Boxing In Britain: Southern Area Awards Dinner A Massive Success

Last Saturday evening the inaugural British Boxing Board of Control Southern Area Awards Dinner was held at the Grange City Hotel, Coopers Row, London, was an unadulterated success despite the event’s instigator and main organiser, Chairman of the BBBofC Southern Area Mick Collier, being hospitalised and unable to attend.

In true form everyone within the Southern Area board rallied round and, along with the sterling efforts of Vice Chairman Dave Wilson, the awards were able to go ahead. In addition to the award ceremony, attendees were also treated to a five star dinner followed by an evening of top class musical entertainment featuring the Bootleg Beatles and a disco.

The now recovered Chairman, Mick Collier, today spoke briefly of the Awards Dinner, “I’m so disappointed that I was unable to be there in person. Everyone did a great job by ensuring the Awards Dinner went ahead as planned. I can’t thank everyone involved enough for the work they did in making the Awards a massive success.

The money raised at the Awards will go towards the introduction of the new Southern Area Belt. I am quite excited about our new belts and am pleased that for the first time that winners will have the opportunity to purchase one for their trophy cabinets. I firmly believe that if you win a belt you should have the opportunity to have a copy after your reign.

Some of the money raised will also be added to the Southern Area fund to help former license holders that have fallen on hard times. As I said I’m disappointed not to have been at the Awards this time but am already looking forward to starting work on next years. Thank you to all those that attended.”

The following awards were presented by the Southern area board during the course of the evening:-

Certificates of appointment to Inspectors Jeff Barratt, Anthony Colwill and Steve Larman who have recently completed their 12 month probationary period and are now full Board Inspectors. A further certificate of appreciation was awarded to Inspector Richard Barber in recognition of his valued work for boxing.

Special awards were made to Seconds Lenny Lee, Mick ‘Red’ Brennan and Class ‘A’ Star Referee Dave Parris for their valued services to boxing.
‘Services to Boxing Award’ was presented to Whip Ernie Draper.
‘Fight of the Year Award’ was presented to Paul Samuels and Cello Renda.
‘Best Supporting Boxer Award’ was presented to Johnny Greaves.
‘Boxing Hero Award’ was presented to everyone’s favourite former Heavyweight Champion of the World Frank Bruno MBE.
‘Best Young Prospect Award’ (The Ernie Fossey Memorial Trophy), which was sponsored by Frank Warren and presented to Liam Walsh.
‘Best Young Boxer Award’ was presented to George Groves.

A special award was presented to Council member Ken Honniball for his services as a Board member and former Chairman of the Western Area.

Former Southern Area Chairman Phil Lundgren received the ‘Boxing Ambassadors Award’ which consisted of a framed Southern Area Championship belt – this was particularly special as Phil had won the title at two weights and is a former Olympian – which was presented by Les Potts and Heavyweight Champion David ‘Hayemaker’ Haye.

The ‘Best Boxer Award’ which consisted of a beautifully engraved Timekeepers bell, naturally went to the aforementioned WBA Heavyweight Champion David Haye.

Final word on the 2010 Southern Area Boxing Awards Dinner goes to Les Potts who said, “On behalf of the Southern Area Council can I extend thanks to everyone who supported the event and ensured its success. The feedback on the event has been very positive and my only concern is that next year we will need a bigger venue!“