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John Conteh
British boxer

John Conteh

The basics

Quick Facts

Intro
British boxer
Work field
Gender
Male
Place of birth
Liverpool
Age
73 years
The details (from wikipedia)

Biography

John Conteh (born 27 May 1951) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1971 to 1980. He held multiple light-heavyweight championships, including the WBC title from 1974 to 1978; and the European, British, and Commonwealth titles between 1973 and 1974.

Professional career

John Conteh began boxing at the age of 10 at a boxing club in Kirkby that was a training ground for some of the best amateur boxers, such as Joey Singleton, Tucker Hetherington, and Stuart Morton. At 19, he won the middleweight gold medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. He won the WBC light-heavyweight title in October 1974 by defeating Jorge Ahumada. He held the title until 1977 when he was stripped for not going through with a mandated defence.

Conteh lost a 15-round split decision to the Yugoslavian fighter Mate Parlov when he attempted to regain the title. He failed twice in further efforts to win back the crown, in 1979 and then again seven months later in 1980, on both occasions fighting the American Matthew Saad Muhammad. Muhammad won both bouts but the first victory was declared void because his cornermen used an illegal substance on a cut.

Life after boxing

Conteh was one of the celebrities featured dressed in prison gear on the cover of the 1973 Wings album, Band on the Run. He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1974.

Conteh also has the distinction of being British Superstars competition champion in 1974, the second year of the televised sporting event. Conteh is now an after-dinner speaker and speaks at venues all across the country.

Conteh appeared on the BBC television programme Sporting Legends which was presented by Eamonn Holmes. There he spoke at length at how he started out in boxing and how Ali persuaded him to fight at Light-Heavyweight instead of Heavyweight. Ali believed that Conteh was too small to be a heavyweight. Conteh also spoke of how his lifestyle led to alcoholism and a charge of assault, he stated that at the time he appeared on Sporting Legends he had been dry for nine years.

Conteh also appeared in films such as Man at the Top (1973), The Stud (1978) and Tank Malling (1989), and made a starring appearance in the television show Boon in 1989, as a washed-up boxer. He more recently appeared on a boxing special of The Weakest Link in 2009, where he finished in third place. His most recent TV acting appearance was in the crime drama Justice, in which he again played an ex-boxer.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
39 fights34 wins4 losses
By knockout241
By decision103
Draws1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
39Win34–4–1United States James DixonTKO5 (10), 2:4931 May 1980United Kingdom Anfield, Liverpool, England
38Loss33–4–1United States Matthew Saad MuhammadTKO4 (15), 2:2729 Mar 1980United States Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USFor WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight titles
37Loss33–3–1United States Matthew Saad MuhammadUD1518 Aug 1979United States Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USFor WBC light-heavyweight title
36Win33–2–1United States Ivy BrownPTS104 Jun 1979United Kingdom Liverpool, England
35Draw32–2–1United States Jesse BurnettPTS1019 Apr 1979United Kingdom Hilton on Park Lane, London, England
34Win32–2Dominican Republic Leonardo RodgersKO7 (10), 1:1526 Sep 1978United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, England
33Loss31–2Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mate ParlovSD1517 Jun 1978Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, YugoslaviaLost WBC light-heavyweight title
32Win31–1United States Joe CokesPTS107 Feb 1978United Kingdom Michael Sobell Sports Centre, London, England
31Win30–1United States Len HutchinsTKO3 (15), 1:055 Mar 1977United Kingdom Anfield, Liverpool, EnglandRetained WBC light-heavyweight title
30Win29–1Mexico Yaqui LópezUD159 Oct 1976Denmark Forum, Copenhagen, DenmarkRetained WBC light-heavyweight title
29Win28–1United States Willie TaylorUD1016 Aug 1975United States Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, US
28Win27–1United States Lonnie BennettTKO5 (15), 1:1011 Mar 1975United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, EnglandRetained WBC light-heavyweight title
27Win26–1Argentina Jorge AhumadaPTS151 Oct 1974United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, EnglandWon vacant WBC light-heavyweight title
26Win25–1United Kingdom Chris FinneganTKO6 (15)21 May 1974United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, EnglandRetained European, British, and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles
25Win24–1Denmark Tom BogsRTD6 (15)12 Mar 1974United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, EnglandRetained European light-heavyweight title
24Win23–1United Kingdom Les StevensPTS1012 Feb 1974United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, London, England
23Win22–1United States Fred LewisTKO3 (10)14 Dec 1973United Kingdom Anfield, Liverpool, England
22Win21–1The Bahamas Baby Boy RollePTS1523 Oct 1973United Kingdom National Ice Centre, Nottingham, EnglandRetained Commonwealth light-heavyweight title
21Win20–1Venezuela Vicente RondónTKO9 (10)10 Sep 1973United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, England
20Win19–1United Kingdom Chris FinneganPTS1522 May 1973United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, EnglandRetained European light-heavyweight title;
Won British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles
19Win18–1West Germany Rüdiger SchmidtkeTKO12 (15), 2:2813 Mar 1973United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, EnglandWon European light-heavyweight title
18Win17–1United States Terry DanielsTKO7 (10)14 Feb 1973United States Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, US
17Win16–1United States Dave MatthewsPTS1015 Jan 1973United Kingdom Ice Stadium, Nottingham, England
16Win15–1United States Sam McGillTKO9 (10)5 Dec 1972United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, London, England
15Win14–1United States John HudginsKO3 (10), 1:3014 Nov 1972United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, England
14Win13–1Canada Bill DroverKO7 (10), 2:2431 Oct 1972United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, London, England
13Win12–1Hungary Ferenc KristofcsakTKO1 (8)10 Oct 1972United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, London, England
12Loss11–1United States Eddie DuncanPTS1026 Sep 1972United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, England
11Win11–0United States Johnny MacTKO2 (8)19 Jul 1972Republic of Ireland Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
10Win10–0United Kingdom Billy AirdTKO8 (8)6 Jun 1972United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, London, England
9Win9–0United States Joe GholstonTKO5 (8)25 Apr 1972United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, London, England
8Win8–0Puerto Rico Ruben FigueroaKO2 (8)28 Mar 1972United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, England
7Win7–0United States Larry SykesKO1 (8)15 Feb 1972United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, London, England
6Win6–0West Germany Wilhelm JancoTKO1 (8)25 Jan 1972United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, London, England
5Win5–0France Emilio OkeeTKO5 (8)7 Dec 1971United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, London, England
4Win4–0United States Tony BurwellPTS824 Nov 1971United Kingdom National Ice Centre, Nottingham, England
3Win3–0Canada Frank BullardTKO2 (10)16 Nov 1971United Kingdom Empire Pool, London, England
2Win2–0France Pierre MinierTKO5 (8)8 Nov 1971United Kingdom Grosvenor House Hotel, London, England
1Win1–0France Okacha BoubekeurKO1 (8)18 Oct 1971United Kingdom Hotel Café Royal, London, EnglandProfessional debut

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