Howard Winstone, MBE (15 April 1939 – 30 September 2000) was a Welsh[1] world champion boxer, born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. As an amateur, Winstone won the Amateur Boxing Association bantamweight title in 1958, and a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff.

Howard Winstone
MBE
Born(1939-04-15)15 April 1939
Died20 September 2000(2000-09-20) (aged 61)
Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
NationalityBritish
Other namesThe Welsh Wizard
Statistics
Weight(s)Featherweight
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights67
Wins61
Wins by KO27
Losses6
Medal record
Men's Boxing
Representing  Wales
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 1958 Cardiff Bantamweight

Boxing style

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In his early amateur days Winstone was very much a two-fisted fighter, but as a teenager, whilst working in a local toy factory, he lost the tips of three fingers on his right hand in an accident. As a result, he lost much of the punching power in his right hand and so had to change his style to rely much more on a straight left.

Amateur career

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Winstone won 83 of his 86 amateur fights, and in 1958 he was the ABA bantamweight champion.[1]

Representing Wales at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Winstone won the gold medal at bantamweight.[1] Winstone won the first of his three BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year awards the same year (1958) – winning his second in 1963 and his third in 1967.[2]

Professional career

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Howard Winstone c. 1967

Winstone turned professional in 1959 and was managed by former European welterweight champion, Eddie Thomas.

Winstone made his professional debut in February 1959 at Wembley Stadium, London, when he beat Billy Graydon on points over six rounds. He then proceeded to win his first 24 fights, at which point he was considered ready for a shot at the British featherweight title.

In May 1961 he fought Terry Spinks the holder of the British featherweight title at the Empire Pool, Wembley. He out-boxed Spinks, forcing him to retire after ten rounds, and so claimed the British title.

He continued to win all his contests and in April 1962 he defended his title against Derry Treanor, at the Empire Pool, winning by a technical knockout in the fourteenth round. The next month he defended his title against Harry Carroll in Cardiff forcing him to retire after six rounds.

His first defeat came in November 1962 his 35th fight after 34 straight wins. He was beaten by Leroy Jeffery, an American featherweight, by a technical knockout in the second round after having been knocked down three times.

In January 1963, he defended his British title for the third time, defeating Johnny Morrisey by a technical knockout in the eleventh, in Glasgow.

In July 1963, he challenged for the European featherweight title, fighting Italian holder, Alberto Serti in Cardiff. Winstone won the title when the referee stopped the fight in the fourteenth round.

One month later he defended both titles against Billy Calvert in Porthcawl, winning on points over fifteen rounds. In December 1963 he again defended his titles against John O'Brien, again winning on points.

In January 1964 he suffered only his second defeat in 45 fights, losing to the American, Don Johnson.

In May 1964 he defended his European title against Italian, Lino Mastellaro at the Empire Pool, winning by a technical knockout in the Eighth round.

In January 1965 he defended his European title again, against Frenchman, Yves Desmarets in Rome. He won on points over fifteen rounds.

World title fights

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In September 1965 he challenged for the WBA and WBC world featherweight titles held by the Mexican southpaw, Vicente Saldivar. The fight was held at Earls Court Arena, London and Saldivar won on points over fifteen rounds.

In March 1966 he defended his European title against Andrea Silanos in Italy winning by a technical knockout in the fifteenth round. In September 1966 he defended it against Belgian, Jean de Keers at Wembley and won on a technical knockout in three rounds.

In December 1966 he defended his British and European titles against the Welsh featherweight, Lennie Williams, defeating him at Port Talbot in eight rounds.

In June 1967 he was ready for another world title challenge against Vicente Saldivar, this time in Cardiff, but again lost on points, although the decision favoured Saldivar by only half a point.

Four months later, in October 1967, he fought Saldivar again, this time in Mexico City, but lost after being knocked down in the seventh and twelfth rounds. His manager threw in the towel in the twelfth.

After his latest successful defence, Saldivar announced his retirement leaving his world title vacant. In January 1968, Winstone fought the Japanese, Mitsunori Seki for the vacant WBC world featherweight title at the Royal Albert Hall. He won when the fight was stopped in the ninth due to a cut eye, and so finally gained a world title. Saldivar was in the audience to see his vacated title won by his old rival.

In July 1968 he defended his newly won world title against the Cuban, José Legrá, at Porthcawl, Wales. Although Winstone had beaten Legra twice before, he was knocked down twice in the first round. He continued fighting, but unfortunately he sustained a badly swollen left eye, which caused the bout to be stopped in the fifth round. Having lost the world title in his first defence, Winstone decided to retire at the age of 29.

Professional boxing record

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67 fights 61 wins 6 losses
By knockout 27 3
By decision 33 3
By disqualification 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
67 Loss 61–6 José Legrá TKO 5 (15) 1968-07-24 Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl, Wales, U.K. Lost WBC featherweight title
66 Win 61–5 Jimmy Anderson PTS 10 (10) 1968-04-09 Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
65 Win 60–5 Mitsunori Seki TKO 9 (15) 1968-01-23 Royal Albert Hall, London, England, U.K. Won vacant WBC featherweight title
64 Loss 59–5 Vicente Saldivar TKO 12 (15) 1967-10-14 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico For WBA, WBC & The Ring featherweight titles
63 Loss 59–4 Vicente Saldivar PTS 15 (15) 1967-06-15 Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales, U.K. For WBA, WBC & The Ring featherweight titles
62 Win 59–3 Richard Sue PTS 10 (10) 1967-01-17 Royal Albert Hall, London, England, U.K.
61 Win 58–3 Lennie Williams TKO 8 (15) 1966-12-07 Afan Lido, Port Talbot, Wales, U.K. Retained British & European featherweight titles
60 Win 57–3 Don Johnson DQ 4 (10) 1966-10-10 Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England, U.K.
59 Win 56–3 Jean De Keers TKO 3 (15) 1966-09-06 Empire Pool, London, England, U.K. Retained European featherweight title
58 Win 55–3 Andrea Silanos TKO 15 (15) 1966-03-07 Teatro Verdi, Sassari, Italy Retained European featherweight title
57 Win 54–3 Brian Cartwright TKO 9 (10) 1965-12-13 National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
56 Loss 53–3 Vicente Saldivar PTS 15 (15) 1965-09-07 Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, England, U.K. For WBA, WBC & The Ring featherweight titles
55 Win 53–2 José Legrá PTS 10 (10) 1965-06-22 Winter Gardens, Blackpool, England, U.K.
54 Win 52–2 Eduardo Guerrero TKO 5 (10) 1965-06-01 Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
53 Win 51–2 Don Johnson PTS 10 (10) 1965-03-29 Market Hall, Carmarthen, Wales, U.K.
52 Win 50–2 Yves Desmarets PTS 15 (15) 1965-01-22 Palazzetto dello Sport, Roma, Italy Retained European featherweight title
51 Win 49–2 Boualem Belouard PTS 10 (10) 1964-12-14 Ice Rink, Nottingham, England, U.K.
50 Win 48–2 Baby Luis PTS 10 (10) 1964-12-01 Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
49 Win 47–2 Jose Bisbal PTS 10 (10) 1964-09-21 Midland Hotel, Manchester, England, U.K.
48 Win 46–2 Phil Lundgren TKO 7 (10) 1964-06-22 National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
47 Win 45–2 Lino Mastellaro TKO 8 (15) 1964-05-12 Empire Pool, London, England, U.K. Retained European featherweight title
46 Win 44–2 Rafiu King PTS 10 (10) 1964-03-24 Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
45 Loss 43–2 Don Johnson PTS 10 (10) 1964-01-28 Olympia, London, England, U.K.
44 Win 43–1 John O'Brien PTS 15 (15) 1963-12-09 National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K. Retained British & European featherweight titles
43 Win 42–1 Miguel Calderin PTS 10 (10) 1963-09-20 Corwen Pavilion, Corwen, Wales, U.K.
42 Win 41–1 Billy Calvert PTS 15 (15) 1963-08-20 Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl, Wales, U.K. Retained British & European featherweight titles
41 Win 40–1 Alberto Serti TKO 14 (15) 1963-07-09 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, U.K. Won European featherweight title
40 Win 39–1 Juan Cardenas PTS 8 (8) 1963-05-13 National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
39 Win 38–1 Gracieux Lamperti TKO 8 (10) 1963-04-29 Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
38 Win 37–1 Johnny Morrisey TKO 11 (15) 1963-01-31 Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. Retained British featherweight title
37 Win 36–1 Teddy Rand TKO 3 (10) 1962-12-27 National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
36 Win 35–1 Freddie Dobson TKO 3 (8) 1962-12-10 Kings Hall, Manchester, England, U.K.
35 Loss 34–1 Leroy Jeffery TKO 2 (10) 1962-11-05 Queens Hall, Leeds, England, U.K.
34 Win 34–0 Billy Davis TKO 7 (10) 1962-09-11 Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
33 Win 33–0 George Bowes PTS 10 (10) 1962-08-18 Newtown Pavilion, Newtown, Wales, U.K.
32 Win 32–0 Dennis Adjei PTS 8 (8) 1962-08-02 Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
31 Win 31–0 Harry Carroll RTD 6 (15) 1962-05-30 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, U.K. Retained British featherweight title
30 Win 30–0 Derry Treanor TKO 14 (15) 1962-04-10 Empire Pool, London, England, U.K. Retained British featherweight title
29 Win 29–0 Oripes dos Santos PTS 8 (8) 1962-01-09 Royal Albert Hall, London, England, U.K.
28 Win 28–0 Olli Mäki PTS 8 (8) 1961-11-20 Ice Rink, Nottingham, England, U.K.
27 Win 27–0 Gene Fosmire PTS 10 (10) 1961-09-04 Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
26 Win 26–0 Aryee Jackson PTS 10 (10) 1961-08-24 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, England, U.K.
25 Win 25–0 Terry Spinks TKO 10 (15) 1961-05-02 Empire Pool, London, England, U.K. Won British featherweight title
24 Win 24–0 Floyd Robertson PTS 10 (10) 1961-01-19 Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
23 Win 23–0 Roy Jacobs PTS 10 (10) 1960-11-28 Market Hall, Carmarthen, Wales, U.K.
22 Win 22–0 Jean Renard PTS 10 (10) 1960-10-25 Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
21 Win 21–0 Jean Renard TKO 8 (10) 1960-09-22 Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
20 Win 20–0 Sergio Milan TKO 6 (10) 1960-08-15 Ynys Field, Aberdare, Wales, U.K.
19 Win 19–0 Phill Jones PTS 10 (10) 1960-07-27 Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl, Wales, U.K.
18 Win 18–0 Noel Hazard TKO 3 (10) 1960-06-23 Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, England, U.K.
17 Win 17–0 Con Mount Bassie PTS 10 (10) 1960-05-19 Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, England, U.K.
16 Win 16–0 George Carroll TKO 4 (10) 1960-05-09 Vetch Field, Swansea, Wales, U.K.
15 Win 15–0 Gordon Blakey RTD 8 (10) 1960-03-31 Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
14 Win 14–0 Terry Rees TKO 8 (10) 1960-02-24 Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
13 Win 13–0 Colin Salcombe TKO 6 (8) 1960-02-04 Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, England, U.K.
12 Win 12–0 Robbie Wilson PTS 8 (8) 1960-01-25 National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
11 Win 11–0 George O'Neill RTD 7 (8) 1960-01-14 Drill Hall, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
10 Win 10–0 Billy Calvert PTS 8 (8) 1959-12-14 National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
9 Win 9–0 Joe Taylor TKO 4 (8) 1959-09-14 Welfare Ground, Ebbw Vale, Wales, U.K.
8 Win 8–0 Billy Calvert TKO 7 (8) 1959-09-01 Ynys Field, Aberdare, Wales, U.K.
7 Win 7–0 Hugh O'Neill PTS 6 (6) 1959-08-08 Welfare Ground, Ebbw Vale, Wales, U.K.
6 Win 6–0 Ollie Wyllie PTS 6 (6) 1959-07-14 Ynys Field, Aberdare, Wales, U.K.
5 Win 5–0 Jake O'Neale PTS 6 (6) 1959-06-24 Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl, Wales, U.K.
4 Win 4–0 Jackie Bowers PTS 6 (6) 1959-05-27 Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
3 Win 3–0 Tommy Williams PTS 6 (6) 1959-04-15 Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
2 Win 2–0 Peter Sexton PTS 6 (6) 1959-03-14 Stow Hill Drill Hall, Newport, Wales, U.K.
1 Win 1–0 Billy Graydon PTS 6 (6) 1959-02-24 Wembley Stadium, London, England, U.K.

Retirement

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Bronze statue of Howard Winstone

He continued living in Merthyr Tydfil after retirement. In 1968 he was awarded the MBE.[3] Later, he was made a Freeman of Merthyr Tydfil due to his boxing accomplishments. He died from kidney disease on 30 September 2000, aged 61.

In 2001, one year after his death, a bronze statue of Winstone by Welsh sculptor David Petersen was unveiled in St. Tydfil's Square, Merthyr Tydfil.[4]

In 2005, he beat Owen Money, Richard Trevithick, Joseph Parry and Lady Charlotte Guest to be named "Greatest Citizen of Merthyr Tydfil", in a public vote competition run by Cyfarthfa Castle and Museum as part of the centenary celebrations to mark Merthyr's incorporation as a county borough in 1905.

His brother, Glyn Winstone continues to run a café business in the town's bus station under the boxing-themed trading-style "The Lonsdale Bar".

Film

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The life of Howard Winstone was made into a feature film called Risen Starring British actor Stuart Brennan as Howard Winstone which was released in 2011.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Davies, Sean (11 April 2002). "BBC Sport-Boxing-5. Howard Winstone". BBC website. BBC. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  2. ^ "BBC Sport-Wales-BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year". BBC website. BBC. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  3. ^ Davies, Sean (11 April 2002). "Howard Winstone". BBC. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Statue of Howard Winstone". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  5. ^ Risen (2010). IMDb

Bibliography

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  • Hughes, Brian (2005). Reaching For The Stars: The Howard Winstone Phenomenon. Collyhurst: Collyhurst and Moston Lads' Club. ISBN 978-1901746501.
  • Miles, Les (1994). The Welsh Wizard: Howard Winstone M.B.E. Ferndale: Concept Associates. ISBN 978-1899812004.

Further reading

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Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
Johnny Morrissey
ABA Bantamweight champion
1958
Next:
Don Weller
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by British
featherweight champion

2 May 1961 – 1967
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Jimmy Revie
Preceded by
Alberto Serti
EBU
featherweight champion

9 July 1963 – 1967
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
José Legrá
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Vicente Saldivar
WBC featherweight champion
23 January 1968 – 24 July 1968
Succeeded by
José Legrá