John H. Stracey
Encyclopedia
John H. Stracey is a former professional boxer
who was world Welterweight champion. He also had, at one point, a boxing school in London.
Stracey began his professional career on September 17, 1969, knocking out Santos Martins in two rounds. Stracey won his first twelve fights, eleven by knockout, but against obscure opposition. Fight number thirteen was against Teddy Cooper, on January 19, 1971. Cooper was not a big name in boxing either, but this fight ended in controversy when Stracey won by a fifth round disqualification. On October 5 of 1971, Stracey drew (tied) in ten rounds against Frankie Lewis.
Stracey had five more wins in a row before being matched with Marshall Butler, on May 25, 1972. Stracey suffered his first defeat when outpointed by Butler over ten rounds. He then put a string of four more wins in a row before facing Bobby Arthur for the British Welterweight title on Halloween night, 1972. He lost the fight for the regional title with another controversial ending: This time, Stracey found himself disqualified, in round seven. Stracey then won five more in a row, and he met Arthur in a rematch on June 5, 1973, this time winning the title with a fourth round knockout of Arthur.
After five more wins and another loss, Stracey had his first fight abroad, fighting Roger Menetrey in Paris, France, on May 27, 1974 (at the Stade de Roland Garros
, where the French Open is played). The fight was for the European union Welterweight title, and Stracey proceeded to win that belt with an eighth round knockout.
During the 1970s, it was a common practice in boxing to give world title shots to boxers that held continental titles. For example, the OPBF (Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation) champion would be given priority over other challengers for world title fights and so on. Stracey was not the exception, and, after winning five more fights in a row (including a win over Ernie Lopez
), he received his first world title shot: challenging WBC
World Welterweight champion José Nápoles
in Nápoles' home-town of Mexico City, Mexico
, Stracey was sent down in round one, but he recuperated to close Nápoles' eye and have referee Octavio Meyran
stop the fight in the sixth round, Stracey winning the world championship by a technical knockout. The new champion declared "he could have knocked me down in every round but I'd have won it anyway". It was Nápoles' last fight.
On March 20 of 1976, he retained the title against perennial world title challenger Hedgemon Lewis
by a knockout in round ten, but on June 22, at Wembley
, he lost the world title, being knocked out in twelve rounds by California
based Mexican Carlos Palomino
.
In his next fight, he lost to future Palomino and Sugar Ray Leonard
world championship challenger Dave Boy Green
, by a badly damaged eye in round ten.
Stracey retired as a winner, when he knocked out George Warusfel in nine rounds at Islington
, May 23 of 1978.
Stracey currently does autograph
and private speaking tours with friends and fellow former world champions Alan Minter
, Lloyd Honeyghan
, Jim Watt and John Conteh
, among others.
He had a career record of 45 wins, 5 losses and 1 draw, with 37 knockout
s.
He has just recently acted in an inderpendant film with director ryan kruger a liverpool gangster film also starring Earnie Shavers.
he has just last week co opened a public house in market street birkenhead called the john h stracey sports bar where he regularly attends and performs his cabaret style singing which can be sampled by watching the boxing legends edition of the weakest link.
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...
who was world Welterweight champion. He also had, at one point, a boxing school in London.
Stracey began his professional career on September 17, 1969, knocking out Santos Martins in two rounds. Stracey won his first twelve fights, eleven by knockout, but against obscure opposition. Fight number thirteen was against Teddy Cooper, on January 19, 1971. Cooper was not a big name in boxing either, but this fight ended in controversy when Stracey won by a fifth round disqualification. On October 5 of 1971, Stracey drew (tied) in ten rounds against Frankie Lewis.
Stracey had five more wins in a row before being matched with Marshall Butler, on May 25, 1972. Stracey suffered his first defeat when outpointed by Butler over ten rounds. He then put a string of four more wins in a row before facing Bobby Arthur for the British Welterweight title on Halloween night, 1972. He lost the fight for the regional title with another controversial ending: This time, Stracey found himself disqualified, in round seven. Stracey then won five more in a row, and he met Arthur in a rematch on June 5, 1973, this time winning the title with a fourth round knockout of Arthur.
After five more wins and another loss, Stracey had his first fight abroad, fighting Roger Menetrey in Paris, France, on May 27, 1974 (at the Stade de Roland Garros
Stade de Roland Garros
Le Stade de Roland Garros is a tennis venue located in Paris, France. It hosts the French Open tennis tournament , a Grand Slam event played annually in May and June. The facility was constructed in 1928 to host France's first defense of the Davis Cup...
, where the French Open is played). The fight was for the European union Welterweight title, and Stracey proceeded to win that belt with an eighth round knockout.
During the 1970s, it was a common practice in boxing to give world title shots to boxers that held continental titles. For example, the OPBF (Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation) champion would be given priority over other challengers for world title fights and so on. Stracey was not the exception, and, after winning five more fights in a row (including a win over Ernie Lopez
Ernie Lopez
Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez , was an American professional boxer. He twice fought for the world welterweight boxing title, losing title bouts to José Nápoles in 1970 and 1973...
), he received his first world title shot: challenging 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 Welterweight champion José Nápoles
José Napoles
José Ángel Nápoles, nicknamed Mantequilla , is a Cuban-Mexican boxer and former world welterweight champion, who is frequently ranked as one of the greatest fighters of all time in that division...
in Nápoles' home-town of Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Stracey was sent down in round one, but he recuperated to close Nápoles' eye and have referee Octavio Meyran
Octavio Meyran
Octavio Meyran Sanchez is a former Mexican boxing referee.During his career Meyran took charge of over twenty world title fights. Among the bouts he refereed were the infamous No Más fight between Roberto Durán and Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980, Wilfredo Gómez's WBC Featherweight title-winning effort...
stop the fight in the sixth round, Stracey winning the world championship by a technical knockout. The new champion declared "he could have knocked me down in every round but I'd have won it anyway". It was Nápoles' last fight.
On March 20 of 1976, he retained the title against perennial world title challenger Hedgemon Lewis
Hedgemon Lewis
Hedgemon Lewis is a former American professional boxer and trainer. Lewis began boxing at the age of 12, out of the Northern Recreation Center in Detroit. As a young, aspiring fighter he boxed as part of the same camp as renowned coach Emmanuel Steward...
by a knockout in round ten, but on June 22, at Wembley
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
, he lost the world title, being knocked out in twelve rounds by California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
based Mexican Carlos Palomino
Carlos 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...
.
In his next fight, he lost to future Palomino and 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...
world championship challenger Dave Boy Green
Dave Boy Green
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".-Early years:...
, by a badly damaged eye in round ten.
Stracey retired as a winner, when he knocked out George Warusfel in nine rounds at Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, May 23 of 1978.
Stracey currently does autograph
Autograph
An autograph is a document transcribed entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one written by an amanuensis or a copyist; the meaning overlaps with that of the word holograph.Autograph also refers to a person's artistic signature...
and private speaking tours with friends and fellow former world champions Alan Minter
Alan Minter
Alan Minter is a former middleweight world champion boxer.-Amateur career:Minter was the 1971 ABA Middleweight Champion. He won the bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games...
, Lloyd Honeyghan
Lloyd Honeyghan
Lloyd Honeyghan is a retired British boxer. Born in Jamaica, he was WBC/WBA & IBF welterweight champion from 1986 to 1987. and WBC welterweight champion from 1988 to 1989....
, Jim Watt and John Conteh
John Conteh
John Conteh is a British former boxer who was world light-heavyweight boxing champion.Conteh is one of Britain's most successful boxing champions. At his peak in the mid to late 1970s he was considered good enough that he was touted as a possible opponent of Muhammad Ali...
, among others.
He had a career record of 45 wins, 5 losses and 1 draw, with 37 knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
s.
See also
- List of British welterweight boxing champions
- List of WBC world champions
- There is a Public House in the Village of BristonBristonBriston is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is east north east of the town of Fakenham, west south west of Cromer, north north west of the city of Norwich, and north north east of London. The nearest railway station is at Sheringham for the Bittern...
, Norfolk called the John H Stracey in tribute to the Boxer. - he has acted in a low budget film with director ryan kruger, gangster film based in liverpool also starred earnie shavers and liverpool actor car chase.
External links
He has just recently acted in an inderpendant film with director ryan kruger a liverpool gangster film also starring Earnie Shavers.
he has just last week co opened a public house in market street birkenhead called the john h stracey sports bar where he regularly attends and performs his cabaret style singing which can be sampled by watching the boxing legends edition of the weakest link.