"You know, when Hagler fought John Mugabi prior to fighting me, l was at that fight and called my business partner and said, 'l want to fight Hagler.' He said, 'Ray, are you drinking?' 'Yeah, but that doesn't really make a difference.' l was ringside and l saw in him something that l could take control over. And when the fight was made, l knew I had a chance of winning. But if you look good in the gym, that's one thing. You have to look and feel good in that ring. And the first thing that happened, l threw a jab, pow, and my hands were still there."
- Sugar Ray Leonard
"He didn't want to fight me when I was at my best. He waited until I was older, slower, and then he came in with all his dancing and running.
He didn't beat me; time did. He fought like he was scared to get hit."
February 15th. The second reign of Muhammad Ali as heavyweight champion ended at the Las Vegas Hilton on this day in 1978. After 15 furious rounds of age against youth, brash defiance against jaded experience, the mantle passed to a real-life Rocky, Leon Spinks, only a year out of the amateur ranks.
24-year-old Olympic champion Spinks became the first challenger to win the world heavyweight title on a decision since Jim Braddock defeated Max Baer in 1935.
“I want to be the first man to win the heavyweight championship for the third time,” Ali proclaimed in a post fight interview, He won it for the second time when he knocked out George Foreman under a Kinshasa moon in 1974.
“If I had to lose the title, I'm glad that I lost to a real man.”
“I'm proud of myself,” Spinks said. “I trained hard and I wanted to win. For the next few months, I want to relax.”
Angelo Dundee, Ali's trainer said: "I knew it was too close for comfort. I told him to stop fooling around. He was giving up too many rounds. But I heard the decision and I thought 'Well, what are you going to do; that's it.' I prepared myself for this day for a long time. I conditioned myself for it. I was young with him and now I feel old with him.”
I finally found the photo of Leon Spinks that was used as the image on the front of his 2007 Allen and Ginter card. It's Leon Spinks working out at Angelo Dundee's 5th street gym in Miami in January of 1987.
"My greatest boxing moment was when I won the Olympics in 1976 by knocking out Sixto Soria of Cuba with an overhand right in the third round. I did it for my country. That was good for me. I loved representing the United States."
Up next, Eric Boon, "The Chatteris Thunderbolt", British lightweight champion from the 1930s. Boon was an action-packed fighter with a "take no prisoners attitude" and a murderous puncher. Davey "Boy" Green was a huge fan of this guy and indeed Green's style was a lot like Boon's.
British Vintage Boxing
ERIC BOON - WHAT A CARRY ON
Aug 15, 2019
By: Paul Zanon
Featherweight boxer, Jordan Gill, is currently the talk of Chatteris, the small market town in Cambridgeshire. But the first to put the town on the fistic map almost 80 years before Gill made his debut, was a certain Fen Tiger by the name of Eric Boon.
He had a fight record as long as your leg, and of his 141 bouts, he won an incredible 114, losing 21, drawing five with one no-contest. The dapperly dressed lightweight, often seen wearing tweed, coupled with a faultless haircut, would go on to star in a few of the famous ‘Carry On’ movies, including ‘Carry on Regardless,’ which ironically, was a true reflection of his fighting spirit and lifestyle – often referred to as a womaniser and playboy. At the ripe old age of 13, on 7 December 1933, Boon had his first fight as a professional boxer, against Paddy Chilvers. Scheduled for six rounds, Boon stopped the King’s Lynn boxer in the third, in front of 2,000 of his Chatteris supporters.
West Anglia’s sporting hero soon built up a loyal following in the local area that even the train companies started to put on extra services to accommodate travelling fans whenever he would fight outside of Cambridgeshire. And every time he’d come home victorious, the streets came to a standstill with banners displayed outside buildings and on buses.
The 5ft 4in Chatteris favourite was very active between 1936-1938, clocking up an incredible 69 fights, with only two losses. However, it was on 15 December 1938 that Boon had his breakthrough against ring veteran Dave Crowley, stopping him in the 13th round to become British Lightweight champion.
Two months later, on 23 February 1939, he defended the title against ‘The Irish Guardsman’, Arthur Danahar, in front of 14,000 spectators at the Harringay Arena. Interestingly, it was the first time the BBC had been allowed to televise a live boxing show, with a number of theatres in London selling tickets to paying patrons, such as the Tatlar News Theatre and the Marble Arch Pavillion. Rumour has it that when the news of the BBC’s coverage was confirmed, television sales rocketed in and around Cambridgeshire. However, with an average order taking several weeks to come to fruition, fulfilment became near on impossible. Those with a television set consequently became very popular – for one night at least. Despite Danahar’s unblemished record, the teenage Boon stopped his Bethnal Green adversary in the 14th round of a cracking domestic tear-up.
He would hold onto the coveted Lonsdale strap for six years, before being stopped by Welshman, Ronnie James, in Cardiff on 12 August 1944. Boon was unable to regain the title and in fact was unsuccessful at any other title attempts during the remainder of his career. He retired after the James loss, however, it was no secret that the affable Boon was a bit of a party animal. Living a life beyond his means, he was forced back to the ring 11 months later.
The closest he got to regaining a title was on 14 May 1946 when he took on his old rival, Arthur Danahar at welterweight, in an eliminator for the British title. After hitting the canvas in the fourth round, Boon was on the back foot and was eventually stopped in the 10th session.
After the Danahar loss, Boon fought outside of the UK for his next seven fights, boxing in South Africa and Zambia. He won the first six fights, then lost the seventh against Giel De Roode on 8 September 1947 in Johannesburg. The De Roode defeat signified the start of a slippery slope for Boon, as he became a road warrior, fighting in the US, Canada and Australia, only winning one of his next 11 fights.
Suffering a string of knockout losses, the British Boxing Board of Control decided to strip him of his licence. His last fight was on 31 October 1952 against Pat Ford in Brisbane, Australia.
Boon died in Soham, Cambridgeshire on 19 January 1981, from a heart attack. He was 61-years-old.
This is a wicked photo of Eric Boon, knowing what kind of puncher he was. He looks tough as a bag of hammers, I would love to own the type 1 original copy of this photo. I've found an image of what appears to be the original, I wish it would pop up for sale because I'd be all over it like flies on a pile of horse doody.
Eric Boon is a legendary figure in the world of boxing, of course he's worthy of a book.
The Boxing Glove
TBG Book Review: Chatteris Thunderbolt: The Eric Boon Story
The Boxing Glove Sunday Night Book Review
By: Peter Silkov
Chatteris Thunderbolt: The Eric Boon Story Written by Bob Lonkhurst
Eric Boon is one of the most colourful and exciting fighters ever to come out of Britain. He was a fighter who had it all, good looks, colourful personality, and a fighting style that seemed to guarantee drama and excitement every time he walked into the ring. Boon was an aggressive, swashbuckling, fighter, with a knockout punch in each hand. With his charismatic, all-action, ring style, Boon would become one of the biggest draws, and most popular ring performers of the 30s and 40s.
When Boon fought in London, special trains had to be added on to take the thousands of fans from traveling up from Chatteris to support their hero. ‘Boy Boon’ or ‘The Fen Tiger’ as he was called, was a lightweight with a heavyweight punch, and after turning professional at the age of just 15, he rose to fame with meteoric speed, and for a time, shone brighter than any other star in the British ring.
In his book “Chatteris Thunderbolt: The Eric Boon Story” Bob Lonkhurst turns the clock back to the 1930s, when boxing held a far higher place in the every day consciousness than it does today, and its stars enjoyed the kind of treatment normally only afforded to movie stars. In his heyday Boon was one of the biggest stars of the sport, certainly in this country, and was in demand all over the world, including the world center of boxing, America. Lonkhurst traces Boon’s story, from his early days growing up in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, through to the ups and downs of his roller coaster boxing career, and his often equally colourful and dramatic life outside of the ring.
Born on December 28, 1919, in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, Eric Boon spent his youth working as a blacksmith, but from a very young age, always hankered to become a boxer. After a short amateur career, which ended after he received payment for a fight in a traveling booth, Boon turned professional in December 1934 (not January 1935 as stated by Box Rec.) Although he was only 15 years old, he was soon fighting, and beating, battle hardened men.
Eric’s career was guided by Jack Solomons, who would use Boons meteoric success as a spring board to make himself the number one promoter in the country. Boon was matched hard from the beginning, and though he bowled over most of his opponents with impressive violence, he also suffered a number of early ‘learning’ defeats.
Boon's success quickly made him a folk hero in his native Chatteris, and with every fight his following grew. Once he started fighting regularly in London, he was hailed as being one of the most exciting prospects ever seen in the country.
On December 15, 1938, still two weeks away from his 19th birthday, Boon won the British Lightweight championship with a spectacular, come from behind, victory over Dave Crowley. It was Boon’s 81st contest, but he had been out-boxed for much of the fight by Crowley, and had his left eye tightly closed before he turned everything around with a late surge, which culminated in him knocking Crowley out in the 13th round. It was a victory that produced delirious scenes as Boon’s traveling fans inundated the ring in celebration of their fighter’s triumph.
Boon became a national star overnight with his victory over Crowley, and there seemed to be no limit to his future success. With this victory, Eric Boon became the youngest man ever to win a British championship. It is a record, which will now never be broken, as the BBBC has since made a law which states that no boxer under the age of 21 can fight for a British title belt.
In his first defence of his championship two months after winning it, on February 23rd 1939, Boon was involved in perhaps the most sensational fight of his career, when he came back from what seemed to be almost certain defeat, to stop Danahar in the 14th round. This fight was also the first British championship fight to be televised.
Ten months later, Boon defended his British title successfully for a second time, beating former champion Crowley again, and becoming the youngest man ever to win a Lonsdale belt outright, and in what was then, the shortest time.
However despite his youth and ability, this period would prove to be the high-point of his fighting life. A mixture of circumstance, bad luck, and the trappings of fame and success derailed boon’s boxing career. The outbreak of WW2 would prove to be a huge hindrance and would ruin his ambitions for a world title shot. He would never fight for a world title.
With his ring activity curtailed by the war, Boon found himself drawn into the high life, and gained a reputation as a notorious womanizer. Having achieved such fame and success so early in life, it is perhaps hardly surprising that Boon found it hard to keep his feet on the ground, and that his early dedication to the gym and fighting waned, as the temptations of celebrity became available to him.
Boon also suffered a severe head injury in a motorbike crash during a 1941 blackout. It was an injury so severe that it is unlikely that he would have been allowed to fight again today. As it was, although he would carry on fighting on and off for over a decade, he would never be quite the same fighter again.
Bob Lonkhurst details the decline of Boon’s boxing career during the war years, as his out of the ring life became more and more complicated. Yet, there was a stirring comeback in the post war years, with Boon being involved in another handful of classic fights, as he sought to regain his lost ring prestige, and recover some of his already depleted earnings. The comeback culminated in him trying to win the British Welterweight title from Ernie Roderick on December 9, 1947, and putting up a memorable display of guts and courage, before being defeated on points. After this defeat however, it was all downhill from then on for Boon as a fighter.
Like so many of the ring’s stars, Boon saw his money soon disappear, due to failed business ventures, and a complicated personal life. His boxing career ended with a string of defeats to fighters who would never have been matched with him in his prime, and in the end, Boon had to suffer the indignity of having his boxing license taken away from him.
Boon comes across in ’Chatteris Thunderbolt’ as a complicated man who at times struggles to deal with the various pressures and temptations that come with success and fame. But, he is also revealed as person with an ultimately good heart, who as he grew older wanted to give something back. In his later years, despite dealing with his own money issues, and living a hand to mouth existence at times, Boon would become a tremendous fund raiser for various charities, and was always willing to help out a fellow ex-boxer. It was at this point in his life that Boon finally settled down and found some of the stability and contentment that had eluded him in his younger years.
At times, Boon’s life story reads like a film. As his boxing career waned, he had a stint as an actor, and later made several appearances in a number of the famous ‘Carry On’ Films of the late 50s and early 60s. He would even at one point manage to get himself involved in some political espionage. Both in, and out of the ring, Eric Boon emerges as one of those people who seem to have been both blessed and cursed with a life that is seldom boring or uneventful.
This is a fast moving and entertaining book, with some vivid recollections of Eric Boon’s most famous fights. When reading about Boon, both as a man and a fighter, you can understand why he was so beloved by both the public and the media. The phrase ‘larger than life’ fits him perfectly. Yet behind all the fame and glitz, which surrounded his career, was a true big-hearted fighter, who had no fear of anyone, and in his prime simply loved to fight.
This is Bob Lonkhurst’s 6th biography of a fighter from British boxing’s glory days, with previous books on Jack Peterson, Tommy Farr, Terry Spinks, Danny Clark, and Dave ‘Boy’ Green (also from Chatteris.) In “Chatteris Thunderbolt” Lonkhurst has brought Eric Boon back to life in great style, with a vivid and honest account about the trails and triumphs of a fighter who lit up the British boxing scene, and is still fondly remembered today, even by people who never saw him fight, but just heard or read about his ring exploits.
This book is a great read for any follower of boxing, especially those interested in the fighters of yesteryear, when boxing was one of the most socially important, and popular sports of all.
‘Chatteris Thunderbolt’ was originally published in 2012, and has a nice collection of photographs, and a full rundown of Eric Boon’s boxing record.
Let's get some Eric Boon photos in here. On December 15th, 1938, Eric Boon (right) won the British lightweight title by knocking out Dave Crowley in the 13th round at Harringay Arena.
Eric Boon and "The Irish Guardsman" Arthur Danahar shaking hands, they fought twice, two brutal and vicious encounters. Classic stylistic matchup, boxer vs hitter.
Photo of the excited scenes in the ring at Harringay Arena on February 23rd, 1939, following the victory of Eric Boon over Arthur Danahar to retain his British Lightweight Title, when he stopped him in the 14th round of what is generally considered one of the greatest fights ever seen in a British ring.
"13,000 fans saw Eric Boon retain his British lightweight title, beating Arthur Danahar in one of the most thrilling fights seen in Britain, with the referee stopping the bout in the 14th of a 15-round bout. After a cautious start, Danahar, boxing beautifully, piled up points, winning four of the first seven rounds. From the 8th round onward it was a slugging match. Boon tried to take the advantage but Danahar fought back splendidly. Boon's rights, however, were a telling factor and in the 12th he floored his opponent three times for counts of nine and three counts of nine in the 13th as well, while Boon himself took a count in the 13th. After a hard right had floored Danahar in the 14th, the referee stopped the fight." - Reuters
The second meeting between Eric Boon and Arthur Danahar took place in 1946 and the highlights are actually available for viewing, another vicious encounter that ended in the 4th. You can't see the blow that Danahar delivered to Boon that ended the fight. Boon complained to the referee that it was a foul, I don't know because you can't see the punch, but Boon is in absolute agony from it.
Eric Boon vs Len Wickwar in 1939, of course Wickwar holds the official record for the most fights in boxing history with 473 documented fights between 1928-1947. This fight was filmed and is very high quality. Watching this fight, you can see how ferocious Eric Boon really was and how hard he punched.
Promoter Jack Solomons puffs away on his trademark cigar as he stands behind his pre-war lightweight stars Harry “Kid” Silver and Eric Boon for a promotional postcard.
This is a photo of Eric Boon showing off his Lonsdale British lightweight title belt a few days after winning his fight against Arthur Danahar, March 1939. The Lonsdale Belt is the oldest and most prestigious championship in British boxing, established in 1909 by Lord Lonsdale. The first-ever belt was awarded to lightweight champion Freddie Welsh in 1909. Eric Boon held that belt for six years.
This is fascinating, Eric Boon used to suffer from a slight inferiority complex before fights so he went to a Canadian doctor in 1947 to try and overcome the issue by having himself hypnotized. These are photos of him being hypnotized by the doctor before his fight with Ernie Roderick in 1947. It must have worked because he won the fight on points.
These photos were taken on April 28th in 1952, Eric Boon fighting in a boxing booth in London, England. A British boxing booth was a traveling fairground attraction from the 18th to the late 20th century, where professional boxers challenged members of the public to fight for money. These booths were central to British boxing history, serving as a training ground for boxers like Jimmy Wilde and Randolph Turpin, offering "all-comers" a chance to compete in a ring. This was the only way Eric Boon could fight because he had his boxing license revoked by the British Boxing board for safety and health concerns. In this photo he is fighting a man named Laurie Davis. Boon still carried his power because he knocked David down twice.
A couple of Eric Boon trading cards here, this first one is the 1938 WA & AC Churchman Boxing Personalities, a legendary set, these cards aren't rare, the real challenge comes from finding these in high grade, 8,9, or a really rare 10.
This is my personal favorite Eric Boon card from the 1935 United Tobacco Co. World Famous Boxers set, this was a South Africa issue set, love this set. These are ridiculously hard to find in high grade, you usually don't see anything above a grade of 6.5 in this set. A PSA 7 would be Bigfoot level of rare.
1947 A & J Donaldson Sports Favourites Eric Boon. The backs of these cards actually have two different variations, one with the word "copyright" and one without, the variation without the word "copyright" are ridiculously tough to find. I can't find a photo of the Eric Boon card without the word "copyright" so I've included a scan of two Joe Louis cards from the set that show both back variations.
These cards need no introduction, the famous Sportcasters. This is the Swedish version of the Eric Boon card from this legendary set. Of course the Dutch versions are the toughest to find, I've never seen the Dutch version of the Eric Boon, would love to own one.
Music time. You know, people find different meanings in every song, to some people this song represents losing a loved one and trying to find a reason to go on, to some people this song represents a break-up that really hurt. Regardless, this is one of the greatest and most beautiful songs ever made, the kind of song that will bring you to your knees. And say what you want about Jon Secada, but the man could flat-out sing.
This photo was taken on February 3rd in 1976, from left to right: Terry Downes, Alan Rudkin, Eric Boon, Peter Waterman, and Len Harvey. In the center is the famous 1920s and 30s Canadian and British heavyweight champion Larry Gains. This was a gathering for the promotion of Larry Gains' book "The Impossible Dream." The book tells the story of his legendary career and travels around America and the world. Due to the color bar in boxing, he was denied the chance to fight for the world title, despite being widely considered one of the best heavyweights of his era.
Comments
Henry Hank in a fight pose.
Great Henry Hank training sequence.
Henry Hank, beautiful boxing. If you put Henry Hank in a time machine and brought him to the current era of boxing, he would raise hell.
I love this stuff.
"You know, when Hagler fought John Mugabi prior to fighting me, l was at that fight and called my business partner and said, 'l want to fight Hagler.' He said, 'Ray, are you drinking?' 'Yeah, but that doesn't really make a difference.' l was ringside and l saw in him something that l could take control over. And when the fight was made, l knew I had a chance of winning. But if you look good in the gym, that's one thing. You have to look and feel good in that ring. And the first thing that happened, l threw a jab, pow, and my hands were still there."
"He didn't want to fight me when I was at my best. He waited until I was older, slower, and then he came in with all his dancing and running.
He didn't beat me; time did. He fought like he was scared to get hit."
Music break, a gem from the 80s.
February 15th. The second reign of Muhammad Ali as heavyweight champion ended at the Las Vegas Hilton on this day in 1978. After 15 furious rounds of age against youth, brash defiance against jaded experience, the mantle passed to a real-life Rocky, Leon Spinks, only a year out of the amateur ranks.
24-year-old Olympic champion Spinks became the first challenger to win the world heavyweight title on a decision since Jim Braddock defeated Max Baer in 1935.
“I want to be the first man to win the heavyweight championship for the third time,” Ali proclaimed in a post fight interview, He won it for the second time when he knocked out George Foreman under a Kinshasa moon in 1974.
“If I had to lose the title, I'm glad that I lost to a real man.”
“I'm proud of myself,” Spinks said. “I trained hard and I wanted to win. For the next few months, I want to relax.”
Angelo Dundee, Ali's trainer said: "I knew it was too close for comfort. I told him to stop fooling around. He was giving up too many rounds. But I heard the decision and I thought 'Well, what are you going to do; that's it.' I prepared myself for this day for a long time. I conditioned myself for it. I was young with him and now I feel old with him.”
Love this photo sequence from the first Spinks-Ali fight.
I finally found the photo of Leon Spinks that was used as the image on the front of his 2007 Allen and Ginter card. It's Leon Spinks working out at Angelo Dundee's 5th street gym in Miami in January of 1987.
The photo that was used for the epic image of Leon Spinks on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Also found the photo that was used for the image of Leon Spinks on his 2011 Ringside Boxing Round 2 card.
This one is really cool, I found the photo that was used for the image on the 2011 Sport Kings Mecca Cigarettes Turkey Red Leon Spinks card.
"My greatest boxing moment was when I won the Olympics in 1976 by knocking out Sixto Soria of Cuba with an overhand right in the third round. I did it for my country. That was good for me. I loved representing the United States."
Wicked shot of Leon Spinks showing off his gold medal.
Up next, Eric Boon, "The Chatteris Thunderbolt", British lightweight champion from the 1930s. Boon was an action-packed fighter with a "take no prisoners attitude" and a murderous puncher. Davey "Boy" Green was a huge fan of this guy and indeed Green's style was a lot like Boon's.
British Vintage Boxing
ERIC BOON - WHAT A CARRY ON
Aug 15, 2019
By: Paul Zanon
Featherweight boxer, Jordan Gill, is currently the talk of Chatteris, the small market town in Cambridgeshire. But the first to put the town on the fistic map almost 80 years before Gill made his debut, was a certain Fen Tiger by the name of Eric Boon.
He had a fight record as long as your leg, and of his 141 bouts, he won an incredible 114, losing 21, drawing five with one no-contest. The dapperly dressed lightweight, often seen wearing tweed, coupled with a faultless haircut, would go on to star in a few of the famous ‘Carry On’ movies, including ‘Carry on Regardless,’ which ironically, was a true reflection of his fighting spirit and lifestyle – often referred to as a womaniser and playboy. At the ripe old age of 13, on 7 December 1933, Boon had his first fight as a professional boxer, against Paddy Chilvers. Scheduled for six rounds, Boon stopped the King’s Lynn boxer in the third, in front of 2,000 of his Chatteris supporters.
West Anglia’s sporting hero soon built up a loyal following in the local area that even the train companies started to put on extra services to accommodate travelling fans whenever he would fight outside of Cambridgeshire. And every time he’d come home victorious, the streets came to a standstill with banners displayed outside buildings and on buses.
The 5ft 4in Chatteris favourite was very active between 1936-1938, clocking up an incredible 69 fights, with only two losses. However, it was on 15 December 1938 that Boon had his breakthrough against ring veteran Dave Crowley, stopping him in the 13th round to become British Lightweight champion.
Two months later, on 23 February 1939, he defended the title against ‘The Irish Guardsman’, Arthur Danahar, in front of 14,000 spectators at the Harringay Arena. Interestingly, it was the first time the BBC had been allowed to televise a live boxing show, with a number of theatres in London selling tickets to paying patrons, such as the Tatlar News Theatre and the Marble Arch Pavillion. Rumour has it that when the news of the BBC’s coverage was confirmed, television sales rocketed in and around Cambridgeshire. However, with an average order taking several weeks to come to fruition, fulfilment became near on impossible. Those with a television set consequently became very popular – for one night at least. Despite Danahar’s unblemished record, the teenage Boon stopped his Bethnal Green adversary in the 14th round of a cracking domestic tear-up.
He would hold onto the coveted Lonsdale strap for six years, before being stopped by Welshman, Ronnie James, in Cardiff on 12 August 1944. Boon was unable to regain the title and in fact was unsuccessful at any other title attempts during the remainder of his career. He retired after the James loss, however, it was no secret that the affable Boon was a bit of a party animal. Living a life beyond his means, he was forced back to the ring 11 months later.
The closest he got to regaining a title was on 14 May 1946 when he took on his old rival, Arthur Danahar at welterweight, in an eliminator for the British title. After hitting the canvas in the fourth round, Boon was on the back foot and was eventually stopped in the 10th session.
After the Danahar loss, Boon fought outside of the UK for his next seven fights, boxing in South Africa and Zambia. He won the first six fights, then lost the seventh against Giel De Roode on 8 September 1947 in Johannesburg. The De Roode defeat signified the start of a slippery slope for Boon, as he became a road warrior, fighting in the US, Canada and Australia, only winning one of his next 11 fights.
Suffering a string of knockout losses, the British Boxing Board of Control decided to strip him of his licence. His last fight was on 31 October 1952 against Pat Ford in Brisbane, Australia.
Boon died in Soham, Cambridgeshire on 19 January 1981, from a heart attack. He was 61-years-old.
This is a wicked photo of Eric Boon, knowing what kind of puncher he was. He looks tough as a bag of hammers, I would love to own the type 1 original copy of this photo. I've found an image of what appears to be the original, I wish it would pop up for sale because I'd be all over it like flies on a pile of horse doody.
Eric Boon is a legendary figure in the world of boxing, of course he's worthy of a book.
The Boxing Glove
TBG Book Review: Chatteris Thunderbolt: The Eric Boon Story
The Boxing Glove Sunday Night Book Review
By: Peter Silkov
Chatteris Thunderbolt: The Eric Boon Story Written by Bob Lonkhurst
Eric Boon is one of the most colourful and exciting fighters ever to come out of Britain. He was a fighter who had it all, good looks, colourful personality, and a fighting style that seemed to guarantee drama and excitement every time he walked into the ring. Boon was an aggressive, swashbuckling, fighter, with a knockout punch in each hand. With his charismatic, all-action, ring style, Boon would become one of the biggest draws, and most popular ring performers of the 30s and 40s.
When Boon fought in London, special trains had to be added on to take the thousands of fans from traveling up from Chatteris to support their hero. ‘Boy Boon’ or ‘The Fen Tiger’ as he was called, was a lightweight with a heavyweight punch, and after turning professional at the age of just 15, he rose to fame with meteoric speed, and for a time, shone brighter than any other star in the British ring.
In his book “Chatteris Thunderbolt: The Eric Boon Story” Bob Lonkhurst turns the clock back to the 1930s, when boxing held a far higher place in the every day consciousness than it does today, and its stars enjoyed the kind of treatment normally only afforded to movie stars. In his heyday Boon was one of the biggest stars of the sport, certainly in this country, and was in demand all over the world, including the world center of boxing, America. Lonkhurst traces Boon’s story, from his early days growing up in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, through to the ups and downs of his roller coaster boxing career, and his often equally colourful and dramatic life outside of the ring.
Born on December 28, 1919, in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, Eric Boon spent his youth working as a blacksmith, but from a very young age, always hankered to become a boxer. After a short amateur career, which ended after he received payment for a fight in a traveling booth, Boon turned professional in December 1934 (not January 1935 as stated by Box Rec.) Although he was only 15 years old, he was soon fighting, and beating, battle hardened men.
Eric’s career was guided by Jack Solomons, who would use Boons meteoric success as a spring board to make himself the number one promoter in the country. Boon was matched hard from the beginning, and though he bowled over most of his opponents with impressive violence, he also suffered a number of early ‘learning’ defeats.
Boon's success quickly made him a folk hero in his native Chatteris, and with every fight his following grew. Once he started fighting regularly in London, he was hailed as being one of the most exciting prospects ever seen in the country.
On December 15, 1938, still two weeks away from his 19th birthday, Boon won the British Lightweight championship with a spectacular, come from behind, victory over Dave Crowley. It was Boon’s 81st contest, but he had been out-boxed for much of the fight by Crowley, and had his left eye tightly closed before he turned everything around with a late surge, which culminated in him knocking Crowley out in the 13th round. It was a victory that produced delirious scenes as Boon’s traveling fans inundated the ring in celebration of their fighter’s triumph.
Boon became a national star overnight with his victory over Crowley, and there seemed to be no limit to his future success. With this victory, Eric Boon became the youngest man ever to win a British championship. It is a record, which will now never be broken, as the BBBC has since made a law which states that no boxer under the age of 21 can fight for a British title belt.
In his first defence of his championship two months after winning it, on February 23rd 1939, Boon was involved in perhaps the most sensational fight of his career, when he came back from what seemed to be almost certain defeat, to stop Danahar in the 14th round. This fight was also the first British championship fight to be televised.
Ten months later, Boon defended his British title successfully for a second time, beating former champion Crowley again, and becoming the youngest man ever to win a Lonsdale belt outright, and in what was then, the shortest time.
However despite his youth and ability, this period would prove to be the high-point of his fighting life. A mixture of circumstance, bad luck, and the trappings of fame and success derailed boon’s boxing career. The outbreak of WW2 would prove to be a huge hindrance and would ruin his ambitions for a world title shot. He would never fight for a world title.
With his ring activity curtailed by the war, Boon found himself drawn into the high life, and gained a reputation as a notorious womanizer. Having achieved such fame and success so early in life, it is perhaps hardly surprising that Boon found it hard to keep his feet on the ground, and that his early dedication to the gym and fighting waned, as the temptations of celebrity became available to him.
Boon also suffered a severe head injury in a motorbike crash during a 1941 blackout. It was an injury so severe that it is unlikely that he would have been allowed to fight again today. As it was, although he would carry on fighting on and off for over a decade, he would never be quite the same fighter again.
Bob Lonkhurst details the decline of Boon’s boxing career during the war years, as his out of the ring life became more and more complicated. Yet, there was a stirring comeback in the post war years, with Boon being involved in another handful of classic fights, as he sought to regain his lost ring prestige, and recover some of his already depleted earnings. The comeback culminated in him trying to win the British Welterweight title from Ernie Roderick on December 9, 1947, and putting up a memorable display of guts and courage, before being defeated on points. After this defeat however, it was all downhill from then on for Boon as a fighter.
Like so many of the ring’s stars, Boon saw his money soon disappear, due to failed business ventures, and a complicated personal life. His boxing career ended with a string of defeats to fighters who would never have been matched with him in his prime, and in the end, Boon had to suffer the indignity of having his boxing license taken away from him.
Boon comes across in ’Chatteris Thunderbolt’ as a complicated man who at times struggles to deal with the various pressures and temptations that come with success and fame. But, he is also revealed as person with an ultimately good heart, who as he grew older wanted to give something back. In his later years, despite dealing with his own money issues, and living a hand to mouth existence at times, Boon would become a tremendous fund raiser for various charities, and was always willing to help out a fellow ex-boxer. It was at this point in his life that Boon finally settled down and found some of the stability and contentment that had eluded him in his younger years.
At times, Boon’s life story reads like a film. As his boxing career waned, he had a stint as an actor, and later made several appearances in a number of the famous ‘Carry On’ Films of the late 50s and early 60s. He would even at one point manage to get himself involved in some political espionage. Both in, and out of the ring, Eric Boon emerges as one of those people who seem to have been both blessed and cursed with a life that is seldom boring or uneventful.
This is a fast moving and entertaining book, with some vivid recollections of Eric Boon’s most famous fights. When reading about Boon, both as a man and a fighter, you can understand why he was so beloved by both the public and the media. The phrase ‘larger than life’ fits him perfectly. Yet behind all the fame and glitz, which surrounded his career, was a true big-hearted fighter, who had no fear of anyone, and in his prime simply loved to fight.
This is Bob Lonkhurst’s 6th biography of a fighter from British boxing’s glory days, with previous books on Jack Peterson, Tommy Farr, Terry Spinks, Danny Clark, and Dave ‘Boy’ Green (also from Chatteris.) In “Chatteris Thunderbolt” Lonkhurst has brought Eric Boon back to life in great style, with a vivid and honest account about the trails and triumphs of a fighter who lit up the British boxing scene, and is still fondly remembered today, even by people who never saw him fight, but just heard or read about his ring exploits.
This book is a great read for any follower of boxing, especially those interested in the fighters of yesteryear, when boxing was one of the most socially important, and popular sports of all.
‘Chatteris Thunderbolt’ was originally published in 2012, and has a nice collection of photographs, and a full rundown of Eric Boon’s boxing record.
Let's get some Eric Boon photos in here. On December 15th, 1938, Eric Boon (right) won the British lightweight title by knocking out Dave Crowley in the 13th round at Harringay Arena.
Good shot of Eric Boon wearing the British lightweight title belt.
Eric Boon and "The Irish Guardsman" Arthur Danahar shaking hands, they fought twice, two brutal and vicious encounters. Classic stylistic matchup, boxer vs hitter.
Photo of the excited scenes in the ring at Harringay Arena on February 23rd, 1939, following the victory of Eric Boon over Arthur Danahar to retain his British Lightweight Title, when he stopped him in the 14th round of what is generally considered one of the greatest fights ever seen in a British ring.
"13,000 fans saw Eric Boon retain his British lightweight title, beating Arthur Danahar in one of the most thrilling fights seen in Britain, with the referee stopping the bout in the 14th of a 15-round bout. After a cautious start, Danahar, boxing beautifully, piled up points, winning four of the first seven rounds. From the 8th round onward it was a slugging match. Boon tried to take the advantage but Danahar fought back splendidly. Boon's rights, however, were a telling factor and in the 12th he floored his opponent three times for counts of nine and three counts of nine in the 13th as well, while Boon himself took a count in the 13th. After a hard right had floored Danahar in the 14th, the referee stopped the fight." - Reuters
This is a photo of Eric Boon getting his swollen hands checked out after his fight with Arthur Danahar, brutal stuff.
The second meeting between Eric Boon and Arthur Danahar took place in 1946 and the highlights are actually available for viewing, another vicious encounter that ended in the 4th. You can't see the blow that Danahar delivered to Boon that ended the fight. Boon complained to the referee that it was a foul, I don't know because you can't see the punch, but Boon is in absolute agony from it.
Eric Boon vs Len Wickwar in 1939, of course Wickwar holds the official record for the most fights in boxing history with 473 documented fights between 1928-1947. This fight was filmed and is very high quality. Watching this fight, you can see how ferocious Eric Boon really was and how hard he punched.
Eric Boon training on a rowing machine.
Promoter Jack Solomons puffs away on his trademark cigar as he stands behind his pre-war lightweight stars Harry “Kid” Silver and Eric Boon for a promotional postcard.
Eric Boon chatting with Jack Solomons about his physical health.
This is a photo of Eric Boon showing off his Lonsdale British lightweight title belt a few days after winning his fight against Arthur Danahar, March 1939. The Lonsdale Belt is the oldest and most prestigious championship in British boxing, established in 1909 by Lord Lonsdale. The first-ever belt was awarded to lightweight champion Freddie Welsh in 1909. Eric Boon held that belt for six years.
Eric Boon (middle) on a training run with Harry "Kid" Silver, waving to an acquaintance on a tricycle, February 10th,1939.
Eric Boon at a photo shoot during his reign as Lonsdale British lightweight champion.
The life of a prizefighter, Eric Boon having a cup of tea with a swollen eye.
This is fascinating, Eric Boon used to suffer from a slight inferiority complex before fights so he went to a Canadian doctor in 1947 to try and overcome the issue by having himself hypnotized. These are photos of him being hypnotized by the doctor before his fight with Ernie Roderick in 1947. It must have worked because he won the fight on points.
These photos were taken on April 28th in 1952, Eric Boon fighting in a boxing booth in London, England. A British boxing booth was a traveling fairground attraction from the 18th to the late 20th century, where professional boxers challenged members of the public to fight for money. These booths were central to British boxing history, serving as a training ground for boxers like Jimmy Wilde and Randolph Turpin, offering "all-comers" a chance to compete in a ring. This was the only way Eric Boon could fight because he had his boxing license revoked by the British Boxing board for safety and health concerns. In this photo he is fighting a man named Laurie Davis. Boon still carried his power because he knocked David down twice.
A couple of Eric Boon trading cards here, this first one is the 1938 WA & AC Churchman Boxing Personalities, a legendary set, these cards aren't rare, the real challenge comes from finding these in high grade, 8,9, or a really rare 10.
This is my personal favorite Eric Boon card from the 1935 United Tobacco Co. World Famous Boxers set, this was a South Africa issue set, love this set. These are ridiculously hard to find in high grade, you usually don't see anything above a grade of 6.5 in this set. A PSA 7 would be Bigfoot level of rare.
1939 Ardath Cigarettes Eric Boon, this card came in two different variations, regular (top) and thin. I like the regular variation better.
1947 A & J Donaldson Sports Favourites Eric Boon. The backs of these cards actually have two different variations, one with the word "copyright" and one without, the variation without the word "copyright" are ridiculously tough to find. I can't find a photo of the Eric Boon card without the word "copyright" so I've included a scan of two Joe Louis cards from the set that show both back variations.
These cards need no introduction, the famous Sportcasters. This is the Swedish version of the Eric Boon card from this legendary set. Of course the Dutch versions are the toughest to find, I've never seen the Dutch version of the Eric Boon, would love to own one.
Awesome Signed Eric Boon mounted postcard.
Eric Boon pictured at London airport.
Music time. You know, people find different meanings in every song, to some people this song represents losing a loved one and trying to find a reason to go on, to some people this song represents a break-up that really hurt. Regardless, this is one of the greatest and most beautiful songs ever made, the kind of song that will bring you to your knees. And say what you want about Jon Secada, but the man could flat-out sing.
Cool fight pose photo of Eric Boon.
These are some items from Eric Boon fights, this is a poster from his fight with Len Wickwar in 1939.
A stubless ticket and a program from the Eric Boon vs Giel De Roode fight in 1947, Boon was past his prime by this point in his career.
A fight program for Eric Boon vs Alf James in 1947.
Eric Boon putting horseshoes on a horse, Boon was the son of a blacksmith so this was obviously familiar work for him.
Love this shot of Eric Boon during his fight with Len Wickwar, he looks ready to unleash hell. And he did.
Another nice fight pose shot of Eric Boon.
Up-close shot of Eric Boon from a magazine.
This is a sequence of photos of Eric Boon at home with his poodles in 1973, showing some film from his days of fighting.
This photo was taken on February 3rd in 1976, from left to right: Terry Downes, Alan Rudkin, Eric Boon, Peter Waterman, and Len Harvey. In the center is the famous 1920s and 30s Canadian and British heavyweight champion Larry Gains. This was a gathering for the promotion of Larry Gains' book "The Impossible Dream." The book tells the story of his legendary career and travels around America and the world. Due to the color bar in boxing, he was denied the chance to fight for the world title, despite being widely considered one of the best heavyweights of his era.