WHEN Jim Watt defeated Howard Davis at Ibrox Park, Glasgow, for the WBC light-weight title on June 7 1980, he was persevering with an extended tradition of great Scottish champions boxing within the nation’s many massive soccer stadia. The promoters had hoped for a crowd of 20,000 that night time however far fewer than that turned as much as pay on the turnstiles as persistent rain did its finest to wreck the event.
Twenty years beforehand, virtually precisely to the day, Chic Calderwood beat that great Tongan, Johnny Halafihi, for the Commonwealth light-heavyweight title at Firhill Park, the house of Partick Thistle FC. This was the twelfth time that the venue had hosted necessary boxing occasions.
In 1931, 11,000 folks turned as much as see Jim Maharg defeat Jim Campbell for the Scottish flyweight title. Again, the anticipated attendance had been round 30,000 – so plainly the promoters constantly over-estimated the keenness for large-scale open-air boxing tournaments throughout the metropolis. There are many different comparable cases. The different 10 promotions staged at Firhill Park all occurred in the course of the Nineteen Fifties, and eight of these featured that great little bantamweight, Peter Keenan. They reckon that Peter, regardless of his measurement, would have been most individuals’s decide to have in your aspect in a road struggle, he was certainly as exhausting as nails. He had three British title battles on the venue, and he additionally gained, misplaced after which regained the European title there.
Cathkin Park, the house of the long-defunct skilled aspect, Third Lanark FC, was one other soccer floor that often hosted boxing. The floor, located in Crosshill, staged 9 Scottish Cup finals in the course of the latter half of the nineteenth century, and its first boxing match in 1934 when Benny Lynch was one other to beat Jim Campbell for the Scottish flyweight title. There have been 16,000 in attendance, they usually noticed one other masterclass as Benny fully outclassed his man over the complete 15.
Six additional occasions occurred on the venue in the course of the Thirties and two extra within the Nineteen Fifties. Peter Keenan beat Jake Tuli for the Empire bantamweight title in 1955 after which, in 1958, Charlie Hill defeated Chic Brogan for the British featherweight title on a invoice topped by, but once more, Peter Keenan, who outpointed the American, Billy Peacock. This time greater than 25,000 turned as much as see a great night time of sport. The floor continues to be there, albeit very dilapidated.
Shawfield Park was one other oft-used venue. This floor was residence to Clyde FC and was used 15 occasions for boxing between 1930 and 1941. It might be finest remembered for Benny Lynch beating Peter Kane there in 1937 in an epic contest for the world flyweight title. Lynch was 24 on the time, and Kane solely 19, however they put up a battle for the ages in entrance of over 40,000. Lynch had beforehand defended his British and world flyweight title on the similar venue towards Pat Palmer of Battersea the 12 months earlier than. This contest was the primary time {that a} world title bout was staged north of the border and 31,565 paid to see it.
Lynch additionally boxed at Celtic Park in 1937, shocking dropping out on factors to Jimmy Warnock of Belfast, and this venue was additionally utilized in 1949 when Billy Thompson beat the native idol Harry Hughes of Wishaw, to retain his British light-weight title. Once once more, a younger Peter Keenan additionally featured on this invoice.
The largest of all soccer grounds in Scotland was, of course, Hampden Park. I can keep in mind listening to the radio protection when Celtic performed towards Leeds United within the European Cup semi-final in 1970. It is tough to imagine now however 136,000 have been in attendance. Seven boxing tournaments have been held there between 1941 and 1949 and the great favorite was Jackie Paterson, who gained and defended his world flyweight title there. Some 40,000 noticed him beat Peter Kane in 1943, and 50,000 watched his victory over Joe Curran three years later.
Great contests, great champions and great venues.
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