THE POWER SHOW
Crowd-pleaser Martin Power set to host what promises to be a fascinating afternoon
HOME COUNTIES EBA Chairman Bob Williams gave me the happy news that HCEBA’S May meeting at Bricketwood Social Club was a great success.
Headlining the event were former Southern Area Champions Gary Hobbs and Jon Honney – ”both tough cookies in their day,” Bob said. “Both talked frankly about their careers and answered questions from the members present.
“Fight footage was shown on the large screen with some very amusing moments with tongue-in-cheek comments from Gary and Jon!
“Gary had his Southern Area win against Dave Armstrong – he spoke from his heart and his career was unfortunately and tragically cut sort when he lost the sight in one eye through an accident outside the ring.
“Jon has plenty of fights on Youtube but the one that was most prominent was his shock win over Michael Ayers.”
I saw Hobbs’ challenge to middleweight kingpin Armstrong, at London’s Bloomsbury Crest Hotel on May 18, 1983. The BN preview was headlined: “Hobbs stamina should pay off” – in fact it was Gary’s power that earned him a first-round win, dropping his man three times. The report finished: “[Hobbs] must make his first defence against the very capable James Cook [of whom more later], who will give him a much tougher test than did Armstrong.”
The report described Gary as “a colourful type in a tough division,” and there were some great domestic pairings to be made. Hobbs v Cook would certainly have been interesting, but sadly it didn’t happen – after just one more fight, Gary suffered the accident that cost him his eye and his career. He won nine of 10 outings, against a single injury loss.
Honney’s win over Ayers was at Plymouth in July 2003. Ayers had won the British and IBO belts (and was never beaten for either). He was launching a comeback after a 20-month break, but the clear points loss to Honney convinced him, at 38, to retire for good. That win must have given Honney great satisfaction – ditto his verdict over Nathan Ward for the vacant Southern Area super-lightweight title in February 2007. That was a triumph for perseverance, Jon having been turned back in two previous Area bids.
Bob finishes: “A great day was had and a lovely spread of hot food was supplied by the Club. Next month’s meeting, on Sunday, June 18, will feature former British bantamweight champion Martin
Power talking about his career, with bigscreen footage and great company as always.”
These HCEBA film shows have really taken off, and it’s an idea other EBAS might consider. Everyone enjoys seeing these past battles, and if either (or both) of the protagonists are there, it adds a whole new dimension. No doubt “The Martin Power Show” will be every bit as successful.
Thanks to Ringside Charitable Trust Secretary and Trustee Paul Fairweather I can now give more details of the Charity Cricket match – James Cook All-stars v Essex EBA – on Sunday, June 25.
The match takes place at Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch RM11 1JR, at noon.
Apart from Cook, the All-stars are Terry Marsh, Maurice Hope, Colin
Mcmillan, Jason Rowland, Derek Williams, Jason Matthews, Julius Francis, Mark Delaney, Jason Beard, Stinky Turner and Bobby Arthey. Imagine that lot on one boxing bill.
Entrance is free, and there will be a bar, snacks, raffle and memorabilia on sale. It’s a great idea to raise money for an excellent cause, and I hope it goes well. For further details, contact Jason Beard on 07956 867640.
The latest Scottish EBA newsletter recalls Dick Tiger v Terry Downes at Shoreditch on May 14, 1957. Tiger’s victory handed Downes his first loss, but both went on to win world tiles (Tiger at two weights). Some time after, promoter Harry Grossmith reflected that the combined purse for the two was £195 – not many years later, a return would have cost 100 times that!