking about bare knuckle?...

I did.

Manchester Massive wrote:

rob h wrote:I have heard that Wayne Barker used to do a few knuckle fights in his younger days.

Chris Little had a poor Pro record but was a very scary man on the streets. Got his brains blown out a few years ago though.

Wayne Barker definitely did, think he had more bare knuckle fights than pro fights, his son heavily involved in that scene as well

Cor, that's nice father and son bonding. Yikes!

Manchester Massive wrote:

rob h wrote:I have heard that Wayne Barker used to do a few knuckle fights in his younger days.

Chris Little had a poor Pro record but was a very scary man on the streets. Got his brains blown out a few years ago though.

Wayne Barker definitely did, think he had more bare knuckle fights than pro fights, his son heavily involved in that scene as well

Just had a quick look at his record and he bizarrely faced Fulgencio Obelmejias over in Venezuela a few short months after Fully had lost to one Marvin Hagler..

I wonder how that fight came about?

TerribleTerry wrote:Unlicensed boxing isn't cobbles fighting though is it? Its just a low grade version of licensed boxing.

I thought Carbo was talking about bare knuckle?...

Ah, sorry, said pro who fights under different name also fought on cobbles about 6 months ago. Say on cobbles, actually in a scrap yard.

Wales wrote:

TerribleTerry wrote:Unlicensed boxing isn't cobbles fighting though is it? Its just a low grade version of licensed boxing.

I thought Carbo was talking about bare knuckle?...

Ah, sorry, said pro who fights under different name also fought on cobbles about 6 months ago. Say on cobbles, actually in a scrap yard.

He sounds a right handful

Talking to an Irish guy recently and he had ten cobbles fights for a certain top promoter a few years back. The same kid is a trainer manager now

I know some guys who have settled scores in an organised scrap, but there is no money in it, the only way to earn money is bums on seats and tv

TerribleTerry wrote:

Manchester Massive wrote:

rob h wrote:I have heard that Wayne Barker used to do a few knuckle fights in his younger days.

Chris Little had a poor Pro record but was a very scary man on the streets. Got his brains blown out a few years ago though.

Wayne Barker definitely did, think he had more bare knuckle fights than pro fights, his son heavily involved in that scene as well

Just had a quick look at his record and he bizarrely faced Fulgencio Obelmejias over in Venezuela a few short months after Fully had lost to one Marvin Hagler..

I wonder how that fight came about?

http://waynebarkeruk.com/waynebarker.html story of how it came about on here

billy issac use to have on the cobbles..

in his book, ken buchanan admits to fighting unlicenced after his retirement

Coco wrote:I know some guys who have settled scores in an organised scrap, but there is no money in it, the only way to earn money is bums on seats and tv

Your mate Kevin Evans would be a right handful on the cobbles Coco!

In fact, Scott Gamer would be pretty decent too I would have thought.

TerribleTerry wrote:

Coco wrote:I know some guys who have settled scores in an organised scrap, but there is no money in it, the only way to earn money is bums on seats and tv

Your mate Kevin Evans would be a right handful on the cobbles Coco!

In fact, Scott Gamer would be pretty decent too I would have thought.

paul sykes?

mickey1975 wrote:

TerribleTerry wrote:

Coco wrote:I know some guys who have settled scores in an organised scrap, but there is no money in it, the only way to earn money is bums on seats and tv

Your mate Kevin Evans would be a right handful on the cobbles Coco!

In fact, Scott Gamer would be pretty decent too I would have thought.

paul sykes?

Id say so he seemed to be made of stone and very though and quite a temper alledgedly which may have suited hthis type of fight

TerribleTerry wrote:

Coco wrote:I know some guys who have settled scores in an organised scrap, but there is no money in it, the only way to earn money is bums on seats and tv

Your mate Kevin Evans would be a right handful on the cobbles Coco!

In fact, Scott Gamer would be pretty decent too I would have thought.

Kev def would be, not that he has ever done anything like that, in fact I think his style would be more suitable for streetfighting. I remember just before the 2002 Commonwealths he caught 2 grown men trying to break into his house, they ran and he went after them untill they turned around and said 'come on then'
He punched them each once, one fractured skull, and a broken jaw less 6 teeth later the police tried to do Kev for it, if they had have been successful he would have missed the games

Francie Barrett