BoxRec

Got this last week and about half way through it. Great book.

A couple of queries arising....

1: Lennie "The Lion" Williams quit boxing after losing to Winstone. That was only his third loss. I can't remember why quit the game - was he injured, or just decide enough was enough??

2: Ron "Ponty" Davies is also mentioned - I'd forgotten about him but on looking up his record on Boxrec I see that after beating Frankie Jones he only had one more fight - eight in all according to the records. Any idea why he left the sport.... I did see reference to him being known as the "Problem Child" but not sure if that relates to him stopping boxing.

Any ideas??

J

If it is the same Ponty Davies from caerphilly then the `problem child` lasted a little longer than childhood.....

tonyevs wrote:If it is the same Ponty Davies from caerphilly then the `problem child` lasted a little longer than childhood.....

He's listed as born in Llanbradach which is near Caerphilly. I remember him when he beat Jones.... aggressive fighter

J

john2345 wrote:Got this last week and about half way through it. Great book.

A couple of queries arising....

1: Lennie "The Lion" Williams quit boxing after losing to Winstone. That was only his third loss. I can't remember why quit the game - was he injured, or just decide enough was enough??

2: Ron "Ponty" Davies is also mentioned - I'd forgotten about him but on looking up his record on Boxrec I see that after beating Frankie Jones he only had one more fight - eight in all according to the records. Any idea why he left the sport.... I did see reference to him being known as the "Problem Child" but not sure if that relates to him stopping boxing.

Any ideas??

J

If I remember right Williams became a boxing journalist....

Is it hardback or paperback?

john2345 wrote:

tonyevs wrote:If it is the same Ponty Davies from caerphilly then the `problem child` lasted a little longer than childhood.....

He's listed as born in Llanbradach which is near Caerphilly. I remember him when he beat Jones.... aggressive fighter

J

Ponty is still about, still well known in certain circles..but not for his boxing days

silkov wrote:

john2345 wrote:Got this last week and about half way through it. Great book.

A couple of queries arising....

1: Lennie "The Lion" Williams quit boxing after losing to Winstone. That was only his third loss. I can't remember why quit the game - was he injured, or just decide enough was enough??

2: Ron "Ponty" Davies is also mentioned - I'd forgotten about him but on looking up his record on Boxrec I see that after beating Frankie Jones he only had one more fight - eight in all according to the records. Any idea why he left the sport.... I did see reference to him being known as the "Problem Child" but not sure if that relates to him stopping boxing.

Any ideas??

J

If I remember right Williams became a boxing journalist....

About 10yrs ago a local would be hard man thought to impress his gang of mates and start on a couple of old men..one being lennie, the would be hard man squared up in his kick-boxing stance and made his thoughts clear...the next thought he had was the quickest way to get to the hospital to fix up his cheek bone and re-attach his jaw...

KOJOE90 wrote:Is it hardback or paperback?

It's hardback (at least at present) Cost £15 inc P&P in UK Well worth the money in my opinion.... far better and more interesting than some of the other boxing books I've read of late. Mind you, I suppose it depends on your age group.... Winstone was one of my boyhood heroes.

I got the ordering address (Howard's son) from Boxing News..it's
Howard Winstone
30 Gilfach Cynon
Twynrodyn
Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 0PW

J

[/quote]About 10yrs ago a local would be hard man thought to impress his gang of mates and start on a couple of old men..one being lennie, the would be hard man squared up in his kick-boxing stance and made his thoughts clear...the next thought he had was the quickest way to get to the hospital to fix up his cheek bone and re-attach his jaw... [/quote]

Great! Would have liked to have seen that!

J

john2345 Thanks

KOJOE90 wrote:john2345 Thanks

Forgot to add...if you are sending cheque you make it out to "Howard Winstone".... just like Jack Solomons and Harry Levene used to!

john2345 wrote:

KOJOE90 wrote:Is it hardback or paperback?

It's hardback (at least at present) Cost £15 inc P&P in UK Well worth the money in my opinion.... far better and more interesting than some of the other boxing books I've read of late. Mind you, I suppose it depends on your age group.... Winstone was one of my boyhood heroes.

I got the ordering address (Howard's son) from Boxing News..it's
Howard Winstone
30 Gilfach Cynon
Twynrodyn
Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 0PW


How many pages is it?.... does it go indepth into his life and fights rather than skimming over everything like some biogs tend to do?...

tonyevs wrote:

silkov wrote:

john2345 wrote:Got this last week and about half way through it. Great book.

A couple of queries arising....

1: Lennie "The Lion" Williams quit boxing after losing to Winstone. That was only his third loss. I can't remember why quit the game - was he injured, or just decide enough was enough??

2: Ron "Ponty" Davies is also mentioned - I'd forgotten about him but on looking up his record on Boxrec I see that after beating Frankie Jones he only had one more fight - eight in all according to the records. Any idea why he left the sport.... I did see reference to him being known as the "Problem Child" but not sure if that relates to him stopping boxing.

Any ideas??

J

If I remember right Williams became a boxing journalist....

About 10yrs ago a local would be hard man thought to impress his gang of mates and start on a couple of old men..one being lennie, the would be hard man squared up in his kick-boxing stance and made his thoughts clear...the next thought he had was the quickest way to get to the hospital to fix up his cheek bone and re-attach his jaw...

Nice!

tonyevs wrote:If it is the same Ponty Davies from caerphilly then the `problem child` lasted a little longer than childhood.....

I remember him too - best described as ' a character'.

silkov wrote: How many pages is it?.... does it go indepth into his life and fights rather than skimming over everything like some biogs tend to do?...

- It's about 375 pages

- Goes into quite good depth - I'm only at Page 110 (plus a bit of looking ahead at the rest!) and on the "indepth" query I'd say

-- good description of his early years, life in Merthyr, family
-- amateur career focused mainly on the Empire Games win as far as detail goes
-- good detail on each of his pro fights (I'm nearing the George Bowes and Billy Davis ones)
-- Some good photos - nothing special but quite interesting
--Looking ahead and skimming through some chapters there seems to be a fair enough description of his later years as well

On the "irritating side" (and I may seem a bit "picky" here!) there is a tendency by the author to repeat himself a few times... like, in the space of one page he recounts that Howard has 10 fights in year one, 13 in year 2 ...and then repeats it just over the page. This happens a few times, but I can take all that in the context of what I find an enjoyable read.

If I had a real criticism so far it's that there are a few careless errors... like "Gracie Lampert" appears at one stage instead of "Gracieux Lamperti" - though he gets it right come the fight description! And we have "Kenny Field from Hoxham"...try "Hoxton"! Little things like that...

Overall though I think it's well worth a read. Like I said in an earlier post I may be biased in that I idolised Winstone. Ironically and frustratingly although I listened to most of his fights on the radio I never saw him fight (other than a few newsreel clips) as the family didn't have a TV in those days (parts of Dublin were as poor as Merthry!). I've never seen a mention on any of the "Famous Fight" lists for his great fights either...anyone got any idea where I might get them??

Hope above helps.

J