Did We Have a Little, Golden Era Of British Heavy s, In The Late 1950 s?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Aug 6, 2022.



  1. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    And early 60 s?
    With Henry Cooper, Joe Erskine, Brian London and Dick Richardson?
    All had a series of round Robin fights amongst each other.
    Cooper, Joe and Brian were all in the WBA top ten ranks at one time.
    Don't really see much of this time period talked about nowadays.
     
  2. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Fergy, I think that there was a golden era not like today with the exception of champion Tyson Fury. Back in the late 1950's and early to mid 1960's, fight fans considered the British and European champions as legitimate world title contenders. The Henry Cooper's, the Welshman D. Richardson's, the Brian London's, the Ingemar Johansson's, the Karl Mildenberger's and later the Joe Bugner's were serious contenders.
     
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  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Given the weakness of he British scene for most of the 20th century, this probably does represent a high point.
     
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  4. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Good post Richard.
    Even tho some of the names weren't the best known,they all got in the ring regularly and fought each other.
    Something, some of today's heavy s don't do.
     
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  5. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    I agree Janitor.
    A little remembered golden time for Brits.
     
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  6. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Thanks Fergy.
     
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  7. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Thinking you are right, it was very good crop of British HWs, and the tier below was full of good honest fighters the likes of :
    Johnny Prescot
    Billy Walker
    Carl Gizzi
    Danny Mclinden
    Bunny Johnson
    Richard Dunn

    and later on we had
    Neville Mead
    Joe Awome
    Fanso Banjo
    Roger Tighe
    and lots more.
    stay safe guys.
     
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  8. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Good few names there again, Mike.
    They may not all have been spectacular but they all played a part.
     
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  9. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    What you talking about ferguson? Fury has fought Chisora and Whyte, Joshua has beaten Whyte, Whyte and Chisora have fought twice an Joyce has beaten Dubois
     
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  10. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Thanks buddy, the late 60s early to mid 70s was my era, was madly in love with boxing, those names bring back such fond memories.
    stay safe my friend.
     
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  11. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    But in the 1950's and early to middle 1960's European or British fighters were continuously fighting each other every few months, not once in a blue moon, they actually fought American imports. Purses were not that important back then, fighters fought for legacy and prestige. Inflation was not like today, ask for 30 million dollars, the promoters would laugh.
     
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  12. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yeah maybe but back in those ancient times, everybody fought a lot more an more often so it weren’t anything out of the usual . You can’t call it a golden era of brit heavyweights just cos of that. As for the fighters mentioned can you really say that they are a better bunch of brit heavies than the current lot?
     
  13. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    By your comment about ancient times Jack, how old are you if you don't mind me asking? I am 63 years old, I remember those European fighters who were ranked in the top ten, it was good to see them fight each other often and the few imports from the USA. I know that some European fighter of modern times have fought each other but realistically fighters do not fight often enough to be showcased to the fight fans. Everybody has an opinion of what era they considered the best, ten yers from now these modern fighters will be too considered ancient to a newer crop of fight fans, who knows?