Tony Wilson (boxer)

Tony Wilson (born 25 April 1964) is a British former boxer who represented the UK at the 1984 Summer Olympics and in his professional career was British light heavyweight champion between 1987 and 1989.

Tony Wilson
Statistics
Weight(s)Light heavyweight
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
NationalityBritish
Born (1964-04-25) 25 April 1964
Wolverhampton, England
Boxing record
Total fights29
Wins20
Wins by KO16
Losses8
Draws1

Career

Born in Wolverhampton in 1964, Wilson had a successful career as an amateur, winning two ABA titles and representing the UK at the 1984 Summer Olympics, where he reached the quarter finals.[1][2]

Wilson started his professional career in February 1985, working with trainer Jimmy Tibbs and promoter Frank Warren,[1] with a fourth round stoppage of Blaine Logsdon at the Royal Albert Hall. He won all nine of his fights in 1985 and 1986 including a sixth round stoppage of Simon Harris, whose jaw was broken by Wilson. His first fight of 1987 was a final eliminator for the British light heavyweight title against Keith Bristol, which resulted in Wilson stopping him in the first round. He suffered his first defeat in May when he was stopped in the second round by American Jesse Shelby.

In December 1987, he once again met Logsdon for the vacant British title. After six rounds, the fight was stopped due to cuts over Logsdon's eye. Wilson made his first defence in May 1988 against Brian Schumacher. Wilson was knocked down in the first round but recovered to stop Schumacher in the sixth. He made a second defence against Schumacher in January 1989, this time winning in three rounds to take the Lonsdale Belt outright. His third defence came two months later against Tom Collins. Collins stopped Wilson in the second round to take the title — only Wilson's second defeat.

He beat Steve McCarthy in controversial circumstances in September 1989. McCarthy knocked Wilson down in the third round. Looking to finish the fight with Wilson on the ropes, the fight was stopped when Wilson's 62-year-old mother climbed into the ring and started attacking McCarthy with her shoe; Wilson's corner man also entered the ring. McCarthy believed he had won and left the ring, but bizarrely referee Adrian Morgan insisted that the fight should continue. McCarthy refused (the injury caused by Wilson's mother required four stitches) and Wilson was declared the winner by technical knockout.[3] A riot ensued and Wilson's mother had to be dragged from the ring by her hair by a security guard; McCarthy returned to the ring but only to calm the crowd.[4][5] A BBBofC enquiry upheld the result but ordered a rematch, but McCarthy pulled out, suffering from flu.[6][7]

He travelled to the United States in 1990 where he beat Steve Harvey and lost to James Flowers. It was a year before his next fight, and while he continued until 1993, he won only one of his last eight fights.

Now retired, Wilson runs a boxing gym in Walsall and coaches boxers.[8]

References
  1. Birch, Craig (2015) "Tony Wilson looking for the future champion", Express & Star, 11 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015
  2. "Tony Wilson", sports-reference.com. Retrieved 13 March 2015
  3. "British Boxer's Mom Takes Bout Into Her Own Hands", Jet, 16 October 1989, pp. 52-53. Retrieved 12 March 2015
  4. "September 21 Down the Years: A Sad Day for Boxing", ESPN. Retrieved 12 March 2015
  5. "Boxer's Mother Attacks Opponent With Shoe", Lodi News-Sentinel, 23 September 1989, p. 12. Retrieved 12 March 2015
  6. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BOXING; Victory Is Upheld", The New York Times, 13 October 1989. Retrieved 12 March 2015
  7. "Boxer Who Lost to Opponent's Mother Pulls Out of Rematch", Los Angeles Times, 14 November 1989. Retrieved 12 March 2015
  8. Bunce, Steve (2013) "Steve Bunce on Boxing: Nicola Adams’ legacy is a huge hit with the girls", The Independent, 29 June 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2015
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