‘CUBAN HAWK’ IN LONDON
Kid Gavilan made his UK debut 63 years ago this week in a bout that caused pandemonium and a change to BBBOFC rules
CUBAN HAWK COMING” read the Boxing News frontpage headline. The year was 1956 and the “Cuban Hawk” in question was an alltime great named Kid Gavilan. Gavilan, a former world welterweight champion, was 30 years old, a touch past his prime but still one of the best welterweights on the planet.
The Kid already had 125 paid bouts to his name (102-19-4) and had beaten Carmen Basilio, Ike Williams, Johnny Bratton, Tony Janiro, Billy Graham and Beau Jack. He had twice gone the distance with a prime Sugar Ray Robinson. And who was his opponent? A young lad from Clapham called Peter Waterman.
Waterman (elder brother of actor Dennis Waterman of Minder fame) was aged 21 and had never lost as a pro. But his biggest fight so far had been a British welterweight title eliminator. Peter (300-1) was not even British champion then and had yet to travel beyond eight rounds.
Waterman had been due to fight reigning British titlist Wally Thom at Harringay Arena on February 7, 1956. When Thom withdrew, the promoter Jack Solomons promised “a world-class American” substitute. No one had put much stock in this statement, so when Jack offered the name Kid Gavilan (not an American obviously but world class certainly), there was shock and then a stampede for tickets.
Gavilan arrived at Southampton on January 24, aboard the Queen Mary. Quizzed by reporters about the fight, he crowed: “I’m feeling confident and I don’t think much of my opponent’s chances.”
The Cuban trained at Toby Noble’s gym in Leroy Street, Bermondsey, and one of his sparring partners was future Southern Area welterweight titlist Albert Carroll. I interviewed Albert for my book, Fighting Men of London: Voices from Inside the Ropes. When I asked him about his spars with Gavilan, Albert quipped: “He was one side of the ring and I was the other side of the ring and he’d still hit me! He was a bolo puncher. He was extraordinary.”
Previewing the bout, Boxing News wrote: “It looks as though Peter’s youth will have to be his main asset, plus speed and punching power. They don’t rate Gavilan as a hard hitter, but he has stopped plenty of opponents with hooks and swings and the bolo punches he starts from his boot-tops... [Waterman] has done exceedingly well since he turned professional in December 1952. But he has not fought anyone with the guile and experience of Gavilan.”
Come the fight, the Clapham youth started well but the Cuban quickly took charge. Waterman may have won the first two or three rounds, but most press reports had him winning nothing else. When the veteran referee Ben Green raised Waterman’s arm at the end of the 10-rounder, mayhem broke out. The crowd booed and a mob from the cheap seats rushed to ringside. Some hurled missiles and Gavilan’s manager, Yamil Chade, had to be restrained from attacking the portly 71-year-old ref, who was escorted from the arena to a chorus of booing. Later, in Gavilan’s dressing room, the fuming Chade asked reporters for Green’s home address.
Gavilan, who kept asking Chade to calm down, remained composed and stoic. “I’ve had bad decisions before,” he said, “but never like this one. I’ll fight Waterman again – here or anywhere else. There cannot be another decision like this one!”
The BBBOFC launched an inquiry and promptly revoked Green’s refereeing licence. At the same time, with immediate effect, it brought in an upper age limit of 65 for referees.
Two months later, Gavilan and Waterman were re-matched at Earls Court. There was no mistake this time. Waterman did better than in their first fight, but Gavilan rightly received the verdict.