BACK in 2019 I wrote concerning the inglorious finish to the profession of Jack Bodell, the British heavyweight champion between 1969 and 1970, and once more between 1971 and 1972. Jack will sadly all the time be remembered for the final three contests of his profession, very fast stoppage losses by the hands of Jerry Quarry, Jose Urtain and Danny McAlinden. It is time to redress this picture that now we have of him.
Jack took half in 71 skilled contests, of which he gained 58. He gained the 1961 ABA light-heavyweight title in opposition to Hammersmith’s Johnny Evans and, six weeks later, managed to win a silver medal on the European championships, held that yr in Belgrade. He needed to pull out of the semi-final with a minimize eyebrow when he had each probability of going all the way in which. Jack was additionally a coal miner, and he did very effectively within the Miners championships, then such an integral a part of the newbie season.
Bodell turned professional in 1962 and he gained 36 of his first 42 contests with some wonderful victories over the likes of Dave Ould, Ron Gray, Ron Redrup, Johnny Halafihi, Freddie Mack and Billy Daniels. His shortcomings have been apparent from the beginning as he was vulnerable to stoppage losses in opposition to the heavy hitters. Despite this, he was thought of to be adequate to combat the top-rated American, Thad Spencer, in a 1966 contest at Belle Vue, Manchester. Once once more, he got here up quick, being hammered in two rounds.
He picked himself up once more with six straight wins earlier than Henry Cooper repeated the feat with a two-round victory for the British title at Molineaux, the house of Wolverhampton Wanderers, in 1967. Jack may have been forgiven for getting out of the sport at that time, for it appeared that he had reached his restrict.
The following yr, nonetheless, he gained one other 5 on the trot, with 4 stoppage victories, one in every of which was a nine-round victory over Brian London in an eliminator for the British heavyweight title, and on the finish of the yr he was once more the primary contender for Cooper’s title.
Four extra wins in 1969 earned him a title contest with Rhyl’s Carl Gizzi. The two have been contesting the vacant title, not too long ago vacated by ‘Our ‘Enery’, and this time Jack placed on a a lot better present, edging out the Welshman over fifteen rounds. In doing so he grew to become the primary southpaw to win the British heavyweight title. Predictably he misplaced to Cooper in his first defence. Once once more, Jack may have been forgiven for bowing out of the sport, however he caught at it, and, in 1971 he was matched with Joe Bugner, the brand new champion. Bugner was then the rising star of British boxing, having crushed Cooper in a controversial contest which I feel he gained fair-and-square.
Few gave him an opportunity with the younger champion, however Jack proved his many doubters improper. BN reported that “Bodell, denigrated for southpaw clumsiness, took Bugner’s British, European and Commonwealth titles with a resolute fighting display. He took charge from the first round and piled up a massive points margin. Bugner faced certain defeat unless he could stop Bodell, and this never looked likely. Edinburgh referee George Smith scored for Bodell by 14 rounds to one. The crowd gradually warmed to Bodell, who fought his heart out, and they gave him a tremendous ovation when it was all over”.
Bodell gained an ABA title, was twice the British heavyweight champion, and he additionally gained each the European and Commonwealth titles. Jack died in 2016, aged 76, after a protracted battle with dementia. He achieved way over many heavyweights earlier than, or since, and regardless of his apparent shortcomings, he doesn’t need to be remembered for his losses alone.
He isn’t one in every of our higher champions, admittedly, however, as a person who by no means gave up, both inside or outdoors the ring, he has earned his place in British boxing historical past.
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