Ordinary readers of this column noticed that I am particularly interested in professional boxers who had a good amateur career, especially if it was in the 1960s and 1970s. They will also notice my interest in some of the forgotten fighters from the past, men who had a good professional career, but now they have slipped the radar. If the warrior is also links to a more state-of-the-art motif, the better, and the topic this week marks all three fields.
There are many people in the game who have the accusation of Dean Francis of Basingstoke, a warrior from the highest level, who won the titles of the titles during a 20-year career, and a man who was a definite fan. Dean died of cancer, tragically teenage, in 2014. Dean’s father, Trevor, is not so remembered, but he was one of the most challenging men in the 1970s and crossed gloves with many world -class interrupts here in England, Australia and all of Europe.
Trevor-which came several years before his namesake became the first million pound of a footballer in Nottingham Forest-he was one of many very useful black fighters at that time, who was challenging to access the elite shows that took place at Royal Albert Hall and at Wembley Arena. Some of these men, especially Des Morrison, Pat Thomas and Henry Rhiney, won the titles. Others, including Roy Commosiung, Joe Oke and Joe Jackson, were the highest quality journeymen who completed bills, miniature rooms and sports clubs, which during this period were the spine of this sport. Trevor fell between these two levels. He unsuccessfully made a box for the British title and won many more competitions than he lost, but he was not in the state of the championship standard.
Trevor won the title of ABA Wytreight in Waleteight in 1972, defeating Dave Davies of Bangor Bn as “the most invigorating evening.” Davies auctioned his third in a row ABA, but the judges gave it to warrior Basingstoke according to a divided decision after a skillful competition. Two men met again the following year, as professionals, when Welshman threw Francis in an eight round at the Hilton Hotel, Mayfair. Seven weeks later, Francis reversed his decision in the same place. Until then, Francis was only five months after his professional career and was already assessed just outside the ten in the country.
Trevor fought with many great warriors. He fought Rocky Mattiola, the Italian Australian, who became the WBC belt, losing both in Brisbane and Italy. He frustrated hell from the recently filmed British medium scale master, Alan Minter, in the 10th runder in 1976, before he finally wore him Superior Firepower Mintera. He mentioned above Henry Rhiney with two eight draws in 1975 and did the same with Scouser based in Wolverhampton Larry Paul. Larry was a real handful in the ring and could hit, but Trevor revealed some of his weaknesses in Paul’s debut in London after he won 13 straight in the provinces. It was this type of performance that meant Francis as a professional. He was good enough and can be relying to give any warrior, especially aspiring masters, the right work.
In 1976, Trevor was tailored to Jeff Gale from Leeds in the last eliminator of the British welterweight title at the World Sporting Club in Mayfair. Despite the fact that the best shot, teenage Yorkshireman was detained in the ninth round Bn Noticing that this “better strength and maturity of the ring” Francis made a difference. When he fought for the title, against Pat Thomas of Swansea, he was abandoned in Hilton Hotel six months later and his chance disappeared.
Dean Francis was an excellent warrior who will be remembered by many readers. For my money, like his dad.
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