BoxRec

The legendary gym where TerrY Lawless, Jimmy Tibbs & Frank Black trained all the top fighters of the seventies and eighties
is now an estate agents.

Did anybody ever go when it was a gym and what was it like in regard to atmosphere etc.

I'm sure there is a joke here about being hit by a ton of bricks but I can't quite make it...

I used to go there in 87, nice gym, all Terry Lawles's fighters trained there, I spent a week filming the training in 88 I think, highlight was mugabi sparring with Watson,

Tyson came over early eighties and visited the gym I

ERIC GUY wrote:I used to go there in 87, nice gym, all Terry Lawles's fighters trained there, I spent a week filming the training in 88 I think, highlight was mugabi sparring with Watson,

How did the Watson and Mugabi spar go Who had the better of it?

....

BOXINGBARMY1 wrote:The legendary gym where TerrY Lawless, Jimmy Tibbs & Frank Black trained all the top fighters of the seventies and eighties
is now an estate agents.

Did anybody ever go when it was a gym and what was it like in regard to atmosphere etc.

It hasn't been an estate agents for ages, the last year+ it's been a cash converter type place, but it's closing down, thankfuq.

Should go back to being a pub, anyone who has the money/vision to do so will make a fortune as Canning Town is slowly changing beyond belief - there's 2 blocks of new flats been done, 1 is complete and London City Island is being built on the peninsula opposite the station - the money is creeping in there, 5 years and it'll be a VERY sought after place :-)

Across from the Royal Oak the area under the flyover was named Terry Spinks Place

Incidentally, when my Da was a sailor many years ago when they were docked down the Royal Docks, the Royal Oak was where they used to drink. He has a few great tales about that place.

Where will the people that already live in Canning Town live? Will they move them up North where the rent is cheaper?

Once saw Board boss Robert Smith sparring Lloyd Honeyghan there. It now ranks as a classic boxing gym - roomy, big windows, fighters, trainers, gym rats - but there were so many at the time you didn't really appreciate it (and you had to be on your toes with Lawless).
Honeyghan and Smith later fought for real.

joelouis1234 wrote:I went there a couple of times when Bruno,Mason,Honeghan,Mark Kaylor and others were training there and the place was buzzing, a very competitive,lively gym filled with boxers intent on going places and of course Jimmy Tibbs, Lawless and other trainers who guided many of them to Championship status.Apparently Dean Powell started out there working on the reception desk.

your wrong, Dean worked at Thomas a Becket

ERIC GUY wrote:

joelouis1234 wrote:I went there a couple of times when Bruno,Mason,Honeghan,Mark Kaylor and others were training there and the place was buzzing, a very competitive,lively gym filled with boxers intent on going places and of course Jimmy Tibbs, Lawless and other trainers who guided many of them to Championship status.Apparently Dean Powell started out there working on the reception desk.

your wrong, Dean worked at Thomas a Becket

In his book, Tibbs says Powell worked at the Royal Oak with him.

mickey1975 wrote:

ERIC GUY wrote:

joelouis1234 wrote:I went there a couple of times when Bruno,Mason,Honeghan,Mark Kaylor and others were training there and the place was buzzing, a very competitive,lively gym filled with boxers intent on going places and of course Jimmy Tibbs, Lawless and other trainers who guided many of them to Championship status.Apparently Dean Powell started out there working on the reception desk.

your wrong, Dean worked at Thomas a Becket

In his book, Tibbs says Powell worked at the Royal Oak with him.

Dean worked with Jimmy at the west ham club when he was training pro's, Jimmy left the Royal oak years before dean came to London, I have not read the book,

There was not a reception desk at the royal oak,

Why did you have to be on your toes with Lawless ?

I trained there back in the 1976 a couple of times. My gym mate was sparring with Maurice Hope prior to his Euro win over Vito Antuofermo. I was down to spar with Johnny Waldron but we run out of time.
For me it was weird to be training alongside Jimmy Batten who I'd pestered my dad to go and watch win his 70+ something amateur bout around 5 years before when I was starting out. A great atmosphere in the Oak, whereas the Becket always seemed a bit intimidating on a Sunday morning