BoxRec

Great man, sadly missed

Reg Gutteridge, the legendary boxing commentator and journalist, has died after a short illness, his family said today. He was 84.

An amateur boxer as a youngster, Gutteridge turned to journalism after losing a leg when he stepped on a mine at Normandy during the Second World War.

He worked for the Evening News as its boxing correspondent for 40 years. But he made his name as ITV's voice of boxing, later forming a commentating partnership with former world lightweight champion Jim Watt. The pair later moved to Sky.

Awarded an OBE in 1995, London-born Gutteridge also covered six Olympic Games.

Such was his popularity within boxing that he struck up friendships with many fighters. During the 1980s, when ill in hospital, Muhammad Ali was among the visitors.

In 2002 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Gutteridge, who lived in Barnet, passed away yesterday. He leaves a wife, daughter and four grandsons.

His daughter Sally said: "He was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather. He touched many lives."

Damn - great commentator, seemed to be a lovely guy when I heard him interviewed. RIP Legend.

Gutted to hear that, a man who was synonymous with boxing for me

RIP Reg.

RIP Reg. Will always be synonymous for me with the time I began to follow the sport, watching Tyson fights on a Sunday morning.

The British voice of boxing and a gentleman. Great story from back in the day when Sonny Liston was world champ. Reg used to like Sonny and said despite his image he was good company and one night he's sat with Liston and had one or too many. Reg said he used to wind the hulking champ up by putting on a bit of a posh Brit accent and called him 'Charles'. Well he's sat there and says "You think you're tough Charles but I'll show you tough". He then picked up a fork and started stabbing his leg repeatedly with it. Liston, he says 'went white' and then mad, when Reg showed him that he was only stabbing his false leg (Reg lost it during WWII when he stepped on a mine). He said "Liston went mad and swore at me. The only thing was from that point, Liston would ask him to do it everytime they met and Reg would get told off when he would take the leg back to get it changed as it would look like a 'pepperpot'.

RIP Reg.

On of my fondest memories of Reg commentating was during the fan man incident. Here was a huge piece of news but Reg was just gutted that this fantastic fight had been interrupted "Oh I don't believe this clown". Fantastic man, like a favourite uncle to boxing fans my age.

Matt W wrote:RIP Reg. Will always be synonymous for me with the time I began to follow the sport, watching Tyson fights on a Sunday morning.

yeah those early morning tyson fights are my first memories of reg.

great commentator.

always preferred him to harry carpenter.

he's out and it's over........is that the bell gone jim????

RIP.

hitman_hatton1 wrote:

Matt W wrote:RIP Reg. Will always be synonymous for me with the time I began to follow the sport, watching Tyson fights on a Sunday morning.

yeah those early morning tyson fights are my first memories of reg.

great commentator.

always preferred him to harry carpenter.

he's out and it's over........is that the bell gone jim????

RIP.

Carpenter did a great job as he was on his own for most fights. Its a strange thing, but when I was growing up, I much prefered ITV boxing to the BBC... now though, through videos and dvds I am appreciating the BBC coverage more.

Sad news.

RIP

One of the old school who knew when silence was as powerful a commentating tool as blathering

Slapsie

RIP Reg

in the manner of mr gutteridge i will keep it simple and understated..
..RIP Reg.

RIP Reg

RIP Reg

R.I.P. Reg

Great story Ant Evans

A sad, sad loss for boxing and journalism. Reg had a unique, relaxed style that enabled viewers to connect with the sport and the fighters. He conveyed a great understanding of boxing but never flaunted it. The man in the street could turn on and immediately understand what was going on just by listening to Reg, and that was his great strength. I remember Reg from the great days when ITV did live Saturday afternoon fights in the 1980s, and he also covered the big fights of the time in America, like Leonard-Hearns, Hagler-Hearns, Hagler-Leonard and all of Tyson's early championship fights. Reg wrote to me many years ago when I was an aspiring boxing writer and I had the privilege of meeting him towards the end of his career. I knew from a recent conversation with another, well-known writer that he wasn't in the best of health but it's still very sad. There will never be another like him. Thanks for the memories, mate. God bless.

He told a great story once about how to see if he could get any change out of the infamous and intimidatingly hulking Sonny Liston during an interview in a hotel room he stabbed a knife into his leg. Liston looked shock (not knowing of course that the leg in particular Reg had thrust the knife into was of course wooden) and for a brief few seconds Reg sat in satisfaction having gotten such a reaction against this seemingly invincible enigma and said "Can you do that?". Then Sonny got up and pulled the hotel door of its hinges and retorted "Can you do that?"
Great story.
Great man.
He had a great life and is a British boxing institution.
Rest in Peace Reg. We'll never forget you.

i cant say i ever really heard much about him but its sad nonetheless. RIP

belowthebelt wrote:i cant say i ever really heard much about him but its sad nonetheless. RIP

Are you serious?????????????

Met him a couple of years ago. Lovely fella.

Didn't he land on the beaches with the Allies on D-Day in 1944?

Great commentator - will be sadly missed, that's for sure.

RIP.

A great loss. Reg Gutteridge was to boxing what Murray Walker was to F1, the voice of the sport. Lets not forget his knowledge of boxing either and he was very skilled at making even a dull fight interesting. Exceptional man and a nice bloke from what I have been told. Sad to hear he has passed on, a true legend. RIP Reg, you were the best.

Very sad, RIP Reg.

Can any of you remember Jackie Pallo the British wrestler who fought on ITV back in the 1960s and 70s. His main rival was Mick McManus who I only remember him fighting just once. It took place on cup final day and the BBC had the TV rights for the game. Hard to believe but more people tuned in to see McManus beat Pallo 2-1 on ITV. So what has this got to do with Reg Gutteridge, well Jackie Pallo was born Jack Gutteridge and was the first cousin of the great man. Pallo died some years ago.