BoxRec

Just read on BBN that Frank Black passed away on Sunday. A regular in the corners of Terry Lawless and Jimmy Tibbs, he was a top cornerman/second who will be sadly missed.

RIP.

RIP Frank was a good man

That is sad, wonderfull man, leaves many happy memories. RIP Frank.

Anybody know the circumstances, been in Bed with Flu havent kept up with the news.

nice write up about Frank

http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/content ... 3A59%3A653

RIP Frank, he was truly one of the great seconds to have in a corner, he will be sadly missed.

Loved his Football to Fantastic guy, had some terriffic times with Him.

Frank was one of those men who always looked exactly the same. When he was working the corner of Joe Calzaghe, one half expected Maurice Hope to come out.
A decent, decent man.

terrible news. my old mate tony moore - ex lawless - will be dreadfully sad at this news as we all are here in the heart of british boxing. a major east end hero.
RIP frank, we'll miss you.

A terrible shame. What a nice man. Remember seeing him in Las Vegas last year and him asking me how Dagenham and Redbridge went on.

RIP fella

Dam when I read the thread title I thought the Pixies frontman had died.

RIP Frank.

Sad news. It was blokes like Black that give boxing a more positive image.

R.I.P.

Boxing has lost a loyal, trusted and experienced member of the "boxing family" - he will be sadly missed - didn't care who you were or what your name was he always found time to have a chat about boxing or football!!!

RIP Frank

I was very sorry to learn of Franks passing, which occured following his attendance at the O2 show last weekend. As a relative newcomer to the business, I consider myself fortunate to have been able to call Frank a friend.

I first met Frank as a starry eyed teenager, when, along with my pals, I used to travel up from Kent to the Royal Oak in Canning Town, to watch Mark Kaylor and co train. Along with Terry Lawless, Jimmy Tibbs and Jim 'the biscuit', Frank went out of his way to make us welcome. I seem to recall it was Frank who directed us kids to the right bus. Little did I know then, that through my association with Jason Rowland twenty years later, that I would forge a lasting friendship with Frank.

I was a regular visitor to the Lennox Lewis gym in Hackney where Frank would be training Bruce Scott. Jimmy would be working with Jason Rowland, Steve Murray and Wayne Alexander. As well as years worth of experience and knowledge between them, the pairing of Tibbs and Black threw up it's fair share of funny moments too... Like the time Jimmy convinced Frank he'd had an accident when he set off a remote fart machine right next to Frank!

When I applied for my seconds licence, Frank showed time and again how kind he could be. He took me through every aspect of the management of cuts, from the type and preperation of equipment to be used, to the actual dealing with all manner of cuts. Having got my licence and worked a few corners, Frank was always on the end of the phone, or ready with a word of advice at a show.

I will always be grateful for the times I spent in Franks company. I know there are countless others who knew him better, for much longer, but that didn't stop him treating me with kindness and respect. He was there in the corner, for my best mates biggest fights and I know Jason has his own personal memories of Frank. For me, the man can be summed up by the last words he ever said to me, which still ring in my ears, "Take care Rich, you only have to phone if you need any help".

God bless Frank.

metchampion wrote:I was very sorry to learn of Franks passing, which occured following his attendance at the O2 show last weekend. As a relative newcomer to the business, I consider myself fortunate to have been able to call Frank a friend.

I first met Frank as a starry eyed teenager, when, along with my pals, I used to travel up from Kent to the Royal Oak in Canning Town, to watch Mark Kaylor and co train. Along with Terry Lawless, Jimmy Tibbs and Jim 'the biscuit', Frank went out of his way to make us welcome. I seem to recall it was Frank who directed us kids to the right bus. Little did I know then, that through my association with Jason Rowland twenty years later, that I would forge a lasting friendship with Frank.

I was a regular visitor to the Lennox Lewis gym in Hackney where Frank would be training Bruce Scott. Jimmy would be working with Jason Rowland, Steve Murray and Wayne Alexander. As well as years worth of experience and knowledge between them, the pairing of Tibbs and Black threw up it's fair share of funny moments too... Like the time Jimmy convinced Frank he'd had an accident when he set off a remote fart machine right next to Frank!

When I applied for my seconds licence, Frank showed time and again how kind he could be. He took me through every aspect of the management of cuts, from the type and preperation of equipment to be used, to the actual dealing with all manner of cuts. Having got my licence and worked a few corners, Frank was always on the end of the phone, or ready with a word of advice at a show.

I will always be grateful for the times I spent in Franks company. I know there are countless others who knew him better, for much longer, but that didn't stop him treating me with kindness and respect. He was there in the corner, for my best mates biggest fights and I know Jason has his own personal memories of Frank. For me, the man can be summed up by the last words he ever said to me, which still ring in my ears, "Take care Rich, you only have to phone if you need any help".

God bless Frank.

Top Post!!!

The Lennox Lewis College is where I met Frank to - it was almost 9 years ago!!! - I know Dean Powell thought so highly of Frank as Dean was at the Lennox Lewis College working as Panix Promotions Matchmaker and whenever you saw Dean in the corner in recent fights Frank would be somewhere near him supporting him.

great post rich, thats frank!

Ladies & Gent's,

Just a quick report on Frank Blacks funeral, which took place yesterday at St. Peters Church, Gorebrook Rd, Dagenham.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to learn that the sun shone brightly and set the tone for the day, which was attended by hundreds of mourners. Along with Franks family and personal friends, the worlds of professional football and boxing were well represented.

Franks friend and colleague Jimmy Tibbs gave a reading, and John Still, manager of Dagenham & Redbridge FC delivered, a first rate eulogy which covered all aspects of Franks character and life in a respectful, amusing and touching way.

I'm not too 'up' on my football faces these days, but I sat next to a chap who had played alongside Frank. Frank Lampard Snr was there, along with countless others I didn't recognise.

The boxing faces were many and they represented all aspects of the business. Boxers, managers, trainers, promotors, officials and other, not so well known faces from the sport, without whom boxing would not be what it is in this country. Those that I could make out and that I can recall are as follows.

My apologies to those that were there that I didn't see.

Jimmy Tibbs
Frank Bruno
Charlie Magri
Mo Hussein
Bruce Scott
Chris Pyatt
Derek Angol
Adrian Elliot
Mickey Cantwell
Jason Rowland
Danny Wells (BBBofC Inspector & former fighter)
Jimmy Flint
Jimmy Batten
James Cook
Colin McMillan
allegedly
Dean Powell
Andy Ayling
Mick Williamson
Robert Smith (BBBofC general secretary)
Bob Lonkhurst (BBBofC Inspector)
Mick Collier (BBBofC)
Red Brennan
Lennie Peters
Len Whaley (reporter)

It was a fitting send off for a man I'll not forget in a long time.

The absence of Terry Lawless is rather glaring.

Possibly, but in fairness to Terry, I know that both he and Sylvia have had their share of health problems in recent years. I don't know how accurate the reports I got were, but I understand one of Terry's problems is mobility, so it may have proved difficult for him to attend. I wouln't be at all surprised, knowing terry as I do, that somehow, he will have made contact with Franks widow.

Thanks for this Chris. It is particularly heartwarming to see Tony Adams, Horace Notice and Mo Hussein looking so well. In fact everyone looks well and almost exactly the same as when they were fighting.