Potteries based boxing promoters Impact Boxing today announced that they would stage the first boxing event at Trentham Gardens this century when they host a dinner event at the venue on 6th June. The last time the venue played host to the pugilistic arts was on 8th December 1999..
Impact Boxing also announced that although the line-up was yet to be confirmed, it would include a title bout and that a number of celebrities from the boxing world would be present. Former WBC welterweight World champion John H Stracey will head the list of eminent guests.
Beginning boxing at age 11 Stracey had over 130 amateur bouts and represented Great Britain in the lightweight division at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. He lost to eventual gold medal winner Ronnie Harris of the USA.
Stracey won 45 of his 51 professional bouts and stopped no less than 37 of his opponents, having won each of his first eight pro fights by knockout.
In June 1973 Stracey ko’d Bobby Arthur in the 4th round of a 15 round contest to secure the British welterweight title at the second time of asking: the two men had previously met in October 1972 in a clash for the, then vacant, title but Stracey was disqualified in the 7th.
The following year John departed for Paris hoping to win the European title on foreign soil. He faced Roger Menetery at Roland Garros (the home of the French Open tennis tournament) and succeeded in knocking out the Frenchman in the 8th round.
Now establishing himself on the World scene, Stracey’s chance finally came in December 1976 when he was pitted against the Cuban Jose Angel Napoles for the WBC title in Mexico City. Stracey recovered from a first round knockdown to cut Napoles so severely that the contest was brought to an early conclusion by the referee in the sixth round. In defeating Napoles, Stracey became only the fourth British boxer to win a World title overseas.
John H Stracey successfully defended his WBC title against Hedgemon Lewis in London the following March before facing Carlos Palomino in June ’76. The Mexican Palomino brought Stracey’s reign as World champion to an end by producing a right hand that led to the Englishman being counted out.
Stracey retired from boxing after defeating Georges Warusfel with a 9th round stoppage on 23rd May 1978. Subsequently he became the first British boxer to be inducted into the WBC Boxing Hall of Fame.
John now enthrals audiences with his cockney humour and tales of his Eastend upbringing as well as accounts of his illustrious boxing career. He is also an accomplished singer and is renowned for his tribute to Frank Sinatra. John has shared the same bill with Johnny Mathis and the Eagles and has performed at the famous Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas.
Tickets for the event are available from Impact Boxing by contacting 0797 182 4337.