Not sure how to go about a Randy Turpin Youtube video

I lived in his town for a while, forgotten now really bar the Statue... a tough 'hardened' family from a hard era.

not a very smart person and not necessary very nice one, many people say older brother Dick was the better Boxer and long time friend, sparing partner & lesser Pro - Pete Price, believes the Suicide conclusion, saying, "He, Randolph, had had enough"... Career over, Boxing finished, Money & notoriety and people gone... debt, debt, debt

Randolph was roughed up & Beaten up by London Thugs "supposedly" sent by a very famous & leading British Boxing Promoter, but of course, it can't be proven, no one was talking, well not publicly anyway.

was he a Great, No is my opinion, but he benefitted from the fact that all his leading predecessors were retired or retiring and 'that Colour Bar' had finally had to be lifted, in order to insure another British representative among the Big Boy Titles, where the Money lay and the Prestige was LUCRATIVE...

Turpin was Good and with the Backing from the Top Money Men, did well with what he was steered into... beyond that I can't offer much more.

there is a Doc or two about him and a couple of books. but as a Brit, it is simply 'regurgitation' of the repeated same old 'Few' Flying Banners, Rule Britannia, England 66 and all that nonsense. but hey, what do you do.

 

Sorry, can’t help but just wanted to wish you well with your endeavour - a genuine researcher and contributor to the sport of boxing.

 

'The man he really was' - that is a complicated picture with quite a lot of unpleasant aspects in there. I think if you just present the facts and acknowledge any differing accounts that is not making excuses. But you should mention the whole thing- apparently charming at times but the womanising, the violence, temper, domestic abuse, an earlier suicide attempt and family rifts. I know there are claims of murder, and a conspiracy but there's no clear evidence. I would definitely mention his family background and experiences when younger, The racism the family faced when growing up, raised by his mum after the loss of his father who had suffered serious injuries in the war, Also his boxing family, his brother Dick Turpin who broke the colour barrier. Dick passed away in 1990 at 69 and Jackie died at 84 in 2010.

He was absolutely sucked dry by leeches but was reckless with money and made very bad investments. He was in bad shape physically and mentally. He should not have been allowed to fight for a long time before the end of his career. And then physically worsened from the wrestling. Depression, and brain damage too

It's was a complex life and an often unpleasant one. No offence meant but if it were me I would also go with a less sensationalist title.

The documentary is well worth a watch. Also a couple of other links with info.

Watch Sixty-four Day Hero: A Boxer's Tale online - BFI Player
PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions
Randolph Adolphus Turpin, the ‘Leamington Licker’ | Leamington History Group

 

I remember watching a documentary about Turpin, and I'm fairly sure it was "Sixty four day hero" (this refers to the time from when he beat Robinson to when he lost the rematch). That would be an excellent place to start. Unfortunately, I suspect most of the people you should interview for your project are long gone.

 

that's the thing, Dick did nothing of the sort, Dick was USED by powerful influencers to finally rid British Boxing of this Oppressive Racial division... good people were fighting for it's lift, but it was Only Begrudgingly lifted in the late 40s to pave the way for the Coming Randolph.

the staunch English snobbery & condescending class superiority didn't give a **ck about Dick Turpin or Randolph for that matter, but 'they', the Power Brokers, pushed & conceded as the Big Boys McAvoy, Roderick, Mills & Woodcock, were all coming to a close and THOSE Big Boy Titles is where the only level of Pride, Need, Acceptance and where the MONEY lay & mattered.

Randolph Turpin MW
Don C ockell L-HW/HW
Johnny Williams HW
Jack Gardner HW

these were their ONLY Hopes, with investments & support leaning on Turpin & C ockell, the Pride & Respect and Acceptance in which Britain/England finally received in McAvoy, MILLS & Woodcock among the Big Boys must be maintained and Randolph MUST be Cleared to Compete. That is the harsh truth.

the Colour Bar would have 'eventually' been lifted, but if Randolph wasn't on the scene, it would have remained in place for a few years yet!

 

Black boxers and the colour bar in 20th century Britain - The National Archives blog
Breaking the Barrier: How Dick Turpin Became Britain's First Black Boxing Champion (vice.com)

I should have phrased that differently. There had been growing criticism and a to change the racist colour bar regulations ruling. Turpin was the first person to win a British title after the clause was changed, I meant in that sense he broke it. However, criticism of the clause had been growing for some time.

Andrew Jeptha won against Curly Watson in 1907. There were mixed race and black fighters campaigning over the years who were denied a chance because of the ruling and attitudes.

 

It's a worthy undertaking and I am looking forward to seeing it when it come out. I only wonder about the title......."The English Boxer That Lost His Mind" sounds a bit..........ham-fisted.

 

Cheers Freddie, yeah I knew the context and as I said, Good people were fighting for its abolition. I also stated it would have 'eventually' have been lifted, but it was ONLY because there was NO British White available at the end of the 40s, going into the 50s, that with the End of the then Kings, they had to swallow their
BritishNESS arrogance and make things right and timely for Randolph.

British Boxing was restored in MILLS and the National Interest had boomed like never before and Long May it Last was the Desperate British World Titles in the Top Divisions sentiment and drive.

 

Eh, good point. Gotta have a shock effect these days or no one will bother. Which is sad.

 

Len Johnson ?

 

Randy Turpin must have been quite something. As an amateur at Birmingham City ABC in the mid 80's, we had a few of the old crowd, Brummie and Irish ex pro's, what you'd call gym rats.

Randy's name was mentioned in hushed, reverential tones. Most of these guys has sparred with him and/or his Brothers or had boxed on shows with him at places like the Embassy Sportsdrome or Hall Green Stadium. Whenever Turpin came up as a subject you would hear them, "Ah Jesus, do you remember the German fella ? Sure I never saw a man hit so hard." "That Dutch bloke he done. I thought his glove was gonna come out of his back". All shaking their greying heads in awe thirty years later.

All these old boys are gone now. It's a pity you aren't forty years older, then your film would get a hint of how other Boxers of that time felt about him.

Frank O'Sullivan is still alive and still coaching at Birmingham City. He may have something to tell you.

Good luck.

 

Definitely a remarkable man. Think sometimes it's not remembered by many just how recent all of this was.