Terry Downes
Encyclopedia
Terry Downes is a retired British middleweight boxer. He was nicknamed the "Paddington Express" for his aggressive fighting style. As of 2008, Downes was Britain’s oldest surviving former world champion. He held the world middleweight boxing title for ten months from 1961 to 1962.
at the Empire Pool, Wembley, England.
After an inauspicious first fifteen months in the profession, comprising 16 wins and 3 defeats, Downes won the British Middleweight Title, vacated by Pat McAteer's retirement, by beating Phil Edwards on the 30th September 1958 at the Harringay Arena
, London. In the autumn of 1959, Downes went on to lose and then win back the title from John 'Cowboy' McCormack. On the 5th July 1960, Downes successfully defended the title against Edwards once more.
Downes lost his first World Title shot with Pender
at Boston
in January 1961. The following summer, however, Downes fought Pender again, this time in London, and defeated the American convincingly in front of a raucous Wembley crowd. Pender
would win back the title the following year, defeating Downes in Boston once more, this time on points.
Downes responded to the loss of his title by winning his next 7 bouts, and having felt he had accomplished all he could at middleweight, he moved up to fight Willie Pastrano
for the World Light-Heavyweight Title in Manchester
, England
on the 30th November 1964. Downes was knocked down twice in the 11th round and Pastrano retained his title – it was to be Downes' last fight.
One of the most impressive scalps of Downes' 8-year career was that of Sugar Ray Robinson
in the autumn of 1962. Robinson was, however, 41 at the time, and when asked after the fight how it felt to beat a boxer of such esteem, Downes famously replied, "I didn't beat Sugar Ray, I beat his ghost."
Downes was famous for a number of quips. After a particularly brutal fight early in his career against Dick Tiger
, Downes was asked who he wanted to fight next. He replied, "The bastard who made this match," in reference to his manager at the time, Mickey Duff
.
Downes fought 6 world champions and beat 3: Robinson, Pender and Joey Giardello
. His record was: 44 fights, 35 wins (28 KOs), 9 losses.
.
Post-boxing, Downes acted occasionally between 1965 and 1990, usually appearing a thug, villain or bodyguard. One of his more prominent roles was in Roman Polanski
's 1967 film The Fearless Vampire Killers
, in which he played Koukol, a hunchbacked servant.
Downes and his wife Barbara have been married since 1958. They have four children and eight grandchildren.
Career highlights
Despite a relatively short boxing career, Downes managed to accomplish a great deal in the sport, most notably by winning the World Middleweight Title on the 11th July 1961 by defeating Paul PenderPaul Pender
Paul Pender was an American middleweight boxer.-Early life:He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, the son of William and Anna Pender...
at the Empire Pool, Wembley, England.
After an inauspicious first fifteen months in the profession, comprising 16 wins and 3 defeats, Downes won the British Middleweight Title, vacated by Pat McAteer's retirement, by beating Phil Edwards on the 30th September 1958 at the Harringay Arena
Harringay Arena
Harringay Arena was a sporting and events venue on Green Lanes in Harringay, North London, England. Built in 1936, it lasted as a venue until 1958.-Construction:...
, London. In the autumn of 1959, Downes went on to lose and then win back the title from John 'Cowboy' McCormack. On the 5th July 1960, Downes successfully defended the title against Edwards once more.
Downes lost his first World Title shot with Pender
Paul Pender
Paul Pender was an American middleweight boxer.-Early life:He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, the son of William and Anna Pender...
at Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in January 1961. The following summer, however, Downes fought Pender again, this time in London, and defeated the American convincingly in front of a raucous Wembley crowd. Pender
Paul Pender
Paul Pender was an American middleweight boxer.-Early life:He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, the son of William and Anna Pender...
would win back the title the following year, defeating Downes in Boston once more, this time on points.
Downes responded to the loss of his title by winning his next 7 bouts, and having felt he had accomplished all he could at middleweight, he moved up to fight Willie Pastrano
Willie Pastrano
Wilfred Raleigh Pastrano was a light heavyweight boxer who held the world crown from 1963 until 1965.-Early life:...
for the World Light-Heavyweight Title in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on the 30th November 1964. Downes was knocked down twice in the 11th round and Pastrano retained his title – it was to be Downes' last fight.
One of the most impressive scalps of Downes' 8-year career was that of Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson was an African-American professional boxer. Frequently cited as the greatest boxer of all time, Robinson's performances in the welterweight and middleweight divisions prompted sportswriters to create "pound for pound" rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight...
in the autumn of 1962. Robinson was, however, 41 at the time, and when asked after the fight how it felt to beat a boxer of such esteem, Downes famously replied, "I didn't beat Sugar Ray, I beat his ghost."
Downes was famous for a number of quips. After a particularly brutal fight early in his career against Dick Tiger
Dick Tiger
Dick Tiger CBE was a boxer from Ubahu village, Amaigbo, Nigeria, who emigrated to Liverpool and later to the United States of America. Tiger was a member of the Igbo ethnic group...
, Downes was asked who he wanted to fight next. He replied, "The bastard who made this match," in reference to his manager at the time, Mickey Duff
Mickey Duff
Mickey Duff born 7 June 1929 in Krakow, Poland is a former British boxer, manager and promoter.Born Monek Prager in Krakow, Poland. His rabbi father saw the rise of the German Nazi party, so the family parents emigrated to England in the late 1930s.Having turned professional as a boxer illegally...
.
Downes fought 6 world champions and beat 3: Robinson, Pender and Joey Giardello
Joey Giardello
Carmine Orlando Tilelli was an American boxer who was the middleweight champion of the world from 1963 to 1965, and was better known by his professional pseudonym of Joey Giardello.-Early life:...
. His record was: 44 fights, 35 wins (28 KOs), 9 losses.
Life outside the ring
Downes served in the US Marine Corps from 1954 to 1956. It was in the marines that he got his first experience in the ring, winning several amateur trophies. After his term of service, he returned to London and turned professionalProfessional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
.
Post-boxing, Downes acted occasionally between 1965 and 1990, usually appearing a thug, villain or bodyguard. One of his more prominent roles was in Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
's 1967 film The Fearless Vampire Killers
The Fearless Vampire Killers
The Fearless Vampire Killers is a 1967 comedy horror film directed by Roman Polanski, written by Gérard Brach and Polanski, produced by Gene Gutowski and co-starring Polanski with future wife Sharon Tate...
, in which he played Koukol, a hunchbacked servant.
Downes and his wife Barbara have been married since 1958. They have four children and eight grandchildren.
External links
- "The Fighter at Home with Yogi Bear" – Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
profile from 1962