BOXING LEGEND JOHN STRACEY TO ATTEND WBC CONVENTION
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 03 Nov 2007
He may not be a household name to Filipino boxing fans because our population is basically young and our love affair with boxing has had its fair share of ups and downs although today its way up thanks to the ultimate ring warrior, Manny Pacquiao. But believe me, John H. Stracey, the onetime undisputed welterweight champion of the world is the kind of fighter that legends are made of.
Perhaps one of the reasons why longtime boxing aficionados look with a certain degree of reverence at the champions of the earlier era, is that title fights were over fifteen rounds and world titles meant something because there wasn?t a proliferation of so-called alphabet soup organizations and divisions were never split up like they are today. In other words there were not more than one or at the most two world champions at that time unlike the collection of champions we have today which doesn?t assert who really is the best in any weight category.
Without meaning any disrespect to Stracey we vaguely recall his name primarily because of the reputation and charisma of the man he beat to win the title ? Jose ?Mantequilla? Napoles from Santiago de Cuba who made his home in Mexico City. In fact it was our valued friend and internationally respected referee Bruce McTavish who called to inform us that Stracey and his wife would be in Manila for the WBC Convention which officially opens on November 12 at the historic Manila Hotel. McTavish spoke highly of the kind of champion Stracey was and the human being he is. And because of our respect for Bruce we take his word and sincerely feel that once again, the man is absolutely correct.
Stracey who belongs to a fine breed of British boxers won the world title with a stunning sixth round TKO over Napoles at the Monumental Plaza in Mexico City on December 6, 1975. It was in many respects a perfectly-named venue because Stracey did score a monumental upset. In fact he had to get off the canvas in the very first round to cut Napoles so severely and close his eyes that referee Octavio Meyran had no alternative but to call a halt in the sixth round.
Well-known boxing writer James Slater had a very interesting conversation with Stracey that was on the widely-read Eastside Boxing in which he admitted he was ?quite hurt? in that first round knockdown but added, ?you make sure that you muster up and get back at it again. I felt he (Napoles) hit me with a really good punch but I just felt it wasn?t going to happen again. I felt really confident.?
Stracey was quoted as saying after the fight ?he could have knocked me down in every round but I?d have won it anyway.? If winning was indeed an achievement it should me measured against the fact that it ended the career of Napoles, surely one of the all-time greats in an era where boxing was seen by huge audiences on free TV or where fights were covered on radio and millions tuned-in unlike the terribly commercial-oriented fight game of the modern era.
Stracey then successfully defended his title against Hedgemon Lewis, a perennial title contender scoring a tenth round knockout at the Empire Pool in Wembley. But then along came a talented, tough Mexican who made a home in California ? Carlos Palomino. Stracey was knocked out in the twelfth round before a stunned hometown crowd and lost his world title on June 22, 1976.
On March 29, 1977 Stracey took on undefeated Dave Boy Green who had a record of 23-0 and was to later challenge both Palomino and the great Sugar Ray Leonard. Stracey lost by a tenth round KO at Wembley.
In many respects Stracey was the kind of individual who was a winner no matter what the undertaking and it seems fitting that he ended his illustrious career on a high note when he knocked out George Warustel in Islington on May 23, 1978.
We learned, through the wonders of the internet in this information era, that Stracey does private speaking tours and autograph sessions with friends and former world champions such as Alan Minter, Lloyd Honeyghan, Jim Watt and John Conteh.
We also learned that a lively and popular pub named after John H. Stracey was officially re-opened over 30 years ago. The inn was in fact opened by Stracey himself because the owner at that time was one of his sparring partners.
John Stracey is married to the lovely Kathy Jane who was a former model. He loves to sing and she apparently loves to dance. If that?s the case, they?ve come to the right place ? Manila.
Together with all the past champions, the present stars and the hundreds who are attending the convention led by our longtime and dear friend Don Jose Sulaiman and his son Mauricio, we?d like to welcome Mr. and Mrs. John Stracey and hope they all have an absolutely fabulous visit.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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