DREAM FIGHTS
The RCT’S competition pits Carlos Monzon against Marvin Hagler
EBA correspondent
THE EBA movement generally has been very supportive of the planned Ringside Rest and Care Home, and Leicester’s latest newsletter gives prominence to the Ringside Charitable Trust’s current ‘16 Dream Fights’ competition, matching great champions from the past and inviting everyone to decide who’d have won had they met. There’s an entry form with each newsletter (and in BN), and the piece incorporates photos of two legendary middleweights – Carlos Monzon and Marvin Hagler. I was lucky enough to see them both ‘live’ – and I’ve no idea how it would have gone if they’d met! That’s what makes competitions like this so fascinating.
Another photo shows a group at the Nottingham EBA Gala in 2016. Sadly Nottingham folded not long after, but the memories remain. The city has a fine
Boxing historian boxing tradition – I remember some great nights at the old Ice Rink – and the annual Gala was always a success.
Leicester could be needing a new HQ, with the owners of the Jungle Club currently seeking planning permission to build on the site. If it comes to it, I hope they find somewhere suitable quickly. It’s not unusual for EBAS to have to move, for various reasons – over the years London, Brighton, Croydon and (most recently) Scotland have done so, and all are pleased with their current premises. Good luck to Leicester.
On the health front it’s reported that Neil Tomlinson is making good progress after his recent bowel operation, and Brian Thomas is due to have another stent fitted. My best wishes to them both.
The current Scottish EBA newsletter gives the good news that former Scottish middleweight champion Don (Donnie) Mcmillan has overcome COVID-19 in a care home that was struck down with the virus. Don, from the famous fighting family, boxed professionally between 1963 and 1974, winning 30 and drawing five of 53 outings. In 1972 he scored excellent stoppage wins over former Southern Area kingpin Howard Sharpe (fresh from a oneround win over former British champion Mark Rowe) and previous conqueror Pat Dwyer – the latter in an official British title eliminator. That earned him a final eliminator against Kevin Finnegan, and Mcmillan won on a shock fifth-round cuts stoppage – which duly earned him a crack against British champion Bunny Sterling. Don was halted in 11 rounds, though he went on to hand a first defeat to future world champion Alan Minter (on a cut).
Scotland’s produced some great