Dave Boy Green
Encyclopedia
Dave "Boy" Green is a former British welterweight boxing
champion and businessman. Born in Chatteris
, Cambridgeshire
, a small fenland
town, he boxed as the "Fen Tiger".
but took up boxing in 1967 joining the Chatteris Amateur Boxing Club. His trainer was Arthur Binder who had taught Eric Boon
, a famous local boxer. In 1969, Green won the National Federation of Boys' Clubs championship. Green had 105 amateur contests winning 74 with 33 inside the distance.
In 1974, Green turned professional under the guidance of Andy Smith his manager. It was the same year (26 October 1974) he married Kay Curson of Sutton.
) against Joey "The Jab" Singleton of Liverpool with powerful hooks to the head and body. Though receiving stinging jabs all the while. Singleton was the better boxer, but Green's power began to show. The crowd wanted Green to deliver his "muck spreader" punch but his boxing lead to a retirement in 6th round.
on 29 March 1977 at Wembley as a final eliminator to challenge for the WBC title. Stracey was a former WBC world champion from the tough East End of London and it was anybody's fight. But Green's desire for victory won through as Stracey's left eye started to close. There could be no doubt Green had earned a shot at the WBC title.
of Los Angeles
at Wembley London. Fortunes swayed with Green digging deep his left eye closing but Palomino boxed superbly to win by a left-hook KO in 11th round. It was the first time Green had been floored as a professional.
contracted to fight Sugar Ray Leonard
. That meant Green had to defend his European title against the experienced 36 year old Dane Jorgen Hansen
on the 28 June 1979. Looking for a quick finish Green left himself open being KO
in the 3rd round by a vicious right. Being a true sportsman Green applauded Hansen when the belt was presented.
belt happened on 31 March 1980 against the holder Sugar Ray Leonard
at the Capital Centre Landover, Maryland
USA, which Green lost by a KO in the 4 round. The Times Newspaper 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 on to his back at the same place in the ring where Carlos Palomino had sent him toppling backwards." Green showed lots of spirit but he did not have the answer to Sugar Ray Leonard's masterly boxing skill and timing.
against Reg Ford a New York based Guyanan who was a one time sparring partner to Thomas Hearns
. Andy Smith retired Green in the 5 round with cuts and closing left eye. It was the correct decision to end Green's career when his fans remembered him as one of Britain's most popular and exciting fighters.
, "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".
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Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champion and businessman. Born in Chatteris
Chatteris
Chatteris is a civil parish and one of four market towns in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire, England, situated in The Fens between Huntingdon, March and Ely...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, a small fenland
Fenland
Fenland is a local government district in Cambridgeshire, England. Its council is based in March, and covers the neighbouring market towns of Chatteris, Whittlesey, and Wisbech, often called the "capital of the fens"...
town, he boxed as the "Fen Tiger".
Early years
In his youth at Cromwell School he was keen on football and cross-countryCross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
but took up boxing in 1967 joining the Chatteris Amateur Boxing Club. His trainer was Arthur Binder who had taught Eric Boon
Eric Boon
Eric Boon was a champion British lightweight boxer. Born in Chatteris Cambridgeshire, he was known by the nicknames Boy Boon and the Fen Tiger...
, a famous local boxer. In 1969, Green won the National Federation of Boys' Clubs championship. Green had 105 amateur contests winning 74 with 33 inside the distance.
In 1974, Green turned professional under the guidance of Andy Smith his manager. It was the same year (26 October 1974) he married Kay Curson of Sutton.
British Lonsdale Belt
On 1 June 1976, Green entered the ring in a tiger-skin dressing-gown to win the British light-welterweight Championship (Lonsdale BeltLonsdale belt
The Lonsdale Belt was a boxing prize introduced by Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale, to be awarded to British boxing champions. It is still awarded to British champions today.-National Sporting Club:...
) against Joey "The Jab" Singleton of Liverpool with powerful hooks to the head and body. Though receiving stinging jabs all the while. Singleton was the better boxer, but Green's power began to show. The crowd wanted Green to deliver his "muck spreader" punch but his boxing lead to a retirement in 6th round.
First European title
On 7 December 1976 Green took on the Pride of Paris Jean-Baptiste Piedvache for the European light welterweight championship. Green was staggered in the 8th round but Piedvache's left eye was closing. With a strong right and left hooks Green retired Piedvache in the 9th round while ahead on points. It was Green's 22nd straight win with 18 inside the distance.WBC Title eliminator
Dave "Boy" Green fought John H. StraceyJohn H. Stracey
John H. Stracey is a former professional boxer who was world Welterweight champion. He also had, at one point, a boxing school in London....
on 29 March 1977 at Wembley as a final eliminator to challenge for the WBC title. Stracey was a former WBC world champion from the tough East End of London and it was anybody's fight. But Green's desire for victory won through as Stracey's left eye started to close. There could be no doubt Green had earned a shot at the WBC title.
Second European Title win
Dave Boy Green took on Henry Rhiney a Jamaican who boxed out of Luton winning with a 5 RSC. It was an all British fight with all the tickets sold. The bout started at a terrific pace both men going toe-to-toe. A solid right to the head of Rhiney lead Mr Nathan to stop the fight. Green was a dual European Champion the first Englishman since Ted "Kid" Lewis in 1920.WBC Title challenge - Carlos Palomino
Dave Boy Green's first WBC welterweight bout was on 14 June 1977 against Carlos PalominoCarlos Palomino
Carlos Palomino a retired Mexican professional boxer. Palomino is a former WBC Welterweight Champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Palomino is also an actor who has been featured in several television shows and films...
of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
at Wembley London. Fortunes swayed with Green digging deep his left eye closing but Palomino boxed superbly to win by a left-hook KO in 11th round. It was the first time Green had been floored as a professional.
Danish disaster
Due to money the WBC Champion Wilfred BenitezWilfred Benitez
Wilfred Benítez , is a Puerto Rican boxer. He is remembered best as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities who won world championships in three separate weight divisions, and was the youngest world champion in boxing history at the age of 17...
contracted to fight Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
. That meant Green had to defend his European title against the experienced 36 year old Dane Jorgen Hansen
Jørgen Hansen (boxer)
Jørgen Hansen is a retired Danish welterweight boxer.Hansen competed for Denmark at the 1968 Summer Olympics in the welterweight division but lost his first match...
on the 28 June 1979. Looking for a quick finish Green left himself open being KO
Knocked Out
"Knocked Out" is the first song Paula Abdul Recorded and the first single, released in 1988 from the album Forever Your Girl. It was written by Babyface, L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons and produced in early 1988 by the former two.-Song information:...
in the 3rd round by a vicious right. Being a true sportsman Green applauded Hansen when the belt was presented.
WBC Title challenge - Sugar Ray Leonard
The final challenge for the WBC welterweightWelterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
belt happened on 31 March 1980 against the holder Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
at the Capital Centre Landover, Maryland
Landover, Maryland
Landover is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, within the census-designated place of Greater Landover. The Prince Georges County Sports and Learning Complex is in Landover...
USA, which Green lost by a KO in the 4 round. The Times Newspaper 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 on to his back at the same place in the ring where Carlos Palomino had sent him toppling backwards." Green showed lots of spirit but he did not have the answer to Sugar Ray Leonard's masterly boxing skill and timing.
Final bout
Dave Boy Green's final bout 3 November 1981 was at the Royal Albert HallRoyal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
against Reg Ford a New York based Guyanan who was a one time sparring partner to Thomas Hearns
Thomas Hearns
Thomas "Hitman" Hearns is a retired American boxer. Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra" and more famously "The Hitman", Hearns became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions...
. Andy Smith retired Green in the 5 round with cuts and closing left eye. It was the correct decision to end Green's career when his fans remembered him as one of Britain's most popular and exciting fighters.
After boxing
Currently Green is Chairman of Renoak Limited in Chatteris, a company he founded with Bob Emerson. Dave takes part in charity golf events and is a respected member of the local community. His success can be summed up by Sugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
, "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".
Professional Record 1974–1981
- December 10, 1974 Yotham Kunda W KO 2 NottinghamNottinghamNottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
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- January 20, 1975 Dave Commbs W KO 2 Hilton Hotel LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
- February 12 Derek Simpson W Ret 7 CambridgeCambridgeThe city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
- March 11 Barton McAllister W RSC 2 WembleyWembleyWembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
- April 8 George Salmon W Pts 8 Cambridge
- May 12 Tommy Joyce W KO 3 Hilton Hotel London
- June 3 Angus McMillan W Pts 8 Royal Albert Hall London
- October 14 Al Stewart W RSC 2 Royal Albert Hall London
- November 10 Brian Jones W KO 2 Cambridge
- November 25 Alan Salter W RSC 1 Royal Albert HallRoyal Albert HallThe Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
London
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- January 20, 1976 George McGurk W KO 2 Royal Albert Hall London
- March 2 Billy Waith W RSF 11 Royal Albert Hall London
- (Final eliminator for British Light-Welterweight Title)
- March 20 Giuseppe Minotti W RSF 4 Wembley
- April 6 Jim Montague W Pts 8 Royal Albert Hall London
- April 27 Herbie McLean W Ret 4 Royal Albert Hall London
- June 1 Joey SingletonJoey SingletonJoey "The Jab" Singleton, was a professional boxer born in Kirkby, Liverpool, England. Born 6-6-1951. Joey was a light welterweight boxer and won the British title in a distinguished career as a professional....
W Ret 6 Royal Albert Hall London- British Light-Welterweight Title
- June 22 Ernesto Bergamesco W RSC 5 Wembley
- September 14 Jean-Pierre Younsi W RSC 1 Royal Albert Hall London
- October 12 Ugo Di Pietro W RSC 1 Wembley
- October 26 Ramiro "Clay" Bolanos W RSC 4 Royal Albert Hall London
- November 9 Jimmy Heair W Pts 10 Wembley
- December 7 Jean Bapistie Piedvache W Ret 9 Royal Albert Hall London
- vacant European light-welterweight title
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- February 22, 1977 Mario Guilloti W Pts 10 Royal Albert Hall London
- March 29 John H. StraceyJohn H. StraceyJohn H. Stracey is a former professional boxer who was world Welterweight champion. He also had, at one point, a boxing school in London....
W RSC 10 Wembley- (final eliminator for WBC welterweight title)
- June 14 Carlos Palomino L KO 11 Wembley
- (WBC welterweight title)
- September 27 Andy Price W Pts 10 Wembley
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- February 21, 1978 Roy Johnson W KO 4 Royal Albert Hall London
- November 7 Aundra Love W RSC 8 Wembley
- December 5 Sammy Masias W RSC 1 Royal Albert Hall London
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- January 23, 1979 Henry Rhiney W RSC 5 Royal Albert Hall London
- (European Welterweight Title)
- May 1 Lawrence Hafey W RSC 5 Wembley
- May 15 Rafael Rodriguez W RSC 8 Wembley CC
- June 28 Jorgen Hansen L KO 3 Randers, Denmark
- (European welterweight title)
- September 25 Steve Michelarya W RSC 3 Wembley
- December 4 Dicky Eklund W Pts 10 Wembley
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- March 31, 1980 Sugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
L KO 4 Landover USA- (WBC Welterweight title)
- October 14 Mario Mendez W RSC 2 Royal Albert Hall London
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- January 27, 1981 Gary Holmgren W RSC 6 Royal Albert Hall London
- February 24 Jose Ramon Gomez Fouz W Pts 8 Royal Albert Hall London
- June 2 Danny Lond W RSC 2 Royal Albert Hall London
- November 3 Reg Ford L Ret 5 Royal Albert Hall London