Madness in Moscow with Glen McCrory at city’s first title fight
MARDEN finished their season in fine style at the King Street Social Club in Wallsend when Christian Carr was voted Best Junior, Connor Hynes Best Senior, and Dion Mannion the season’s Most Improved Boxer. MOSCOW stands centre stage globally as the World Cup continues to fascinate and amaze us in equal measure.
Well, 25 years ago, world history was being made in the exact same city.
On July 16, 1993 Moscow staged its first ever world title fight after the Berlin Wall had come down to open up Europe to a market place which knew no boundaries.
Russia staged amateur boxing only until our own Glenn McCrory, once the IBF world cruiser champ, was matched with American Alfred Cole for his old strap.
I was the only newspaperman on the trip, though Tyne Tees Television produced a fascinating documentary entitled From Russia With Gloves that told the history-making story of a Geordie in Red Square.
Back then, as Communism relaxed its stringent grip and Russia’s exiled money makers of dubious background flooded back into the capital, it was like the wild west.
We were politely asked, for example, if we would park any guns we might be carrying next to the metal detectors as we entered for the official weigh-in. Where was Glenn supposed to be packing? In his shorts?
A hood from Chechnya who had returned looking for a quick buck insisted on becoming our tour guide with incredible results. Pathways within restaurants and nightclubs were miraculously cleared in our honour.
McCrory dropped a points decision and ended his hugely successful pro career to begin another in television which is continuing to this day – but what a way to bow out. A historymaker when the wall came tumbling down! ■■I’M doing a talk-in with Glenn McCrory at Burnhope on Friday night then it’s off to Hedworth Hall in South Shields to share a stage with Glenn and Tim Witherspoon on Saturday, August 11.
The following Saturday, McCrory will be ringside in Belfast covering a star-studded show when local hero Carl Frampton will headline, with former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on his undercard.