RIP Errol Christie

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Errol was at a train station and a policeman performed a takedown on him. A couple of days after the incident Errol, feeling chest pain and thinking it was injured in the incident went to hospital for a chest x-ray , during which the cancer was discovered.

 

R.I.P.

 

Thanks robo -What was the reason for the cop to use force on Errol?

 

See explanation ^. I knew something like this had happened.

 

I think a lot of people don't realize how much of a promising prospect and star-in-the-making Christie was in his day.
BBC had the Duff-Lawless fighters with heavyweight hopeful Frank Bruno heading the new generation. ITV had Errol Christie, regarded as the most talented prospect around.
It was the beginning of an era when black fighters could be marketed as mainstream homegrown stars on regular terrestrial TV (in the age of 3 or 4 channels).
It didn't quite work out for Errol and unlike Bruno and British heavweights, there was no lack of middleweight talent to eclipse him eventually, but he had his moments.

His amateur credentials were outstanding.

 

Christie's best career win was probably the win over Sean Mannion in 1986. Christie was 23-2 at the time.
I remember seeing it on TV and thinking Errol might finally be on his way to world level. He looked good but then he lost his next fight against journeyman Charles Boston and that was really the beginning of the end for his career.

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Errol said he did nothing. Just got off the train and it happened. Cant remember his exact words but something along the lines of " probably thought I was up to no good, a bad boy or something".
He joked about it afterwards, saying he should thank the cop really, or the cancer wouldn't have been found until later, giving him less of a chance to fight it.

 

Thanks robo. Sounds like a fairly blatant case of 'racial profiling' by the cops there. Anyway poor Errol he was just unlucky to be so prone to cancer, cos he wasn,t a smoker/drinker bad-living guy.

 

I know what you mean. Sad times.
If you get chance you should check out errols biography, entitled ' no place to hide '. Focuses on racism in boxing and in Britain in the 70's and 80's.

 

Never met him but certainly remember his natural ability. Stood out for his US style of combinations and quick feet rather than the more traditional upright British style