Just heard the very sad news that Walter McGowan has passed away. My dad and Walter shared the limelight back in their day. They were best of enemies in the ring and best of friends out of it. RIP Walter, you won't be forgotten by us. Sincerest condolences to Walter's family from the Rudkin's.
R.I.P Walter. I can remember him winning and losing the title covered in blood, his. The penultimate linear British World flyweight Champion. I met him once when he was handing out the trophies at a boxing show I fought at, in Barrow-in-Furness.
There used to be a big black and white photo of wee Walter in the sports direct stores in the UK. I don't know whether they are still there or not.
He and your Dad made a pretty good double act.He was lovely boxer cursed by the Henry Cooper complaint ,vulnerable skin tissue. RIP
I was just watching McGowan's splendid title winning effort against the dwindling but still excellent Burruni a couple of days ago. Lovely little fighter: great footwork, jab, technique and movement in the classic pure boxing manner. Like mcvey said though, far too cut prone. He was boxing Chionoi's ears off until his skin tissue let him down. Had too much angry jock in him as well and enjoyed getting into a dogfight too much, especially as he wasn't really a puncher. He did have a great looping uppercut from the outside though which he often effectively deployed.
The fights with Rudkin are British classics, though Alan got slightly jobbed in the first one. Walter was a terrific bantam too, although I'm not sure that jumping up a full weight class and immediately jumping in blow for blow with Medel was the best idea. Crazy wee *******.
Yes I don't know what his management were thinking about putting him in with Medel at that stage of his career. I think he'd had about 20 fights, maybe less and was a flyweight while Medel had had about 80, was in his prime and was the no1 contender for the bantamweight title. Walter still put up a fight but was hurt badly early in the fight. By all accounts he was coming on at the time of the stoppage. Medel was a bit too clever for him at that stage of his career and Walter was a bit too brave for his own good. Me dad always said Walter was the best "boxer" he ever fought.
Sad to hear, a terrific little fighter with great skills and a huge heart. He and Alan Rudkin always served up great value for money.
So sorry to hear. A great champion in an era which featured him along with Rudkin, Chionoi, Burruni, and others. RIP.
