SENIORS BOXING TOUR
IN this age of equality, we have a seniors golf tour, a legends tennis tour, a seniors snooker tour, etc, etc. The attraction of seeing past champions perform on a public stage can be magnetic, fulfilling not only their desire for the opportunity to display their skills again, but also the public’s desire to witness ageing but still relatively skilful idols of the past in action. I would like to see a seniors boxing tour. Now, the obvious point of concern is health. All the sports I’ve mentioned that currently have a separate tour for over 50s are passive in physical comparison to boxing. Indeed, any sport is passive in comparison to pugilism, but with the correct health check-ups, rigorous fitness stipulations and a governing board with the care of fighters taking precedence above the fiscal rewards, I feel it could work. Perhaps the boxers could perform over five two-minute rounds with 18oz gloves, regardless of the weight class. There could also be extended 75-second intervals between rounds. I appreciate I will doubtless receive some flak for this, but I make my point in all sincerity. Rick Conlon
HAPPY MEMORIES
ON May 3 of this year, a very dear and old friend of mine, Paddy Sower, passed away. He had departed Lafayette, Louisiana on April 19, and looked and acted like his health was great. Paddy had visited Lafayette several times for the Louisiana State Golden Gloves, and in 2017 for the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions. He would accompany me to the gym every day, and all the boxers and parents not only liked him, but also had great respect for him. Paddy was very adept at spotting mistakes the young boxers would make, and his personality was such that no one was ever offended when he corrected them. My family thought the absolute world of him, but his biggest fan was Deirdre Gogarty-morrison, the former IBF female featherweight champion, and 2015 inductee into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame. Deirdre, her husband Vic and her three-year-old son Celtan, were thrilled every time they saw Paddy. It is my hope that Paddy is sitting by our Lord and Saviour, telling God about all the great boxing matches he refereed and attended. I’m sure God is smiling while listening to Paddy speak of these great and often hilarious remembrances! Beau Williford (Former pro boxer/ trainer/manager)
THE DEBATE CONTINUES
I TOTALLY disagree with Dave Bromlie and Michael Hinton, who have had their say on the ‘Bugner-bruno debate’ in the last two issues of Boxing News ( July 26 and August 2). I believe that a prime Frank Bruno would have easily beaten a prime Joe Bugner, just like Jack Bodell did in September 1971 in Wembley, when he put Bugner on the canvas en route to a points win. Would Bodell have done that to a prime Bruno? I don’t think so. Anthony Bowyer
TIMING IT RIGHT
I READ John Scully’s column ( July 26) about what it takes to be labelled a legend in boxing. After reading so many stories about fighters who, after they stop boxing, are left with health problems and no financial security, surely someone who knows when it’s time to step away with money in the bank and their faculties intact deserves the title of boxing legend? Owen Hollifield
WORSE THAN BLEEDING USELESS
IN light of it recognising Lee Mcallister vs Danny Williams as a ‘world’ title fight, perhaps WBU stands for Worse than Bleeding Useless? Mark Taha