John Conteh

Last updated

John Conteh
MBE
John Conteh c1973.jpg
Conteh c. 1973
Born (1951-05-27) 27 May 1951 (age 73)
NationalityBritish
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Reach76 in (193 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights39
Wins34
Wins by KO24
Losses4
Draws1
Medal record
Representing Flag of England.svg  England
British Commonwealth Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1970 Edinburgh Middleweight

John Anthony Conteh, MBE (born 27 May 1951) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1971 to 1980. He held the WBC light-heavyweight title from 1974 to 1977, and regionally the European, British and Commonwealth titles between 1973 and 1974. As an amateur, he represented England and won a gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. [1] [2] [3] In 2017, Conteh was awarded an MBE for services to boxing at the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Contents

Professional career

Born in Liverpool, Lancashire (now Merseyside) to an Irish mother and Sierra Leonean father, [4] Conteh began boxing at the age of 10 at a boxing club in Kirkby that was a training ground for fellow British amateurs Joey Singleton and Tucker Hetherington. 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 mandatory defence. [5]

Conteh lost a 15-round split decision to the Yugoslavian fighter Mate Parlov when he attempted to regain the title. [6] 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. [7]

Appearances outside boxing

Conteh was one of the celebrities featured dressed in prison gear on the cover of the 1973 Wings album, Band on the Run . [8] He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1974.[ citation needed ]

Conteh was the 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.[ citation needed ]

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.[ citation needed ]

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.[ citation needed ]

Conteh was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to boxing. [9]

Conteh also appeared in a celebrity episode of The Chase in 2024. [10]

Professional boxing record

39 fights34 wins4 losses
By knockout241
By decision103
Draws1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
39Win34–4–1 Flag of the United States.svg James DixonTKO5 (10), 2:4931 May 1980 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, England
38Loss33–4–1 Flag of the United States.svg Matthew Saad Muhammad TKO4 (15), 2:2729 Mar 1980 Flag of the United States.svg Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USFor WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight titles
37Loss33–3–1 Flag of the United States.svg Matthew Saad Muhammad UD1518 Aug 1979 Flag of the United States.svg Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USFor WBC light-heavyweight title
36Win33–2–1 Flag of the United States.svg Ivy BrownPTS104 Jun 1979 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Liverpool, England
35Draw32–2–1 Flag of the United States.svg Jesse Burnett PTS1019 Apr 1979 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hilton on Park Lane, London, England
34Win32–2 Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Leonardo RodgersKO7 (10), 1:1526 Sep 1978 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, England
33Loss31–2 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Mate Parlov SD1517 Jun 1978 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, YugoslaviaFor WBC light-heavyweight title
32Win31–1 Flag of the United States.svg Joe CokesPTS107 Feb 1978 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Sobell Sports Centre, London, England
31Win30–1 Flag of the United States.svg Len HutchinsTKO3 (15), 1:055 Mar 1977 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, EnglandRetained WBC light-heavyweight title
30Win29–1 Flag of Mexico.svg Yaqui López UD159 Oct 1976 Flag of Denmark.svg Forum, Copenhagen, DenmarkRetained WBC light-heavyweight title
29Win28–1 Flag of the United States.svg Willie TaylorUD1016 Aug 1975 Flag of the United States.svg Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, US
28Win27–1 Flag of the United States.svg Lonnie BennettTKO5 (15), 1:1011 Mar 1975 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, EnglandRetained WBC light-heavyweight title
27Win26–1 Flag of Argentina.svg Jorge Ahumada PTS151 Oct 1974 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, EnglandWon vacant WBC light-heavyweight title
26Win25–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Finnegan TKO6 (15)21 May 1974 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, EnglandRetained European, British, and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles
25Win24–1 Flag of Denmark.svg Tom Bogs RTD6 (15)12 Mar 1974 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, EnglandRetained European light-heavyweight title
24Win23–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Les StevensPTS1012 Feb 1974 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Albert Hall, London, England
23Win22–1 Flag of the United States.svg Fred LewisTKO3 (10)14 Dec 1973 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, England
22Win21–1 Flag of the Bahamas.svg Baby Boy RollePTS1523 Oct 1973 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg National Ice Centre, Nottingham, EnglandRetained Commonwealth light-heavyweight title
21Win20–1 Flag of Venezuela.svg Vicente Rondón TKO9 (10)10 Sep 1973 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, England
20Win19–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Finnegan PTS1522 May 1973 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, EnglandRetained European light-heavyweight title;
Won British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles
19Win18–1 Flag of Germany.svg Rüdiger SchmidtkeTKO12 (15), 2:2813 Mar 1973 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, EnglandWon European light-heavyweight title
18Win17–1 Flag of the United States.svg Terry DanielsTKO7 (10)14 Feb 1973 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, US
17Win16–1 Flag of the United States.svg Dave MatthewsPTS1015 Jan 1973 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ice Stadium, Nottingham, England
16Win15–1 Flag of the United States.svg Sam McGillTKO9 (10)5 Dec 1972 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Albert Hall, London, England
15Win14–1 Flag of the United States.svg John HudginsKO3 (10), 1:3014 Nov 1972 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, England
14Win13–1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bill DroverKO7 (10), 2:2431 Oct 1972 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Albert Hall, London, England
13Win12–1 Flag of Hungary.svg Ferenc KristofcsakTKO1 (8)10 Oct 1972 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Albert Hall, London, England
12Loss11–1 Flag of the United States.svg Eddie DuncanPTS1026 Sep 1972 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, England
11Win11–0 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny MacTKO2 (8) 19 Jul 1972 Flag of Ireland.svg Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
10Win10–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Billy AirdTKO8 (8)6 Jun 1972 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Albert Hall, London, England
9Win9–0 Flag of the United States.svg Joe GholstonTKO5 (8)25 Apr 1972 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Albert Hall, London, England
8Win8–0 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Ruben FigueroaKO2 (8)28 Mar 1972 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, England
7Win7–0 Flag of the United States.svg Larry SykesKO1 (8)15 Feb 1972 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Albert Hall, London, England
6Win6–0 Flag of Germany.svg Wilhelm JancoTKO1 (8)25 Jan 1972 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Albert Hall, London, England
5Win5–0 Flag of France.svg Emilio OkeeTKO5 (8)7 Dec 1971 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Albert Hall, London, England
4Win4–0 Flag of the United States.svg Tony BurwellPTS824 Nov 1971 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg National Ice Centre, Nottingham, England
3Win3–0 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Frank BullardTKO2 (10)16 Nov 1971 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Empire Pool, London, England
2Win2–0 Flag of France.svg Pierre MinierTKO5 (8)8 Nov 1971 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Grosvenor House Hotel, London, England
1Win1–0 Flag of France.svg Okacha BoubekeurKO1 (8)18 Oct 1971 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hotel Café Royal, London, England

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References

  1. "1970 Athletes". Team England.
  2. "Edinburgh, 1970 Team". Team England.
  3. "Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 12 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  4. "John Conteh - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  5. Conteh Stripped of Title. United Press International via Star-News. 19 May 1977
  6. Parlov Decisions Conteh. Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 17 June 1978
  7. Controversial ending to cruiserweight fight. The Montreal Gazette. 10 December 1979
  8. Spizer, Bruce (2005). The Beatles Solo on Apple Records.
  9. "No. 61962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2017. p. B16.
  10. Bullard, Alexandra (13 January 2024). "The Chase viewers swoon over celebrity guest - 'He still looks so young and dishy'". Express.
Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
Dave Wallington
ABA middleweight champion
1970
Next:
Alan Minter
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Rüdiger Schmidtke
European light-heavyweight champion
13 March 1973 – October 1974
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Domenico Adinolfi
Preceded by British light-heavyweight champion
22 May 1973 – October 1974
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Johnny Frankham
Commonwealth
light-heavyweight champion

22 May 1973 – October 1974
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Steve Aczel
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Bob Foster
WBC light-heavyweight champion
1 October 1974 – 21 March 1977
Vacant
Title next held by
Miguel Ángel Cuello
Light heavyweight status
Preceded by
Bob Foster
Oldest living world champion
21 November 2015 – present
Incumbent