BoxRec

Does anyone remember the twins from Peckham ABC trained by Sid Smith....

Norman and Raymound Collins, Norman good boxer but a devastating puncher, and Ray aka Sugar Ray a true natural with so much ability it was scarey...... I heard that they went off of the rails and left the game, what a shame that a promoter didnt sign them both up at an early stage, I believe that they would both of done very very well. Im sure Buncey will remember them he was writing for the boxing news at the time........

And a few more to add to that list.............. Kevin Middleton from St Josephs ABC, Lee MacDonald (aka Zammo) from Lion ABC, and how about Adrian Carew the young American Golden Gloves boxer who came over and boxed for the Lynn ABC?

I was at Peckham ABC the same time as the Collins twins. Ray was simply one of the best natural boxers I had seen and that holds true to this very day, whilst Norman could bang. Ray got robbed in the NABC's semi's in 1984 but think he won it a year later. Norman appeared on Henry Coopers Golden belt on C4 but lost out to schoolboy champ Tony Connellan. Siddy Mitchell was the Peckham head coach.

Both cracking fighters. Heard the "off the rails" rumours but cannot verify anything.

I boxed Tony Lowe one of Sid's boys a couple of times, lost the first time in the South East Schoolboy finals the following year I boxed him again and won by a fair margin, great tines and the beginning of my amateur career........ those were the days.......

MarkF68 wrote:And a few more to add to that list.............. Kevin Middleton from St Josephs ABC, Lee MacDonald (aka Zammo) from Lion ABC, and how about Adrian Carew the young American Golden Gloves boxer who came over and boxed for the Lynn ABC?

Carew (Dodson) was pure class. I watched him training with Chris Pyatt years back and he looked amazing. I thought he would win a world title, but Winky Wright was too much for him.

keithmoonhangover wrote:

MarkF68 wrote:And a few more to add to that list.............. Kevin Middleton from St Josephs ABC, Lee MacDonald (aka Zammo) from Lion ABC, and how about Adrian Carew the young American Golden Gloves boxer who came over and boxed for the Lynn ABC?

Carew (Dodson) was pure class. I watched him training with Chris Pyatt years back and he looked amazing. I thought he would win a world title, but Winky Wright was too much for him.

I thought he would have done more, but he didn't seem to have the promotional backing required.

He got stitched up for the Barcelona Olympics - Robin Reid went as light middle (although he was behind Tim Taylor and Carew at the time) - Carew went as a Welter and Taylor stayed at home.

Then Reid got a bronze, a contract with FW and some good opportunities.

In the meantime, Carew came back without fanfare and didn't get the same breaks.

bripez wrote:

keithmoonhangover wrote:

MarkF68 wrote:And a few more to add to that list.............. Kevin Middleton from St Josephs ABC, Lee MacDonald (aka Zammo) from Lion ABC, and how about Adrian Carew the young American Golden Gloves boxer who came over and boxed for the Lynn ABC?

Carew (Dodson) was pure class. I watched him training with Chris Pyatt years back and he looked amazing. I thought he would win a world title, but Winky Wright was too much for him.

I thought he would have done more, but he didn't seem to have the promotional backing required.

He got stitched up for the Barcelona Olympics - Robin Reid went as light middle (although he was behind Tim Taylor and Carew at the time) - Carew went as a Welter and Taylor stayed at home.

Then Reid got a bronze, a contract with FW and some good opportunities.

In the meantime, Carew came back without fanfare and didn't get the same breaks.

Carew had boxed at the '88 games for Guyana; he was a brilliant amateur with terrific power; he won the ABA's at welter (getting a very controversial verdict over Robert McCracken on the way) and Reid had boxed in a fair few internationals at light middle and done well; Carew/Dodson wasn't stitched up. He did sign with a decent promoter and did well but his temperament wasn't that strong; he destroyed some very good fighters (including Honeyghan) but could lose concentration and I'm sure he bit a few opponents.

palooka wrote:Carew/Dodson wasn't stitched up. He did sign with a decent promoter and did well but his temperament wasn't that strong; he destroyed some very good fighters (including Honeyghan) but could lose concentration and I'm sure he bit a few opponents.

Spot on.. Had a load of trainers kept falling out with everyone and then ended up doing pad work with Black Taxi drivers leading up to fights they didn't even know how to hold the pads... Was different class as a Am thought he'd do A LOT more as a pro....

bripez wrote:

keithmoonhangover wrote:

MarkF68 wrote:And a few more to add to that list.............. Kevin Middleton from St Josephs ABC, Lee MacDonald (aka Zammo) from Lion ABC, and how about Adrian Carew the young American Golden Gloves boxer who came over and boxed for the Lynn ABC?

Carew (Dodson) was pure class. I watched him training with Chris Pyatt years back and he looked amazing. I thought he would win a world title, but Winky Wright was too much for him.

I thought he would have done more, but he didn't seem to have the promotional backing required.

He got stitched up for the Barcelona Olympics - Robin Reid went as light middle (although he was behind Tim Taylor and Carew at the time) - Carew went as a Welter and Taylor stayed at home.

Then Reid got a bronze, a contract with FW and some good opportunities.

In the meantime, Carew came back without fanfare and didn't get the same breaks.

Reid got the spot in place of Joe Calzaghe who was ABA champion because of various politics behind the scenes.

Another couple of blasts from the pasts are

Terry Franklin (Fisher) a greaat boxer in his amateur days, I dont believe he got the recognission he deserved........
Richie and Nigel Wenton (from Liverpool)
Steve Nolan (Fisher) now a fireman and also a great fella
Mickey Cantwell (Fisher) went on to box for the world title a lovely fella.......
Stuart McShane (Hoillington) training as a quantity surveyor a fantastic lad back in the day now a really good man.....


All very prolific in their day ................................

Londonirish wrote:

palooka wrote:Carew/Dodson wasn't stitched up. He did sign with a decent promoter and did well but his temperament wasn't that strong; he destroyed some very good fighters (including Honeyghan) but could lose concentration and I'm sure he bit a few opponents.

Spot on.. Had a load of trainers kept falling out with everyone and then ended up doing pad work with Black Taxi drivers leading up to fights they didn't even know how to hold the pads... Was different class as a Am thought he'd do A LOT more as a pro....

He seemed to have stamina problem in the pro's, ran out of steam in a few fights.

MarkF68 wrote:Another couple of blasts from the pasts are

Terry Franklin (Fisher) a greaat boxer in his amateur days, I dont believe he got the recognission he deserved........
Richie and Nigel Wenton (from Liverpool)
Steve Nolan (Fisher) now a fireman and also a great fella
Mickey Cantwell (Fisher) went on to box for the world title a lovely fella.......
Stuart McShane (Hoillington) training as a quantity surveyor a fantastic lad back in the day now a really good man.....


All very prolific in their day ................................

Steve looked likely to earn an Olympic place in 1984 and 1988 but somehow let both chances get away from him. He was born in Los Angeles so missing out in '84 was a major blow.

Watched Zammo box franklin at York hall I think some years ago, franklin won a cracker on pts. Nigel went on was one hard bastard as well as been super talented, still remember glum screaming at Ritchie to get warmed up before a fight and Ritchie serious as f@@k replying he was warming up as he leaned against the radiator!!! Right characters!!

Hi this is kevin middleton here retired from profession boxing 20years ago. Now im training the kids at marvels lane boxing club with Chris tier. Also my son Louie Middleton. I'm a London taxi driver now. Also Dennis Middleton is to.