Born: 1959-06-05Nationality: United KingdomName: Alan WorthingtonHometown: Liverpool, Merseyside,United KingdomBoxing Record: click

Alan was born in Liverpool on the 6th

June 1959 and clocked up some 300amateur fights and another 16 as aprofessional. He started boxing at theage of 7 at Kirby ABC where he hadhis first fight aged 11 against PaulDennet. His coach and trainer wereCharles Aktinsons snr and TuckerEdington.

He then went to The Kingsway ABCWidnes, then to Runcorn ABC andfinally Wavertree ABC. He was threetimes a NORTH WEST CHAMPIONand also ABA Finalist. When askedabout his many fights he fondlyrecalls the great battles he had with

Brian Snagg, George Schofield , David Jenkins, Tommy Connelly , Derek Wall, HerolGraham and his favourite venue, not much of a surprise, was the Liverpool stadium. Alansaid that he remembers well selling boxing programs outside Liverpool stadium with JohnHyland.

He would often turn up at shows but wasn’t on the card , got weighed in and boxed. Alanhas many of the programs although, obviously , they haven’t got his name listed. His son (Alan ) said “when speaking to my dad he said that he wishes he had put as much effort atbeing a pro as he did when an amateur fighter. He felt disheartened really, he explains, thathe had to travel places like Yorkshire, Wolverhampton, and Dudley by himself on a trainwith no directions and having to find the venue and box . He would be out in the pub on aFriday night drinking then get a call the next day to fight , but he still enjoyed his pro career.We have a laugh about the Clifton Wallace fight when he turned up at the Queen MaryBallroom, Dudley, hours early and ended up having six pints of larger before the fight ha ha,so he looks back and wishes he would of put the same dedication into it as his amateurcareer.

Alan says that his hardest ever fight was against David Jenkins, Birkenhead, when he lost toJenkins in Wales . He evened the score when he beat him on next show in Liverpool. Which

shows why it was his favourite venue. The most fights he had in one night was in the Dockersclub Liverpool where he had no less than four fights in the junior ABA’s.

Alan was such a busy fighter that he was going to shows and they wouldn’t let him fightbecause he had that many fights in a season. he boxed all over the country week in week out,and as a senior he couldn’t get a fight in Liverpool.

Alan says that he can still feel the noise from the crowd when he was in the changing room atthe Liverpool Stadium. Which is common amongst the many fighters who plied their trade atthe Stadium. Alan is still a big boxing fan and in keeping with many an ex boxer tries to keepfit, and spends many an hour on his allotments and spending time with his grandchildren.

As this fascinating story unfolds Alan Worthington Snr in speaking with his namesake sontells us more of his memories as a fighter.

He never did any training for the pro fights he was just called last minute to fight so he feelsthat if he would of had more advance notice for the fights he could have been much fitter,ready for the fights, and done a lot better . He also went sparing round all the gyms inLiverpool with all the champions some off the clubs golden gloves, Holly name, MapleLeaf , and he often sparred with Robbie “Dynamite” Davies.

Some of the venues he fought at were, the Adelphi hotel Liverpool, the Florence InstituteLiverpool ,Romeo and Juliet’s Liverpool, boxing was in the blood in the Worthington familyhaving three brothers, all boxers, but Alan was the one with the natural talent from being anamateur champion then turning pro. His father Ted Worthington was a big part off hisboxing life following him all over the country and buying him all his boxing gear and playinga big part in his training. He would drive him to Kirkby from Runcorn 3 and 4 times a week ,same again when he went to Wavertree.

There is a very well-known pub in Runcorn called the “Tanners” were supporters wouldoften come to watch Alan Worthington and club mate Micky Flynn fight. Two or three busesfull traveling round the country to watch when boxing for Wavertree ABC. The Wavertreecoach was Tony Derby, Runcorn coach was Les Herbert. Also other things Alan Worthingtonwon 3x The West Lancs & West Cheshire ABA champion. He packed in amateur boxingafter he was at a boxing tournament in wales and dropped the lad 3 times in every round andstill got beat on the decision vote he says he easily won the fight but was boxing on “theirhome turf”. He felt like he was robbed and had enough. He told his dad Ted I’am not doing itno more this has happened a few times now and he hung his gloves up. Some 18 months laterhe got a phone call from one of his previous trainers from Widnes who said the boxingpromoter Billy Macdonald wants to sign him up as a pro. When Alan Worthington was ajunior fighter he was boxing that well that Jackie Turpin , the brother off the late championRandy Turpin said he had high potential in boxing and was a joy to watch,

Alan also says

His coach in Kingsway ABC wasBilly Evans and he boxed for theKingsway ABC in Widnes for 3 years, for Runcorn ABC for 2 years , forWavertree ABC 8 years , and was atKirkby ABc for 4 years , as a pro henever had a gym ,he was just left toget on with it.

He said he has boxed at probablyevery boxing venue and every amateurboxing club in Liverpool , boxedevery lad in Liverpool at his weight inthe years he was boxing. He hadhundreds of Trophies and the ones thatdidn’t have his name on he donated toRuncorn ABC for the kids ( what abetter testament to the quality of thisman I have yet to hear ) . When hisdad passed away he put his besttrophy his favourite one in the coffinwith his dad Ted Worthington to rest.From the age of 7 boxing was his lifetraining and sparing every day allround clubs in Liverpool.

newspaper reports relating to various clubs

In the area19 March 1997

TWO Runcorn brothers turned out champion performances in the Warrington ABC boxing tournamentat the Parr Hall last week. Before a packed house, Robert and Glynn Turner from Windmill Hill, bothwon their contests in convincing fashion.

Light-middleweight Robert, 28, stopped West Lancs ABA finalist, Scot Garrett, after controlling theaction with his cool, calm approach.

The former Norton Priory pupil shook Garrett to such an effect that the doctor terminated the actionfollowing an eye injury in the second round.

Younger brother Glynn, 19, had a more demanding examination of his talents in his heavy weightencounter with the powerful Alan Byrne, alias the 'Preston Red Rose.'

For the first time in his career, the teenager was called upon to do four two-minute rounds.Coach Mike Rowan said: "The strong, bustling Byrne pushed the fight all the way, but the speed andversatility of Glynn saw him win with a unanimous decisions in the most convincing fashion."Time is on Glynn's side in his quest for honours and he is capable of making rapid strides."

15 May 1997

ROBIN Reid punched a huge hole in the cynics' argument that hewas "just a pretty face" with a magni

In front of an 11,000 crowd at the Manchester Nynex Arena on Saturday, the Runcorn boxing herotook challenger Henry Wharton the full 12 rounds, beating him on points. And the critics whothought - or perhaps hoped - that Robin was purely a champion by luck rather than by ability weretreated to a spectacle that must have made them eat their words at last. Robin, 12 stones ofextraordinary fitness, was defending his title for the second time and was considered to be the

underdog against Yorkshire man Wharton, making his third bid for the title prize following defeats byNigel Benn and Chris Eubank.

One critic, describing Wharton as being blessed with the heavier single punch and having too muchstrength for his opponent, believed a late stoppage was likely. Another wondered whether Reidmight have reached his boxing heights too early.

Even Wharton's manager, Mickey Duff, was so confident of victory that he challenged Reid's mentorFrank Warren to a £25,000 bet. But certain of a Reid triumph, Warren was prepared to double it.His belief in his protege paid off - and the boxer, whose main "disadvantage" appears to be that helooks good and is a nice sort of guy as well, treated the crowd to an exhilarating spectacle whichshould go down as one of the most exciting bouts of the year.

The crowd-puller at Nynex was ostensibly the Naseem Hamed-Billy Hardy billing - but with that onlylasting 93 seconds, it was the Reid v Wharton clash which turned out to be the fight of the night.The 12 rounds were, for the most, gruelling and - at times - brutal. A brave Wharton had bloodspurting from a cut on his nose which may have been broken for the last four rounds.He took his punishment like a hero from a cool Reid who dealt some devastating shots at theYorkshireman who did not take long to realise that this was probably the toughest challenge he hadever faced.

Keeping Wharton at arms' length, Reid was the one in charge and appeared to dictate which way thefight was going. But the undaunted challenger kept pushing and was a constant danger - until theeighth round when a series of Reid shots sent him reeling just before the bell. Still, Wharton cameback for more and a right cross in the ninth would surely have laid out a lesser fighter.

The tenth had him in serious trouble yet he fought back against another crashing right hand andpushed Reid against the ropes, constantly throwing punches. At the end, both were on their feet andit was a clear decision by the judges - or at least two of them - that Reid was still the champ.Amazingly, Mexican judge Ray Solis made it a 114-114 draw. Londoner Richie Davies put Reid aheadat 118-111 and Daniel Van De Viel, of Belgium, made it 117-113.

After the fight, Robin announced: "I have now proved that I am prepared to go to war to retain mytitle. "Critics have called me Pretty Boy. But I was born with this face - and there is nothing I can doabout it! "Perhaps I will now be judged on what I can do."

18 March 1998

BOXING

WIDNES Boxing Club, sponsored by Grice Haulage and Ceramics By Design, took part in a CharityBoxing Dinner with a cabaret show on behalf of the Children's Adventure Farm Trust Charity at TheVillage Hotel, Warrington. For the second time in a month David Heaton was let down, his opponentfailing to0. turn up. John Kelly making his debut lost by a majority vote against a local boy who wason the retreat most of the time after John hurt him in the second-round. The highlight for the clubwas when the officials asked Jack Ryan and coach Paul Booth to enter the ring through a cloud ofsmoke with Kevin Grice. Kevin won on points after a thrilling contest against a tough boy fromManchester.

18 March 1998 - CHARITY

WIDNES Boxing Club, sponsored by Grice Haulage and Ceramics By Design, took part in a CharityBoxing Dinner with a cabaret show on behalf of the Children's Adventure Farm Trust Charity at TheVillage Hotel, Warrington. For the second time in a month David Heaton was let down, his opponent

failing to0. turn up. John Kelly making his debut lost by a majority vote against a local boy who wason the retreat most of the time after John hurt him in the second-round. The highlight for the clubwas when the officials asked Jack Ryan and coach Paul Booth to enter the ring through a cloud ofsmoke with Kevin Grice. Kevin won on points after a thrilling contest against a tough boy fromManchester.

Wednesday, 1 April 1998

BOXING CLEVER

RUNCORN Boys Boxing Club's most promising star, Ritchie Prescott, takes on the best of the northeast later this month in the National Championships. Ritchie, 18, the current light-welter weightchampion of the north west, was given a bye into the next round after his next opponent, the creamof Manchester, dropped out.

Ritchie goes into the fight on the back of a resounding victory against highly-acclaimed Wavertreeboxer, Neil Bradshaw, 20, in Warrington last week.

The Murdishaw teenager, who also gave away three pounds in weight, won on a unanimous decision.He had already beaten his Liverpool opponent in a contest earlier this year. Runcorn Boys coach,John Lally, said: "Ritchie is really making a name for himself on the circuit and the fight against thenorth east champion, who has yet to be decided, should be exciting.

"He's earned a lot of respect for beating Bradshaw twice because he already had a good reputation."John is also delighted with another promising young hopeful from his Boston Avenue club.Frannie McHugh, 15, took to the ring in his first ever competitive fight against Warrington's AlanWebb. He gave away four pounds in weight but still went on to win on a unanimous decision."The lad was brilliant and is a real hope for the future," said John. "He only joined the club 12 monthsago so it shows how much progress he's made in such a short space of time."

6 May 1998

BOXING CLEVER

TWO boys from the Widnes Boxing Club made their debut on Friday night at Ellesmere Port.Eddy Nolan gained a comfortable points win and nearly pulled off a knockout win in the second roundwhen he hit his opponent with a left and right to the chin that made him very groggy, but the bellsaved him.

Another lad, young David Hull lost on points, many thought he had won and coaches Jack Ryan andPaul Booth where so pleased with his performance are trying to get a return contest.

15 October 1998

BOXING CLEVER

THREE boys from Widnes Boxing Club have gained representative honours - two representing theNorth West against Knowsley and Merseyside and one Merseyside against Yorkshire at the Kirbysports centre.

David Hull won unaminously against a local boy P Flynn. He proved he had the fighting spirit but itwas his nice footwork and boxing skills that proved to be the winner at the end. David Heaton wasway ahead on points boxing another local boy but, in the last 20 seconds of the last round, he hurt

his hand and had to retire but everyone said David had won. Lee Bennett was representingMerseyside and he did not let them down. He proved he had no intention of losing by showing histrue boxing skill and stamina to win by a unanimous decision against B Rogers from Bradford (rep)decision against B, Rogers Bradford (rep) Yorkshire.

This proves that boxing is still alive in Widnes and hoping for higher honours in the future, so comeon lads, training nights for under 15, 6pm-7.30pm, 15 and over 7pm-9pm. We also welcome anyonewho just wants to do their own fitness training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday above theCornerhouse Pub.

25 November 1998

BOXING CLEVER

UP-AND-COMING young boxer David Dowman was pleased as punch after winning his bout at lastweek's schoolboy open championships at Orrell Park Ballroom. David, age 14, beat Alan Higgin ofCavendish, Wirral who threw in the towel after the second round.

Both fighters went into the ring having only one previous fight under their belt, which they both won.Runcorn Boys Boxing Club coach, John Lally, who rates his young prodegy as a bright prospect forthe future, said: "David fought so well the other lad decided not to come out for the third round!"David weighed in at 7st 3lbs and Higgin was five pounds heavier. Normally I wouldn't have let thefight go ahead with such a big weight difference but David's a good lad and I decided to let him havea go."David did really well. He's a bright prospect for the future."

Wednesday, 22 September 1999

BOXING BOYS ARE A REAL KNOCKOUT

IT's gumshields in and gloves at the ready at Runcorn Boys Club as they prepare for the start of theirnew boxing season. The Boston Avenue-based club re-opened this week, and as well as training themore experienced members for competitions, coach John Lally is looking for newcomers.

"What we are interested in promoting here is the art of self defence, rather than the idea of peoplefighting," explained John. "If parents are worried about their kids being bullied then they can comehere and we will teach them how to defend themselves.

"We've had lads come here in the past who have been getting picked on and they have been able towalk out with their heads held high. "All the lads are insured as soon as they start. It takes between10 to 12 months to train them depending on their level of fitness, and the lads receive loads ofsupport from us even if they just want to get fit rather than compete."

John points out that the club has achieved many success stories, most notably Robin Reid, the formerWBC world super-middle weight champion. More recently, Richie Prescott, 20, went to Yorkshire lastyear to compete in the semi-finals of the National Amateur Boxing Championships (NMBC), RobbieShearer, 19, competed in the senior NABC Championships in Liverpool and Manchester.

And 17-year-old Franny McHue still remains unbeaten since the NAMC Junior Novice Championshipslast year. He's fighting fit as the moment as he prepares to join the Royal Marines.

Club secretary Rab Shearer said: "At the end of the day we know we're doing a good job because it'skeeping kids of the streets, giving them an interest, keeping them fit and letting them get rid of theiradrenaline.

"But we still want more lads to come forward. We're here four times a week and we ideally wantabout 35 lads to be attending from the age of nine upwards." John and Rab are also looking forcoaches to help out

Thursday 13th Apr 2000

ROBBIE'S SHEAR DELIGHT

ROBBIE Shearer delivered a sucker punch to the boxing world last week - beating Liverpool's biggesthot-shot. The 20-year-old Runcorn pugilist was the definitive underdog against Ricki Eccleston at lastFriday's ABA championships at the Everton park centre.

But the light-welterweight beat the tournament favourite 9-8 in a thrilling four-round encounter.Robbie now meets Bootle's Jamie Matthews from Stanley ABC in the final this Friday.John Lally, Robbie's coach at Runcorn Boys Club on Boston Avenue said: "Ricki has won every titlegoing and was the favourite for the title.

"Robbie caused a major upset. It was a cracking contest and Robbie got a standing ovation at theend from the crowd. It was close. The rounds are judged by computer scoring.

"I don't think anyone gave Robbie a chance before the fight - except us at the club, of course."Robbie's win was even more significant because it was his first competitive fight for two years.The youngster has had a long-running 'battle-of-the-bulge' in a bid to attain his ideal fighting weight.John explained: "When Robbie was first boxing at 10 stone he won 10 contests on the trot."He's quite a hefty lad and he ballooned up to 11 stone 4 pounds and went on a really bad run. Itjust wasn't his best weight.

"We decided to take him out of the game for a while. "We weren't sure that he would be able to gethis weight down but, after a lot of hard work and dedication, he did it. "He's now reaping the rewardsfor all his determination."

18 October 2000

ROBBIE DAZZLER

HOT shot Robbie Shearer heads off to Canada next week after being chosen to represent the regionin an international boxing tournament. The 20-year-old welter-weight from Windmill Hill was pickedahead of hundreds of young hopefuls to fight for the North West Counties Select against a CanadianSelect in Vancouver.

A member of Runcorn Boys Boxing Club, Robbie made his mark on the sport last year when he beattournament favourite Ricky Eccleston in the ABA Championships. Coach John Lally said: "Robbiereally come of age after that victory.

"Ricky, who is well respected on the circuit, was a certain for the championship and Robbie beat himin style. "Ricky has turned professional since then and remains unbeaten - that's how good he was."I think that win had a lot to do with the selectors picking Robbie for this trip."

John continued: "Robbie will stay in Canada for a week and if he does well, which I'm sure he will, itcould open a lot of doors for him. "Over the years Robbie has struggled with his weight and Iwouldn't let him fight for two years because I thought the extra few pounds were hampering hisprogress. "He worked so hard in the gym and lost over a stone and it's paid off. He's his idealfighting weight now at 10st 4lb.

"Not only will Canada be a great experience for him, but it will also prepare him for this season's ABAChampionships which start in February." Also doing well at the club are 19-year-old Ritchie Prescottfrom Murdishaw and Robbie's 15-year-old brother Thomas. Ritchie won the Senior Novice ABAChampionship at Everton Park recently and is described by John as a 'special talent'.Thomas, meanwhile, was due to take part in the NABC Championships in Speke tonight (Wednesday).Thomas, who turns 16 next week, was hoping for an early birthday present in the shape of a victory.

Wednesday, 21 March 2001

BOXING CLEVER

RUNCORN heavyweight Glynn Turner is into the ABA National Senior Final. He is the borough's firstever boxer to do so. The 23-year-old from Windmill Hill, who boxes for Liverpool's Golden GlovesClub, won his quarter final at Everton Park Sports Centre last Friday.

He beat on points the London area champion J Zikic from the famous Repton Club who is also aYugoslavian international and has boxed in the USA. Then the next afternoon in the semi final hebeat, also on points, the south west champion Patrick Lewis from the Taunton ABC.Glynn now travels to the Barnsley Metrodome on Friday, March 30 for the final.But whatever the result, Glynn has proved that he is currently one of the country's top amateurheavyweights.

20 March 2002

ROB NOSED OUT OF BOXING BOUT

WIDNES amateur middleweight boxer Rob Devany was stopped on Saturday night at WoolstonLeisure Centre, in Warrington, in only his second bout. The youngster, a member of Widnes Amateurboxing Club, was pulled out of the contest by the referee in the dying seconds of the final round aftersustaining a nose injury.

Devany gave a good account of himself in the first round but the height and reach advantage of hisopponent S Lithgoe, of Hartlepool Catholic Club, began to tell in the second and third.Trainer Jack Ryan told the World: "Rod had a slight weight advantage but his opponent was 6ft 2 andhad a much longer reach and managed to keep Rob at a distance. In the third round he caught Robwith a couple of solid lefts and his nose started bleeding. It looked a lot worse than it was but thereferee stopped the fight. I think Rob could have finished the fight but the referee had the lad'sinterests at heart."

Devany was the only representative from the Widnes Club fighting on the card after the opponentsfor three other WABC fighters pulled out of their contests.

30 October 2002

Reid still on track for title shot

RUNCORN boxing star Robin Reid will finally return to top of the bill next month in a bid to stake hisclaim for a shot at the WBC championship, World Sport can reveal. He will be back in action for a 10-round international match-up at the Liverpool Olympia on Friday, November 29. His opponent hasyet to be decided but it has been announced that he will share the limelight with former WBU

flyweight champ, Paul Culshaw.It will be only the fourth fight in a year for Reid who still has his sights set on challenging Eric Lucasfor his WBC super-middleweight belt in the new year. It was originally hoped that The Reaper,current WBF champ and ranked fifth in the Independent World Boxing Rankings, would face theFrench Canadian before Christmas.

But the showdown was set back so that Lucas could defend his title against the promising Germanyoungster, Markus Beyer. "Lucas has to face Beyer and once he's got that out of the way we can sitdown and negotiate," said Reid's promoter Jess Harding, who also told World Sport he was still intalks with the BBC over a deal to increase the his televised coverage.

The 31-year-old fighter - a 1992 Olympics bronze medallist - last fought in a tough 12-round bout inJuly on Audley Harrison's undercard against Argentinean challenger, Francisco Mora. It was his firstmatch-up following a throat operation in May.

But Harding now wants him top of the telly bill, too. "We're getting there slowly but surely," he said,"but it's not a sports channel, it's a public broadcaster, so we have to deliver fights of quality asopposed to quantity. "Robin needs his own vehicle. With us he's had seven fights and seven wins sowe're heading in the right direction. But he needs a big fight - and he needs it now."

l Liverpudlian Paul Culshaw looks set to become the city's first two-weight champion when he takeson South African flyweight champ Ncedo Cecane for the vacant WBF Super-flyweight title."To become world champion in separate weight divisions is a feat very few boxers achieve and to begiven this opportunity in a fight in my home town is incredible," he said.

Others on the undercard include mandatory challenger for the British middleweight championship,Delroy Leslie, Tony Moran and Gary Davis who have been fighting on Audley Harrison's bill, BootlesRay Wood and fellow scouser, Lee Molloy.

Photographs of venues and club members

Runcorn ABC at Blackpool

Runcorn ABC with John Hyland

Jimmy Stubbs

Name: Jimmy StubbsBorn: 1920-01-01Birthplace: Runcorn, Cheshire, United KingdomDied: 1997-01-01 (Age:77)Nationality: United KingdomHometown: Runcorn, Cheshire, United Kingdom

Boxing Record: click

J I M M Y S T U B B SJim my misse d tit le sho t but rem ained

the Pride of Runcorn

You can count the top class professional figh ters who havecome out of Runcorn on one hand. Jimmy, who quit the game in 1947, was once ratedin the world 's top ten at flyweight and bantamweight, but somehow found himsel f asidetr acked fighte r where tit les were concerned . Not tha t he wasn 't good enou gh tofigh t for the Brit ish crown. He beat Dundee's Jim Brad y when Brady was Brit ish andEmpi re Bantamweight champion . He als o bea t Joh nny Mol loy and Kid Tanner , whofou ght respec tiv ely for British and Empire titles and he also beat that great littleLiverpool fighter , Joe Curran , who fought Jackie Paterson for the world title. Three otherbig names he met included Peter Kane, Tiny Bostock and 'Tige r' Al Phil lips –yet henever realised his ambition of a title shot.

Jimmy start ed his box ing li fe at the age of ten whe n he joined the Runcorn ABC.He was rated a minia ture Nel Tarle ton with his lanky, thin frame and long reach and asa youngster he was runner-up for the Lancs . and Cheshire 5st. and 5st. 4lbs. titles in1934 before winning the 6st. title in 1935 and the 6st. 71b. title the following year.

Jimm y often used to travel to Liverpool to train at the Kensington club under LesDouglas , but it was an expensive business in those days, with his fare being 2s. 6d. andhis gym subscript ion 2s. a week. Eventually he was told he was frightening a lot ofmembers away with his big punching, and what with the club decid ing to increase hissubscript ion to 2s. a night , his training trips were virtual ly ended and he decided to turnprofessional aged just 15.

Before he made his offic ial ring debut however, he and a friend, Ronni e Bri tla nd,dec ide d to cha nce their arm in a box ing boo th at a Run cor n fairground. Jimmyrecall s boxing a black fighte r at least two stone heavie r than himse lf, but he got 15s. forstaying three rounds, with the promise of 30s if he could come back the next night and lastsix – which he duly did.

Jimmy had a lot of his early contests at Runcorn Baths , a popular venue in those days,and for his debut in 1936 , when he stil l wasn 't quit e 16, he managed to stop 29 year oldYoung Drummer in the first round. Jimmy

gave away almost half a stone in this contest. "For a ten rounder in those da ys, yougo t £2 10s. and admiss ion to th e sh ow was 2s . ringside I remember my fatherputting on a show at the Baths Hall when the entir e bill, and the referee, cost less than£19 – yet he still lost money. "

Jimmy looked so good on his debut that Live rpool Stadium prom oter Johnny Best

immed iately signed a seven year option on his servi ces. Jack (Three Star) Hennessy, aLiverpudli an who had spent quite a few years in America, managed him. Jimmy sta rtedtra ining at the old Metr opolitan Clu b, whe re he rec all s a hea vy pun ch bag ins cri bedwit h the phr ase , `Fighters come and fighte rs go, but I go on foreve r.'

As a professional Jimmy invari ably trained at the Greenside Gym and he had a bril lian topening run, winning his firs t 33 contests . He was rapidly becoming the scourge offlyweights and bantamweights alike , and Jimmy himsel f felt that, "1 was unbeatable."However, he came unstuck agains t a substi tute, Haig Bowers , to whom he was conceding101b. Jimmy won the firs t five rounds easily enough, but then in the seven th, he ran onto a real KO punch and was counted out.

Jimmy also dropped a debatable points decisio n to Jackie Paterson in 1941, a timewhen the Glaswegian was rated the best flyweight in the world as Pete r Kane 's Worldtitl e was in abeyance due to the war. Thei r contest was on the Whi t Sunday show inLiverpool , and the Stadium roof was sporting a hole due to the May blit z and some ofthe ringside seat s were also missing because of bomb damage . The 10 round decisionfor Paterson was hot ly dis put ed by Stu bbs and the crowd, and eve n tho ugh Jim myimmediate ly chal lenged Paterson for a re tu rn wi th a mass ive £5000 sidestake, henever got the rematch.

Jim my sto ppe d highl y rat ed Tin y Bos tock in fou r rou nds , the sam e Bostock whoheld a deci sion over ex-Wor ld flyweight champion Small Montana. Jimmy was alsostopped in seven by Peter Kane, then lost to him again , this time on point s, in a £100 -a-side return. Jimmy also recal ls that in 1945 he suffered three defeats on disqualifi cation –with Teddy Waltham, later to become Board of Contro l Secretary, the referee on eachoccasion.The first contes t was agains t Tommy McGlinchey, the second agains t Al Ph il ip s, an dth e th ir d ag ai ns t Cl if f Mo rr is . "The se were th e on ly disqua lifications I eversuffered. I got off with the first two, but the Board fin ed me £45 the thi rd tim e. Irec kon Phi lip s pin ched it off me. I had dropped him about five times on a show atWillenhal l, but didn 't feel I hit him low when I got disqual ifi ed in the seventh. Thecrowd didn't like it either and created uproar ."

Jimm y twic e announce d his ring reti rement becaus e of the "rigours of trai ning", butcame back each time , fina lly quit ting afte r bein g forced to ret ire in eig ht rou nds bySto ckt on 's Tommy Burns at the Stadi um in October 1947. Altogether Jimmy hadabout 100 professional contes ts,

winning the majority. He rates his defea t of Empi re champion Brady as a bigachievement, along with his close tussle with Paterson, but reckons his two best boutswere his all-action draw and point s win over Joe Curran in 1940. "It is remarkable tothink that another six years were to elapse before Curran fought and lost to Paterson forthe World title. "