Dave Boy Green
Dave Boy Green | |
---|---|
Born | David Robert Green 2 June 1953 Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, England |
Nationality | English |
Other names | Fenland Tiger |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) |
|
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 41 |
Wins | 37 |
Wins by KO | 29 |
Losses | 4 |
David Robert Green
Early life
Green was born on 2 June 1953, in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, a small fenland town. His father was a farmer and so Green's first experience of work was helping out around the family farm.[2] He attended Cromwell School where he was keen on football and cross country running, but took up boxing in 1967 after joining the Chatteris Amateur Boxing Club. He was trained by Arthur Binder who had taught Eric Boon, a famous local boxer. Green had 105 amateur contests, winning 84 with 33 inside the distance.[3]
Professional career
In 1974, Green turned professional under the guidance of manager Andy Smith. He made his professional debut on 10 December 1974, when he beat Yotham Kunda by knockout in the second round. Green went on to achieve 15 straight wins, earning a shot at the British light-welterweight title.[4]
British light-welterweight champion
On 1 June 1976, Green entered the ring in a tiger-skin dressing-gown to win the
European light-welterweight champion
On 7 December 1976 Green took on the Pride of Paris, Jean-Baptiste Piedvache, for the vacant
On 29 March 1977, Green fought John H. Stracey at Wembley as a final eliminator to challenge for the WBC welterweight title. Stracey was a former WBC welterweight champion from the tough East End of London. The odds appeared to be even going into the bout, but Green went on to win the match due to Stracey's left eye starting to close.[6]
Challenger for world title
Green vs. Palomino
On 14 June 1977, Green challenged Carlos Palomino for the WBC welterweight title at Empire Pool. Fortunes swayed with Green digging deep, his left eye closing, but Palomino boxed superbly to win by a left-hook knockout in the 11th round. It was the first time Green had been floored as a professional. After his loss, Green's next bout was against Andy Price, beating him on points.[7]
European welterweight champion
On 23
On 28 June 1979, Green defended his European welterweight title against Dane Jørgen Hansen. Green knocked Hansen down in the second round, but the Dane fought on, knocking Green down twice in the third, and forcing the referee to stop the bout. Being a true sportsman Green applauded Hansen when the belt was presented.[9]
Green vs. Leonard
The final challenge for the WBC welterweight title happened on 31 March 1980 against the holder Sugar Ray Leonard at the Capital Centre Landover, Maryland US. Green suffered a devastating knockout in the fourth round being out cold before he hit the canvas. Referee Arthur Mercante, ruled that it was too dangerous to continue the count and stopped at six.[10] The Times reported "Leaning forward, dipping to left and right so that either hand could hit with equal venom, Leonard struck Green with a left and followed up quickly with a right-left-right, that started a clangour in Green's head, and the Briton crashed onto his back at the same place in the ring where Carlos Palomino had sent him toppling backwards".[11]
Later career
After his loss to Leonard, Green returned to the ring on 14 November 1980, against American Mario Mendez, stopping him in the second round. Green's final bout, on 3 November 1981, was at the Royal Albert Hall against Reg Ford a New York-based Guyanese who was a one time sparring partner to Thomas Hearns. Andy Smith retired Green in the fifth round with cuts and a closing left eye.
After boxing
Green appeared in the BBC Series Superstars where he competed in the multi discipline event against other sports stars.
Currently Green is Chairman of Renoak Limited in Chatteris, a company he founded with Bob Emerson. Dave takes part in charity golf events. His success can be summed up by Sugar Ray Leonard, "Dave was a brave fighting man who never gave less than one hundred per cent whenever he put the gloves on. He is a warm human being who does tremendous work for charity, and I'm thrilled he has made such a success in business".
Green married Kay Curson on 26 October 1974. They have a son and twin daughters.[12] In 2012, Green was awarded an MBE for services to Boxing and Charity in the Cambridgeshire area.[13]
Professional boxing record
41 fights | 37 wins | 4 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 29 | 4 |
By decision | 8 | 0 |
Draws | 0 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
41 | Loss | 37–4 | Reggie Ford | RTD | 5 (10), 3:00 | 3 Nov 1981 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
40 | Win | 37–3 | Danny Long | TKO | 4 (10), 1:30 | 2 Jun 1981 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
39 | Win | 36–3 | Jose Ramon Gomez Fouz | PTS | 8 | 24 Feb 1981 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
38 | Win | 35–3 | Gary Holmgren | TKO | 6 (8), 2:38 | 27 Jan 1981 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
37 | Win | 34–3 | Mario Mendez | TKO | 2 (10) | 14 Nov 1980 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
36 | Loss | 33–3 | Sugar Ray Leonard | KO | 4 (15), 2:27 | 31 Mar 1980 | Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, US | For WBC and The Ring welterweight titles |
35 | Win | 33–2 | Dick Eklund
|
PTS | 10 | 4 Dec 1979 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
34 | Win | 32–2 | Steve Michalerya | TKO | 3 (10), 2:04 | 25 Sep 1979 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
33 | Loss | 31–2 | Jørgen Hansen | KO | 3 (12) | 14 May 1979 | Randers Hallen, Randers, Denmark | Lost European welterweight title |
32 | Win | 31–1 | Rafael Rodriguez | TKO | 8 (10) | 26 Jun 1979 | Conference Centre, London, England | |
31 | Win | 30–1 | Lawrence Hafey | TKO | 5 (10) | 1 May 1979 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
30 | Win | 29–1 | Henry Rhiney | TKO | 5 (12) | 29 Jan 1979 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | Won European welterweight title |
29 | Win | 28–1 | Sammy Masias | KO | 1 (10) | 5 Dec 1978 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
28 | Win | 27–1 | Aundra Love | TKO | 8 (10) | 7 Nov 1978 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
27 | Win | 26–1 | Roy Johnson | KO | 4 (10) | 21 Feb 1978 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
26 | Win | 25–1 | Andy Price | PTS | 10 | 27 Sep 1977 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
25 | Loss | 24–1 | Carlos Palomino | KO | 11 (15), 2:05 | 14 Jun 1977 | Empire Pool, London, England | For WBC and The Ring welterweight titles |
24 | Win | 24–0 | John H. Stracey | TKO | 10 (10), 1:40 | 29 Mar 1977 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
23 | Win | 23–0 | Mario Omar Guillotti | PTS | 10 | 22 Feb 1977 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
22 | Win | 22–0 | Jean-Baptiste Piedvache | RTD | 9 (15), 3:00 | 7 Dec 1976 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | Won vacant European super-lightweight title |
21 | Win | 21–0 | Jimmy Heair | PTS | 10 | 9 Nov 1976 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
20 | Win | 20–0 | Ramiro Bolanos | TKO | 4 (10), 1:30 | 26 Oct 1976 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
19 | Win | 19–0 | Ugo Di Pietro | KO | 1 (10), 2:12 | 12 Oct 1976 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
18 | Win | 18–0 | Jean Pierre Younsi | TKO | 1 (10), 2:50 | 14 Sep 1976 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
17 | Win | 17–0 | Ernesto Bergamasco | TKO | 5 (10), 0:21 | 22 Jun 1976 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
16 | Win | 16–0 | Joey Singleton | RTD | 6 (15), 3:00 | 1 Jun 1976 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | Won British super-lightweight title |
15 | Win | 15–0 | Herbie McLean | RTD | 4 (10), 3:00 | 27 Apr 1976 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
14 | Win | 14–0 | Jim Montague | PTS | 8 | 6 Apr 1976 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
13 | Win | 13–0 | Giuseppe Minotti | TKO | 4 (8), 2:02 | 20 Mar 1976 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
12 | Win | 12–0 | Billy Waith | TKO | 11 (12), 2:35 | 2 Mar 1976 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
11 | Win | 11–0 | George McGurk | KO | 2 (10), 2:50 | 20 Jan 1976 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
10 | Win | 10–0 | Alan Salter | TKO | 1 (10), 1:25 | 25 Nov 1975 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
9 | Win | 9–0 | Brian Jones | KO | 2 (10), 0:55 | 10 Nov 1975 | Guild Hall, Cambridge, England | |
8 | Win | 8–0 | Al Stewart | TKO | 2 (8), 2:45 | 14 Oct 1975 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
7 | Win | 7–0 | Angus McMillan | PTS | 8 | 3 Jun 1975 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
6 | Win | 6–0 | Tommy Joyce | KO | 3 (8), 2:35 | 12 May 1975 | Hilton Hotel, London, England | |
5 | Win | 5–0 | George Salmon | PTS | 8 | 8 Apr 1975 | Sporting Club, Cambridge, England | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | Barton Mcallister | TKO | 2 (6), 2:50 | 11 Mar 1975 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | Derek Simpson | RTD | 7 (8), 3:00 | 12 Feb 1975 | Guild Hall, Cambridge, England | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | Dave Coombs | KO | 2 (6), 1:56 | 20 Jan 1975 | Hilton Hotel, London, England | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Yotham Kunda | KO | 2 (6) | 10 Dec 1974 | Ice Rink, Nottingham, England |
See also
- List of British light-welterweight boxing champions
- List of European Boxing Union welterweight champions
- List of European Boxing Union light welterweight champions
References
- ^ Lloyd, pp. 30–31.
- ^ Lloyd, p. 25.
- ^ Lloyd, p. 27.
- ^ a b "Dave "Boy" Green: The Lad Who Loved a Dust Up". Ringside Report. 13 February 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- ISBN 0-9540271-2-4
- ^ Lloyd, p. 30.
- ^ "Green vows: Price will pay". Sports Argus. 24 September 1977. Retrieved 18 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ BBC Radio 2 listings, Daily Mirror page 14, 23 January 1979
- ^ a b Lloyd, p. 32.
- ^ Berger, Phil (8 November 1988). "Leonard Knocks Out Lalonde to Win Two Titles". Sarasota Herald Tribune, April 2, 1980. Retrieved 2 April 2018 – via news.google.com.
- ^ The Times, Tuesday, Apr 01, 1980; p. 27; Issue 60590; col C
- ^ Lloyd, p. 29.
- ^ "Dave 'Boy' Green: Honoured". Boxing News Online. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
Bibliography
- Lloyd, Melanie (2017). Sweet Fighting Man: Ring of Truth. Pitch Publishing, Durrington. ISBN 978-1-78531-315-8.
External links
- Boxing record for Dave Boy Green from BoxRec (registration required)