Terry Lawless
Encyclopedia
Terry Lawless was an English
boxing
manager
and trainer
who worked in London
, most successfully during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
, Essex
, Lawless was a boxing buff and fitness fanatic. He was best man at the wedding of his boyhood friend Sammy McCarthy, the British featherweight champion in the 1950s. His continual visits to the gymnasium to watch McCarthy training led to Lawless making a study of fitness regimes.
, and formed a close friendship with Norman Giller
, who was then Sports Editor of the local Stratford Express newspaper. Lawless was based at the Royal Oak
gym in the East End
Canning Town
district of London, close to the famous York Hall
boxing venue. Giller was his publicist throughout his career.
His early stable of local boxers included former London amateur stars Stan Kennedy, Johnny Caiger, Jimmy Tibbs, Silvester Mittee and Jimmy Anderson. He hired George Wiggs and Frank Black as his training assistants, both of whom stayed with him for more than ten years. Tibbs later rejoined Lawless as a trainer, as did George Francis
, who formed a winning team with Frank Bruno
.
He was associated with promoters Mickey Duff
, Jarvis Astaire, Harry Levene and Mike Barrett, who effectively controlled British boxing. The team dealt primarily with the BBC
, which gave rise to the famous relationship between Frank Bruno
and the commentator
Harry Carpenter
, but they were ousted during the late 1980s by Frank Warren
, who initially had the support of ITV
.
Famous for looking after his fighters like a father rather than a manager, Lawless often fell out with matchmaker Mickey Duff
because he did not want to expose his boxers to unnecessary dangers. Duff stated in his autobiography that Lawless was always asking for opponents who would defend but not attack! While living in retirement in Marbella
with his wife of more than 50 years Sylvia, Lawless often said he was happy to be remembered as the manager who did not want his boxers hurt.
Jim Watt, one of six Lawless-trained-and-managed boxers who went on to win world titles (including Frank Bruno, and Joe Calzaghe
under different management), wrote in his autobiography, Watt's My Name:
, Spain
, in the hospital after undergoing gall bladder surgery.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
boxing
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...
manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and trainer
Athletic trainer
An athletic trainer is a certified, health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession since 1990....
who worked in 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...
, most successfully during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Biography
Born in West HamWest Ham
West Ham is in the London Borough of Newham in London, England. In the west it is a post-industrial neighbourhood abutting the site of the London Olympic Park and in the east it is mostly residential, consisting of Victorian terraced housing interspersed with higher density post-War social housing...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, Lawless was a boxing buff and fitness fanatic. He was best man at the wedding of his boyhood friend Sammy McCarthy, the British featherweight champion in the 1950s. His continual visits to the gymnasium to watch McCarthy training led to Lawless making a study of fitness regimes.
Career
Lawless started his coaching and management career in 1957 after his National ServiceNational service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
, and formed a close friendship with Norman Giller
Norman Giller
Norman Giller is a prolific English author, a sports historian and television scriptwriter.With 90 books to his name, Norman Giller is a prolific author who served his writing apprenticeship as a notable Fleet Street journalist...
, who was then Sports Editor of the local Stratford Express newspaper. Lawless was based at the Royal Oak
Royal Oak
The Royal Oak is the English oak tree within which King Charles II of England hid to escape the Roundheads following the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The tree was located in Boscobel Wood, which was part of the park of Boscobel House. Charles confirmed to Samuel Pepys in 1680 that while he was...
gym in the East End
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
Canning Town
Canning Town
Canning Town is an area of east London, England. It is part of the London Borough of Newham and is situated in the area of the former London docks on the north side of the River Thames. It is the location of Rathbone Market...
district of London, close to the famous York Hall
York Hall
The York Hall is a health and leisure centre and one of Britain's best known boxing venues.The venue is situated on Old Ford Road in Bethnal Green, London, England. The hall, opened in 1929 with a capacity of 1,200, stages boxing as well as providing a gymnasium and swimming pool.The hall is owned...
boxing venue. Giller was his publicist throughout his career.
His early stable of local boxers included former London amateur stars Stan Kennedy, Johnny Caiger, Jimmy Tibbs, Silvester Mittee and Jimmy Anderson. He hired George Wiggs and Frank Black as his training assistants, both of whom stayed with him for more than ten years. Tibbs later rejoined Lawless as a trainer, as did George Francis
George Francis (trainer)
George Francis was a British boxing athletic trainer who trained world champion boxers such as Frank Bruno, John Conteh, John Mugabi, and Cornelius Boza Edwards. He was found hanged at his home in London, apparently having committed suicide. He was 73.George Francis was born in 1929 in Camden Town...
, who formed a winning team with Frank Bruno
Frank Bruno
Franklin Roy Bruno MBE is an English former boxer whose career highlight was winning the WBC Heavyweight championship in 1995. Altogether, he won 40 of his 45 contests...
.
He was associated with promoters 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...
, Jarvis Astaire, Harry Levene and Mike Barrett, who effectively controlled British boxing. The team dealt primarily with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, which gave rise to the famous relationship between Frank Bruno
Frank Bruno
Franklin Roy Bruno MBE is an English former boxer whose career highlight was winning the WBC Heavyweight championship in 1995. Altogether, he won 40 of his 45 contests...
and the commentator
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
Harry Carpenter
Harry Carpenter
Harry Leonard Carpenter OBE was a British BBC sports commentator broadcasting from the early 1950s until his retirement in 1994. His speciality was boxing...
, but they were ousted during the late 1980s by Frank Warren
Frank Warren (promoter)
Frank Darren Warren is an English boxing manager and promoter.-Early life and early career:The son of a bookmaker, Warren trained as a solicitor's clerk with J Tickle & Co on Southampton Row in London....
, who initially had the support of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
.
Famous for looking after his fighters like a father rather than a manager, Lawless often fell out with matchmaker 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...
because he did not want to expose his boxers to unnecessary dangers. Duff stated in his autobiography that Lawless was always asking for opponents who would defend but not attack! While living in retirement in Marbella
Marbella
Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000....
with his wife of more than 50 years Sylvia, Lawless often said he was happy to be remembered as the manager who did not want his boxers hurt.
Jim Watt, one of six Lawless-trained-and-managed boxers who went on to win world titles (including Frank Bruno, and Joe Calzaghe
Joe Calzaghe
Joseph William Calzaghe, CBE, MBE is a Welsh former professional boxer. He is the former WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring & British super middleweight champion and The Ring light heavyweight champion....
under different management), wrote in his autobiography, Watt's My Name:
Personal life
He was married to his wife Sylvia for 53 years and they had two children, Lorraine and Steven. Also grandfather of Terry, the late Joseph and Joshua Crayden, sons of daughter Lorraine.Death
On 24 December 2009, Lawless died in MarbellaMarbella
Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000....
, 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...
, in the hospital after undergoing gall bladder surgery.
Boxers managed/trained
Among the boxers Lawless managed/trained were:- Peter Boddington
- Tommy Rix
- Brian Brazier
- Johnny Caiger
- John L. GardnerJohn L. GardnerJohn L. Gardner is a former British, Commonwealth, and European Heavyweight Champion. A stocky, game, pressure fighter, his speed and aggression made him a marginal top ten contender for the World Heavyweight Title. Gardner was active in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His best arena was really...
- Frank BrunoFrank BrunoFranklin Roy Bruno MBE is an English former boxer whose career highlight was winning the WBC Heavyweight championship in 1995. Altogether, he won 40 of his 45 contests...
(WBCWorld Boxing CouncilThe 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...
HeavyweightHeavyweightHeavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
championChampionA champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
) - a title won under the guidance of Frank Warren - Charlie MagriCharlie MagriCharlie Magri is a former English flyweight boxer. He is from a Maltese family that settled in Stepney, London where he grew up...
(WBC FlyweightFlyweightFlyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
champion) - Maurice HopeMaurice HopeMaurice Hope is a former boxer from England, who was world Jr. Middleweight champion. Hope lived in Hackney most of his life, but now lives in his place of birth, Antigua. He represented Great Britain at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany.- Biography :Maurice Hope moved at a very...
(WBC Light MiddleweightLight middleweightLight Middleweight , is a weight division in professional boxing, above 147 pounds and up to 154 pounds ....
champion) - 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....
(WBC WelterweightWelterweightWelterweight 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...
champion) - Jim Watt (WBC LightweightLightweightLight-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
champion) - Joe CalzagheJoe CalzagheJoseph William Calzaghe, CBE, MBE is a Welsh former professional boxer. He is the former WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring & British super middleweight champion and The Ring light heavyweight champion....
(WBOWorld Boxing OrganizationThe World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...
, WBAWorld Boxing AssociationThe World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
& WBC Super MiddleweightSuper middleweightSuper Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
champion, but not until he had moved on from the management of Duff and Lawless) - Jim McDonnell (EBUEuropean Boxing UnionThe 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...
FeatherweightFeatherweightFeatherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
champion) - Derek Angol (CommonwealthCommonwealth of NationsThe Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
Cruiserweight champion) - Mark Kaylor (British and Commonwealth middleweight champion)
- Gary Mason (British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion)
- Neville MeadeNeville MeadeNeville Meade was a Jamaica-born boxer who emigrated to the United Kingdom settling in Swansea in south Wales. He rose to prominence when he won the gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand...
(British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion) - Mo Hussein (Commonwealth Lightweight champion)
- Jimmy Batten (BritishUnited KingdomThe 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...
Light Middleweight champion) - Tony Wilson (British Light-Heavyweight champion
- John Graham (Light heavyweightLight heavyweightIn boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
) - Peter Bradley (Lightweight)
External links
- Photo of Terry Lawless with Frank Bruno
- Terry Lawless - Daily Telegraph obituary