‘THE BITCH’ IS BACK
POSSIBLY because it was Bank Holiday weekend, attendance at this month’s London EBA meeting was down slightly – but it was still lively, and friendly, and the raffle raised £238.
We were delighted to welcome Cathy “The Bitch” Brown, who gave a moving address, describing the problems she had had in life in general, and in being accepted as a boxer in particular. “I had to battle to get a pro licence,” she recalled. “I was only the second woman in Britain to get one, after Jane Couch.
“In the ‘90s I was spat at, and laughed at – and the bigger promoters refused to put women on.” But Cathy persevered, and in a seven-year career (1999-2006) she won 13 of 21 bouts, eight insideschedule. In her final bout she became England’s first-ever female bantamweight champion, outscoring former conqueror Juliette Winter over 10 rounds at York Hall.
“I enjoyed every second of my career,“Cathy said. “Boxing gave me something - it saved my mental health. Boxing really cares for your heart and soul.” So many people will identify with that.
Since retiring Cathy has been teaching boxing, and, along with her husband, running a charity. “We recently went to Iraq, to help women who had been abused,” she said.
She admitted she had been worried that she might not be accepted by LEBA, and had really appreciated the welcome she got. “I feel I belong,” she said. You certainly do, Cathy.
On the same York Hall bill that saw Cathy win her English title, new LEBA committee member Peter Haymer Jnr took on Ovill Mckenzie – whom he’d previously beaten – for the vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight title. But it wasn’t Haymer’s night, and he was stopped in two rounds. Haymer also came unstuck against another former victim – Tony Oakey – in a British title challenge, losing in nine rounds. But he won the English title, and made three successful defences – and was in line for a second British title shot. But the chance didn’t come, and, with a young daughter, Peter decided to retire “and become a father properly.”
There’s a fascinating supplement to the current Seconds Out – LEBA’S monthly newsletter – in which author Melanie Lloyd deals with Peter’s career in depth, and also describes the excellent work Peter and former manager Chris Hall have been doing since Peter retired. In 2010 Chris set up the Footsteps Trust, a
facility for 12 to 16-year-old boys who have been permanently excluded from mainstream education, and Peter is very heavily involved. “I’ve got a lot of empathy and compassion for these kids,” Peter says. “To see what some of them have been through is very sad.”
Peter finishes by saying: “The best people in the world are boxers, and I love to be part of it.” Something else that will resonate with many.
Hastings EBA Chairman rang to give me the sad news that Trevor West had died. Trevor, a former member of Brighton EBA, was associated with Newhaven ABC for many years. “Among those he trained,” Dave said, “were his son, Mark West, Terry Parkinson and Tim Moloney. They all went pro around the late 1970s-early ‘80s.”
I remember all three of them, and send my condolences to Mark West. Mark won six and drew two of 13, including dropping a close verdict to Clyde Ruan in a Southern Area featherweight title eliminator. In his next bout he met Croydon’s Pat Doherty (with whom he had previously drawn), lost in eight rounds, and called it a day. Pat, now an active Croydon EBA member, went on to lose to Ruan for the vacant Area title (though he had Ruan in all kinds of trouble in the closing stages) and ultimately became Commonwealth lightweight champion. Dave told me Hastings are planning to visit Croydon EBA, possibly next month. Hope you can make it, Dave – you’ve been before, and you know you’ll be made welcome.