Boxing club shapes up for a new season

Sep 11 2007 By Terry Blackmore

by Terry Blackmore HAYES Amateur Boxing Club launch into the new season with high expectations - very shortly their state-of-the art gymnasium, on the site of the old Hayes Stadium, which is to be demolished under the borough's redevelopment plans, is due to get under way.

The completion of building is projected to be about the end of March/early April, 2008.

There will be a hint of nostalgia from the older boxers and trainers, who will be sad to leave the old Dickie Gunn gymnasium, but it has been looking a bit tired lately and is well past its sell-by date, and everyone at the club is now keenly anticipating the move to their new quarters.

The old gym was named in honour of the club's founder and trainer, the late Dickie Gunn, who will always be remembered for training the club's most famous member, Chris Finnegan, to winning his gold medal at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games.

Chris, of course, also won the ABA middleweight title, boxed at international level for England, and later, in the professional ranks, won the British Middleweight title, the European Light-Heavyweight title and, most famously, in 1972, lost in the 14th round of an epic world title challenge to Bob Foster at the old Empire Pool, Wembley.

Foster, has been named by the American Hall of Fame as one of the hardest hitters of all time, He knoxked out Finnegan in the 14th round after decking him in the 10th, the only time Chris had been knocked out in his career.

Another Hayes old boy, Chris*s younger brother, Kevin, was a very talented amateur at light- middleweight.

He also joined the paid ranks and won the European Middleweight title, beating the holder, Jean-Claude Bouttier, in Paris in 1974.

He will also be remembered for his two classic fights against Marvin Hagler in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost both fights on cut eye stoppages, but most good judges had him ahead by huge points margins at the end of both fights.

Many others were guided to success by Dickie, including Willie Riley (ABA featherweight champion), Mickey Piner (ABA champion at bantamweight), the Wilkes brothers Billy and Roland who both won ABA junior titles; their older brother, Johnny, who won the Army Boxing Association championship at lightweight, and yours truly, who won the British Schools Association championship in 1957.

The two head trainers, Fred Brown, who trains the junior boxers, and Dave Currivan, the seniors, are confident that among their protégés there will be more champions to follow that notable line of Hayes boxers.

The club hosts its Open show on Thursday, 11th October, at Hayes Working Men's Club, which should be a great start to the new season*s activities, if previous shows held at this, their favoured venue, are anything to go by.

Doors will open at 7pm and tickets are £10.00, available on the night, at the door.