Nicky Piper

Last updated

Nicky Piper
Born
Nicholas Piper

(1966-05-05) 5 May 1966 (age 58)
Cardiff, Wales
Nationality Welsh
Other namesThe KO King
Statistics
Weight(s) Super Middleweight
Light Heavyweight
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Boxing record
Total fights33
Wins26
Wins by KO20
Losses5
Draws2

Nicky Piper MBE (born 5 May 1966) is a retired Welsh super middleweight and light heavyweight boxer from Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff. [1] His career was at its peak in the 1990s; he became the Commonwealth Light-heavyweight champion in 1995. He was trained by Charlie Pearson [2] and managed by Frank Warren. Since retiring from boxing, Piper has become a notable administrator in British boxing and currently works for The City Hospice as their Corporate Partnerships Manager.

Contents

Boxing career

Piper's first professional fight is recorded as being against fellow Welshman Kevin Roper. [3] Piper won the match in the second round via a knockout. Piper then won nine of his next ten encounters, all scheduled for either six or eight rounds. [3] Of the ten bouts, only one, against future British Heavyweight champion Maurice Core, went the full distance, resulting in a draw. Piper stopped his other nine opponents through retirement, knockout, or technical knockout. Piper's first professional loss was to future World Cruiserweight Champion Carl Thompson at York Hall on 4 September 1991, Piper being stopped by technical knockout in the third round. [3] The next month, Piper was back in the ring, beating Franky Moro in a contest at the Royal Albert Hall. He completed 1991 with a sixth-round knockout over Carlos Christie. [3]

Piper won his first three fights of 1992, all on points decisions, the first of which, over Frank Eubank, was an eliminator for the British Super Middleweight title. Another eliminator for the Super Middleweight belt saw Piper stop Johhny Melfah by technical knockout in the fifth at the G-Mex centre in Manchester. [3] Piper's next fight was against WBC Super Middleweight champion Nigel Benn, in a challenge for the title. The twelve-round contest was held at the Alexandra Palace in London on 12 December 1992. Benn stopped Piper in the eleventh round on a technical knockout. [4]

Despite the loss to Benn, Piper's very next match was another title fight; this time for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental light heavyweight belt. The fight against Argentinean Miguel Angel Maldonando went the distance, with Piper being given the title by unanimous points decision. Two months later, on 10 April 1993, Piper successfully defended his title against Chris Sande in Swansea. Piper completed the year with a victory over Trevor Ambrose, and a drawn match with Frank Rhodes. Piper started 1994 with a challenge for the WBO Light-heavyweight title, then held by Leeonzer Barber. Piper failed in his bid when he was again stopped by technical knockout, this time in the ninth round. [5] Piper fought twice more in 1994, a win over Charles Oliver, and a failed bid for the vacant Commonwealth Light-heavyweight title, where he was beaten by Crawford Ashley.

Piper's next fight was a win in an uneven contest against American Tim Bryan in June 1995, followed by a victory over John Keeton, both fights held in Cardiff. Then, on 30 September, he faced Noel Magee for the Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight title. Held at the Cardiff Arms Park, the fight lasted until the ninth round, when Magee was knocked out, giving Piper his most senior belt of his career. In 1996, Piper fought in two bouts: a win over Danny Juma in Cardiff, and a successful defence of his Commonwealth belt to Bruce Scott at Tylorstown. The following year saw Piper's final two fights. In June he defeated Stephane Nizard in Norwich, before a title attempt for the WBO Light-heavyweight against Dariusz Michalczewski in Hanover. Piper was retired by his corner after the seventh round [6] and soon after retired from boxing.

Professional boxing record

26 Wins (21 knockouts, 5 decisions), 5 Losses (4 knockouts, 1 decision), 2 Draws
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
Loss34–0 Flag of Poland.svg Dariusz Michalczewski TKO74 October 1997 Flag of Germany.svg , Hanover, Germany WBO Light Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 3:00 of the seventh round.
Win19–12–4 Flag of France.svg Stephane NizardPTS828 June 1997 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Norwich, England
Win18–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bruce ScottTKO730 November 1996 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Tylorstown, WalesCommonwealth Light Heavyweight Title.
Win2–5–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Danny JumaTKO226 April 1996 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff, Wales
Win26–6–2 Ulster Banner.svg Noel Magee KO930 September 1995 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales WBO Intercontinental/Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Titles.
Win9–6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Keeton RTD27 July 1995 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, WalesKeeton retired at 3:00 of the second round.
Win22–12–2 Flag of the United States.svg Tim BryanTKO117 June 1995 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, WalesReferee stopped the bout at 1:15 of the first round.
Loss18–6–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Crawford Ashley PTS1219 November 1994 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, WalesCommonwealth Light Heavyweight Title.
Win14–1–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charles OliverTKO521 September 1994 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Star Centre, Cardiff, Wales
Loss18–1 Flag of the United States.svg Leeonzer Barber TKO929 January 1994 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales WBO Light Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:40 of the ninth round.
Draw9–1–1 Flag of the United States.svg Frank RhodesPTS823 October 1993 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales
Win9–7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Trevor AmbroseTKO510 July 1993 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales
Win15–4 Flag of Kenya.svg Chris Sande TKO910 April 1993 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Swansea, WalesWBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title.
Win30–19–8 Flag of Argentina.svg Miguel Angel MaldonadoUD1213 February 1993 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title.
Loss34–2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nigel Benn TKO1112 December 1992 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alexandra Palace, London, England WBC Super Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:44 of the 11th round.
Win13–9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Johnny MelfahTKO525 July 1992 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg G-Mex Leisure Centre, Manchester, England
Win10–6 Flag of the United States.svg Larry PratherPTS816 May 1992 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alexandra Pavilion, London, England, United Kingdom
Win22–7–1 Flag of the United States.svg Ron AmundsenPTS1011 March 1992 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Star Centre, Cardiff, Wales
Win9–5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Frank EubankPTS1022 January 1992 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Star Centre, Cardiff, Wales
Win8–6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carlos ChristieKO620 November 1991 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Star Centre, Cardiff, Wales
Win13–36–2 Flag of Ghana.svg Franky MoroTKO429 October 1991 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Albert Hall, London, England
Loss9–3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Thompson TKO34 September 1991 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg York Hall, London, England
Win11–2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Simon HarrisTKO13 July 1991 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Reading, Berkshire, England
Win3–3 Flag of Mexico.svg Martin LopezKO122 May 1991 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg New London Arena, London, England
Win11–18–6 Flag of France.svg Serge BolivardTKO18 May 1991 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg New London Arena, London, England
Win8–20–3 Flag of Suriname.svg John HeldTKO35 March 1991 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg New London Arena, London, England
Win3–2–2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John EllisKO112 November 1990 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg s, Norwich, EnglandEllis knocked out at 0:12 of the first round.
Win16–7–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul McCarthyTKO323 October 1990 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Granby Halls, Leicester, England
Draw2–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Maurice Core PTS622 May 1990 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg City Hall, Saint Albans, United Kingdom
Win5–14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Darren McKennaRTD417 April 1990 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg New London Arena, London, EnglandMcKenna retired at 2:00 of the fourth round.
Win16–15–4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave OwensKO119 December 1989 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ocean Rooms, Gorleston, England
Win2–7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gus MendesTKO317 October 1989 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Star Centre, Cardiff, Wales
Win4–10–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kevin RoperKO26 September 1989 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Afan Lido, Port Talbot, WalesRoper knocked out at 1:30 of the second round.

Personal history

After his retirement from boxing, Piper became a sports commentator, primarily working for Sky Sports, and in 1997 a member of the British Boxing Board of Control. [7] Piper served as Chairman of the Professional Boxing Association, and in 2005 he was awarded the MBE for his services to the sport. [7] Piper is a member of Mensa, [8] and currently works for The City Hospice (formerly George Thomas Hospice Care) as their Corporate Partnership Manager. [9]

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References

  1. "Nicky Piper: Biography". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  2. "Maccarinelli's trainer steps down". BBC Sport. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nicky Piper: Boxing record". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  4. "Nigel Benn vs. Nicky Piper". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  5. "Leeonzer Barber vs. Nicky Piper". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  6. "Dariusz Michalczewski vs. Nicky Piper". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  7. 1 2 "MBE boosts Welsh boxing – Piper". BBC Sport. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  8. Staff. "Golf: Sharpest brains are in the ring!". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
  9. "Nicky Piper's linkedin profile". Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
Achievements
Vacant
Title last held by
Gary Delaney
WBO Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion
30 September 1995 – 4 October 1997
Lost bid for world title
Vacant
Title next held by
Mark Prince
Preceded by Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion
30 September 1995 – 4 October 1997
Retired
Vacant
Title next held by
Crawford Ashley