IT WAS nearly one of many unlikeliest coronations in British heavyweight championship historical past when Mark Potter got here so near defeating Danny Williams in an unforgettable encounter in October, 2000.
On that evening contained in the Wembley Conference Centre, with Williams’ proper arm dangling from his dislocated shoulder, Potter pressed his benefit earlier than Danny – in a efficiency he calls his proudest – by some means salvaged victory together with his left. It was a really heroic turnaround from Williams and the half during which enormous underdog Potter performed in it should guarantee he’s by no means forgotten.
“I’ve just got to do what I need to do to stay alive,” Potter mentioned in May, seven months after being advised abdomen most cancers would kill him. “Now I’ve been told that I only have three months to live. I’m going to beat this, and prove the medics and the NHS wrong.”
Potter handed away, aged simply 47 years outdated, on the weekend. He fought to the top, smiling to his household and associates, eager for individuals who have been all the time by his facet to not share his agony. Potter underwent chemotherapy in an effort to extend his life alongside different remedy that he hoped would supply a miracle.
Potter made his debut in July 1997, outpointing J A Bugner over six rounds on the undercard of Naseem Hamed’s victory over Juan Gerardo Cabrera. Also on that Frank Warren-promoted invoice was Dean Francis, the uber-talented fighter who misplaced his life to most cancers 4 years in the past. Like Potter, Francis valiantly scrapped for survival towards probably the most formidable and unforgiving opponent of all of them.
Matt Legg, who campaigned at heavyweight from 2001-2014, has fond reminiscences of his time with Potter. “We used to spar and, being the gentleman that he is, he took it easy on me because I was a brand new pro,” he remembered. “He said we’ll go tip-tap, which I was grateful for. It was an honour to share the ring with him.”
Danny Williams and Mark Potter throughout their British and Commonwealth heavyweight title struggle at Wembley on October 22, 2000 (John Gichigi/ALLSPORT)
Potter – often known as “The White Shark” – compiled an official file of 21-5 (14). He defeated Danny Watts to elevate the Southern Area heavyweight title in March 2003, a victory that successfully secured his shot at Williams, 5 months later. Though he ‘retired’ following a loss to Michael Sprott in 2003, Potter competed in MMA and was a eager advocate of the unlicenced boxing circuit, the place he pummelled Butterbean to a stoppage defeat.
Less well-known was Potter’s contest towards Danny Bardell in 2018. Bardell, who suffered from Down Syndrome, all the time needed to be a boxer and when Potter allowed himself to be counted out within the second spherical, he made a younger man’s goals come true.
That kindness is a theme of Potter’s life. Wayne Alexander, the previous European 154lbs champion, mentioned: “He was always friendly, always had a smile on his face. I’ll never forget how close he was to winning the British heavyweight title. He was always kind and helped me out with a favour, one that I’ll never forget.”
Those sentiments have been echoed by one other former fighter, long-time buddy David Walker. “He was a tough fighting man but a true gentleman,” Walker mentioned. “He had a loving, caring heart and I’ll always look up to him, in many ways.”
Potter, who was a private coach up till a yr in the past, was in terrific form when the most cancers analysis got here a yr in the past. He initially presumed it was a coaching damage earlier than numbness unfold to his calves and compelled him to get checked by his GP. Expecting to be advised he’d overdone it within the health club, he was shocked when docs advised him he had stage 4 abdomen most cancers.
Alongside his beloved spouse, Hannah, and two kids, Sam and Rosie, the fighter refused to simply accept it as a demise sentence. Ultimately, as too many realise, the easiest way to fight the illness is with an early analysis.
Frank Warren, who can pay tribute to Potter at this weekend’s present on the O2, mentioned of the fighter he usually promoted: “Mark was a nice fighter and a fair larger character who was concerned in lots of entertaining fights over time and was a massively in style face across the struggle scene, notably within the London space.
“Mark was a fighter right to the end and never stopped punching – may he rest in peace.”
Audley Harrison, who fought Potter once they have been each on the way in which up within the newbie code, wrote: “He gave me a hell of a battle in the London ABAs… Looking back, a lot of boxers have passed in the last few years. Definitely makes you appreciate your time here.”
Potter was so much more than simply the person who practically beat Danny Williams. How he performed himself throughout battle towards a depraved illness, and the kindness he exuded all through his life, is testomony to that.
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