User talk:Terry

                 Peter McCann ABA Champion 1968. 

                             1947-2008

Peter McCann became Birkenhead’s first national ABA champion, when he was crowned ABA middleweight champion in 1968. 1968 was the year of the Mexico Olympics and Peter along with most everyone else in boxing thought that winning the ABA title would mean automatic selection to represent Great Britain in the middleweight berth.

However this was not to be with the ABA selection committee instead choosing to send Londoner Chris Finnegan, who had lost in the early rounds of the ABA championships on a cut eye. Finnegan’s selection caused an outcry in boxing circles with accusations that the Southern based ABA committee were conducting a North<>South bias. Despite efforts to arrange a ‘box off’ with Finnegan the contest never materialised. The ABA committee’s decision to send Finnegan was eventually proved justified when Finnegan boxed his way through the tournament, eventually winning the gold medal for Great Britain.

Frustrated with amateur boxing McCann decided to change codes and in October of 1968 he turned professional under the tutelage of London based manager Terry Lawless. McCann made his debut that month knocking out Billy Deasy in one round in London. Four more knockouts followed before deciding to quit boxing for good. He came back in 1973 winning two more fights by KO before losing to Journeyman fighter Sid Falconer, after being forced to retired in the 4 round. Peter stayed active after finishing boxing coaching up and coming youngsters in the game.

Peter, age 62 died at his home in Claughton, Prenton, Birkenhead after complaining of chest pains. It was estimated that more than a thousand people attended his funeral were a eulogy was read out by close friend Terry Carson and former welterweight champion of the world, John H Stracey.

Peter loved boxing and was an active member of the Wirral and Merseyside Former Boxing Association. Speaking a couple of years ago, he said: “I am glad to have done what I have done and I wouldn’t change a moment of it.”