CELEBRATIONS FOR ROCKY
Home Counties host a successful day for a boxer who was rarely in a dull fight simonoldtimers @googlemail.com
EBA correspondent
I WAS delighted to hear from Home Counties EBA Secretary Kieran Mccann that HCEBA’S March meeting was a great success – “celebrating the career of the explosive Rocky Kelly,” Kieran said.
“A great day was had by about 50 attendees including Rocky’s former coach, Harry Holland. Buffet food was put on for our guests and we showed footage from Rocky’s fights with Chris Sanigar and Tony Brown on our big screen. We also discussed afterwards the changes in boxing that have happened since then – how small the ring was, and how there was no mandatory eightcount.
“We shall continue to honour ex-fighters, with our May meeting continuing the same theme – this time focusing on former Southern Area middleweight champion Gary Hobbs.
Boxing historian
And at our April 23 meeting we shall be showing fight footage of some of the best knockouts.”
Fight films have always been popular, whether (as here) as part of a monthly meeting, or as a social event in its own right. I can recall many great film evenings – I’ve been plugging the importance of social events, and maybe some EBAS will consider trying a film evening. And so much more enjoyable, of course, if any of the participants can actually be there.
And the discussions on rule changes and the like are stimulating, and really add something to the events. I must say I’ve never liked the compulsory eight-count – it can deny the fighter who scores the knockdown the chance to finish it, which could be vital if he/ she is trailing on points and needs the stoppage. But that’s my view.
Today Rocky Kelly is a regular at London EBA meetings. LEBA Chairman Bob Cheeseman was at the HCEBA meeting, and confirmed it was a really good day.
I saw Rocky box many times – he was never in a dull fight. I was ringside for his bouts with Sanigar (Albert Hall, February 1984) and Tony Brown (Latchmere Leisure Centre, Wandsworth, November 1986), and I can understand why those particular ones were chosen. Both made BN’S British Fights of the Year.
Rocky’s 10-rounder against Sanigar (another warrior) was for the vacant Southern Area welterweight title – his war with Brown (the reigning Central Area champion) was an official final British title eliminator, and I was privileged to cover it for BN. There was an action photo on
the front page, with the headline “Rocky’s all heart,” and in my report I wrote: “Rocky Kelly’s almost frightening will to win brought him yet another sensational victory … The end came after 1-25 of the 11th, with Brown defenceless in Kelly’s corner after taking a heavy left-right combination to the head. Referee Sid Nathan quickly jumped in to signal the finish – and although Brown protested, it was the right decision. Brown had shown tremendous heart, but ultimately couldn’t match Kelly’s fire-power.”
The win earned Rocky a challenge to British champion Kirkland Laing, but few in Britain could touch “the Gifted One,” and Rocky was turned back in five rounds. A previous shot at the vacant British title had seen Rocky halted in nine by Kostas Petrou, and a challenge to Commonwealth champion Gary
Jacobs also ended in disappointment, with Jacobs winning in the seventh. But he was never beaten for the Area title, with inside-schedule wins over quality opponents John Andrews (five rounds), Mark Mills (seven) and Dave Dent (eight). And his eight-round war with Gary Knight in June 1982, which saw Rocky suffer his first loss (on points), drew £106 in nobbins (remember them?)
His last bout was an eight-round draw with Winston Wray in September 1989. He finished with 27 wins (21 insideschedule), six losses and one draw.
Kieran Mccann finishes with a general invitation: “Please come along and support us as we would love to build on March’s great attendance numbers.” I hope people take note – it’s vital that EBAS support one another. And the films are a real attraction.