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gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 10:33
by furywillwin
out of all the proud gypsy fighter over the years who do you think makes the biggest impact in sport and for the gypsy community
of corse with tyson fighting every one will be asking this and fury might make the biggest impact of them all
fransy barret the irish olimpian. billy joe saunders.
or old boys like mace who is the first and the king of the gypsy boxers but in a few months please god fury will be up tere with him
opinions welcome.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 10:37
by forcefraser
In recent years there have not been many big name fighters from a travelling background, at least to my knowledge.
Fury is from a travelling background, but does he actually live the traveller lifestyle anymore? I doubt it.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 11:00
by Deno1986
Willie Casey has done alright for himself over the past few years although has been inactive of late.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 11:09
by JC
furywillwin wrote:or old boys like mace who is the first and the king of the gypsy boxers but in a few months please god fury will be up tere with him.
Apparently Mace wasn't actually a gypsy, he acquired the ring name because his cousin and best friend was of gypsy extraction.That's what he says in his autobiography anyway.
Wharton is my favorite traveler fighter. I've also been impressed with Peter Fury as a trainer so far too.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 11:16
by mickey1975
MachoMan09 wrote:My opinion is that Henry Wharton is the best fighter of travelling stock to date. He was also a shining example of how a fighter from any community should carry himself.
Great words Macho. That is exactly how he conducts himself in everyday life as well. Even drunk, would never claim he should have won this or that, just says he was fortunate to fight great fighters for the belt.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 11:18
by Deno1986
MachoMan09 wrote:Deno1986 wrote:Willie Casey has done alright for himself over the past few years although has been inactive of late.
Is Casey your answer to the opening question, Deno?
In Ireland he was all over the national media and portrayed Irish travellers in a very good light when all we were used to hearing about were feuds and shootings. He was very active in encouraging young traveller lads to take up the sport so in that sense he has made a very big impact, through boxing, in the travelling community.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 11:28
by johnswan1
That's true about Casey who was very unlucky to come up against somebody as good as Rigondeaux at a time when he had a lot of momentum.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 11:28
by orbtastic
I'd agree with the Wharton shout.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 11:31
by slapbangwhallop
Andy Lee aint too bad. Francis Barrett did a lot Travellers reputations in Ireland at the Olympics.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 11:36
by stevieb_8006
Matthew barney
Seriously, Michael Gomez was a legend
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 12:01
by expe
forcefraser wrote:In recent years there have not been many big name fighters from a travelling background, at least to my knowledge.
Fury is from a travelling background, but does he actually live the traveller lifestyle anymore? I doubt it.
There aren't many that move around all the time, but Fury lives on a caravan site in Morecambe. I know of plenty who live on an estate near to me, who while they claim to be gypsies, they live in houses.
There are a few about now, there's the Fury's, Andy Lee, Billy Joe Saunders, Martin J Ward, Martin Power and there's a few more about.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 12:28
by expe
MachoMan09 wrote:I thought Frankie Gavin would go on to surpass Henry Wharton but I'm now less confident of that.
Hosea Burton is a great prospect. He's a huge light-heavy. I hope he's brought along right. The only thing I'm concerned about is his power. I'd say he's my favourite prospect in this country.
Tyson Fury is somebody who I think has the heart of a lion but I can't take to his style and don't rate him as highly as most. I don't like the clown act either. I can't see him lasting too long against Haye but you never know. I hope he makes a much better fist of it than I think he will.
Hughie Fury is more my cup of tea. He seems quieter than his cousin and looks like he could be mustard. I like the way he fights and would like to see him reach the very top.
Didn't realise Frankie was a traveller, he's already close to Wharton, just needs to add the European title to match what he achieved.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 12:35
by lillywhite14
furywillwin wrote:out of all the proud gypsy fighter over the years who do you think makes the biggest impact in sport and for the gypsy community
of corse with tyson fighting every one will be asking this and fury might make the biggest impact of them all
fransy barret the irish olimpian. billy joe saunders.
or old boys like mace who is the first and the king of the gypsy boxers but in a few months please god fury will be up tere with him
opinions welcome.
Didn't Jem Mace deny being a gypsy in his own memoirs?
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 13:03
by TJ77
MachoMan09 wrote:I thought Frankie Gavin would go on to surpass Henry Wharton but I'm now less confident of that.
Hosea Burton is a great prospect. He's a huge light-heavy. I hope he's brought along right. The only thing I'm concerned about is his power. I'd say he's my favourite prospect in this country.
Tyson Fury is somebody who I think has the heart of a lion but I can't take to his style and don't rate him as highly as most. I don't like the clown act either. I can't see him lasting too long against Haye but you never know. I hope he makes a much better fist of it than I think he will.
Hughie Fury is more my cup of tea. He seems quieter than his cousin and looks like he could be mustard. I like the way he fights and would like to see him reach the very top.
Good shout Hosea he is pretty skilled and comes across well not brash like some travellers can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2lrAuEKT9Y
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 13:49
by stevieb_8006
I read an article where Gavin denied being a traveller, not that I'm saying anyone's wrong just what I read somewhere.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 14:00
by lefty
MachoMan09 wrote:expe wrote:Didn't realise Frankie was a traveller, he's already close to Wharton, just needs to add the European title to match what he achieved.
I think he has to do a little bit more than that. Wharton gave hard fights to some of the best of a very good era. That should really be taken into consideration as well as the silverware.
You sure Frankie is a traveller?! Ive never heard that before.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 14:09
by Parson Cross
Henry Wharton is head and shoulders above the rest.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 14:11
by lefty
MachoMan09 wrote:columbo wrote:You sure Frankie is a traveller?! Ive never heard that before.
I was sure, I'm not now. I've long understood that he was but I don't recall how that belief was formed.
Fair enough

Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 14:38
by whiskey
Wharton.
Always came across as a decent human being. I was sad that he got hurt the other year, but glad he is ok and on with life again - and his gym is doing well too.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 14:40
by Londonirish
expe wrote: I know of plenty who live on an estate near to me, who while they claim to be gypsies, they live in houses.
.
That would be down to lack of Sites, Travelers are Travelers weather they live in a House or a Trailer..
columbo wrote:MachoMan09 wrote:columbo wrote:You sure Frankie is a traveller?! Ive never heard that before.
I was sure, I'm not now. I've long understood that he was but I don't recall how that belief was formed.
Fair enough

His Grandmother is My Aunt and I'm a Traveler..
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 14:41
by expe
MachoMan09 wrote:columbo wrote:You sure Frankie is a traveller?! Ive never heard that before.
I was sure, I'm not now. I've long understood that he was but I don't recall how that belief was formed.
I think it has been mentioned in the past, Frankie does come on here so he should be able to set the story straight. It could be that one side of the family is, I know he grew up in Birmingham, so he wasn't brought up as one. His Mum and Dad are Irish though, so one could be a traveller.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 14:44
by Londonirish
expe wrote:MachoMan09 wrote:columbo wrote:You sure Frankie is a traveller?! Ive never heard that before.
I was sure, I'm not now. I've long understood that he was but I don't recall how that belief was formed.
I think it has been mentioned in the past, Frankie does come on here so he should be able to set the story straight. It could be that one side of the family is, I know he grew up in Birmingham, so he wasn't brought up as one. His Mum and Dad are Irish though, so one could be a traveller.
Spot on...
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 15:11
by lefty
MachoMan09 wrote:Phew. I get edgy when I think my memory is having me over.
Come on then London Irish, do you agree with the majority that Henry Wharton is the top gypsy/traveller pro to date?
Yeah it's never good when you think you're in the early stages of dementia.....
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 15:17
by n1ebf
I'm in the mood to watch some Henry Wharton videos

....but I ain't got any ;;-)
Wharton would be quite high up my list of people I wouldn't like to fight, I've read about him on here before and he sounds very tough, as well as a top bloke.
Re: gypsy fighter
Posted: 28 Aug 2013, 15:22
by mickey1975
NorthEastBoxingFan wrote:I'm in the mood to watch some Henry Wharton videos

....but I ain't got any ;;-)
Wharton would be quite high up my list of people I wouldn't like to fight, I've read about him on here before and he sounds very tough, as well as a top bloke.
YouTube Henry, Ringside did a great price on him about ten years ago. I'm on it.. They did one, not as in depth, recently about his gym.