west ham amateur Shaun Gray

[palooka]

One of my favourite boxers was the late Shaun Gray who boxed for West Ham in the late 80's and early 90's. Shaun didn't box as a senior but as a junior he was unbelievable. He won 7 national titles, winning 5 finals inside a round; one year he won the junior aba, schoolboy title and boys club title - each title was won inside a minute, he won one of the finals with the first punch he landed. I know some of the posters around my age boxed on the same shows and a poster boxed against Shaun. Does anyone have any memories of this fantastic boxer. (Does anyone have any footage of Shaun boxing?)

[palooka]

It's such a shame that no one has footage of Shaun in action; he was untouchable for a time - Samuel Boreham, a very good southpaw who won titles was the only one who could push him; in their 3rd and deciding contest Shaun knocked him out inside a round. If Shaun had decided to go pro he'd have been electric, a real television friendly boxer, it's boxing fans loss that there is so little about him. I honestly think he'd have done really well as a professional, the British Title would have been a target, the men around at light welter at that time had a little bit of vulnerability - Ross Hale, Paul Ryan, Andy Holligan - Shaun had real power, he'd have been a star. It must be very difficult though, the dedication to training for years while very young, the young boxer misses out on a lot, I imagine that it becomes nearly impossible with work and girls etc. Some of the best fighters don't turn pro.

Shaun had brothers, one of them, Patsy won national titles as well; Patsy was a southpaw with plenty of power and a good work rate, he stopped Wayne Alexander on the way to one of his titles, the bout is on YouTube, it's a shame more of Patsy's bouts aren't on there, against Alexander he looks a very natural boxer, very much at ease in the ring and he was fearless against a big hitter; another brother, Glen boxed to a high level as a junior as well they are a talented family

I contacted Shaun and Patrick's brother hoping he had some footage, I agonised over whether to do it as I didn't want to stir up feelings and i didn't want him to feel I was thoughtless or intrusive; in the end I thought, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I can understand wanting to keep footage and memories private - it's all such a shame, gone too young. Even with the improvement in training methods and nutrition etc I very much doubt that we'll see someone who rules their amateur weight division so completely for a long long time.

If any of Shaun and Patsy's family do read this I apologise for contacting you and hope that you enjoy the journals I sent that have write ups of your brothers bouts, they were very good sportsmen. (I've found another journal where Patsy is mentioned a few times, Shaun is mentioned once but no write up - I've sent it to Glen Gray, 25th March).

Best wishes to the Gray family and if you ever do have any footage I'd pay for a copy straight away, I think you can see I'm a genuine fan, his example kept me training and trying to be a good boxer when I was a young man - Shaun was on a different planet talent and power wise, I could have trained 100 years solid and not been half as good.

[palooka]

Its hard to believe it's 5 years today that Shaun Gray passed away, such a shame and such a loss to his family, RIP Shaun.

[palooka]

One of the posters from BoxRec has emailed me a photo of lads and coaches from West Ham, either late 80's or early 90's - Danny Lear is definitely on there and I think Shaun is too. I don't know how to put the photo up here, if you messgae me I'll send it, you might not have seen it before.

[Thefuriousone]

Shaun gray footage

https://youtu.be/lHZLsRTxYHw

[Laurence35]

Thank you so much for posting this footage, I boxed Shaun twice. Needless to the results were the same. He was actually my last fight back in 1991.
Unbelievable talent, hit like a mule and great style in the ring and nice bloke afterwards, really sorry to hear he’s no longer with us...

Personally I was looking forward to seeing turn pro, big admirer of his talent!

[GlenGrayx]

Thanks for remembering my brother in your posts....
He was a special talent...
I haven't any footage of him or Patrick. Otherwise I would have shared them with you....
Glen Gray x