SweetFightingMan.com

ARTICLES TO READ

By Melanie Lloyd

ROCKIN’ ROBIN DEAKIN (by Melanie Lloyd)

On 19 April 1986, Robin Deakin entered this world at Crawley Hospital.  Born perilously premature, he clung on to life defiantly, a tiny scrap of humanity refusing to give in.  As if the odds weren’t already stacked high enough against him, Robin was...

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Peter Haymer (by Melanie Lloyd)

Former English light-heavyweight champion, Peter Haymer. When former English light-heavyweight champion, Peter Haymer, began attending our London Ex Boxers Association meetings five years ago with his dad (Peter senior), the 44 year old from Enfield came across as a...

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Martin “Too Much” Power (by Melanie Lloyd)

British bantamweight champion (photo by Philip Sharkey). From the moment Martin Power walked into St Pancras ABC, he was a proper little fighter with the face of an angel who always wanted a tear-up in sparring.  He was a naturally gifted boxer with a lively...

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Mark Lazarus – QPR Star (by Melanie Lloyd)

Mark in his Prime As an amateur boxer, Mark Lazarus favoured the noble art of defence and ring generalship.  As a professional footballer, he was definitely more of a reactionary spirit.  In his era, the leather football soaking wet and caked with mud was...

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JIMMY FLINT (by Melanie Lloyd)

Jimmy with former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion, Sylvester Mittee. They used to call him ‘The Wapping Assassin’ and, when he was in his boxing prime, Jimmy Flint was one of the most feared punchers in the British featherweight division.  Always fierce...

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In memory of ALAN MINTER (17.08.51 to 09.09.20)

I interviewed Alan almost 20 years ago for my first volume of Sweet Fighting Man.  We had so much fun that day, and I will never forget the waiters in the restaurant closing the doors at the end of the lunchtime session and allowing us to stay and finish our...

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MEETING CONOR BENN (by Melanie Lloyd)

The interview Most debutants might dream of being chief support to Anthony Joshua versus Charles Martin at the O2 Arena in front of 20,000 people.  By virtue of his name, Conor Benn has been thrust into the spotlight straight from the start.  But, as the 19 year old...

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LARRY O’CONNELL

Being one of the best known and most recognisable British referees we have ever had, it is sometimes easy to forget that Larry O’Connell had an exceedingly prolific amateur boxing career before he became the third man in the ring.  When I put that point to him at a...

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THE EXPLOSIVE ROCKY KELLY !!

            He was born in Liverpool on 5th January 1963 to an Irish mother and a Caribbean father, and he was christened Hamilton Kelly.  When he was six years old he moved to Acton and, during his formative years, fate saw fit to deal...

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