British Empire Boxing

[Ian Lord]

1948 - London, England

It's been three years since the last bomb dropped and the last shot of the war was fired in Europe, and indeed, the world.
The once popular sport of boxing was still in the doldrums, but one man was about to attempt to change all that, in Great Britain at least.
'Old Salt', a grizzled old seadog, racontuer, and gambler, to name but a few things, has recently announced plans to stage shows at the Empire Pool, London, at least once a month, under the banner British Empire Boxing.
Sixteen British heavyweights have signed up for the inaugral contest to find a champion of Great Britain, a knockout tournament to decide the winner.
There will also be an eight man knockout tournament between British Empire subjects to determine the International champion. The British and International champion will then meet over fifteen rounds to determine the British Empire champ.
Old Salt has also stated that he will be trying to entice fighters over from mainland Europe to add a bit of continental flair, not to mention fighters from the USA.
The sixteen boxers who will be vieing for the inaugral British title will be announced soon, along with the draw for the first round.
Watch this space...

[CONN CHRIS]

Hey Ian, good to see you alive and kicking!

Has Freddie Mills signed up yet? Gus Lesnevich may be interested now that he has finished his stint with the Coast Gaurd.

[Ian Lord]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Hey Ian, good to see you alive and kicking!

Has Freddie Mills signed up yet? Gus Lesnevich may be interested now that he has finished his stint with the Coast Gaurd.

Thanks Chris.
Freddie's still boxing the booths at the minute, and there's no sign of Gus just yet.

[Ian Lord]

PRESS RELEASE*PRESS RELEASE*PRESS RELEASE

The names of the sixteen fighters who will be battling it out for the inaugral British heavyweight title have been announced. They are as follows:

Manual Abrew [Scotland]
Joe Beckett {England]
Joe Coburn [N.Ireland]
Richard Dunn {England]
Joe Erskine {Wales]
Tommy Farr [Wales]
Scott Gammer [Wales]
Audley Harrisson [England]
Gene Innocent [Wales]
John Knifton [Scotland]
Lennox Lewis [England]
Jem Mace [England]
Eddie Neilson [England]
Del Phillips [Wales]
Dick Richardson [Wales]
Tom Sayers [England]

The draw for the frst round match-ups will take place within the next few days.

[Tosti]

Originally Posted by Ian Lord

PRESS RELEASE*PRESS RELEASE*PRESS RELEASE

The names of the sixteen fighters who will be battling it out for the inaugral British heavyweight title have been announced. They are as follows:

Manual Abrew [Scotland]
Joe Beckett {England]
Joe Coburn [N.Ireland]
Richard Dunn {England]
Joe Erskine {Wales]
Tommy Farr [Wales]
Scott Gammer [Wales]
Audley Harrisson [England]
Gene Innocent [Wales]
John Knifton [Scotland]
Lennox Lewis [England]
Jem Mace [England]
Eddie Neilson [England]
Del Phillips [Wales]
Dick Richardson [Wales]
Tom Sayers [England]

The draw for the frst round match-ups will take place within the next few days.

Ladcrooks would be making Lennox 2/5 against that lot!

[Ian Lord]

Originally Posted by Tosti

Ladcrooks would be making Lennox 2/5 against that lot!

What, only 2-5
I think only Tommy Farr will come close to him out of the rest of the bunch. However, who knows who is waiting just round the corner to enter British Empire Boxing.

[Ian Lord]

In the smug surroundings of 'The Hope And Anchor' public house, the draw for the first round matches was made.
Drew out of the hat by Old Salt and read out by the ever dapper spiv Ron Reynolds, the match-up are as follows;

John Knifton v Gene Innocent
Joe Beckett v Tom Sayers
Joe Coburn v Scott Gammer
Eddie Neilson v Audley Harrisson
Del Phillips v Richard Dunn
Dick Richardson v Tommy Farr
Jem Mace v Lennox Lewis
Joe Erskine v Manuel Abrew

Let the action begin...

[Ian Lord]

Sporting Argus
January Edition

Boxing

This month saw the first round matches of the tournament to crown the inaugral British heavyweight champion take place at the Empire Pool over two nights [1st and 15th].
Pick of the bunch had to be 'The Tonypandy Terror' Tommy Farr who jabbed and pecked his way to a 79-76 eight round points win over fellow Welshman Dick Richardson.
Fight of the month saw Londoner Lennox Lewis narrowly outpoint [77-75] the tough 'Swaffham Gypsy' Jem Mace. Lewis was the more polished of the two, but boy did Mace come to fight, making Lewis work all the way for his victory.
Fellow Londoner Audley Harrisson looked impressive in seeing of Eddie Nielson, knocking him out in the fifth. Harrisson sliced open a cut above the right eye of his opponent in the opener, and was in totla control throughout. Obviously a man full of confidence of his own abilities, he stated afterwards that it is a foregone conclusion that he will become the first British champ.
A mention also to Welshman Scott 'The Hammer' Gammer who showed a lot of grit and determination in his 77-74 points win over Joe Coburn.

Full Results

John Knifton WPTS8 Gene Innocent
Joe Beckett DREW8 Tom Sayers
Joe Beckett WKO1 Tom Sayers
Scott Gammer WPTS8 Joe Coburn
Audley Harrisson WKO5 Eddie Nielson
Richard Dunn WPTS8 Del Phillips
Tommy Farr WPTS8 Dick Richardson
Lennox Lewis WPTS8 Jem Mace
Joe Erskine WRSC8 Manuel Abrew

International Bout
Uber Bacilieri [Italy] WPTS4 Thoerner Aahsman [Sweden]

Next months second round matches and the first round match-ups for the vacant International title hadn't been announced as we went to press.

[Ian Lord]

Upcoming Bouts

British Championship Quarter-final match-ups

Richard Dunn v Audley Harrisson
Tommy Farr v John Knifton
Joe Erskine v Lennox Lewis
Joe Beckett v Scott Gammer

International Championship First Round

Marc Ecimovic [Australia] v Richard Bango [Nigeria]
Rudy Darno [Australia] v Jack Gagnon [Canada]
Bill Farnan [Australia] v Adewale Abbey [Nigeria]
David Cadieux [Canada] v Rufus Hadley [Canada]

[Ian Lord]

Sporting Argus
February Edition

Boxing

This month saw the quarter-final match-ups in the British Championships fought at the Empire Pools on the 2nd.
Fight of the night was between Englands Joe Beckett and Welshman Scott 'The Hammer' Gammer. It looked all over after the opening bell, with Gammer down ina heap in his corner following a fussilade of blows to body and head. He beat the count, but looked shaky.
Gammer came back into the fight over the next few rounds, but was dropped again in the fifth with a solid hook to the chin. He was up at five and in the next stanza opened up a nasty cut above the eye of Beckett. This threatened to ruin Beckett's chances, who was ahead on points, as it was inspected twice in the seventh. It was allowed to continue and Beckett decided to leave nothing to chance, finishing Gammer of in the eighth following a barrage of punches after Gammer had already been down at the beginning of the round.
Lennox Lewis took the opening three rounds of his fight against Joe Erskine before finishing him off at 2.52 of the fourth. Erskine had been down in the round once already and his legs looked ready to go. Lewis showed a merciless streak and looked impressive in finishing his man.
This win made Lewis joint favourite with the bookies to win the British title.
The other joint favourite, Tommy Farr, totally outclassed John Knifton, winning 98-92 on Ian John-Lewis' scorecard. Farr is definately no wham, bam, thank you man type of fighter, but is greatly respected by the connossuer's of the game.
In the other quarter-final match-up, self proclaimed best boxere on the planet Audley Harrisson scored a 96-93 points win over Yorkshireman Richard Dunn. Dunn was floored twice, but Harrisson looked far from impressive.

In the first round of the International Championship, big strong Nigerian lad Adewale Abbey looked impressive knocking out Australian Bill Farnan in the fourth round. Canadian David Cadieux was also impressive in stopping his countryman Rufus Hadley in the fifth.

Full results

British Championship

Joe Beckett KO7 Scott Gammer
Lennox Lewis KO4 Joe Erskine
Tommy Farr WPTS10 John Knifton
Audley Harrissin WPTS10 Richard Dunn

International Championship

Marc Ecimovic WPTS10 Richard Bango
Jack Gagnon WKO4 Rudy Darno
Adewale Abbey WKO4 Bill Farnan
David Cadieux WRSF5 Rufus Hadley

Semi-final match-ups

British Championship

Lennox Lewis v Joe Beckett
Tommy Farr v Audley Harrissson

International Championship

Jack Gagnon v Adewale Abbey
David Cadieux v Marc Ecimovic

[Ian Lord]

Sporting Argus
March Edition

Boxing

The month of March saw the semi-final match-ups in both the British and International championships.
Welshman Tommy Farr got through to the British final by the narrowest of margins, winning 114-113 over Audley Harrisson on referee John Coyle's card. Farr sustained a nasty cut above his right eye in the fourth. It was inspected twice but allowed to continue, then had a nightmare fifth round, being decked twice, both times by a bodyshot. However, Farr regrouped and boxed his way to a narrow points victory.
The semi-final saw Lennox Lewis and Joe Beckett stand toe to toe, with Lewis getting the better of it, knocking his opponent out in the second round with a thudding shot to the jaw. He will now meet Tommy Farr in May over fifteen rounds with the vacant British title on the line.
Adewale 'Tiger' Abbey, who scored a last round knockout against Jack Gagnon, whilst trailing on points, will meet Marc Ecimovic over fiteen rounds, also in May, for the vacant International title. Ecimovic beat David Cadieux 114-112 over twelve rounds.

Full Results

Lennox Lewis KO2 Joe Beckett
Tommy Farr W12 Audley Harrisson
Adewale Abbey KO12 Jack Gagnon
Marc Ecimovic W12 David Cadieux

International Bouts
Dante Cane W6 Uber Bacilieri
Joey Abell KO2 Thoerner Aahsman