BoxRec

Willie De Wit

Age- 26

Height- 6'2"

Weight- 215 lbs

Record- 21-1-1-14

Country - Canada

Title(s) - Canada heavyweight title

Horace Notice

Age- 30

Height- 6'1"

Weight- 212 Lbs

Record - 16-0-0-12

Country- UK

Title(s)- BBBofC British heavyweight title & Commonwealth (British Empire) heavyweight title


Both of these men were the champions of their country. Both had their last fights in March of 1988. They were both of comparable size and experience, though I think De Wit had a more established amateur background, and of course a few more bouts as a pro. It would have been a good international rivalry around 1988. Let's make it for 10 rounds, given that I don't think any belts would be on the line. Who do you think wins this?

Blimey Piper....that's one for us anoraks old chap!

Zipping-up my Poundland cagoule I'd go for Big Horace who could properly bomb.....12 stoppages in 16 fights and he banged over guys like Hughroy Currie and Noel Quarless with comparative ease.

Pretty much one of the first fighters I watched alongside Pat Cowdell and McGuigan....Horace was championed by Central TV in the UK (he was from West Brom) and my folks briefly moved to the area and there was always boxing on with Gary Newbon seemingly being able to show a fight card whenever the hell he wanted! Happy memories, thanks Gary!

Horace was a rated guy and could have been a major threat to the Lawless heavyweight stable but he had the dreaded detached retina injury which put him out of the game....shame, because he was heavy-handed, pretty quick and potentially just as good as Mason or Bruno. Think he's married to an 'Ender actress now, so happy times for Big H.

I had heard that Horace was a member of that stable, and sparred with Bruno and Mason fairly regularly.

I remember hearing Bruno in the crowd, yelling "Come on 'Orace!". I really liked Notice; not sure he was big enough to handle Bruno, but I think he'd have beaten Mason; too accurate for him. I reckon Notice would have been a surefire champ at cruiser, had he dropped down; I see him mincing the likes of Alonzo Ratliffe and Glenn McCrory.

SamWise72 wrote:I remember hearing Bruno in the crowd, yelling "Come on 'Orace!". I really liked Notice; not sure he was big enough to handle Bruno, but I think he'd have beaten Mason; too accurate for him. I reckon Notice would have been a surefire champ at cruiser, had he dropped down; I see him mincing the likes of Alonzo Ratliffe and Glenn McCrory.

Cruiserweight would have been a good place for HN. He actually did beat a very good future cruiser champ in Anaclet Wamba

Just good to hear Horace getting a shout-out again, I wonder what he did when he had to call it a day?

Over the same period there was also Adam Fogerty - a big, powerful lump from Halifax who showed a bit of good potential and who I think was on the Lawless books. He got a fair bit of press coverage but checking his record out he never got into the more serious class Horace was operating at. Bit of a pity but I think he was also a good rugby league player as well.

Bodyshot3 wrote:Just good to hear Horace getting a shout-out again, I wonder what he did when he had to call it a day?

Over the same period there was also Adam Fogerty - a big, powerful lump from Halifax who showed a bit of good potential and who I think was on the Lawless books. He got a fair bit of press coverage but checking his record out he never got into the more serious class Horace was operating at. Bit of a pity but I think he was also a good rugby league player as well.

I think Fogerty did some acting after boxing and rugby as well. Appeared in a lot of British movies and TV shows.

I read elsewhere that Horace did quite a bit of door work, thankfully without meeting Oyebola's fate, and is doing well and happy.

SamWise72 wrote:I read elsewhere that Horace did quite a bit of door work, thankfully without meeting Oyebola's fate, and is doing well and happy.

Its good to read or hear about fighters that aren't brain damaged, disabled, totally pennyless, in prison or deceased at an early age once their careers are over.. As I said Adam fogerty had a career in acting, Willie De wit went on to being an attorney in Canada and apparently lives comfortably. And from the sound of it Horace is doing fine too. Unfortunately it would seem that these men account for the minority of ex fighters, though I don't know the statistics if there are any.

Just been looking at past Boxrec threads, and reading "Last time I saw Horace he was working in the security industry", and "I heard he was a London cabbie now". I know I've read something saying he was doing well and happy, but I can't find it.

SamWise72 wrote:Just been looking at past Boxrec threads, and reading "Last time I saw Horace he was working in the security industry", and "I heard he was a London cabbie now". I know I've read something saying he was doing well and happy, but I can't find it.

Well at least he's alive, able bodied and not in Jail. Those are good things.

Horace was a very good fighter. Good skills and chin. I liked watching him, as a kid on ITV or whatever it was back in the day.

Would be nice to hear how he is doing. What about Hughroy Currie? I remember him going 0-2 vs Notice but he did ice a bloated Glenn McCrory and was a decent fighter with a good dig and nice skills.

drunkenpiper36 wrote:
Cruiserweight would have been a good place for HN.

yea.

i had high hopes for notice at the time...even though gary mason injured him badly in a sparring session, broke some ribs and put him out of the game for months

I was watching some amateur footage of Horace the other day - he was a supremely talented fighter. What could have been....