ON THE MARCH
simonoldtimers @googlemail.com
EBA correspondent
DELIGHTED to read in their current newsletter that a party from Leicester EBA will be attending the Home Counties BBQ on July 30. I quote: “This has become a favourite among our members and early booking is advised.”
A 29-seater coach has been booked, and I hope it’s filled. As I keep stressing, it’s vital that EBAS support one another, by attending functions and meetings. The pandemic curtailed social events – it’s still around, of course, and we mustn’t be complacent. But it’s so good they’ve started up again.
Leicester of course are great supporters of the Ringside Charitable Trust, and under the headline “Promoter backing Ringside Charity” the newsletter asks: “Is this a major breakthrough for the Ringside Charitable Trust in their effort to provide a rest and care home?
“At the sell-out fund-raising Champions Lunch in Hastings it was announced that Boxxer’s promoter Ben Shalom has pledged his support to the cause.
“Perhaps other major ‘players’ will follow suit.”
Let’s hope so. It’s a wonderful cause. Meanwhile, well done Ben – and well done Leicester and the other EBAS. They’re not rolling in money, but they’re always willing to give what they can. The newsletter goes on to report the death of Frankie Lucas, which I featured last week, and points out that he is just the sort of person the Ringside Rest and Care Home would look to help.
The Birthday “Memories” section includes Leicester-based Nigerian Tommy Tiger, who campaigned between 1958 and 1969. He had 120 recorded bouts (probably more in Africa before he settled over here in 1959), with 30 wins and 12 draws – but he was prepared to meet the best, and failed to go the distance only four times. He’d no doubt be a regular in the small-hall “away” corner were he boxing today.
The one time I saw him was at Shoreditch Town Hall (where he appeared several times) in September 1969, when he lost on points to Walthamstow’s popular Mickey Oats. In November they met again, and this time Tommy got a draw – he followed that with a points loss to future WBC lightweight champion Jim Watt at the National Sporting Club, and that was it. Sadly Oats was plagued by eye injuries, which forced him to hang up his gloves and accounted for five defeats in his 9-7-1 tally. Today he’s a keen London EBA member.