winstone is long overdue for a thread! Pretty cool documentary for those who have not seen it! And of course highlights for those who can’t spare the 30 minutes lol This content is protected This content is protected
There's a good film about Winstone called 'Risen'. Maybe check it out some time. I still can't believe he was so good after losing his fingers.
Brilliant fighter, with arguably the best jab in the business in his peak years. Just a shame he'd probably lost half a step by the time he finally lifted his world title against Seki. Basically everything went wrong in that first defence against Legra, who Winstone had already beaten in a non-title fight. Anyway, thanks for posting these videos. I've already gone full-on fan boy in describing his second fight against Saldivar, so will try to reel it in a bit...But in my opinion it's arguably the greatest world title fight which has ever been seen in a British ring.
Have you seen the first Legra fight or better still do you have a copy? I heard somewhere it was slightly controversial but there was a poster here who said he saw it and remembers a very close one that Winstone won fair.
Afraid not. I've read a few accounts and paper clippings of the fight, with most calling it as a very competitive and pretty close fight, but with Winstone worthy of the victory. But I'd love to see for myself, though I'm genuinely not sure if the fight is out there for viewing. Might be down to the fact that Legra was pretty much an unknown in 1965; his world title, best wins and most famous fights / opponents were all a good few years away. It's a win which came to look a lot better as the years passed, but seems to have been received with little fanfare at the time.
What a jab. I love watching watching Winstone’s footwork and beautiful left hand. He sure had a lotta heart as well, it was a real shame he was so susceptible to bad cuts. Cheers All.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/o...40/Boxing-Winstone-an-artist-of-the-ring.html 'Born in Merthyr in 1939, the young Winstone drew early inspiration from the ring exploits of Eddie Thomas, the former British and European welterweight champion, who later became his manager. Despite losing the tips of three fingers in a factory accident, Winstone crowned an outstanding amateur career by winning gold at the 1958 Empire Games at Cardiff. After turning professional he worked his way up the rankings, eventually winning Empire, British and European featherweight titles. In a nine-year professional career Winstone won 61 of his 67 fights, 27 inside the distance. In September 1965, at London's Earl's Court, he challenged Saldivar for the world featherweight title. Winstone's greatest display looked set to secure victory until the champion's Herculean efforts over the last three rounds earned him the verdict. The pair met again in Cardiff two years later, and though Winstone produced another superb performance Saldivar was again judged to have come out on top, much to Thomas's fury. "I'm not bitter against anybody," Winstone said afterwards. "Even if I was it wouldn't change the decision, anyway." In their third meeting, in Mexico City, the Welshman was pounded into defeat in the 12th round. The following year he captured the WBC version of the title by beating Seki. Yet success had come too late, and after Winstone lost the belt to Cuban exile Jose Legra at Porthcawl in July 1968 he never fought again.'