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Dave Needham (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Dave Needham was a British
boxer. He was a Commonwealth Games gold medal winner and one of the few boxers to have held both the BBBC
bantamweight and featherweight titles.
and attended Cottesmore School. He trained at the Nottingham Boxing School in Radford
.
Needham won two Amateur Boxing Association
flyweight titles in 1969 and 1970.
He went on to compete in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh
. He won the Flyweight gold medal beating Uganda
's Leo Rwabwogo.
His first title fight was on 10 December 1974 at the former Nottingham ice rink, when he had a points win over Paddy Maguire
and became the British bantamweight champion.
He lost the bantamweight title on 20 October 1975 at Grosvenor House (World Sporting Club), Mayfair
on a technical knockout (TKO) to the same Paddy Maguire.
On 20 April 1978 at the World Sporting Club, Piccadilly
. Needham won the title of British featherweight champion when he defeated Alan Richardson on points.
On 16 December 1978 in Leon, Spain
, he fought for the EBU
featherweight title, but lost on a TKO to Roberto Castanon.
Needham lost the featherweight title on 6 November 1979 at the Royal Albert Hall
when he was defeated by Pat Cowdell on points.
His last fight was on 29 May 1979 at Wolverhampton Civic Hall
against Pat Cowdell for the British featherweight title. Cowdell won on a TKO.
He spent the last couple of years of his life in Thailand. Needham died in Chonburi hospital from liver problems. He was 57.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
boxer. He was a Commonwealth Games gold medal winner and one of the few boxers to have held both the BBBC
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
bantamweight and featherweight titles.
Early life and amateur career
Needham was born in NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham 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...
and attended Cottesmore School. He trained at the Nottingham Boxing School in Radford
Radford, Nottingham
Radford is an inner-city area of Nottingham, located just outside the city centre itself.-History:Radford is bounded on the south by Lenton and Nottingham, and comprises around of land....
.
Needham won two Amateur Boxing Association
Amateur Boxing Association of England
The Amateur Boxing Association of England is the governing body of amateur boxing clubs in England. There are separate organisations for Scotland and Wales with boxing in Northern Ireland being organised on an All-Ireland basis. The Association was founded in 1880...
flyweight titles in 1969 and 1970.
He went on to compete in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. He won the Flyweight gold medal beating Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
's Leo Rwabwogo.
Professional career
Needham's first professional fight was on 25 January 1971 when he fought Jimmy Killeen.His first title fight was on 10 December 1974 at the former Nottingham ice rink, when he had a points win over Paddy Maguire
Paddy Maguire (boxer)
Paddy Maguire is a former bantamweight boxer. He was a Commonwealth Games silver medal winner and one-time holder of the BBBC bantamweight title.-Amateur career:...
and became the British bantamweight champion.
He lost the bantamweight title on 20 October 1975 at Grosvenor House (World Sporting Club), Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
on a technical knockout (TKO) to the same Paddy Maguire.
On 20 April 1978 at the World Sporting Club, Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
. Needham won the title of British featherweight champion when he defeated Alan Richardson on points.
On 16 December 1978 in Leon, Spain
León, Spain
León is the capital of the province of León in the autonomous community of Castile and León, situated in the northwest of Spain. Its city population of 136,985 makes it the largest municipality in the province, accounting for more than one quarter of the province's population...
, he fought for the EBU
European Boxing Union
The European Boxing Union is an organization that oversees competition in that sport over the continent of Europe.-History:The EBU started life as the International Boxing Union in Paris in 1910...
featherweight title, but lost on a TKO to Roberto Castanon.
Needham lost the featherweight title on 6 November 1979 at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal 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....
when he was defeated by Pat Cowdell on points.
His last fight was on 29 May 1979 at Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Wolverhampton Civic Hall is a music venue in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It has been one of the most important live music venues in the county for several decades. It is part of a complex also including Wulfrun Hall and the newer Little Civic...
against Pat Cowdell for the British featherweight title. Cowdell won on a TKO.
Retirement
Needham retired aged 29 in 1980, after becoming disillusioned with the sport. He went on to run a motorcycle dealership with his brother.He spent the last couple of years of his life in Thailand. Needham died in Chonburi hospital from liver problems. He was 57.