Bunces Big Fat Short History of British Boxing book
Reading Bunces Big Fat Short History of British Boxing and it goes through each year from 1970 to 2016.
There are a lot of things that I had forgotten or did not know. There were a lot of closed door private club/ hotel boxing events. The boxers fought frequently and losses were not frowned upon.
In 1970 British Boxing Board of Control refused to sanction Henry Cooper v Ellis as they were in the pocket of the WBC. They also did the same to Ken Buchanan v Ismael Luguna.
John Conteh was rumoured to fight Monzon for his light heavyweight title in Uganda.
Ali only fought Richard Dunn in Germany because Dunn upset and knocked out German champion Bernard August.
Alan Minter stopped Jacop Ucci for the European title and went to the restaurant with him afterwards. Ucci was taken to the hospital and died. The doctor that worked the contest was found guilty of second degree manslaughter.
Kevin Finnegan fought Hagler twice in Boston and gave him two tough fights that the fans enjoyed.
Bobby Chacon wife begged him to stop fighting on the eve of his fight. He refused and she committed suicide leaving him with 3 children and he still fought the next day.
Re: Bunces Big Fat Short History of British Boxing book
The reason why Benn v Logan was not on TV (it was a crazy all action fight) Nigel had changed from Warren to Maloney/Terry Marsh. They aimed to sell VHS video £25 of the fight.
Richie Woodhall lost to Roy Jones in semi final of Olympics but won bronze medal.
The night Jim McDonald fought Brian Mitchell, Terry Lawless tried to force Jim to sign a contract extension which he refused in the dressing room.
Chris Pyatt, the British and European light middleweight champion was charged but acquitted of robbery of a jewelry store by convincing the jury he was an innocent participant who was asleep in the getaway car.
Re: Bunces Big Fat Short History of British Boxing book
Ron Lyle, Ali and Frazier all rated Joe Bugner as the best English fighter they faced. Joe was a very under rated and underappreciated heavyweight from here.
Re: Bunces Big Fat Short History of British Boxing book
Sounds an interesting read.
Re: Bunces Big Fat Short History of British Boxing book
Quote:
Originally Posted by
porkypara
Sounds an interesting read.
Still going through it, on the 1990's now so can remember more of it. Bunce likes his stories.
After Eubank v Watson 1, Gerald McClennan was number 1 contender but Chris jumped up weight for the rematch against Michael.
Peter Fury (Tyson's dad) fought and lost to Henry Akinwande in 3 rounds in British eliminator.
Re: Bunces Big Fat Short History of British Boxing book
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Master
Quote:
Originally Posted by
porkypara
Sounds an interesting read.
Still going through it, on the 1990's now so can remember more of it. Bunce likes his stories.
After Eubank v Watson 1, Gerald McClennan was number 1 contender but Chris jumped up weight for the rematch against Michael.
Peter Fury (Tyson's dad) fought and lost to Henry Akinwande in 3 rounds in British eliminator.
The Mrs bought me a copy for my birthday and it is a cracking read. Whatever you think of Buncey the guy has been there for a long time in British boxing and he has his own unique voice. He is that bridge from the days of MIckey Duff and Reg Gutterudge etc thru Ian Darke, Warren, Hearn Snr and Eddie etc today. There are better writers and more comprehensive historians but few with as genuine a love for British Boxing and he should be more appreciated for it.
Re: Bunces Big Fat Short History of British Boxing book
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Beanz
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Master
Quote:
Originally Posted by
porkypara
Sounds an interesting read.
Still going through it, on the 1990's now so can remember more of it. Bunce likes his stories.
After Eubank v Watson 1, Gerald McClennan was number 1 contender but Chris jumped up weight for the rematch against Michael.
Peter Fury (Tyson's dad) fought and lost to Henry Akinwande in 3 rounds in British eliminator.
The Mrs bought me a copy for my birthday and it is a cracking read. Whatever you think of Buncey the guy has been there for a long time in British boxing and he has his own unique voice. He is that bridge from the days of MIckey Duff and Reg Gutterudge etc thru Ian Darke, Warren, Hearn Snr and Eddie etc today. There are better writers and more comprehensive historians but few with as genuine a love for British Boxing and he should be
more appreciated for it.
Younger audiences and non-British fans don't appreciate his tongue-in-cheek, pisstaking sense of humor. I always loved his writing/tales, especially before all this internet lark and whatnot.
His BBC podcast with Mike Costello is the best by miles, it's like the only one for adults who fully understand boxing is a mental business and the fighters are actually humans who do a dangerous job.
He for sure is appreciated in the business though, has anyone got as many jobs? BBC, BT, BoxNation, broadsheets, William Hill, radio, podcasts, pundit, commentator, presenter, tipster... and he works for all on the same fights. :D
Re: Bunces Big Fat Short History of British Boxing book
Re: Bunces Big Fat Short History of British Boxing book
Finished the book and whilst there were less things I did not know about the closer it got to the present it was still enjoyable.
It alluded to Bernard Hopkins deliberately bringing the race card into his fight with Joe Calzaghe just to hype the fight and maybe get inside Joe's head. During his infamous Bunce interview on BBC, Hopkins wanted no TV coverage on the fact he had donated computers to an all white school at the time.
