Champions
Wayne Elcock
Wins 19. 4 defeats
Birmingham
British Debut -1999 – 2009
Titles
WBU World Title
British Middleweight title
The Mad dog was told at school by teachers he would never amount to anything. After taking up boxing as a kid and having a successful amateur career he went on to win the British Middleweight title and the WBU world Middleweight title. He now owns a successful company call box clever, has his own amateur gym and runs his own boxing store.
Mathew Macklin
Super welterweight
Middleweight
Soilhull
35 Wins 6 Defeats
Debut 2001 – 2016
Titles
Irish National Middleweight title
British Middleweight title
EBU Middleweight Title
Mathew Macklin Found glory on British and Irish soil winning both titles before going to America and fight for the world title 3 times. Macklin did win a IBF intercontinental middleweight title and a WBC international super welterweight at the end of his career and the started a successful promotion company MTK global that boast boxers from all over the world in its stable
Click On Pictures for Box Rec States
Kal Yafia
26 win 0 defeats
Birmingham
Debut 2012 – still active.
Super flyweight
Titles
Commonwealth super flyweight
British super Flyweight
WBA super flyweight title
Kal Yafia has come thought the amateur ranks and has given Birmingham its first recognized World champion. The Yafia legacy continues in himself and his two boxing brothers Gamel and Galal
Sam Eggington
Welterweight
Super welterweight
Stourbridge
28 wins 6 defeats
Debut -2012 still active
Titles
EBU welterweight title
British welterweight title
Commonwealth welterweight title
Midlands welterweight title
IBO Continental Super welterweight
IBF International Super Welterweight
WBC Silver Middleweight title
WBA International Super Welterweight Title
IBO Super Welterweight World Title
The Savage has taken the welterweight division by storm winning title after title, Eggington has the Eastside gym mentally of wanting to fight the best and after losing his EBU welterweight title in 2017 he has now moved up to Super welterweight and has claimed the IBO Continental the IBF International titles and has also challenged for the WBC silver belt losing to Liam Smith. Eggington then went on to win the WBC silver Middleweight title before claiming his first world title beating Przemyslaw Zysk on points for the IBO Super Welterweight World title.
Bunny Johnson
W-55 L-17 D-1
Debut 1968 retired 1981
Jamaica - Birmingham
Light heavyweight
Heavyweight.
Titles
British Light Heavyweight title (out right)
British Heavyweight title
Bunny won the British light heavyweight title out right, he
also won the British Heavyweight title and the
Commonwealth Heavyweight title.
Born in Jamaica he settled in Birmingham when he was 16, Bunny was the first Black boxer to win the British Heavyweight title
Tommy Langford
Middleweight
Devon - West Bromwich
21 Wins 4 Defeat
Debut – 2012 Still active
Titles
Commonwealth Middleweight
British Middleweight title
Tommy Langford is originally from Devon but moved up to the black country as a young man to pursue his boxing career and follow his beloved West Bromwich Albion. After a good amateur career, Tommy turn to the professional ranks and has won the British Middleweight title and the Commonwealth title
Don Broadhurst
Birmingham
Flyweight
Super Flyweight
Wins 20. 4 defeats. 1draw
Debuts – 2006 retired 2017
Titles
Commonwealth super flyweight
English flyweight
Midlands super flyweight
The Don had a great amateur career and won the Commonwealth super flyweight title in his first nine fights as a pro. His career was hampered by injuries but he contested for titles all the way through his career even moving up 2 weights to fight for a British title.
Richie Woodall
Telford
Super Middleweight
23 wins 3 defeats
Debut -1990-2000
Titles
WBC World Super Middleweight title
Commonwealth Middleweight title
British Middleweight title
Richie Woodall had a very impressive amateur career winning a Olympic bronze medal at Seoul 1988 (light middleweight) being beat by the young Roy Jane’s Jr. Richie also won a Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland New Zealand 1990 (light middleweight). As a professional he won the British and Commonwealth titles as a middleweight, them moved up to Super Middleweight to win the WBC world super middleweight title. When Woodall retired he carved a careering in broadcasting as a pundit for the BBC and BT Sport’s, Richie was also a body double for Hollywood actor Brad Pitt in the film Snatch
Frankie Gavin
Birmingham
Welterweight
Wins 26. 4 defeats
Debut 2009 – 2019
Titles
British Welterweight
Commonwealth welterweight
Frankie won every major title going as an amateur and won the British and commonwealth titles as a pro. He akso fought for the IBF world welterweight title losing to Kell Brook. Frankie continues as a pro boxer looking for that works title, he also owns his own gym in Acocks Green
Pat Cowdell
Smethwick
Super Featherweight
Debut 1977 – 1988
36 wins 6 defeats
Titles
Commonwealth super Featherweight
British super Featherweight
Debut 1977 – 1988
36 wins 6 defeats
Pat Cowdell was Originally from Smethwick Birmingham as a professional he won the British and Commonwealth super featherweight and had two attempts at the WBC world title. Pat turned to training and promoting when hungup the gloves and still keeps his hand in the game promoting shows around Birmingham
Wally Swift jr
Super welterweight
Born Nottingham Resides Birmingham
26 Wins 11 Defeats 1 Draw
Debuts 1985 - 1995
Titles
British super welterweight
Wally Swift Jr (born 17 February 1966) is a British former boxer who was British light middleweight champion between 1991 and 1992, and also fought for the European title.
.Kostas Petrou
Kostas Petrou (born 17 April 1959) is a British former professional boxer of Greek Cypriot origin. Petrou was British Welterweight Champion in 1985
Petrou spent much of his childhood in Birkenhead where he became a renowned amateur fighter learning his ring craft with Willaston ABC.
Petrou later moved to Birmingham and turned professional in 1981 with the Lynch brothers (Tommy and Paddy). After losing on his pro debut due to a cut eye, he raced to 15 successive victories. Petrou became Midlands Area Champion after outpointing Lloyd Christie and British Welterweight Champion on 13 April 1985 after defeating Rocky Kelly by TKO at 1:09 of the ninth round in Darlington.[3] He also contested the Commonwealth (British Empire) Championship against Sylvester Mittee and was at one time the Number 1 contender for the European Title, although Petrou was in fact never afforded the opportunity of fighting for the European crown.
Jem Carney
Lightweight
4 wins 2 Draws
Birmingham
Debut 1879-1887
Titles
British Lightweight title
Born James Carney in Birmingham, England on November 5, 1856 to Irish parents. The 5'5” Carney began boxing in 1878. In 1881 he toured America where he engaged in boxing exhibitions in Boston, Philadelphia and a salon run by Owney Geoghegan at the Bowery in New York City.
He was undefeated before challenging Jake Hyams for the English lightweight championship on December 20, 1884. Carney won the title after a 45-round battle that lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes. In June 1887 he beat Jimmy Mitchel over 11 rounds on a barge in Long Island Sound, NY. Five months later he engaged in his most famous battle, a 74-round draw with Jack McAuliffe for the World lightweight championship in Revere, MA. One of the most grueling duels ever contested at that weight in the U.S., friends of McAuliffe stopped the action after 3 hours and 40 minutes. Many observers of the day felt Carney was taking the lead at the time the bout was halted. In 1891 he lost his English lightweight title to Dick Burge on a foul in the 11th round.
Carney retired after the Burge fight and became a bodyguard for millionaire George Alexander Baird. He died on September 8, 1941 in London.
Brad Foster
Super Bantamweight
11 wins 2 Draw
Litchfield West Midlands
Debut 2012 Still Active
Titles
British super Bantamweight
Super Bantamweight Midlands Area
Brad won the British title on March 8th 2019 at the Metrodome Barnsley against the highly rated and experienced Josh Wale. Foster won on a unanimous decision. He has now added to his British title winning the Commonwealth Super Bantamweight tile off Ashley Lane in a 12th round stoppage. Brad has defended his British title 3 times beating Ashlty Lane, Drawing with Lucien Reid and beating Ried in a rematch. Brad then went on and won the Lonsdale belt outright beating James Beech jr on points. Brad Is a welcome addition to the Birmingham Boxing Columns Hall Of Fame.
Rob Norton
Record 32 wins 5 defeats 2 Draws
Cruiserweight
Southpaw
Dudley
Debut- 1993 – 2011
Titles
WBU Cruiserweight Champion
English Cruiserweight
British Cruiserweight
Commonwealth Cruiserweight
Rob Norton was undefeated in his first 17 fights winning 16 with one draw, his first defeat came in his first title fight for the Commonwealth Cruiserweight title losing on points to Darren Corbett. Norton’s first title was the WBU Cruiserweight title beating Jacob Mofokeng in a majority decision. Norton then went on to win the English, then the British and finally the Commonwealth Cruiserweight titles retiring in 2011 after a great career.
Rachel Ball
Super Bantamweight
Bantamweight
Born – Aldridge West Midlands
Record – 7 wins 1 defeat
Debut December 2017 – Still Active
Titles
WBC interim Super Bantamweight World Title
3 time World Kickboxing champion.
Rachel Ball turned over to pro Boxing from Kickboxing in December of 2017 after winning 3 World titles in that sport. Rachel's only defeats came when she travelled to Norway taking on Katherina Thanderz losing on a split decision. Ball then went on and beat Bec Connolly in an eliminator for a crack at the Commonwealth title. She then went and beat Matchroom's hot prospect Shannon Courtenay on points in a eight round contest. Ball was then offered a WBA world title fight against Ebanie Bridges at Bantamweight but Bridges had to pull out due to injury. Ball was then meant to fight Jorgelina Guanini for the title but after Guanini couldn't make weight the title was changed for the WBC interim super Bantamweight World title which she won by unanimous decision. Ball has made history as the first female fighter to be entered into the Bbcolumn 'Hall of Fame'. Rachel is a welcome edition to the Hall of Fame Champions and we look forward to adding more titles to her Bio.
Lennox Clarke
Record
20 wins - 1 Draw - 1 Defeat
From - Birmingham
Debut – 16,11, 2013
Weight
Super Middleweight
Titles
IBO Continental
British & Commonwealth
Lennox Clarke came from unlicensed boxing to make his pro debut in 2013, Lennox went on to win his first title in December of 2917 beating Jahmaine Smyle on a unanimous decision to be crowned IBO continental Super Middleweight champ and to be Crowned Bbcolumn Boxer of the Year 2017. Clarke then went on to fight for the British and Commonwealth titles at Super Middleweight losing on a split decision to Lerrone Richards in November 2019. Clarke then had to wait until March 2021 to fight for the British and Commonwealth title again where he lived up to his nickname ‘Dangerous’ by stopping Queensberry promotions Hot prospect and unbeaten Willy Hutchinson in the fifth round in devastating style. Lennox is a very welcome addition to the Bbcolumn ‘Hall of Fame'
Jack Hood
Middleweight
From – Birmingham
41 wins 6 defeats 6 draws
British Middleweight & Welterweight
EBU Middleweight & Welterweight
Debut – 1924 – 1935
From Birmingham, "Gentleman" Jack Hood made his professional debut in September 1924 with a win over Joe Boswell. Undefeated in his first seven fights, he lost to Edouard Verret on a points decision in September 1925. He fought Verret again in January 1926, this time winning on points over twenty rounds. His next fight was a challenge for Harry Mason's British welterweight title, winning a controversial points decision over 20 rounds and earning a Lonsdale Belt.[1][2] A rematch two months later ended in the same result. In 1926 he travelled to the United States for a series of fights with the aim of securing a shot at the world title,[2] which included wins over Paul Doyle and Meyer Grace, a draw with Jimmy Jones, and a defeat to Jack Movey.
Hugh Forde
Birmingham
Super Featherweight
24 Wins 7 Defeats
Debut – 1986 – 1995
Titles
Commonwealth Super Featherweight
British Super Featherweight
Hugh Forde (born 7 May 1964) is an English professional super feather/light/light welter/welterweight boxer of the 1980s and '90s, who won the inaugural British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) Midlands Area super featherweight title, BBBofC British super featherweight title, and Commonwealth super featherweight title, and was a challenger for the BBBofC British light welterweight title against Ross Hale his professional fighting weight varied from super featherweight to welterweight.
Lloyd Christie
Super Lightweight
24 Wins 21 Defeats 1 Draw
Born London Resident Wolverhampton
Debut 1981 – 1984
Titles
British Light Welterweights title
Wesley Lloyd Christie (born 28 February 1962), who fought as Lloyd Christie, is a British former boxer who was British light-welterweight champion between 1987 and 1989 and also fought for the European title.
Born in London, the brother of Errol Christie, Lloyd Christie was based in Wolverhampton and was managed and trained in Birmingham by Paddy and Tommy Lynch.[1][2] He began his professional career in January 1981 with a first-round knockout of Steve Tempro. By the end of February 1984 he had won only half of his 28 fights, with one draw against Terry Marsh (the only fight of Marsh's career that he didn't win).[3] In May 1984 he fought for his first title—the BBBofC Midlands Area welterweight title—losing on points to Kostas Petrou
Jason Welborn
Middleweight
28 wins 8 defeats
Tividale West Midlands
Debut 2005 Still Active
Titles
British Middleweight
WBC International Middleweight
Jason won the British title on May 4th 2018 in a titanic battle against fellow West Bromwich Albion supporter Tommy Langford on a split decision. Jason has ha 3 attempts at the British title and has now claimed the prestigious Lonsdale belt. Welborn has also won the Midlands area tile at welterweight and super welterweight and is also the current WBC International Silver Middleweight Champion. Jason Is a welcome addition to the Birmingham Boxing Columns Hall Of Fame.
Young Mutley
Born
West Bromwich
Career -1999 - 2012
Wins 30. 7 defeats
14 wins via KO
Light Welter/ Welterweight
Titles
Super Lightweight English
WBF Intercontinental Super Lightweight Title
British Welterweight Title
Lee Woodley (born 17 May 1976), better known by his nickname of Young Mutley, is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2013. He held the British welterweight title in 2006, challenged once for the Commonwealth welterweight title in 2006 and once for the British and EBU European super lightweight titles in 2007.
Woodley was involved with gangs in his younger years, which led to him serving a prison sentence for assault. After being released from prison, Woodley took up boxing. His breakthrough came on 28 January 2006 when he beat Michael Jennings the reigning British Welterweight champion in a split decision at Nottingham Arena to claim his first British Championship.
Shakan Pitters
Born
Birmingham
Debut - 2017 still active
Orthodox
Wins 14 0 defeats
4 wins via KO
Light Welter/ Welterweight
Titles
Light Heavyweight English
Ultimate Boxxer Champion
British Light Heavyweight Title
WBC International Light heavyweight title
Shakan Pitters who was a former trainee footballer at West Bromwich Albion turned to boxing quite late in his life, but it had always been in his life. His father is a former professional boxer and his brothers were also amateurs.
Shakan stands at a mighty 6 foot 6 and can amazingly get down to the light Heavyweight weight with ease. He Boxed as an amateur at second city gym Kingstanding under the tutelage of Paddy Farrell before finishing his amateur career and turning pro at Eastside gym.
Shakan won the ultimate Boxxer in 2018 beating some of the best prospects in the country. He then went on and claimed the Light heavyweight English title beating Dec Spelman on points. Pitters was made mandatory for the British title but due to the Lockdown he had to wait. On the 22nd of August 2020 Shakan beat Chad Sugden with a near perfect performance to claim the Lonsdale belt.
Shak is a welcome addition to the BBcolumn Hall of Fame.
Liam Davies
12 wins
Telford
Debut – 9th December 2018
Titles
English Bantamweight Title
WBC International silver super-bantamweight Title
British Super-bantamweight Title
Liam Davies has made short work of achieving every British boxers dream of becoming British Champion in just 12 round contests. He made his debut in December of 2018 at the Holiday Inn Birmingham beating Khvicha Gigolashvili on points in the Featherweight division. Davies had to wait until November 2020 to contest his first title beating Sean Cairns in the 6th round of a 10-round contest for the English Bantamweight title. Davies then claimed the WBC International silver super bantamweight title in October of 2021 beating Dixon Flores in a convincing points victory. On the 11th of June Davies Claimed the British Super Bantamweight title beating Marc Leach live on BT Sports. Davies is a welcome addition to the Bbcolumn ‘Hall ofFame’.
Matt Windle
Record
7 wins 1 draw 4 defeats
Born
Birmingham
Debut – 5.12. 2015
Weight
Fly & light Flyweight
Nickname
Mattman / Poet with a punch
Stance – Orthodox
Titles
Commonwealth light Flyweight title
(Mattman) Matt Windle also known as the ‘poet with a punch’ made his debut at the Town Hall Dudley against Anwar Alfadli in December of 2015 winning the 4 rounder on points. Windle won 5 and drew one in his first seven fights before challenging twice for the flyweight Midlands area title going the distance with Ijaz Ahmed and David Seymour losing on close points decisions. Windle then took on Tommy Frank for the British Flyweight title going the distance but losing on points. Windle claimed his first title and the one that has earned him a place in the bbcolumn Hall of Fame when he took on the unbeaten Siphelele Myeza for the Commonwealth light Flyweight title in Leeds (2.10.22). In a hard-fought contest Windle landed a cracking over hand right putting Myeza down in the eleventh with the ref stopping the contest soon after as Myeza could not continue.
Matt Windle is a great addition to the Bbcolumn Hall of Fame and the Birmingham Boxing Column congratulate him on his achievements.
Robert McCracken
Birmingham
Middleweight
Super Welterweight
33 wins 2 defeats
Debut – 1991- 2001
Titles
Commonwealth Middleweight title
British Super welterweight title
Robert is another Birmingham boxer who had a great amateur career, as a professional boxer he went 31 fights undefeated winning the British super welterweight title outright and the Middleweight Commonwealth title. McCracken only defeats where at the end of his career where he fought for the EBU Middleweight title and the WBC Middleweight world title against Howard Eastman and Keith Holmes. Robert is now rate as one of the top trainers in the world as he trains Heavyweights world champion Anthony Joshua
Bert Kirby
From - Birmingham
Flyweight
Debut -1924 -1938
125 wins 65 defeats 17 draws
Titles
British Flyweight title
Born in Birmingham, Kirby made his professional debut in March 1924 with a win over Billy Burns. Unbeaten in his first twelve fights, his first loss came in January 1927 at the hands of Dick Corbett. In a run of sixteen straight wins that followed in the first half of 1927, he beat Corbett three times.
In the late 1920s he moved to trainer Fred Dyer and boxed out of Dyer's gym in the Strand, London.
In March 1930, Kirby challenged again for the British title at the National Sporting Club, this time knocking Brown out in the third to become British flyweight champion. He had two further fights later the same month, a win over Young Siki, and a loss by knockout to Frenchman Rene Chalange.
After retiring, Kirby claimed that he had turned down two world title fights during his career, due to the fights being 'fixed', with the boxers contracted for three fights, with an agreement that they each win one of the first two to build up interest and money for the third, which would be a straight fight
Kostas Petrou
The Greek Tank
30 Wins 7 Defeats
Born London Resident Birmingham
Debut 1981 - 1988
Petrou spent much of his childhood in Birkenhead where he became a renowned amateur fighter learning his ring craft with Willaston ABC.
Petrou later moved to Birmingham and turned professional in 1981 with the Lynch brothers (Tommy and Paddy). After losing on his pro debut due to a cut eye, he raced to 15 successive victories. Petrou became Midlands Area Champion after outpointing Lloyd Christie and British Welterweight Champion on 13 April 1985 after defeating Rocky Kelly by TKO at 1:09 of the ninth round in Darlington. He also contested the Commonwealth (British Empire) Championship against Sylvester Mittee and was at one time the Number 1 contender for the European Title, although Petrou was in fact never afforded the opportunity of fighting for the European crown.
Martin Gethin
Super Lightweight
29 wins 9 defeats 1 draw
Walsall West Midlands
Debut 2004 - 2017
Titles
British Lightweight
IBF International Lightweight
IBF International Super Lightweight
Martin won the British lightweight title on 21st September 2013 against Ben Murthy with a ninth round TKO. Gethin also claimed the IBF International Lightweight and super Lightweight titles in a great career. Martin Is a welcome addition to the Birmingham Boxing Columns Hal Of Fame.
Gamal Yafai
Wins -17. 1 – Defeat
Birmingham
Super Bantamweight
Debut – 2014
Titles
Super Bantamweight Commonwealth
WBC super Bantamweight International
Gamal is the middle brother of the Yafai boxing family and was the Commonwealth super Bantamweight champion by his ninth professional fight. Gamal got a KO victory over champion Bobby Jenkins at the Genting arena Birmingham on the 5th March 2016. Gamal the went on to beat fellow Brummie Sean Davis for the WBC international super Bantamweight title claiming a TKO victory in the 7th round on May 13th 2017 at the Barclaycard arena Birmingham. Gamal’s only defeat came when defending his WBC title against Gavin McDonald in Sheffield on the third of March 2018 via a points decision. Gamal has his eyes firmly set on European then world titles in the further and is well worth his place in the bbcolumn ‘Hall of Fame’.
Ijaz Ahmed
Nickname – Jazzy
Age – 27
Stance – Orthodox
Record - 8 wins 2 defeats
From – Birmingham
Weight division - Super Flyweight
Titles
Midlands area Super Flyweight title
WBO, IBF Super Flyweight European titles
In just 10 fights Ijaz Ahmed has managed to claim 3 titles with two of them being European ones. Known as Jazzy he won the Midlands title in his 6th fight beating Conar Blackshaw on points 95-95. He then went on and defended it once against Matt Windle winning again on points. In 2019 Ahmed took on Harvey Horn for the vacant WBO version of the Flyweight European title losing on a unanimous decision. After a long wait with the fight having to be rescheduled several times Ahmed took his opportunity to beat the then current and unbeaten WBO European Super Flyweight champ Kaisy Khademi. Ahmed won the WBO and the IBF Super Flyweight title on a Majority decision with one judge giving it a draw and two having Ahmed winning. The Birmingham fighter is a great addition to the Bbcolumn ‘Hall of Fame'.
Kirstie Bavington
Record
Wins 6 Draws 2 Loses 2
Born
Wolverhampton
Debut -19.5.2018
Weight
Welterweight
Stance
Orthodox
Titles
EBU European Welterweight tile
Wolverhampton's Kirstie Bavington made her debut in May of 2018 at the Holte Suite Villa Park Birmingham earning a draw against veteran journey women Borislava Goranova. School teacher Bavington then went on and won her next two contests before taking on unbeaten Cherrelle Brown in a 10 round contest for the WBC Super Lightweight international title. Bavington lost on a unanimous points decision but went on and won and drew her next two fights. Bavington then went on the road fighting in the away corner during lockdown on a Matchroom show losing on points to hot prospect Sandy Ryan. The Black Country fighter neither gave up winning her next two fights before she got a shot at the female EBU European Welterweight title. Bavington took on the very game Timea Belik winning a unanimous points decision and the title and a place in the BBcolumn Hall of Fame, Kirstie is only the second female to be entered into the Bbcolumn Hall of Fame and is a welcome addition.
Tyler Denny
Record 18 Wins. 3 Draws. 2 Defeats
Born – Wordsley
Debut - 27 th March 2015
Stance- Southpaw
Weight – Middleweight
Titles – Middleweight Midlands area, English
Middleweight, EBU External Middleweight, EBU European Middleweight.
Tyler Denny made his debut in March 2015 and won his first 11 contest winning the Midlands Middleweight area title out of the away corner at Walsall town hall against Tom Stokes in his 9th
fight in September of 2017. Tyler then fought for English title three times losing to Reece Cartwright in September of 2018, Linus Udofia in November
of 2019 and then a technical draw against River Wilson-Bent in November of 2021. Denny finally became middleweight English champ beating River Wilson-Bent in a rematch in November 2022. Tyler then went on and beat two more unbeaten fighters winning the EBU external middleweight against Macauley McCowan in May of 2023. Denny then fought for the Middleweight EBU European title in November 2023 beating Matteo Singnani on a TKO 8 th round victory at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall in front of over 3500 fans cheering him on. Tyler is a very welcomed addition to the Bbcolumn Hall of Fame and I look
forward to seeing were his