ST ANDREW’S SPORTING CLUB
Reflections on the famous Glasgow venue
THE current Scottish EBA newsletter has an in-depth feature on the great Tom Molineux, the black American bareknuckle heavyweight who settled in Britain in the early 19th century, having two memorable battles with the equally legendary Tom Cribb.
Coming a bit more up-to-date, there’s an interesting list of championship bouts staged at Glasgow’s St Andrew’s Sporting Club.
The first, an eagerly-awaited allscottish showdown in January 1973, pitted Jim Watt against Ken Buchanan for Watt’s British lightweight title. Buchanan had relinquished the belt on becoming WBA champion in 1970 – he was now on the road back after losing the title to Roberto Durán. And he won clearly over 15 rounds, and would also become European champion – but he was never world champion again. Watt later won the WBC lightweight title and made four successful defences, finally losing to the late, great Alexis Argüello in 1981.
The second title bout, in September 1973, was another all-scottish affair – Tommy Glencross defending his British featherweight title against Evan Armstrong, from whom he had won it the previous year. Previewing the return for BN, I tentatively went for Armstrong – and I was there to see my prediction come true, though not very convincingly, Glencross being halted after three rounds with a badly-cut eye. But Evan was champion again, and he went on to win the Commonwealth title and defend both belts in an epic against Allan Richardson (now Leeds EBA President).
Elsewhere in the newsletter Buchanan recalls sharing a dressing-room with
“The Greatest” – Muhammad Ali – at New York’s Madison Square Garden in December 1970. It was Buchanan’s first bout since dethroning WBA lightweight champion Ismael Laguna, and he was topping the bill against unbeaten Canadian Donato Paduano. Ken relates that he is the only Scot to have topped at the Garden twice. Against Paduano he boxed brilliantly to take a one-sided verdict, while Ali, in his second comeback fight, halted Argentina’s Oscar Bonavena in 15 rounds to set up the “Fight of the Century” with Joe Frazier the following March.
SEBA’S next meeting will be on Sunday, July 10 at the Hutchesontown Bowling Club, 9 Oatlands Gate, Glasgow.
Following my recent piece on the sad demise of Ipswich EBA, Harwich BC Head Coach and Secretary Martin
Webb contacted me to say that, headed by Secretary Erik Roper, the EBA had forged a good relationship with Harwich over the past seven or eight years. “Their members often attended our shows and end-of-season presentation nights,” Martin said. “We were saddened to hear of their winding-up.“
Martin continued: “Erik contacted me, asking if we could find a place for memorabilia (cups, posters, photos, books, etc) relating to their EBA and the East Anglian boxing region as a whole. Harwich BC took some of it, most of which now adorns our gym walls – and other items I forwarded on to Ipswich and Lowestoft ABCS. It’s important that the history of the sport is restored and we were all pleased to receive these items – albeit in sad circumstances.”
That last comment is so true. I was very sorry to hear of Ipswich’s demise, and it’s good these things are going where they’ll be appreciated.
The current Central Midlands EBA newsletter has a huge article by Craig Birch on the career of recently-retired EX-IBF welter champion Kell Brook. It starts, understandably, with his longawaited showdown with Amir Khan, and the shenanigans leading up to it, and there’s a lot on the horrific machete attack Kell suffered in 2014, which could have ended his career – even his life.
And Kell’s forthright about his fifthround loss to middleweight Gennadiy Golovkin, when Kell bravely stepped up two divisions. “I’ve never been in there with anyone who has that much power. Even when he taps you on the arm, you know that you’ve been hit.” The whole article’s well worth reading.
home-cooked curry with a chapati on the side.
Best friends in boxing:
My three coaches (Baggi Singh, Simon Akufo Tetteh and Richard Waller). They’re the guys that have been with me since day dot.
Other sportsperson you would like to be:
I’d just be myself. I don’t aspire to be anyone else, I just want to be me. I don’t mind admitting that.
Last film/tv show you saw:
The Godfather films, they’re my favourite. I love the old school ganster movies.
Who would play you in a film of your life:
No idea!
Have you ever been starstruck:
Yes! It was when I was at the cruiser weight Boxxer tournament and Tasha Jonas came over to give me a hug. That was pretty sick!
Last time you cried:
The last time I lost in December 2019, when I last lost a [kickboxing] fight.
Best advice received:
Give up your social life!
Worst rumour about yourself:
I’ve not had any scandals just yet.
Something not many people know about you:
I’m a mommy’s boy. Everyone thinks boxers are tough and rugged, and I am, but when I need help or advice, I go to my mom.