10. GEORGE TURPIN
Turpin (no relation to Randy and his Leamington family) went only 11-3-2 as a pro and never got further than a British featherweight title final eliminator for which he came in overweight. But in 1972 he won bantamweight bronze at the Munich Olympics, losing a 3-2 split in the semis to eventual champion Orlando Martinez of Cuba. Perhaps George was his own worst enemy: he was such a reluctant talker that BN Editor Harry Mullan memorably said interviewing him was “like eating soup with a fork”.
9. SHEA NEARY
This super-lightweight (real name Jimmy) was involved in some exciting 1990s tear-ups, winning most thanks to a heavy punch. A former soldier, Neary held the WBU belt and found his eight-round stoppage loss to Micky Ward in 1999 immortalised on celluloid in the movie The Fighter.
8. WALLY THOM
This Birkenhead southpaw was successful in three distinct phases of the sport. First, he won middleweight silver at the 1947 European Amateur Champs when really only a welterweight; then as a pro he held British, Empire (now Commonwealth) and European welter crowns; and finally he became a prominent referee, handling the Rodrigo Valdez-Bennie Briscoe world middleweight title bout in 1977.
7. ANDY HOLLIGAN
This light-welterweight’s career peaked a week before Christmas in 1993 when he challenged the great Julio Cesar Chavez for the WBC title in Mexico. He was halted in five rounds, but then Chavez was a mere 88-0-1 at the time! Hard-punching Holligan was never quite the same after that, but he had won British and European titles to earn his Chavez chance.
6. HARRY SCOTT
Remember “The Hurricane” Rubin Carter, who in the (misleading) eyes of Hollywood was cheated out of the world middleweight title? Well, Bootle’s Scott beat him on points over 10 rounds at London’s Albert Hall in April 1965. Yet despite that, and sharing the ring with numerous other top men in a 13-year career (1960-73), Harry never even got a crack at the British crown.
5. ALAN RUDKIN
One of Britain’s unluckiest fighters, Alan had to travel for his three world title shots: Fighting Harada in Japan, Lionel Rose in Australia and Ruben Olivares in Los Angeles (in front of Ruben’s adoring Mexican fans). Lost the first two on points, but huge-hitting Olivares stopped him in two rounds. However, Rudkin’s super skills were more than enough at European level.
4. PAUL HODKINSON
This compact featherweight from the Kirkby amateur club had a really dynamic style that guaranteed excitement, if not a long time at the top. In a 22-3-1 (21) record “Hoko” won British, European and WBC featherweight titles, the global belt from 1991-93. When he failed to win the WBO crown from Steve Robinson, Paul quit at just 28.
3. ERNIE RODERICK
This intelligent boxer was British welterweight champ for nearly a decade (1939-48), also holding the middleweight crown from 1945-46. Lost his only world title crack, but can be excused that as it came against a peak Henry Armstrong in May 1939 – and Ernie lasted the 15-round distance. Ended with a 112-24-4 (45) record.
2. NEL TARLETON
Held the British featherweight title three times, from 1931-32, 1934-36 and 1940-47, retiring undefeated as champion in 1947 when he was 41 years old. (His last fight had actually been in 1945). Remarkably, “Nella” had only one lung later in his career! Lacking a big punch but with supreme defensive skills, Tarleton twice lost to Freddie Miller in world title bids.
1. JOHN CONTEH
One of Britain’s classiest post-World War II operators, Kirkby’s Conteh held the WBC light-heavyweight title from 1974-77, losing it not in the ring but due to promotional disputes outside it. Once he realised he wouldn’t grow into a heavyweight, the former two-weight ABA champion concentrated on the 175lbs division, where he could best use his smooth boxing skills and hurtful dig.
