Back to the '70s: Joe Awome

[bennie]

Remember him well: smooth-boxing stylist with a decent dig but, sadly, not much of a chin.
Joe turned pro under the spotlight after winning two ABA titles and heavyweight gold in the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Canada (where McGuigan, Azumah Nelson and Mike McCallum also struck gold). Even Mickey Duff, however, couldn't prevent him getting levelled a few times, and his career is best-remembered for the night he and Manny Gabriel spilled out of the Albert Hall ring. It was a shame. Awome, who served his country in Northern Ireland at the height of The Troubles, had undoubted skill and courage.
I actually saw him in the late 80's walking near Oxford Street, I was about to say hello, then decided against it (he was a big guy, but the fact he was just going about his business really dissuaded me). Then I read he had died from a brain tumour. Would have been nice to have had a quick chat about his career. His Commonwealth Games semi-final win over a big, burly New Zealander was memorable.

[harrygreb]

i remember joe - i came from woking where he was based. very likeable guy, you should have chatted to him bennie. was touted for a while as the best brit heavy and he was certainly game and had ability. what he didnt do was manage the jam. that was done from about 1976 (or even earlier) by Mr john weller, pauls dad. the association continued throughout the bands career and pauls sometimes dodgy solo years.

[harrygreb]

perhaps he did a bit of minding for them - in fact it seems to ring a distant bell with me that he did indeed do something of the kind. but i just have to be clear, john weller was the manager of the jam from the outset to the end.

[harrygreb]

cheers

[JoshAwome]

Hi,

I am Joe Awome's Son. Is anyone still using this service? I would be interested to speak to anyone who knew him.

Josh Awome

[bennie]

Hi,

I am Joe Awome's Son. Is anyone still using this service? I would be interested to speak to anyone who knew him.

Josh Awome

Your dad was a highly talented boxer, Josh, who possessed that rare quality known as charisma. He was all over the newspapers after winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in Canada in 1978, touted as our new heavyweight hope, but it wasn't to be as a pro. Nevertheless, his paid fights were never dull. I remember he showed real character after he was upended by a muscled heavyweight by the name of Ron Pearce. In the rematch Joe took Pearce apart as if the first fight had never happened.

[Never Chew A Pickle]

Sorry mate but it was Ron McLean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKMTO2bWWEU

This was the return on the Gardner v Sykes undercard (I was there, I must be old)

Also, couple of pics here of Joe with the Jam:

http://www.thejamfan.net/scrap_book18.htm

http://www.thejamfan.net/scrap_book_7.htm

[bennie]

Sorry mate but it was Ron McLean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKMTO2bWWEU

This was the return on the Gardner v Sykes undercard (I was there, I must be old)

Also, couple of pics here of Joe with the Jam:

http://www.thejamfan.net/scrap_book18.htm

http://www.thejamfan.net/scrap_book_7.htm

You're right, mate, it was Ron Mclean. Great knowledge. McLean was built better than Frank Bruno. It is a shame that Joe turned pro when the the Olympics were just two years away. Over three rounds, Joe had already shown that he had serious winning ability.

[misterpunch]

joe def had a ton of charisma - I remember his career well

[rich_chandler]

I met Joe a few times, he let me hold his Commonwealth gold medal just after he won it, I was only 14 at the time. He was really good mates with my then next door neighbour Charles, they used to go running together in Bracknell. He got me and my Dad tickets to most of his fights including the night he and his opponent fell out of the ring. He was really nice guy, hadn't realised he had died, very sad.

[palooka]

It sounds as though your dad was well thought of and a decent man and a good fighter Josh.