SHEFFIELD has long been known for its production of steel and, more so in recent years, some of boxing’s most decorated and widely celebrated champions.
Most of whom have emerged from the city’s iconic Wincobank gym, plying their trade under the tutelage of legendary trainer Brendan Ingle.
But now, it is at Grant Smith’s Steel City Gym where his son Dalton Smith, 16-0 (12 KOs), looks to become the UK’s next bona fide star.
And so, ahead of Smith’s European title fight against Walid Ouizza this Saturday, Boxing News takes a look at the 10 best fighters to come out of Sheffield, England.
Dalton Smith
Since graduating from British level with a destructive seventh-round stoppage victory over Sam Maxwell, Smith has established himself as one of the most promising contenders at super lightweight.
Now, coming off a ruthless performance against Jose Zepeda, the 27-year-old looks to claim the European strap before pushing on towards world honours.
Brian Anderson
Despite never challenging for any accolades beyond British level, Anderson, 27-9-3 (14 KOs), treated fans to several thrilling spectacles during the 1980s.
After trying his luck down at super welterweight, the Ingle-trained bruiser moved up to challenge Tony Burke at 160 lbs, producing an eighth-round stoppage to claim the coveted Lonsdale Belt.
Johnny Cuthbert
With a staggering 175 professional outings to his name, Cuthbert, 123-34-17 (37 KOs), was, in many ways, a pioneer when it came to the Sheffield boxing scene.
Before retiring from the sport in 1934, ‘Young Cuthbert’ became a two-division British champion while also staging multiple contests overseas.
Kid Galahad
After cultivating a nightmarish switch-hitting style at the Wincobank gym, Galahad, 28-3 (17 KOs), swiftly became known as a fighter that should be avoided at all costs.
Nevertheless, the awkward technician was able to claim the IBF featherweight strap against James Dickens, just over two years removed from his controversial defeat to Josh Warrington.
Paul Jones
Interestingly, Jones, 31-12-1 (12 KOs), seemed to plot his career in reverse order, dethroning Verno Phillips for the WBO super welterweight crown before losing to fellow Yorkshireman and British champion Ryan Rhodes.
But still, after claiming the Commonwealth middleweight title, too, ‘Silky’ built a legacy that will forever be remembered in Sheffield boxing folklore.
Ryan Rhodes
Another product of the Wincobank gym, Rhodes, 46-6 (31 KOs), cemented his dominance on the domestic scene before halting Jamie Moore for the European super welterweight title.
In a different era, ‘Spice Boy’ could have gone even further, but a 12th-round stoppage defeat to Canelo Alvarez ultimately derailed his ambitions at world level.
Kell Brook
After dethroning IBF welterweight titlist Shawn Porter on away soil, Brook, 40-3, (28 KOs), looked set to reign supreme at 147 lbs in years to come.
But his defeat to middleweight monster Gennady Golovkin, of course, represented a turning point, though he was still able to end his career with a victory over domestic rival Amir Khan.
Clinton Woods
While competing in an iconic era of light heavyweight champions, Woods, 42-5-1 (25 KOs) was nonetheless able to make five defences of his IBF crown.
In fact, the former European champion only ever lost to the elite operators in his division, with pound-for-pound legend Roy Jones Jr handing the Brit his first blemish at world level.
Johnny Nelson
After a rocky start to his professional career, Nelson, 45-12-2 (29 KOs), toppled WBO cruiserweight king Carl Thompson before making 13 defences of his title.
And so, as well as being a widely respected pundit on Sky Sports, the versatile southpaw is remembered, most importantly, as one of the greatest cruiserweights of all time.
Naseem Hamed
The impact that Hamed, 36-1 (31 KOs), had on his sport was nothing short of meteoric, with the elusive yet vicious southpaw captivating millions of fans around the world.
His four-round shootout with Kevin Kelley, in particular, showcased his tremendous talent and audacious showmanship.
In the end, however, iconic multi-weight champion Marco Antonio Barrera was the man to end Hamed’s scintillating reign at featherweight.
