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TheBoxing Biographies NewsletterVolume3 - No 5 11th Oct , 2008

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LIVERPOOL MEMORIESBilly McDonald

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=205155&cat=boxer

Country United KingdomGlobal Id 205155Birthplace Liverpool, EnglandDivision LightweightBorn 1924-01-01

Career Record © www.boxrec.com

Billy McDonald was an all action lightweight who was always popular in Liverpool. He joined the old UnityBoys Club in Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool, before moving to the Kensington ABC. He sparred TerryAllen during the Second World War whilst both boxers served in the Middle East .When he left the service in1947 he immediately turned pro. He had a total of 28 paid contests, winning 18 and losing only seven. The Ex-Liverpool pro Gerry McNally stated that a six-rounder between Billy and Billy Barton was the best fight he'dever seen at the Stadium. After retiring Billy stayed in the game as first a trainer with his old Kensington cluband later a manager. Amongst those he trained in their early careers were John Conteh and Harry Scott. Billydied after collapsing at a boxing show at the old Holiday Inn in 1985.

the Liverpool Echo 16 February 1974.

BI LL Y Mc DO NA LD`Pet Shop' boy Billy was a whippet in the ring

At the 13 stone plus that he scales these days, it is hard to visualise the Liver pool boxing manager BillyMcDonald as a speedy whippet-like lightweight. Yet that is what he was in the early post-war years when his allfoam style earned him many good victories and saw him through his first contests with only two defeats. Billy,cheerful and conscientious, spends his days behind the counter of his pet shop and his evenings running one ofthe busiest professional boxing gymnasiums in the North at Memphis Hall. Such dedication deserves aStadium full of champions. However, 20 years after taking out a managers licence, Billy is still waiting for the

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day when he will turn out his first British title holder.

One of a huge family of 10 boys and two girls, two of Billy's brothers Alec and Charlie were also boxers,while another brother, Jack played as full back for Liverpool FC during the Second World War. Billy startedout With the Unity Boys Club in Upper Parliament Street when he was about 10 years of age, stayed withthem for four years then moved on to Kensington ABC where he came under the influence of the Douglasbrothers, Les and Edga.

Billy was a bantam and/or feather in those days, and recalls losing twice to Birkenhead's Fran kie Wil liamsand beating Larr y Murray at the Liverpool Stadium on a Northern Counties v London bill in 1943. Laterthat year Billy, who had been deferred because he was a railway fitter, joined the Army and before he wasdemobbed he spent much of his time in the Middle East where, despite his amateur status, he regularly boxed withTerry Allen, later to become World champion. "At these shows we would salute the presenting officer, take ourmedals after the bout then go back stage and hand them back and pick up either £8 for a win or £6 for a loss in National Savings

Certificates."

Billy boxed regularly at the Fleet Club in Alexandria, met Cyril Vance on the big V E Day show at the DekhelaStadium and later had many ring battles in Palesti ne. When he came out of the Army in 1947 Bill yimmedia tely turned professional and though he never had an official manager his affairs were always handledby his old pal Les Douglas.

Billy made his paid debut as a lightweight at the St James' Hall Newcastle on 2 October 1947. He drew withWilf Bone and came back with just £5 to show for his efforts and the lengt hy trip . A week later he drewagain, this tim e at the Sta diu m, wit h Geo rge Dor set and cle are d £6. It was not a par ticularly bri lli antsta rt, but Bill y had laid the foun dati ons for a very useful career, in which he was to lose only twice inhis firs t 23 bouts and finish with an overall record of 28 contests, 18 wins, three draws and seven defeats.

Perhaps Billy's biggest chance, and his best payda y, came when he met Bert Hornby at Anfie ld,Liverpool, as the chief supporting contest to the clash of Stan Rowan and Jackie Patterson. It was bad luckfor Billy when he had to retire with a badly swollen eye at the end of the fif th. Bill y also had two goodwins over South African Fanie Bushney, knocking him out in two rounds with a stra ight lef t thenforcing him to reti re in four and he par ticularly recalls outpointing Billy Barton. "My father would neverwatch me box but our cont est was broadcas t that nigh t and he sat and list ened to it at home . It made myparen ts' night when the commentato r told how my mother had made my black and red dressing gown."

Bi ll y's fi rs t defeat came at the hands of Mic k Green of Blackpool although he reve rsed the resu ltthe followin g week . He then won 11 in a row before going in as a short notice substitute and losing toJohnny Smith (Clyd ebank). Apart from Fanie his best wins came over Maurice Mancini (out of theRandy Turpin stab le), Mick O'Nei ll, Sunderland's Hugh Smith and Ton y McT igu e of Wig an. A hardhit ter , McTigu e too k a non -stop pounding from Billy who ran out a decisive points winner while Smith wascut about both eyes and was down in the last round but hung on to the final bell.

When he beat Johnny Walsh of Blackpool Billy had him down for four long coun ts befo re knoc king himout in six. Afte r losing to Bert Hornby early in 194 5, he hi t a bad st rea k dro pping a poi nts dec isi onto New Zealande r Jack y Jenk ins then bein g beat en by Roy Sharples, Les Rend le and Freddie Smit h.This was five reve rses in a row and the lega cy of the Smith fight on 29 September 1950 was a black eyethat he carried with him when he walked up the aisle to his wedding a week later.

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Bil ly nev er box ed aga in aft er thi s but his wif e Ton i sai d, "do n't let anybody think I am stoppinghim boxing – the decision was entirely Bill's. " Wit h his gloves hun g up Bil ly sti ll wante d to sta y inthe gam e and the chance came through his old amat eur club , Kens ingt on which was rath er run down.Amate ur stalwart Sid Thomas offered to take on the secretary' s job if Bill would become trainer and thishe did.

Ev en tu al ly he mo ve d on to th e PB A gy m in Li ve rp oo l, to ok a professional manager's licenceand made his firs t sign ings in the shape of Billy Evans and Steve Ako. Finally in 1961 he secured his presentgym, had the British lightweight champion Dave Charnley along for the official opening mid has neverlooked back. He feels his best prospect of all was former Central Area light -heavyweight champion Ray Ako,who is unluckily lost to the game thro ugh ill heal th, but reca lls anot her ligh t -heav y, Joe Louis, who beatJack Bodell in two rounds at Fleetwood, then refused an Empire title with Chic Calde rwood saying he wasnot ready. 24 hours later Louis changed his mind but the chance was gone.

Billy had a part icularly soft spot for Bill y Evans, a fine will ing worker who twice boxed Lennie 'theLion' Willi ams, and once had him down. He also trained Liverpool middle Harry Scott during his purplepatch against Ruben Carter, Nino Benvenuti and Lazio Papp, and spent many mornings with the triplechampion John Conteh on roadwork.

Name: Terry AllenCareer Record: clickBirth Name: Edward Albert GovierNationality: BritishHometown: Islington, London, United KingdomBorn: 1924-06-18Died: 1987-04-08Age at Death: 62Stance: OrthodoxHeight: 5' 2″

Allen was a clever boxer who won the FlyweightChampionship of the World during his career; Hebegan his career using the name Edward Govier; Aftergoing AWOL from the British Navy during World War

II, he swapped ID cards with a person named Terry Allen; He eventually wasarrested and sent to Egypt to serve out the remainder of World War II

He defeated such men as Rinty Monaghan, Jimmy Gill, Norman Tennant, HonorePratesi, Vic Herman, Eric Marsden, Jimmy Pearce, Dickie O'Sullivan and MickeyJones

Terry Allen (born June 18, 1924, in Islington, England, died April 8, 1987) was an English flyweight boxer ofheritage. During his career, he became British, Commonwealth, European and World flyweight champion.Allen's father was a professional boxer. Allen’s mother died when he was two, and he was raised by hisgrandmother. Six of his cousins were also professional boxers.

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He started boxing when he was nine and won a schoolboy championship. During his amateur career, he won102 out of 107 contests.He had his first professional fight in September 1942, at the age of eighteen. He beatJim Thomas on points over six rounds at Caledonian Road Baths, Islington.

He then proceeded to win his first thirty-two fights. In 1942, during the Second World War, he joined the RoyalNavy, and while stationed at Alexandria, Egypt, he fought and won fifteen bouts, between May 1944 andDecember 1945.

His first defeat was in May 1946 against Alex Murphy by a knockout in the sixth round at Harringay Arena.Hecontinued to win the vast majority of his fights, until, in September 1949, he challenged Rinty Monaghan, forhis British, Commonwealth, European and World flyweight titles. The fought in Monaghan’s hometown ofBelfast, and the result after fifteen rounds was a draw.

Shortly after this fight, Monaghan retired, relinquishing his titles, and in April 1950, Allen fought HonorePratesi of France for the vacant European and World flyweight titles. The fight was held at Harringay Arenaand Allen won on points over fifteen rounds to gain both titles.

In August 1950, he defended his World title against Dado Marino of the United States. The fight was held inHonolulu and Marino won a unanimous points decision to take the title.

In October 1950, Allen lost his European title when he defended it against Jan Sneyers of Belgium inNottingham. Sneyers won on points, but the British crowd thought that Allen had won, and booed the decision.

In June 1951, Allen fought Vic Herman for the British flyweight title vacated by Rinty Monaghan. The fightwas in Leicester and Allen won on points.

In November 1951, Allen had a re-match with Dado Marino for the World flyweight title. The fight was inHonolulu, and Marino won again by a unanimous decision.

In March 1952, he fought against Teddy Gardner for the British, Commonwealth and European flyweight titles.The fight was held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Gardner won on points to take all three titles. Shortlyafterwards Gardner retired leaving the titles vacant.

In October 1952, Allen fought for the vacant British flyweight title, against Eric Marsden. He won the titlewhen the fight was stopped in the sixth.

In October 1953, he had another shot at a World title when he fought Yoshio Shirai, in Tokyo. Unfortunatelyfor Allen, the Japanese won a unanimous decision.

In February 1954, Allen defended his British title against Eric Marsden, who he had beaten previously. He wonagain, this time on a disqualification in the fifth round.

Allen’s last fight was an unsuccessful challenge for the vacant European flyweight title. He fought NazzarenoGiannelli, in Milan, Italy, but the Italian won on points.

Retirement

Allen had worked as a barrow boy at the beginning of his boxing career, and after retiring, he was able to openhis own vegetable business in Islington market.

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Boxing News September 3, 1952

GETS CHANCE FOR REVENGE

A CAPACIT Y crowd of 5,000 saw Terry Al len ea rn th e righ t to again me et holder, when he battledhis way to a Midd lesbrough (7-12-15), in the final Brit ish titl e eliminati ng contest over twelve rounds..Pe ar ce , wi th an ad vant age in reach which he used to good effect in the se cond ha lf , gave a goo dacco un t of hims el f, but Al len' s speed was the decisive fact or and the Middlesbro ugh boy jus t fai ledto turn the tables.

Th e Lo nd on er wa s al wa ys a shade faster to the punch. Pearce, howe ver, was the cr ispe r hi tt er andwith a lit tle more confidence in the early rounds might well have realised his schoolboy ambition to fight fora British crown.

Allen comfortably took the opening three rou nds wi th his fas ter punch ing and more exp eri enc edinside work. Refusing to be shaken out of his stride by his opponent's fierce attacks. Pearce settled down tocounter with strong straight leftsand als o sho wed a wil lin gness to " mix it " when ever they got close.which was often.

TOE-TO-TOE SESSIONAllen in an al l-ou t la st round effo rt put ever ything he knew into action and a grand toe-to-toe slam-ming sess ion had the large crowd on their feet throughout the round.Allen moved straight to the attack inthe openin g round, but Pea rce neat ly count ered with a short right high to the head. Pearce was shaken nearthe end of the round as Allen landed astrong right swing.

Terry took the init iative again in the second, but Pearce was the first to score with a left to the face.Allencontinued to move in at speed and caught his man with a good left to the body.

Back-pedall ing hasti ly to get clear of a swinging left as Allen attacked, Jimmy failed to dodge a further leftas his oppone nt pre ssed for war d. Twic e Allen rush ed his man to the ropes. but though he took noserious punishmen t Pea rce looked a lit tle anxious

CROWD YELLINGJu st be fo re th e be ll , howe ver . Jimmy had the crowd yellin g wildl y as he att ack ed and sco red wit h aright to the face.

In the fourth Allen again attack ed with two-fisted rushes. but. Pearce, gaining confidence, was ready andstopped him short with a solid punch or two to the body.

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Pearce moved back from a powerful body blow as they came up for the fifth and was almost caught offbalance. He recovered smartly, how• ever, and scored with a lef t to the face, before another speedy attackby Te rr y re su lt ed in a ha rd cl os e -quarter exchange.

Pearce came out for the next round with a two-handed swinging attack, but with fir st-class ringcra ftAllen dodged clear. Jimmy twice caught Al le n wi th hi s gu ar d do wn an d scored rapidly to the facewith both hands.

In a grand toe-to-toe session in the seventh, Pearce scored with a good uppercut which shook the LondonerMore than a li tt le . but in a la te r exchange on the ropes, Pear ce was the recipient of a similar blow.Allen attacked with flic king lef ts in the eight h. Pearce then landed a right to Allen's face and took a two-handed shower in reply.

Pearce won the ninth, scoring with two good lefts and then beat a hasty retreat from a powerful Allen rush.Quick ly comin g back. Jimmy shook his man wi th a st ra ight righ t to the face.

Fo r al l Al le n' s sp ee d. Pe ar ce ga ve as muc h as he rec eiv ed in the fol low - 1 ing ro un d,co un te ri ng we ll wi th st ra ig ht bl ow s to th e bo dy . Fi rm ly standin g his gro und in the ele ven th,Pearc e stopped Allen in the cen tre of th e ri ng wi th hi s ri gh t. Al le n di d mo st of th e at ta ck in g.wh ile Pe arce boxed well on the retreat.

FIERCE LAST ROUND

Ter ry wen t all out in the fin al rou nd an d fi er ce sh ou ld er - to- sh oul de r ses sio ns oft en had to besep ara ted by th e re fe re e. Ke ep in g up th e fa st pa ce , Al le n la un ch ed at ta ck up on at tack and th eround ended as th ey slammed it out in the mid dle of the rin g. : .

John ‘Rinty’ MonaghanUndefeated World Flyweight Champion

1918 - 1984

‘Rinty’ Monaghan became the world flyweight boxing champion at the Kings Hall, Belfastin 1948 and retired undefeated in 1950 at the end of a sixteen-year professional boxingcareer in which he fought sixty-six contests, winning fifty-one, drawing six others and beingbeaten only nine times.

John Joseph Monaghan was born on 21 August 1918 at 23 Lancaster Street, Belfast and,

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after marrying Frances Thompson in 1938, he moved to Little Corporation Street, in theDocklands area of the city. There he raised his three daughters, Martha, Rosetta andColette and son, Sean, and lived for the rest of his life.

Earlier, while still at school in St Patrick’s Christian Brothers at Donegall Street, aged just11, he began taking part in street boxing contests earning a fish and chip supper when hewon. By the time he was fourteen he was picking up purses of a few shillings for victoriesand at the age of fourteen was well on the way to a professional boxing career, training ina tumbledown gym in Hardinge Street.

There are conflicting versions of how he acquired the enduring nickname ‘Rinty’: one saysit originated in his childhood because of his enthusiasm for ‘Rin Tin Tin’, the heroicGerman Shepherd dog, which starred in a series of popular 1920’s movies; another is thatit was a tribute to his nifty footwork in the boxing ring.

Whatever the truth, his early career was highly successful and he did not suffer a defeatuntil he was knocked out by Glaswegian Jackie Patterson during his twenty-fifthprofessional fight in 1938.

The defeat was only a temporary setback but Monaghan’s career was interrupted bywartime service in the Navy which chose not to exploit his fighting instincts but sent himinstead to such places as Norway, Gibraltar and, in 1944, forty-eight hours after D-Day, toNormandy where he entertained the troops as a song and dance man. He managed to fit ina small number of fights during the wartime years but in November 1945, out of uniformand back in full training, Monaghan knocked out Eddie ‘Bunty’ Doran to win the Ulsterflyweight title.

His target now became the world title and in 1947 he beat Londoner, Terry Allen, the fightbeing stopped in the first round. Later that year he lost then won against Dado Marino,securing the NBA flyweight title.

In March 1948, there followed the highpoint of his career when he knocked out his oldadversary, Patterson, in the seventh round of a fight at the Kings Hall to become theundisputed British, Commonwealth and World flyweight champion, reputedly the firstNorthern Ireland boxer ever to hold a world title. Monaghan later claimed that theclinching factor in his pre-fight preparations had been a diet of goat’s milk and raw eggs.

As Patterson was carried from the ring, it was besieged by thousands of jubilant supportersand Monaghan later said he had to fight again that night, this time to reach his homethrough the milling crowds in York and Corporation Streets where celebratory bonfireshad been lit.

In April 1949 he retained his world championship and won the European flyweight titlewhen he defeated Frenchman, Maurice Sandeyron, in Belfast and the following September,although he could only draw with Terry Allen in Belfast, he held on to his titles.

By this time, Monaghan had developed a chronic lung and sinus condition and in April1950, aged 32,he was forced to renounce his titles and retire undefeated. He tried to make

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a comeback a few years later but he was refused a licence to fight again professionally andfinally hung up his gloves. At that point, it was calculated, he had fought a total of some180 bouts. Of the sixty-six officially recorded contests, he won fifty-one, drew six othersand was beaten only nine times.

From his £3,500 purse for winning the world title, Monaghan bought a radiogram and alarge three-piece suite, which left hardly any room in his tiny terrace house. Although hemade good money, but not a life changing fortune, from his boxing, it was quicklydissipated for he was badly advised and fell for too many hard-luck stories.

Trying to cash in on his undoubted popularity as an entertainer - he had always performedhis trademark ‘When Irish Eyes Are Smiling‘ at the end of his fights - he went on the roadas a singer with a small band and even tried to train winning greyhounds. He also indulgedheavily in his passion for snooker, several times reaching the finals of amateurcompetitions. In the end, although no other boxer ever stripped him of his titles, the taxmanrelieved him of his remaining money forcing him to work successively as a taxi driver, lorrydriver and then a petrol pump attendant to make a living.

For the rest of his days, Monaghan was philosophical about his lot and said he had nocomplaints. He remained a much loved and highly popular figure and, as he went about hisvarious jobs, people throughout Belfast invariably recognised the battered little man withhis twinkling eyes and permanent smile.

He remained, too, a gregarious figure and is widely remembered for his constantwillingness to burst into song, his eye-popping impersonation of ‘Popeye the Sailor’, tapdancing and mouth-organ playing. On one famous occasion, he entertained a train load ofex-boxers and their friends for the six hour duration of an excursion by train to Cork.

His sense of humour did not desert him in 1976 when a local radio station wronglybroadcast news of his death. ‘I’m not floored yet,’ he chuckled when he phoned to correctthe report.

Soon afterwards, however, illness forced him to give up his cabaret spots and he finallysuccumbed to lung cancer and died on 3 March 1984, aged 65. He is buried in the BelfastCity Cemetery beneath a headstone with the inscription ‘Undefeated World FlyweightChampion’ etched between the images of two boxing gloves.

Earlier in his life, Jack Solomons, the renowned boxing promoter, had describedMonaghan as ‘a leprechaun with fists of steel’. On his passing the Belfast Telegraphdevoted an editorial to him: ‘The death of Rinty Monaghan marks the end of the last fightby the former world champion, who battled bravely against illness, but the memory will liveon. He was more than a boxer or a showman. He was also an institution, His name wasknown by people inside and outside boxing. He personified courage, style and, above all, asense of fun.’

Location of plaque: Kings Hall, Balmoral, Belfast Date of unveiling: 2 May 2007

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Name: Dick RichardsonCareer Record: clickNationality: BritishHometown: Newport, Wales, United KingdomBorn: 1934-06-01Died: 1999-07-15Age at Death: 65Division: HeavyweightTrainer: Johnny Lewis, Johnny WilliamsManager: Wally Leslie

Dick RichardsonHard man of British boxing who left his mark on Henry Cooper

The Guardian, Friday July 16 1999

Those who only met the genial Welshman Dick Richardson in recent years, when he was an affable,smiling presence at the ringside of numerous boxing shows, and an enthusiastic supporter of boxingreunions and charity events, knew only half the story. The former European heavyweight champion,who has died aged 65, was a genuinely hard man, who thrilled a generation of British fight fans withhis rough-house style.

In an era which produced such top British heavyweights as Henry Cooper, Brian London, Joe Erskine and JoeBygraves, Richardson nevertheless made his mark, sometimes literally. "Dick was a dirty bastard," HenryCooper once said in an interview. "He loved to put the nut in. He used to do it deliberately, usually in the firstround." A jagged scar between Cooper's eyes is lasting testimony to a head butt Richardson dished out to hisopponent when they fought at Porthcawl in 1958.

Cooper won that fight when his trademark left hook halted Richardson in the fifth round, and he was to beathim at the same stage - and in similar style - when they met again in 1963, when Cooper's British title was atstake. But, between 1960 and 1962, Richardson was good enough to win the European title from the GermanHans Kalbfel with a 13th round stoppage in Dortmund - and to defend it successfully on three occasions, beforelosing in the eighth round in Gothenburg to the former world title holder Ingemar Johansson.

It was Richardson's European title defence against Brian London in August 1960, captured by BBC television,which has gone down in boxing folklore; the night was consigned to sporting history as "the brawl inPorthcawl". London had been forced to retire with serious cuts in the eighth round, but protested thatRichardson had been butting him and should have been disqualified. Richardson's trainer, Johnny Lewis,remonstrated with London, and was promptly knocked to the canvas for his pains. A scene reminiscent of a wildwest saloon fight broke out, as seconds piled into the ring and Richardson had to be pinned to his stall by cornermen to prevent him joining the fray. London was fined £1,000 - a sizeable sum at the time - by the BritishBoxing Board of Control for the episode.

On hearing of his old adversary's death, he said: "Whenever we met, we would always laugh about that night inPorthcawl. There was never any animosity between Dick and me. He was a great lad, a very good fighter, andhe will be greatly missed."

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Richardson was born in Newport, the son of a milkman who supplemented his earnings as a motor cyclist with afairground wall of death show. His father's death, when Richardson was only seven, contributed to a difficultchildhood, and the youngster was frequently acquainted with street violence. National service helped give himmuch-needed purpose and discipline, and it was then that he was introduced to boxing, which he pursued withsuch success he became the 1954 army champion.

A professional career which ended with retirement in 1963, brought him 31 victories, 14 defeats and two draws- along with handsome financial rewards, which, unlike many boxers, he invested wisely to develop asuccessful butcher's business in Camberley, Surrey.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, and a son and a daughter.

• Richard Alexander Richardson, boxer, born June 1, 1934; died July 14, 1999

Boxing News September 7th 1956SIDLE up to a covey of managers, casuallymention that you have seen a young heavyweightwho shows promise, watch their eyes light up,then step aside quickly in case you getcrushed to death in the rush for furtherinformation. Jack Dempsey’s one remainingambition is to find a likely lad and guide himto the World heavyweight crown. To this end hestages annual talent competitions. Manymanagers have gained fame and fortune and haveretired still regretting that they neverexperienced the thrill of guiding a 200pounder to the coveted championship. Yet thechance could fall right in your lap – just asit did to Wally Lesley.

Wally has been a fight manager for well overtwenty years but it was not until two yearsago that one of his boxers, Johnny Lewis,introduced him to Dick Richardson. The laterthen a raw youngster is now one of Britain'sbest prospects for the World heavyweighthonours.

At first glance Wally liked the look of Dick.but it was not until seven months and ninefights later in April 1955, to be precise,that Wally realised he'd got a find " Dick wasfighting Denny Ball at Cardiff" he said. "As Iwatched him that night it came to me like aflash that here was a prospect who could win

the British title. and possibly the World's crown. And he was mine, all mine.

" From then on I determined to do everything in my power to ensure that Dick received thecorrect guidance and resolved to profit by the mistakes made by other promising youngBritish heavies. They had been built up quickly only to fall by the wayside.'

But this is not the Dick Richardson story. You'll find that in our issue dated October14. 1955 Yes "Boxing News " realised his potentialities early in his career too.

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Pro at 13

No. this story 's about Wally. Born in the Elephant and Castle district of South-EastLondon, watched his first fight at the age of nine, and turned pro at thirteen.His dad,Bill Lesley, helped to instill the urge to use his mitts. The elder Lesley boxed at theold Lambeth School of Arms with great success. Then one day Willie Farrell and CharlieWard of Blackfriars took Wally to the Catholic Club in South London where he wasinitiated into the " Noble Art."

Wally's pro career lasted seven years. During that time he had about 150 contests,winning most of them. and retired at the early age of 21. Among those he met were JohnnyBroker, Billy Pimm, Hugo Francis. Teddy Murton, Sammy Baker, Harry Pullen, Young Clancyand Syd Whatley.

Retired at 21

And why did he retire at 21 ? Let Wally take up the story. "I loved boxing," he declared."I never weighed more than 8st. 41b. But averaging nearly 20 fights a year, I felt I

wanted to retire while I was still winning. It was a step I never regretted.

"I didn't get any money at all for my first pro bout," he chuckled. "It was at the EmpireSchool of Arms in Marylebone Road. I was compensated (?) by seeing my name in the papersthe following day.

" My first purse was fifteen bob for beating Teddy Ganley, at The Ring. I used to walkfrom the Elephant to Walham Green, not even sure of having a fight when I got there.' Then I had to walk back again.

"I did plenty of instructing, too at the North Camberwell Radical Club and the Bow Streetand Hunter Street Police Club. Always kept good company.

" It was while instructing at the Crossways Athletic Club that I met Margaret Waller,who was a champion sprinter. And in 1923 we got married, Now we have three sons, youngestof whom is 28, and three grandchildren.

" For years I worked in Covent Garden Market in a variety of capacities, checker, porter,the lot. I once worked in a pawnbroker's shop, but got the sack for turning up with acouple of black eyes. Incidentally, I never used a protector or gumshield in my life."

In 1934 Wally took out a manager's licence, and his •first boxer was bantamweight HarryGraham, who was sent to him by Mike Honeyman, British feathers champ in 1920. When warbroke out Wally joined the Royal Artillery and was soon posted overseas to EastAfrica Ind Egypt. He became a sergeant instructor in battle courses, but did he neglecthis boxing ? No, sir.

" I think I was the first one to teach boxing in Kenya," he said. " I staged atournament there that will go down in history. We knocked tree trunks into the ground andput boards over them to make a ring, borrowed the lights from a R.A.F. hangar, thencrossed our fingers and ' On with the show.' We just hoped it would stand up under thestrain.". " And, did it ? " I asked.

" Sure thing," replied Wally. "And it attracted a crowd of 12,000, comprising7,500 East Africans. 3,000 Italian prisoners, and 1,500 British troops." Came the end ofthe war and he came back to pick up the threads of boxing managership. He always had agood little stable, and- no reference to the Lesley clan would be complete withoutmention of Johnny Lewis.

Johnny was introduced to him by George Daly, whom Wally describes as "the cleverest boxernever to win a title.". "I had Johnny in the gym for ten months before I considered him

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ready to make his pro debut," declared Wally. " And he never let me down. His careerlasted about four years. and when he retired in 1953 he became trainer to my stable.

I have no hesitation in saying that Johnny is now one of Britain' top trainers. DickRichardson i fitter and better than he's eve been. His condition against Joe Erskine wasa revelation. And it's mainly due to Johnny.

Wally has proved himself to be one of the shrewdest managers in the game, too. AlthoughDick': fight with Erskine was a non-title affair, Richardson's share of the purse was inthe region of £5,000 far more than Erskine's. A typical Lesley stroke, and an outstandingexample of his expert guidance.

Not lonely

" They say a 'loser's dressing room is the loneliest place in the world," chuckled Wally."But not that night. I had to fight my way through the mob to get near Dick. Everyonewanted to shake his hand.

" A lot has been written about our tackling moderate Continentals. My view is this : It'sbetter for Dick to keep fighting than lay about in the gym. And he's learning—andearning—all the time.

" Why didn't I put forward Dick's name as a contender for the British title ? Simple.Because I didn't want to be tied down at that the first time I was asked officially. Thenext time it cropped up I was not even asked. Presumably it was taken for grantedthat my answer would be the same."

In addition to his normal duties, Wally has also acted as business manager in promotionsat Crystal Palace, Manor Place Baths and Reading.When he does get a chance to relax it'sthe cinema (twice a week) or the London Palladium. " I love Variety," he told me, "especially ' pop ' singers like Billy, Daniels, Dave King and Dickie Valentine.

" Why are all your fighters milk roundsmen ? " I asked him. Don't tell me it's -purecoincidence."

Loves fighting

" No," replied Wally. " I believe a fighter should be near his manager. I have friends inthe milk business. So, if one of my boys wants a job, then its there—on my doorstep. Anddon't forget they start early and finish early, leaving plenty of time for training. Goodstuff for drinking, too—so they tell me.

" As to the future—this is my plan. We will meet any leading American heavyweight thatmay come to Britain. If they don't materialise quickly, then we'll go to the UnitedStates.

"Dick is like me. He loves fighting. He reminds me very much of Ted ' Kid 'Lewis. So I'llmake a prediction. Richardson for the World's heavyweight title. And the date-1958."