Good old Boxers

[happy daze john in oz]

A number of boxers and other sporting sorts got into all manner of problems back then.
The East end of London was a den of iniquity with many falling foul of the wide boys.

Money for sports people then was not as it is today, footballers getting about 8GBP per match and having to work as well.
Times have changed but there are still a few who get into strife.

[John Gill]

For me, Bruce Woodcock was the great white hope of British boxing. He was European heavyweight champion late 40's early 50's. The radio broadcasts of his bouts always excited me.
Gilly.

[John Gill]

Continuing the thread.... Watched a Netflix film last night, Million Dollar Baby. Great cast and learnt a lot about the Noble Art. Recommended.

[Doc Vernon]

Continuing the thread.... Watched a Netflix film last night, Million Dollar Baby. Great cast and learnt a lot about the Noble Art. Recommended.

Million Dollar Baby - Wikipedia

[j.sabourn]

Sailed with Rinty Monaghan’s brother in 1958 , he was bosun , a quite unassuming bloke , think at that time Rinty was driving a taxi in Belfast , from riches to rags . Think it was When Irish Eyes are Smiling was his Ring Song. JS

Also sailed with a bosun called Turpin from Liverpool for one trip about 1965 , could never find out if he was related to the boxer or not, plenty of rumours but that was it. JS

[John Gill]

Sailed with Rinty Monaghan’s brother in 1958 , he was bosun , a quite unassuming bloke , think at that time Rinty was driving a taxi in Belfast , from riches to rags . Think it was When Irish Eyes are Smiling was his Ring Song. JS

Also sailed with a bosun called Turpin from Liverpool for one trip about 1965 , could never find out if he was related to the boxer or not, plenty of rumours but that was it. JS

Randolph Turpin committed suicide in 1966.
Shot himself during a period of depression.

[Doc Vernon]

Turpin was though a very good Boxer in his time had quite an impressive record!
I recall his bout with Don Cockell in 1953 at White City London, listening on the Radio in South Africa at the time , it was a really good Fight, Turpin taking it on a TKO in the 11th Round.
Also got his own back against Sugar Ray after a defeat to Sugar earlier!
Cheers

[j.sabourn]

If I remember correctly the Turpin I knew it was on one of the ore carriers and was only there for the one trip. He was coloured like Turpin himself about the same shade as I recall from the films of his fights. However this bosun was a man in his 50s and would have been an uncle or similar I imagined. He was an ex bosun out of Blue Funnel so was used to more complicated ships and seemed out of place on an ore carrier. Think he was on one of the Liverpool seaman’s pools. Think with a name like Turpin he got christened Dick. JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

John.
Could have been related to the other Turpin, did he wear a mask?
Des

[j.sabourn]

Think he would of missed the present day indignities Des. He must be a long time departed by now. JS