Yesterday’s Hero: Fifty years since John Conteh and Chris Finnegan clashed in a classic battle between North and South
This past month marked 50 years since I bought my first copy of the book boxing news, and I’ve been buying it ever since. The front cover features a photo of Ralph Charles marking his official retirement, and another photo of Danny McAlinden, then British heavyweight champion, celebrating his return after arm injury while training in Kingston, Jamaica. He was up against an unannounced American, Morrie Jackson, and that contest was a disaster for the Irish, as many will remember. BN also mourned the passing of Ace Hudkins, a top U.S. boxer from the 1920s and 1930s who fought them in multiple weight classes. However, the real focus at the time was the upcoming ‘super fight’ between Chris Finnegan, the 1968 Olympic middleweight gold medalist, and 21-year-old John Conteh, the rising star of boxing.
Two men competed for Finnegan’s Commonwealth and British light-heavyweight titles and Conteh’s European title at Empire Pool, Wembley, on 22 May 1973. For the subject In a purely boxing sense, this is a competition to enjoy, a competition to have it all. North versus South, promising youngster versus proven champion and boxer versus puncher.
As a 15-year-old fan and very new to the game, I almost get excited when I think about this contest. I had recent memories of watching George Foreman destroy Joe Frazier, and Ken Norton caused a major disappointment with a point win over Muhammad Ali, but this was the first time I was interested in a match. domestic and I think the bout still stands the test of time as one of the great post-war bouts between British boxers. In my opinion, it suits Benn-Eubank and Froch-Groves.
I wrote frequently to an old man named Arthur Rudkin, now long dead, who regularly posted his letters on BN, and Arthur promised me that he would send me a program for my life. when he was traveling from Nottinghamshire to Wembley to witness. It. He kept his promise, and it was delivered to the post office the following week. Remarkably, it only takes 15 minutes – those are days! Fight shows are rarely produced these days and that’s a shame, as they make great memorabilia.
BN originally announced the match at the end of March and since it featured two amazing fighters at a very high level it got everyone in the game excited. In preview for bout BN declares that “Conteh’s power will shake it, but Finnegan will fight to the limit.” This prediction worked, as it was a great competition that ran a full 15 rounds with action sequences going on as the first round, and then the second, stayed the same. Graham Houston, BN editor at the time, reported that “Conteh and Finnegan delivered one of the most light-heavy battles in years at Empire Pool. Conteh won unquestionably after 15 memorable innings, but Finnegan stayed with him to the end, and as expected, forced Conteh to muster his last strength and courage. Conteh showed off his classy moves and his ability to pick punches that some in the ring will remember [Ray] Robinson and [Jose] Napoleon.” Really high praise.
Conteh, of course, won the WBC title back with just two world belts, and he defended it against some class men. But before doing so, he has to get past Chris Finnegan again, as the rematch is a given. This time John won more decisively, beating Chris in the sixth round at the Royal Albert Hall, almost exactly a year later.
Finnegan retired the following year after winning the Lonsdale Belt outright and he was a fighter. He’s only really missing a big punch because he has everything else, courage, skill, determination and stamina. John is still very much with us as, I am pleased to say, is my anniversary program.
