Charlie Magri
Encyclopedia
Charlie Magri is a former English
flyweight
boxer. He is from a Maltese
family that settled in Stepney
, London
where he grew up. During his professional career he held the British, European and WBC
world flyweight titles.
, Magri as an amateur boxed for Arbour Youth youth club
, and gained the following ABA titles:
He also boxed for Great Britain
in the 1976 Summer Olympics
losing in the third round to Ian Clyde
of Canada
.
.
He had his first professional fight in October 1977, at the age of twenty-one. He knocked out Neil McLaughlin in the second round at the Royal Albert Hall
.
In only his third fight he gained the vacant British flyweight title after his fight with Dave Smith was stopped in the seventh round.
In his twelfth fight, in May 1979, having won the previous eleven, he won on points against Franco Udella
to take the European flyweight title. He won on points over twelve rounds at the Empire Pool, Wembley
.
In December 1979, he defended his European title against Manuel Carrasco, of Spain
, winning on points. In June 1980, he defended it again, this time against Giovanni Camputaro of Italy, winning on a technical knockout in the third.
In February 1981, he defended his European title against Spaniard, Enrique Rodriguez Cal, knocking him out in the second round. In September he fought a re-match with Cal in Aviles
, Spain
, and again knocked him out in the second.
, of the Dominican Republic
, for the WBC
and The Ring world flyweight titles. The fight was at the Empire Pool, Wembley and Magri won the titles when the fight was stopped in the seventh on cuts.
In September 1983, he defended his world titles against Frank Cedeno
, of the Philippines
. The fight was at the Empire Pool, and Magri lost his titles when the referee stopped the fight in the sixth, after Magri had been put down three times.
, Italy. Magri won in the first round when a clash of heads left the Italian so badly cut that the referee had to stop the fight.
In his next fight, in February 1985, he fought for the WBC world flyweight title again. Since Magri had lost it, it had changed hands several times and was now held by Sot Chitalada
of Thailand
. The fight was held at the Alexandra Palace
, London and Chitalada won on a technical knockout at the start of the fifth, after Magri’s corner retired him.
In October 1985, Magri fought a re-match against Franco Cherchi, in Alessandria
, Italy, winning by a knockout in the second round.
In May 1986, Magri had his last fight, defending his European title against Duke McKenzie
of Croydon
. Magri had relinquished his British flyweight title in August 1981, and McKenzie was now the holder. The fight was stopped in the fifth round when Magri was knocked down and his manager, Terry Lawless
threw in the towel when Magri beat the count.
. Magri later owned the Victoria pub in Bow, East London.
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...
flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
boxer. He is from a Maltese
Maltese people
The Maltese are an ethnic group indigenous to the Southern European nation of Malta, and identified with the Maltese language. Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea...
family that settled in Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, London
London
London 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...
where he grew up. During his professional career he held the British, European and WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
world flyweight titles.
Amateur career
After a junior career with Millwall F.C.Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, Magri as an amateur boxed for Arbour Youth youth club
Youth club
A youth club or youth social club is a place where young people can meet and enjoy activities such as football, soccer, basketball, table tennis, or video games, and other religious, sports activities are frequently sponsored by a community center....
, and gained the following ABA titles:
- ABAAmateur Boxing Association of EnglandThe 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...
Youth Champion (Class A) - 1972 - ABA Youth Champion (Class B) - 1973
- ABA Light-flyweight Champion (48kg) - 1974
- ABA Flyweight Champion (51kg) - 1975
- ABA Flyweight Champion (51kg) - 1976
- ABA Flyweight Champion (51kg) - 1977
He also boxed for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
losing in the third round to Ian Clyde
Ian Clyde
Ian Clyde is a retired boxer from Canada, who represented his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics. There he was defeated in the quarterfinals of the men's flyweight division by Cuba's eventual silver medalist Ramón Duvalón. Clyde won a bronze medal at the 1979 Pan American Games...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Professional career
Magri was 5 ft 3 in tall and had an exciting, aggressive style, being a two-handed puncher who did not care much for defence. He was managed by Terry LawlessTerry Lawless
Terry Lawless was an English boxing manager and trainer who worked in London, most successfully during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:...
.
He had his first professional fight in October 1977, at the age of twenty-one. He knocked out Neil McLaughlin in the second round 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....
.
In only his third fight he gained the vacant British flyweight title after his fight with Dave Smith was stopped in the seventh round.
In his twelfth fight, in May 1979, having won the previous eleven, he won on points against Franco Udella
Franco Udella
Franco Udella is an Italian former world boxing champion.- Olympic games results :1968 *Lost to Alberto Morales 0-51972 *1st round bye...
to take the European flyweight title. He won on points over twelve rounds at the Empire Pool, Wembley
Wembley
Wembley 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...
.
In December 1979, he defended his European title against Manuel Carrasco, of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, winning on points. In June 1980, he defended it again, this time against Giovanni Camputaro of Italy, winning on a technical knockout in the third.
In February 1981, he defended his European title against Spaniard, Enrique Rodriguez Cal, knocking him out in the second round. In September he fought a re-match with Cal in Aviles
Avilés
Avilés is a city in Asturias, Spain. Avilés is with Oviedo and Gijón, one of the main towns in the Principality of Asturias.The town occupies the flattest land in the municipality, in a land that belonged to the sea, surrounded by small promontories, all of them having an altitude of less than...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and again knocked him out in the second.
World title
In March 1983, he fought Eleoncio MercedesEleoncio Mercedes
Eleoncio Mercedes was a Dominican boxer, who was world champion in the Flyweight division.-Amateur career:As an amateur he competed for his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada...
, of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, for the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
and The Ring world flyweight titles. The fight was at the Empire Pool, Wembley and Magri won the titles when the fight was stopped in the seventh on cuts.
In September 1983, he defended his world titles against Frank Cedeno
Frank Cedeno
Frank Cedeno is a Filipino-English former boxer. Cedeno held the WBC Flyweight title from 27 September 1983 to 18 January 1984. In a September 1983 World Boxing Council title fight, Cedeno knocked out Charlie Magri in the sixth round to claim the Flyweight title.-External links:*...
, of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The fight was at the Empire Pool, and Magri lost his titles when the referee stopped the fight in the sixth, after Magri had been put down three times.
Rest of career
In his next fight, in August 1984, Magri fought for the vacant European flyweight title that he had previously relinquished. He fought Italian, Franco Cherchi in CagliariCagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
, Italy. Magri won in the first round when a clash of heads left the Italian so badly cut that the referee had to stop the fight.
In his next fight, in February 1985, he fought for the WBC world flyweight title again. Since Magri had lost it, it had changed hands several times and was now held by Sot Chitalada
Sot Chitalada
Sot Chitalada in Chonburi, Thailand, was formerly twice WBC Flyweight Champion.Chitalada built a reputation as a Muay Thai in name Chaovalit Sithphrabrahma champion in Thailand before making the transition to professional boxing...
of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. The fight was held at the Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
, London and Chitalada won on a technical knockout at the start of the fifth, after Magri’s corner retired him.
In October 1985, Magri fought a re-match against Franco Cherchi, in Alessandria
Alessandria
-Monuments:* The Citadel * The church of Santa Maria di Castello * The church of Santa Maria del Carmine * Palazzo Ghilini * Università del Piemonte Orientale-Museums:* The Marengo Battle Museum...
, Italy, winning by a knockout in the second round.
In May 1986, Magri had his last fight, defending his European title against Duke McKenzie
Duke McKenzie
Duke McKenzie MBE is a British former professional boxer, now a boxing commentator for broadcaster ITV.-Boxing career:Previously a highly successful professional boxer, McKenzie has been British champion at two weights, a European champion once and World champion at three different weights...
of Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
. Magri had relinquished his British flyweight title in August 1981, and McKenzie was now the holder. The fight was stopped in the fifth round when Magri was knocked down and his manager, Terry Lawless
Terry Lawless
Terry Lawless was an English boxing manager and trainer who worked in London, most successfully during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:...
threw in the towel when Magri beat the count.
Life After Boxing
Magri was the manager for super-featherweight boxer, Dean PithieDean Pithie
Dean Pithie, is a former English professional boxer who fought in the super featherweight division.He is a former Commonwealth and WBO Inter-Continental super featherweight champion.-Professional career:...
. Magri later owned the Victoria pub in Bow, East London.
See also
- Boxing at the 1976 Summer OlympicsBoxing at the 1976 Summer OlympicsThere were eleven boxing events at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Light Flyweight :-First Round:* Armando Guevara def. Eduardo Baltar , 5:0* Li Byong-Uk def. Sidney McKnight , KO-1...