BoxRec

My knowledge of British & Irish boxing history is pretty rubbish. This year I want to become far less ignorant about British & Irish boxing history.

I figure that watching 52 of the most important British & Irish boxing matches of all time over the course of the following year will make me a far less ignorant boxing fan (you know 52 weeks of the year, one fight per week, that seems pretty easy).

I believe that some sort of discussion every week to determine the fight of the week for all of us to watch: Would lead to a lovely community feeling for all of the many members of this forum that have decided to take part in this brilliant challenge.

Does anyone else want to take this challenge?

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World boxing history challenge: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=208051

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Year 2:

Week 2 - Alan Minter vs Vito Antuofermo I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=208220
Week 1 - Alan Rudkin vs Fighting Harada: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=207977


Year 1:

Week 52 - Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=207714
Week 51 - Howard Winstone vs Vicente Saldivar II: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=207609

Week 50 - Howard Eastman vs Bernard Hopkins: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=207356
Week 49 - Ken Buchanan vs Jim Watt: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=207128
Week 48 - Errol Christie vs Mark Kaylor: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=206870
Week 47 - Herol Graham vs Charles Brewer: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=206601
Week 46 - Chris Eubank vs Ray Close I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=206336

Week 45 - Tony Sibson vs Frank Tate: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=206093
Week 44 - Terry Marsh vs Joe Manley: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=205828
Week 43 - John H Stracey vs Dave 'Boy' Green: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=205700
Week 42 - Murray Sutherland vs Matthew Saad Muhammad: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=205427
Week 41 - Nigel Benn vs Gerald McClellan: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=205148

Week 40 - Chris Pyatt vs Sumbu Kalambay: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=204759
Week 39 - Jim McDonnell vs Azumah Nelson: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=204457
Week 38 - Glenn Catley vs Markus Beyer: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=204237
Week 37 - Billy Hardy vs Orlando Canizales I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=204054
Week 36 - Paul Ingle vs Junior Jones: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=203594

Week 35 - Michael Brodie vs Neil Swain: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=203460
Week 34 - Richie Woodhall vs Thulani Malinga: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=203235
Week 33 - Joe Bugner vs Joe Frazier: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=203046
Week 32 - Colin Jones vs Milton McCrory I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=202947
Week 31 - Kirkland Laing vs Roberto Duran: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=202714

Week 30 - Wayne McCullough vs Yasuei Yakushiji: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=202593
Week 29 - Duke McKenzie vs Dave McAuley: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=202398
Week 28 - Alan Rudkin vs Lionel Rose: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=202256
Week 27 - Brian Curvis vs Emile Griffith: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=202047
Week 26 - Maurice Hope vs Rocky Mattioli II: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=201894

Week 25 - Dave Charnley vs Joe Brown III: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=201665
Week 24 - Dennis Andries vs Jeff Harding I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=201527
Week 23 - Henry Cooper vs Muhammad Ali I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=201361
Week 22 - Steve Robinson vs Paul Hodkinson: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=201121
Week 21 - Pat Cowdell vs Salvador Sanchez: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=200952

Week 20 - Johnny Nelson vs Carl Thompson: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=200751
Week 19 - Charlie Magri vs Eleoncio Mercedes: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=200530
Week 18 - Barry McGuigan vs Eusebio Pedroza: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=200363
Week 17 - John Conteh vs Jorge Victor Ahumada: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=200128
Week 16 - Steve Collins vs Reggie Johnson: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=199947

Week 15 - Ken Buchanan vs Ismael Laguna II: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=199648
Week 14 - Randolph Turpin vs Sugar Ray Robinson I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=199410
Week 13 - Alan Minter vs Kevin Finnegan II: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=199327
Week 12 - Herol Graham vs Mike McCallum: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=199118
Week 11 - Naseem Hamed vs Tom Johnson: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=198918

Week 10 - Nigel Benn vs Doug DeWitt: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=198730
Week 9 - Lennox Lewis vs Frank Bruno: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=198537
Week 8 - Walter McGowan vs Salvatore Burruni II: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=198338
Week 7 - Howard Winstone vs Vicente Saldivar I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=198119
Week 6 - Chris Finnegan vs Bob Foster: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197962

Week 5 - John H. Stracey vs Jose Napoles: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197741
Week 4 - Jim Watt vs Alexis Arguello: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197596
Week 3 - Lloyd Honeyghan vs Donald Curry: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197431
Week 2 - Chris Eubank vs Michael Watson I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197276
Week 1 - Joe Calzaghe vs Robin Reid: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197126

Sounds good to me.

Seen:
Joe Calzaghe vs Robin Reid
Eubank vs Watson
Curry vs Honeyghan
Watt vs Arguello
Stracey-Napoles
Bob Foster vs Chris Finnegan
Howard Winstone vs Vicente Saldivar
Walter McGowan vs Salvatore Burruni
Lennox Lewis vs Frank Bruno
Nigel Benn vs Doug DeWitt
Naseem Hamed vs Tom Johnson
Herol Graham vs Mike McCallum
Alan Minter vs Kevin Finnegan
Randolph Turpin- Sugar Ray Robinson
Ken Buchanan vs Ismael Laguna II
Steve Collins vs Reggie Johnson
John Conteh vs Jorge Victor Ahumada
Barry McGuigan vs Eusebio Pedroza
Charlie Magri vs Eleoncio Mercedes
Johnny Nelson vs Carl Thompson
Pat Cowdell vs Salvador Sanchez
Steve Robinson vs Paul Hodkinson
Henry Cooper vs Muhammad Ali I
Dennis Andries vs Jeff Harding I
Dave Charnley vs Joe Brown III
Maurice Hope vs Rocky Mattioli
Brian Curvis vs Emile Griffith
Alan Rudkin vs Lionel Rose
Duke McKenzie vs Dave McAuley
Wayne McCullough vs Yasuei Yakushiji
Kirkland Laing vs Roberto Duran
Colin Jones vs Milton McCrory I
Joe Bugner vs Joe Frazier
Richie Woodhall vs Thulani Malinga
Michael Brodie vs Neil Swain
Paul Ingle vs Junior Jones
Billy Hardy vs Orlando Canizales
Glenn Catley vs Markus Beyer
Jim McDonnell vs Azumah Nelson
Chris Pyatt vs Sumbu Kalambay
Nigel Benn vs Gerald McClellan
Murray Sutherland vs Matthew Saad Muhammad
John H Stracey vs Dave 'Boy' Green
Terry Marsh vs Joe Manley
Tony Sibson vs Frank Tate
Chris Eubank vs Ray Close I
Herol Graham vs Charles Brewer
Errol Christie vs Mark Kaylor
Ken Buchanan vs Jim Watt
Howard Eastman vs Bernard Hopkins

Suggested so far:
Buchanan vs Duran.
Alan Rudkin vs Fighting Harada https://youtu.be/pylS883XqyM
Alan Rudkin v Johnny Caldwell https://youtu.be/A9jrqztUMFo
Johnny Owen v Lupe Pintor https://youtu.be/V2K7KNgLr4o
Alan Minter vs Vito Antuofermo 2
Tony Sibson vs Dennis Andries
Dennis Andries vs Jeff harding
John H Stracey vs Carlos Palomino
Colin Jones v Kirkland Laing 1 and 2
Barry McGuigan v Juan Laporte
Lloyd Honeyghan v Cliff Gilpin 1 and 2
Najib Daho v Carl Crook 1 and 2
Jack Kid Berg vs Tony Canzoneri and Kid Chocolate,
Tommy Farr vs Joe Louis, Max Baer, Loughran or Braddock
Jack Doyle vs. Jack Peterson,
Henry Cooper vs Cassius Clay or Muhamad Ali
Henry Cooper vs Joe Bugner
Frank Bruno vs Joe Bugner
Najib Daho vs Pat Cowdell 1 and 2 & Pat doherty 1&2
Pat Doherty vs John Doherty
Alan Rudkin vs Walter McGowan - the rematch.
Benny Lynch vs Jackie Brown II
Catley vs Woodhall
Nigel Benn Vs Henry Wharton
Steve Collins vs Sumbu Kalambay or Mike Mccallum
Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield I
Lloyd Honeyghan vs Maurice Blocker
Howard Winstone vs Vicente Saldivar II
Alan Minter vs Vito Antuofermo I
Prince Naseem vs Wayne Mcculloch
Rocky Kelly vs Tony Brown -
Jamie Moore vs Matthew Macklin
Maurice Hope vs Wilfred Benitez/Carlos Herrera
Ernie Roderick vs Henry Armstrong
Floyd Patterson vs Brian London
Haye vs Maccaranelli
Terry downes vs Paul Pender or Willie Pastrano
Dave "boy" McAuley Vs Fidel Basa
Mark Prince v Dariusz Michalczewski
Bob Fitzsimmons vs James J Corbett
Gary Jacobs v Pernell Whitaker
Dave "boy" Green vs Carlos Palomino
Andy Holligan vs Julio Cesar Chaves, Shey Neary Or Tony Ekubia
Murray Sutherland vs Tommy Hearns/Michael Spinks 1+2/Chong Pal Park/James Kinchen
Kevin Lueshing vs Saunder 1+2/Tito Trinidad. (triple bill, none of his fight last long)
Not enough of The Cat on that list.
Carl Thompson vs Eubank 1 & 2, Rothmann, Sellers
Paul Weir vs Fernando Martinez
Bunny Johnson v James Scott https://youtu.be/C-XP7KZXGk4
Wayne Elcock vs Howard Eastman https://youtu.be/ypLzArJC0rc
Shea Neary vs Andy Holligan https://youtu.be/nBx8ryCNckU
Shea Neary vs Mickey Ward https://youtu.be/APMqCZTkV-E
Colin McMillan vs Maurizio Stecca https://youtu.be/UY7XyACQz8Y

Fighters from the distant past who we could look at
Dick & Randy Turpin, Jack Kid Berg, Ted Kid Lewis, Benny Lynch, Jimmy McLarnin, Tommy Farr, Freddie Welsh, Jimmy Wilde, Jackie Patterson, Len Harvey, Jock Mcavoy, Bob Fitzsimmons, Jack Petersen, Jackie Brown, Freddie Mills, Ernie Roderick, Peter Kane, Al Phillips.

One I watched recently that is a must see for action and controversy was Buchanan vs Duran.
It's been a while since I saw Watt vs Arguello and I've unbelievably never watched Curry vs Honeyghan.
Could be a few worth watching

Excellent idea, I'm in.

I like it. Is there film of Stracey-Napoles and Turpin-Robinson ?

reggaereggae wrote:I like it. Is there film of Stracey-Napoles and Turpin-Robinson ?

https://youtu.be/12kkRKzE9bo
https://youtu.be/BR2VKYXopAA
https://youtu.be/fvpZ-oUbVmU

Which Turpin vs Robinson?
Not that it matters, Youtube has both

Ive been working through a list of classic fights of yesteryear for a wee while now,its always good to educate yourself on the sport

Next up for me is the 3 Nino Benvenuti-Emile Griffith fights

davie wrote:I'm in.
Who picks the fights?
Horses choice or community suggestions?

You know what happens when Horse gets to pick all the time

I was thinking the community, but we'll see.

Horse wrote:

davie wrote:I'm in.
Who picks the fights?
Horses choice or community suggestions?

You know what happens when Horse gets to pick all the time

I was thinking the community, but we'll see.

Yes I think it would make sense if the community picked - there's loads of posters who are extremely knowledgeable about older fights, so it would be great to get their input.

here's a few more for you Horse (nice idea BTW):

Howard Winstone vs Vicente Saldivar
Alan Rudkin vs Fighting Harada
Buchanan vs Laguna
Buchanan vs Watt
John Conteh vs Jorge Ahumada
Bob Foster vs Chris Finnegan
Alan Minter vs Vito Antuofermo 2
Alan Minter vs Kevin Finnegan
Tony Sibson vs Dennis Andries

all good fights with decent historical significance.. i'll add more when they come to mind


BTW rather than getting into a debate over what belongs and what doesn't, I would suggest you just keep a list and add every recommendation until you reach 52.

Horse wrote:My knowledge of British & Irish boxing history is pretty rubbish. This year I want to become far less ignorant about British & Irish boxing history.

I figure that watching 52 of the most important British & Irish boxing matches of all time over the course of the following year will make me a far less ignorant boxing fan (you know 52 weeks of the year, one fight per week, that seems pretty easy).

I believe that some sort of discussion every week to determine the fight of the week for all of us to watch: Would lead to a lovely community feeling for all of the many members of this forum that have decided to take part in this brilliant challenge.

Does anyone else want to take this challenge?

Yes, that sounds a really good idea, good thinking

Horse - out of interest, what is your cut-off point? (i.e. When do you consider to be history?). There is a wide range of posters here with (presumably) a wide range of historical knowledge. My own in-depth knowledge probably comes from the mid-90s onwards which presumably you don't class as history per se, but what about everyone else?...Would be good to know so we can start researching properly.

Counter-puncher wrote:here's a few more for you Horse (nice idea BTW):

Howard Winstone vs Vicente Saldivar
Alan Rudkin vs Fighting Harada
Buchanan vs Laguna
Buchanan vs Watt
John Conteh vs Jorge Ahumada
Bob Foster vs Chris Finnegan
Alan Minter vs Vito Antuofermo 2
Alan Minter vs Kevin Finnegan
Tony Sibson vs Dennis Andries

all good fights with decent historical significance.. i'll add more when they come to mind


BTW rather than getting into a debate over what belongs and what doesn't, I would suggest you just keep a list and add every recommendation until you reach 52.

Aye, let's not get into any "this fight doesn't belong on the list" type debates.

As long as there's plenty of variety. Different eras, different weights and different levels.
There'll probably be some British level fights every bit as interesting to watch and learn about as the world level stuff.

The sad thing is that many off the British greats like Ted kid Lewis, Freddie Welsh or Jimmy Wilde won't have much footage on film

Can we have a consensus first bout to watch and discuss?

This is a really good idea

palooka wrote:Can we have a consensus first bout to watch and discuss?

This is a really good idea

I think Horse should have the final say but I like the Stracey vs Napoles fight.
We know the footage is out there and I've stuck a link up.
Personally, I know nothing of Stracey and he ended the career of an ATG welterweight

Also, I just read the Boxrec record and the fight described here looks interesting.

"Stracey gets off floor in 1st and proceeds to close and cut Napoles so severely that the bout is stopped"

We could start with worse

Boxerbeetle wrote:Horse - out of interest, what is your cut-off point? (i.e. When do you consider to be history?). There is a wide range of posters here with (presumably) a wide range of historical knowledge. My own in-depth knowledge probably comes from the mid-90s onwards which presumably you don't class as history per se, but what about everyone else?...Would be good to know so we can start researching properly.

If your looking to learn more, the boxers of the past section of this forum is an excellent place to start.

Some very clued up boxing historians (and a fair share of clueless gobshites) on there.
I was like yourself up until recently, my knowledge of boxing history ranged back as far as Naz and Lennox but I'm picking up a fair bit between youtube, BOTP forum and the record section of Boxrec.

I'd say watch Stracey and Green vs Carlos Palomino. Its not often such a good tough boxer comes to the UK and beat the leading boxers

Some good recommendations so far horse

I say, just wait until you're up to 52, put them into chronological order, and away we go....

Counter-puncher wrote:Some good recommendations so far horse

I say, just wait until you're up to 52, put them into chronological order, and away we go....

We're going to require a few more suggestions then

Colin Jones v Kirkland Laing 1 and 2
Colin Jones v Milton Mcrory 1 and 2
Barry McGuigan v Eusebio Pedroza
Barry McGuigan v Juan Laporte
Lloyd Honeyghan v Cliff Gilpin 1 and 2
Najib Daho v Carl Crook 1 and 2

Looking at the ring magazine fight of the year list, 1930 saw a fight between the Whitechapel whirlwind, Jack Kid Berg and Kid Chocolate, where Berg handed the legendary featherweight his first defeat.
If anyone can find footage this would be a good one, youtube has nothing.

Berg later beat Kid Chocolate a second time and also holds a win over ATG lightweight Tony Canzoneri (as well as 2 defeats)
One of his loses to Canzoneri, a 3rd round stoppage, is on Youtube. We could watch that.

https://youtu.be/dmK5eas2nHs

1937 fight of the year was Joe Louis controversial points win over Tommy Farr of Wales.

https://youtu.be/WsW3LcUIMH8

"On 30 August 1937, Farr fought world heavyweight champion Joe Louis at the height of his career at Yankee Stadium, New York City; he gained respect despite losing a controversial points decision after 15 rounds. Louis, one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, had knocked out 8 of his previous 9 opponents and proceeded to knock out his next 7, but was fearlessly attacked and hurt by Farr. The 50,000 crowd booed when Louis was awarded the decision[2][3][4] after referee Arthur Donovan, Sr. had seemingly raised Farr's glove in victory. Seven years later, in his published account of the fight, Donovan apologised for the 'mistake'.[5]"


Farr also has wins over the fearsome Max Baer and a rare points win over arguable the most skillful Light heavyweight ever Tommy Loughran.
Farr later lost to Jim Braddock and Max Baer, but again took Baer the distance which is no mean feat.
Any of these fights could be interesting

1961 fight of the year, another controversial loss for a british fighter against a great.
Dave 'the Dartford destroyer' Charnely outpointed by Joe 'Old bones' Brown


"Charnley made two unsuccessful world title challenges against his arch-rival Joe 'Old Bones' Brown. He was stopped by Brown on a cut eye in Houston, Texas, in 1959 and was narrowly out-pointed in a controversial 15 round bout in London on 18 April 1961. Ring Magazine called this second bout "Fight of the Year." Many say Charnley should have won.[1] The decision is still contested by Charnley and most British writers.

He eventually defeated Brown in six rounds in a non-title fight in Manchester on 25 February 1963."

I can't find footage of the fight of the year. But the third victory for Dave is here
https://youtu.be/6lYYvhUOkTI

Dave also had a points defeat to the great Carlos Ortiz and Emile Griffiths late in his career.
And I found this tribute by Buncey
https://youtu.be/uUIh6IRrf6c

1972 FOTY saw Buckinghamshire light heavy weight Chris Finnegan last 14 rounds before being stopped by arguably the hardest hitting LHW in history Bob Foster.

https://youtu.be/GFpQaBAMb2I

More info on Finnegan here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Finnegan
Including his Olympic gold success and details of a pro career which included fights with John Conteh (also on Youtube), Brendon Ingle, Mike Quarrey and unsuccesful European challenges against Rudiger Schmidtke and Tom Bogs