Brian London

Brian London
Data
Birth Name	Brian Sidney Harper
birthday	June 19, 1934
place of birth	Blackpool , England
Date of death	June 23, 2021
nationality	British
Weight class	Heavyweight
style	Left-hand boom
Combat statistics as a professional boxer
Fights	58
Victories	37
Knockout victories	26
Defeats	20th
draw	1

Brian London (born June 19, 1934 in Blackpool , England - † June 23, 2021 ) was a British boxer .

Career

After a short amateur period, Brian London became a professional boxer at the age of 19. He played his first fight on March 22, 1955 in London against Dennis Lockton and won by TKO in the 1st round. Brian London struggled as a heavyweight throughout his career and weighed around 150 pounds at his best. The first twelve fights of his career, all of which he won, were all in England. Among the boxers he defeated were Eugene Robert, the Belgian champion, and Jim Cooper, the brother of Henry Cooper , with whom he would have some tough fights over the next few years.

Brian London made his first international start on July 7, 1962 in Brescia , Italy . He fought there against the former European light heavyweight champion Sante Amonti and lost over 10 rounds on points. After three victories over the certainly not bad Howard King, Von Clay and Tom McNeeley , Brian London accepted an offer from ex-world champion Ingemar Johansson from Sweden for a fight in Stockholm . This fight took place on April 21, 1963. Brian London went with Ingemar Johansson over the full distance of 12 laps, but lost on points.

On February 24, 1964 Brian London got the chance in Manchester against Henry Cooper to box the vacant European heavyweight title. At the same time it was in this fight for the British championship and the British Empire Heavyweight Title. London and Cooper fought a bitter fight, which Cooper won after 15 rounds just on points.

After Brian London had then defeated some very strong opponents, he also managed a victory over the American Amos Johnson on June 21, 1966 in Liverpool . Then Brian London got the opportunity to box on August 8, 1966 in the Earls Court Arena in London against Muhammad Ali for the world championship. Muhammad Ali was at the zenith of his career and defeated Brian London by knockout in the third round. Brian London declared years later that it was the greatest honor of his sports career for him to be able to box against Muhammad Ali for the world championship.

After this fight, Brian London's career got a significant downward trend. He lost more fights than he won over the next several years. However, it must be noted that he did not shy away from any opponent and accepted all, even the toughest opponents. He won in those years, inter alia. about Willy Schagen from the Netherlands , Kitione Lave from Tonga , Joe Erskine and Peter Bates from England and Pete Rademacher , Zora Folley and Willie Pastrano from the USA . He suffered defeats from his compatriots Henry Cooper, Jack Bodell and Dick Richardson as well as from Heinz Neuhaus from Germany , Niño Valdés from Cuba , Jerry Quarry and Eddie Make from the USA. After a TKO defeat in the 5th round against his young compatriot Joe Bugner on May 12, 1970 in London, he ended his professional career.

After the end of his boxer career, Brian London became a successful businessman. At times he ran seven night clubs. He was married and lived in Blackpool to the end.

Championship fights

• June 6th 1958, knockout victory in the 8th round over Joe Erskine for the British heavyweight championship and for the British Empire Heavyweight Title,
• January 12, 1959, lost point to Henry Cooper for the British Heavyweight Championship and the British Empire Heavyweight Title,
• February 24, 1964, point defeat against Henry Cooper for the European and British heavyweight championships and for the British Empire Heavyweight Title,
• August 6, 1966, knockout loss in the 3rd round against Muhammad Ali in the fight for the world heavyweight championship

swell

• Box Sport trade journal from 1954 to 1970,
• Website "www.boxrec.com",
• Website "www.britishboxing.net"

Web links

• Brian London's record

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Brian London died at 87. Obituary on boxen.de, June 25, 2021. Accessed June 25, 2021.