John Wilkinson

2014-09-05T20:28:48Z

David william hodge:

confusion: Referee John Wilkinson and boxer John Wilkinson ARE NOT the same person. Boxer John Wilkinson [Global ID 1855, New Britain,CT]

John Wilkinson boxing bio: I started boxing with the New Britain PAL back around 1972. I already had held a *interest.
My more prominent team-mates there were Michael Collins (we are near the same weight) and Henry McCray, Hvy-wt. Mr. Beatty was our COACH/ but he shockingly passed away during this time.
In 1975 upon joining the U.S. Army & being stationed within USAREUR was able to try out for Post program under the direction of Ssgt William Robinson whom we simple called, "Robbie". Robbie was a hard coach and pushed us VERY HARD in training (Carlos Diaz, a very good friend and brilliant boxer in that era, once suggested to me that our whole team was "over-trained"! "Maybe"/yet, also, we were the TEAM V Corp champions. Hard to argue with results).
On my Army team were "our stars", not the least of whom was the Tacoma, WA. native JERRY (RED) WILES. Oh man, I loved this guy as a FIGHTER! And we had ROBERT NAPER. Robert from Beckley, W. Va. and he had distinction of giving the super-star Ed Green two STIFF BATTLES. Don Schmpert who became "troubled" (native of St. Louis), Doug Singleton (Detroit) our HVY-wt; Paul (Sugar Bear) Williams, our Light Hvy-wt., Clarence Powell our Light weight (I coached him against Jerome Cannon one time. We in no way "let on" whom Jerome Cannon was until the start of the last round. Clarence was "highly pissed" at me, but.. I didn't want him to "choke"/ I though it was for the best what we did! He fought a 'star' & went on his résumé worth 7 or 8 "normal" fights! So, your welcome, Clarence!) and ROY ARMOUR, my-personal- "p". Roy, was. LEGEND with us! He really gave JOY to being on the TEAM. Roy won V Corp in nice fashion but in USAREUR was handed a stoppage by FERNANDO LABRADOR who became a well known name, considering.
I got out of the ARMY in May 79 after four year tour that "seemed a lifetime", but now, looking back, of course am happy I put myself thru the "mental torture". Made a few mistakes can't cover but I LEARNED.
I was a Light welterweight in the early days. Part of my story is what put me from 139lb to 156 >overnight< as "team requirement". My last match at Light welter was a nice points win against Mark Garcia at his home port of Fulda. On the German side, Hanno Broo was my best friend and a member of our travel team. If I could go back and do it over again with what I know now, 1)my 1ST loss wouldn't of happen. I would I'd fought "strong" instead and then forfeiture the 1/2 F. of USAREUR (no way I was gonna win vs superb /veteran Michael Taylor anyway!) 2) I would of "acted" more as AGENT,too and, I see now where I could of "saved" Hanno one match anyway if only I had "asked" his Opp to go easy/it's no threat. Then 3) the German Rheinland championships I would of "carried" the Turkish lad whom I "destroyed"/instead. & 4) I fought my "all time" GREATEST FIGHT when I met RUDIGER HELD for the Rheinland State championship in later 1978. The fight was "so good" it was top of Sports & top of regular news, too! He put me DOWN at the Bell r 1 (only my 2ND x time down to that point) and I "returned the favor" r. 2 also at the BELL. Yet, still I see 1 flaw as great as that fight was for me I had a chance to of been "super-fly"/but instead kept it all "draper"! : ) By the time I got back to the STATES/ I was mid-way on my amateur.
In the States I enrolled at Central Ct State University then named as a "College". With the help & inspiration of the Schools president, Dr. F. Don James (this guy was like ANOTHER ARVE BERG! He was "marvelous individual"!) got started the Schools boxing program & that had a proud history for 12 years.
Modern I am on a RING COMEBACK SINCE 3.1.13. (We're going 147//unless Damon Feldmon wish to get back into Zimmer-hood match//Idea:bring her to Fairbanks, Alaska. NO GROUP GONNA GO THAT FAR ONLY TO "PROTEST", plus, I'm known in ALASKA/ it'll be a "hit"/television live on the Northwest coast T.V. delay $$/$$ pkg)/////////since March/2007 have founded the UWBCAFO-I. My purpose: to "echelon the Sport" or/put differently, "to echelon the whole of the Sport". ANYONE >AWARE< of what has & is happening in the modern day of boxing must spew the IBO. And, this is a line I am actively working now.

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John Wilkinson