THE LIFE & TIMES OF STONE FACE
Andy Till was a Northolt milkman with a maximum-security glare, maniacal training ethic and machine-like ring manner. During a chaotic 24-ĆJKW FDUHHU EHWZHHQ 1986-95 (19 wins), the West London roughhouse racked up Southern Area, WBC International and Brit
I WAS born in Perivale, West London, the youngest of nine. It weren’t a happy childhood but I survived it, and it made me what I became. My dad was ridiculously strict. I knew if I got caught scrapping I’d get a hiding. I weren’t an aggressive kid, I was a frightened kid.
We were only allowed one bath a week, Saturday night before church on Sunday. All nine used the same water, eldest first, down to me last. I only took up boxing because I could get three cold showers a week at the Northolt amateur gym!
It also gave me a few hours release from the old man. I was very disciplined. I took discipline into boxing rather than the other way around.
I weren’t the most skilled but had other qualities strength, guts, determination - instilled from growing up with six older brothers. I didn’t so much fight ‘em as take regular clumps off of ‘em! Amateur and pro, I had one style of fighting. Fast forward. I had 128 amateur fights and won over 90 but only got a North West Divs title. Errol Christie and [future WBO middleweight champion] Chris Pyatt touched me out in the junior ABAS cos they had that jabbing style amateur judges like. I thought my aggression deserved the nod both times. I’d have mowed through ‘em in a pro ring. In September 1986, I turned pro at Harry Holland’s North Ealing gym, one of the top stables about. There was [British and European super-middle boss] James Cook, [Southern Area champions] Rocky Kelly, Trevor Smith, Serge Fame, and heavyweight Barry Ellis. I sparred ‘em all, always full on, both ways, even the cruisers and heavyweights. That’s how I knew I could take a shot. Me and Rocky had fought three times in the amateurs [one win]. We never had spars, just full on fights! If they’d ever matched us without headguards, we’d probably still be fighting now! Harry named me “Stone Face” because, on fight day, my expression never changed. I was going into battle and knew one punch could leave me ³
I KNEW IF I GOT CAUGHT SCRAPPING I’D GET A HIDING. I WASN’T AN AGGRESSIVE KID, I WAS A FRIGHTENED KID”