The Boxing History Blog

With the European (EBU) heavyweight championship firmly around his waist, it was time to step Lennox Lewis up in class. He faced British champion and world-ranked Gary Mason at London's Wembley Arena on 06th March 1991 .  Mason was born in Jamaica on 15th December 1962 and came to Britain as a four-year-old. He started his pro career in October 1984 against Al Malcolm, the same man who faced Lewis on his professional debut. Mason blasted out Malcolm in the first round and his kayo spree lasted until November 1986 when American Oscar Holman took him the full eight-round distance. Mason continued to bomb out his opponents, including former Mike Tyson victims Sammy Scaff (two rounds), Alfonzo Ratcliff (six rounds), David Jaco (four rounds) and James 'Quick' Tillis (fifth round), equalling Frank Bruno and Evander Holyfield .  With a record of 28-0 and twenty-seven stoppages, Mason was nominated to face Hughroy Currie for the British heavyweight title , vacated by the unbeat...

In December 2019 I was on a family vacation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We visited Mystic Mountain, about five minutes from Dunn's River Falls (also highly recommended). On our ascent through the rainforest scenery on the SkyExplorer to take us to the famous Bobsled ride, I wasn't expecting to be greeted by a room full of sports memorabilia.  Obviously, the Jamaican Bobsled team dominated the room, but I was instantly drawn to the massive information board on Lennox Lewis and seeing smaller articles on Mike McCallum, Simon Brown and Glen Johnson, giving me the inspiration for The Pride of Jamaica posts. Lennox Claudius Lewis was born in West Ham, England on 02nd September 1965 to Jamaican parents. His mother agonised over whether to terminate the pregnancy when she found out the man she loved was already married to a woman in Montego Bay. Fortunately for the boxing world, Violet decided against a termination. "I was desperate. But the moment I held baby Lennox in my arms I kne...

26th June 1972, Madison Square Garden, New York WBA Lightweight Title Ken Buchanan Vs Roberto Duran World champion Ken Buchanan was born in  Edinburgh, Scotland on 28th June 1945. He became ABA champion in 1965, turning professional on 20th September that very same year, stopping Brian Rocky Tonks in the second round in the lightweight division. In his seventeenth bout he became the British Scottish Area lightweight champion, outpointing John McMillan over ten rounds for the vacant title. On 19th February 1968 he beat Maurice Cullen for the British lightweight title with an eleventh round knockout, taking his unbeaten record to 24-0 with nine KO's. Nine more victories put him in line for the vacant European lightweight title. He travelled to Madrid, Spain to take on Miguel Velasquez. The bout went the full fifteen rounds and the Spaniard was given the decision 72-69 by Italian referee and sole judge. Buchanan leaned dejected against the ropes as the home supporters inv...

Robin Reid Born in Sefton, Merseyside on 19th February 1971, Robin Reid had an amateur record of 51-16. He got into boxing mainly because of his foster dad, who was a massive fight fan and they watched the likes of Thomas Hearns and 'Sugar' Ray Leonard together on television. Reid's biological father was Jamaican and during his school years he was subjected to bullying and racism. He admits that he was a bit of a loner and first walked through the doors of a boxing gym as an eight-year-old. It was here that he found the clothes that he wore and the colour of his skin didn't matter. He was treated as an equal and welcomed into this new circle with open arms. He didn't have aspirations to become a world champion, but with hard work and dedication he wound up boxing for England. In 1992 he captured first place in the Canada Cup as a light-middleweight and represented Team GB at the Barcelona Olympics, securing a Bronze Medal. He turned professional as a m...

Since it's re-introduction in 1986, the British super-featherweight title was a difficult championship to keep hold of. It took fourteen champions and eight years for one to make a first successful defence. Here is a list of the British super-featherweight champions:- John Doherty - 16th January to 17th April 1986   Doherty didn't have the greatest start to his professional career, losing his debut to Taffy Mills in the first round on 26th May 1982. The Bradford-born Doherty then got back on track by winning his next eight and getting back-to-back draws against Ray Plant and Steve Enwright in 1983. He then lost his next bout to Anthony Brown over a six-round points decision. After two wins he ended 1983 with a seventh-round TKO defeat to Stuart Carmichael. He drew his first contest of 1984 against Les Walsh over eight rounds, then went on a winning streak of ten victories over two years, including a win over Les Walsh in a rematch. On 16th January 1986 he ...