Description
Book SynopsisThe first world title fight in Wales featured Swansea lightweight boxer, Ronnie James, and the city produced another three challengers at the highest level before Enzo Maccarinelli finally reached the pinnacle. Colin Jones, Brian Curvis and Floyd Havard were far from the only top-class exponents of the boxer's craft to emerge from Wales's second city. And the rival conurbation across the Loughor Bridge has contributed its share of stars to the fistic firmament. As well as two-weight British champion Robert Dickie and the legendary Gipsy Daniels, who once knocked out the great Max Schmeling inside a round, Llanelli gave birth to the man who codified the laws by which the sport is regulated, famous under the name of his patron, the Marquess of Queensberry. Some 50 boxers are profiled in these generously illustrated pages. Whether or not you hail from the area, if you are a fight fan, this book will make a worthy addition to your shelves.
Trade ReviewMy co-commentator, Enzo Maccarinelli, keeps telling me what a great fight town Swansea is. And here's the evidence. It's not just about the big names, like Colin Jones, Ronnie James and the Curvises - here you can learn of the only Welsh-speaker ever to win a Scottish title and the Llanelli girl who took on Germany's boxing queen. A great read! John Rawling, Commentator, BoxNation; Wales has a rich boxing history and there is no one better than Gareth Jones at bringing vividly to life the exploits of the many fine Welsh fighters, from the famous to the largely forgotten. This book is a must for all serious boxing fans. Graham Houston, Editor, Boxing Monthly; Boxing owes much to this area. It was a Llanelli man who gave the sport its rules and Swansea which caught the imagination of Americans such as the novelist and fight fan Ralph Ellison and the great Rocky Marciano, who fell in love with the Mumbles. As a cub reporter, Dylan Thomas covered the fights at the famed Mannesmann Hall and wrote of his own efforts, when he collected a black eye and likened himself to Gene Tunney. This is a true home of boxing. Peter Stead, Historian and Broadcaster; There have been so many great boxers from my home town - and from that place across the Loughor Bridge. This book tells their stories. Chris Coleman, National Coach, Football Association of Wales
Table of ContentsTeddy BARROW Len BEYNON Jeff BURNS Carlo COLARUSSO Mike COPP Brian CURVIS Cliff CURVIS Ken CURVIS Gipsy DANIELS Glynne DAVIES Shon DAVIES Robert DICKIE Dave GEORGE Don GEORGE Neil HADDOCK Nigel HADDOCK Ceri HALL Michael HARRIS Peter HARRIS Floyd HAVARD Gareth HOWELLS Chris JACOBS Doug JAMES Ronnie JAMES Colin JONES Ken JONES Randy JONES John KAIGHIN Barrie KELLEY Jack KILEY Dean LYNCH Enzo MACCARINELLI Miguel MATTHEWS Terry MATTHEWS Frank McCORD Ross McCORD Neville MEADE Damian OWEN Keith PARRY Geoff PEGLER Dean PHILLIPS Delme PHILLIPS Petrina PHILLIPS Ray PRICE Chris WARE Tobais WEBB Jim WILDE Jason WILLIAMS Taffy WILLIAMS
