A BELTING IDEA
Former Area champs Aird and Thompson will receive replica title belts decades after they handed back the originals
WHEN Billy Aird and Pat Thompson won Central Area titles, at heavy and light-heavyweight respectively, they had to give their belts back when their time as champion ended. Four decades on, the Essex EBA is honouring both men with a special presentation evening and replica Area belts. So who are these two Londonbased Liverpudlians?
Born in March 1946, Billy Aird started boxing at age 19 with Liverpool’s Golden Gloves ABC, as he put it, “to keep out of trouble”. He had around 50 amateur bouts, won three North West Counties titles and turned pro at 23. He moved to London to find a manger but ultimately managed himself.
Billy made his paid debut at the Mayfair Hilton in June 1969, stopping Bournemouth southpaw Paul Cassidy in four. After another three wins, he lost a three-rounder to future British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight champ (and Ali challenger) Richard Dunn as part of a competition. Nevertheless, Aird got his revenge by outpointing Dunn over eight in February 1970, before stopping him in six to win the vacant Central Area crown that September. The pair met for a fourth time in a British title eliminator in May 1973, which Dunn won on points.
Billy’s 46-fight, 14-year pro career took him to Spain, Germany, South Africa and Australia and all across Britain. He got two tilts at the British heavyweight crown, losing to John L. Gardner in 1978 and to Gordon Ferris in 1981. He also went 15 rounds with Spain-based Uruguayan Alfredo Evangelista for the European belt in 1978. Notably, in October 1973, Aird drew over eight with up-and-coming Philadelphian Jimmy Young.
The second of our duo, Pat Thompson, was born in March 1948. He started boxing aged 12, trained with Liverpool’s Maple Leaf ABC, but never represented them. Instead, he boxed for the Liverpool Transport ABC, winning a North West Counties title. He also boxed for England and won silver at a multi-nations tournament in Denmark. Like Aird, Thompson turned pro in London, but unlike the self-managed Aird, he signed with a manager, Ernie Fossey.
In a paid career that stretched from 1972 to ’77, Pat notched up 72 bouts – all at light-heavy. Remarkably, he squeezed 18 fights into his first year as a pro. In April 1976, he outpointed Manchester’s Terry Armstrong for the vacant lightheavy Central Area crown, fittingly at the Adelphi Hotel in his native Liverpool.
Pat and Billy first met at the BBBOFC gym in Hampstead when Pat moved to London. Thompson, based in north London, worked as a hod carrier and south London-based Aird was a carpenter. Whenever they were working near each other they would meet to train and spar, often at the Thomas a’ Becket gym. Their friendship has lasted over 40 years.
Essex EBA’S belt presentation takes place on October 14 at the Conservative Club, 16-18 Clarence Street, Southendon-sea, Essex, SS1 1BD. John Conteh and Colin Dunne will make the presentations. The event includes a buffet, raffle, music and dancing. Tickets are £15 and can be bought on the door or by calling Ray on 07807 739560 or Tommy on 07917 142409.