• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Birmingham boxers?

Ray Barrett said:
Why has no one mentioned Bert Kirby?,British flyweight champion.
His lonsdale belt was hung over the back of a chair in a window somewhere in Newtown Row.Of course,he was an Aston boy,in his time that wasn't in Brum.
Click to expand...

Yeh I know him, his my grandfathers brother.
I think that fight took place on a Sunday, odd I no, but I think it was one of the first fights to take place on a Sunday.
I've got photo here somewhere, ill dig it out.
Two of his other brothers where good boxers Henry & Jack they both had scrap yards
One off Russell Street & the other on Frankfort street.
But I think Henry spent more time in the nick than he did in the ring lol, which left Henry's
three boys to run the yard, Henry Kïrby, Billy Kirby, & Roy Kirby.
I here young Henry was a good boxer, but more street fighter I think, but if any one has more info please let me know.

All the best Kirb...
 
dogmandan said:
my dad dan davis and my uncle wally cox both new pardoe and rated him highly wally cox trained boxers for morris comercial on alum rock also at duddeston mill he had a good heavywieght called paul brown he turned pro he was matched with joe bugnerwho was having his first pro fight paul ko him in the return joe beat him
slso there was a boxer from saltley called ernie smith think he was a bantam if anyone has any info on his fights would like to here
danny
Click to expand...
wally cox was one of the best trainers in brum, he trained some of the best boxers, billy, danny monoghan,, the gwilliam brothers, i could go on,i was training at the morris, when paul brown joined, i sparred with paul all the time, one of the nicest guys, bugner came to watch paul when we moved down nechells, he underestimated him. the morris was one of the best clubs, if not the best, R,I,P, wally cox,
 
Johnny prescot was my idol , lived just below us in william henry street, of rocky lane, with his aunt and uncle tommy, the relative might have been my mate phil prescots relatives, he lived in or of burlington i think, the night club was the fleur-de-lease, johnny was a great guy, a nice guy, in my opinion very underated in b,ham, by the b,ham, press, i was proud to go to his funeral, the church was packed, R,I,P, Johnny prescot.
 
yes, Johnny Prescot was a hero to us all, but i also think ,perhaps, a lot of people dont appreciate, John was not realy a true heavyweight , he built himself up, and only just made it, hence when he fought cooper, london, walker, they were a fair bit heavier than him, i used to spar and train with billy monahgan, and i hope he dont mind me saying was a bit miffed that john was getting all the money, when he was technically a better boxer, john was a brave warrior, R,I,P
 
Hi Tommy0121 I remember Billy Monogan when he used to train at Kyrle Hall with his mate Johnny Edwards,as you say a great bloke.I used bump into him in the White Swan on Washwood Heath Rd.on Friday nights.I saw Danny Monagon and Des. Gwillam box at Nechells Community Center as amateurs,Danny got disqualified for biting his opponents ear,this was about 1967ish.
 
Blane said:
Hi Tommy0121 I remember Billy Monogan when he used to train at Kyrle Hall with his mate Johnny Edwards,as you say a great bloke.I used bump into him in the White Swan on Washwood Heath Rd.on Friday nights.I saw Danny Monagon and Des. Gwillam box at Nechells Community Center as amateurs,Danny got disqualified for biting his opponents ear,this was about 1967ish.
Click to expand...
haha, yes, that sounds about right for danny, he could have been a good pro too like billy but he had a nasty temper, only just calming down, billy used to live by the swan, now he lives not far from me in sutton, dezi was a great, lad, i had,nt seen him for years when i heard about his death in the canaries, tragic, we all grew up together boxing at the morris under wally cox, when we moved to nechells it was,nt the same, wally was eased out, a lot left.
 
HI TOMMY
Just been reading throgh some of the threads ; and i was womdering did you ever come across a couple of guys
from years ago by the name of the burns brothers jack burns and his two brothers whom was also boxers
and the Mcroaty brothers ; i think i have spelt that name correct they was also boxers leo and john both boxers from up around the swan
the main one was big jackie burns he had two brotheres the other one was tommy ; and the older one i think was called seamus burns ;
big jackie used to train the kids at the GKN Boxing Gym along with leo mccroatie he and his brother runs a place called the truck stop in tyseley
and as done for at least thirty years to my knowledge as i used to freqent the old place ;
best wishes tommy astonian;
 
Astonian said:
HI TOMMY
Just been reading throgh some of the threads ; and i was womdering did you ever come across a couple of guys
from years ago by the name of the burns brothers jack burns and his two brothers whom was also boxers
and the Mcroaty brothers ; i think i have spelt that name correct they was also boxers leo and john both boxers from up around the swan
the main one was big jackie burns he had two brotheres the other one was tommy ; and the older one i think was called seamus burns ;
big jackie used to train the kids at the GKN Boxing Gym along with leo mccroatie he and his brother runs a place called the truck stop in tyseley
and as done for at least thirty years to my knowledge as i used to freqent the old place ;
best wishes tommy astonian;
Click to expand...
hi astonian, nice to hear from you, there are 2--3 families of burns around the inner city area,-or were, the big jacky burns that i remember used to bounce on one or two of the clubs, and yes i,m sure he had a brother , tommy, but i think they were a generation above me, there is also young johnny burns, who i used to box with at sheldon heath, he was from a big family of burns, young john, had lots of bottle, and turned pro with the murry brothers and lloyd hibbert, a brilliant welterwieght, won the lonsdale belt, i had moved down to devon by then so did,nt keep up with them, they all drink over the yew tree the swan? , i used to box with two brothers down nechells, both good, seamus was in demolition i think, and had won the a,b,a, irish title, i keep meaning to go over the yew tree to have a chat, will try this sunday and ask johnny, its a funny old world, when your boxing you build a bond, but then you lose contact, brums getting too big.
 
HI TOMMY ;
You are most certainly elected by me tommy ; you are bang on ; these are the guys i know alright and have known them all for donkeys years ;
seamus burns used to do the door for donleavy over at the ship pub which was across from st martins church along with big jackie ;
but big jackie the ladies man always had an eye on a lady or two he used to sing to them tommy did not do any boxing ;
johny is related to big jackie leo and john 2 brothers they was known in the boxing world and they was all best of mates ;
and i have got calined with them may times in years gone bye some time ago at the red lion jackie,s brother told methat big
jack had diedc quite afew years ago now ; great news knowing that you know them ;i reckon you are like me tom
a kid from th old school our kid ;
speak with you later i hope ; best wishes astonian;;
 
Astonian said:
HI TOMMY ;
You are most certainly elected by me tommy ; you are bang on ; these are the guys i know alright and have known them all for donkeys years ;
seamus burns used to do the door for donleavy over at the ship pub which was across from st martins church along with big jackie ;
but big jackie the ladies man always had an eye on a lady or two he used to sing to them tommy did not do any boxing ;
johny is related to big jackie leo and john 2 brothers they was known in the boxing world and they was all best of mates ;
and i have got calined with them may times in years gone bye some time ago at the red lion jackie,s brother told methat big
jack had diedc quite afew years ago now ; great news knowing that you know them ;i reckon you are like me tom
a kid from th old school our kid ;
speak with you later i hope ; best wishes astonian;;
Click to expand...
my old dad was a barrow boy in the old bull ring, you might know fruity-tuit, haha, as i said, i will try and have a word the weekend with young johnny burns, just as a matter of interest,-donleavy??? is this the same donleavy who had the boozer on the stratford road? just under the bridge, cant think of the name at moment, jimmy brady used to do a bit for him, ex wrestler, like a brick sxxt house, nice guy, used to go up there with fruity tuits son don,hav,nt seen jimmy for a bit iether, all the best.
 
hi tommy ;
old tuiti friuti rins a bell he used to come into the blarney stone along with the rest of the lads [ the barrow boys ] for breakfast
and lunch time during the day as well ; donleavys along the stratford rd is quite correct i remember the guy you are on about big jackie worked with him and you know the size of him ; do recall the rose taveren just along from donleavys john cole owned it along with the one up bradford st ;
best wishes tommy ; astonian;
 
Astonian said:
hi tommy ;
old tuiti friuti rins a bell he used to come into the blarney stone along with the rest of the lads [ the barrow boys ] for breakfast
and lunch time during the day as well ; donleavys along the stratford rd is quite correct i remember the guy you are on about big jackie worked with him and you know the size of him ; do recall the rose taveren just along from donleavys john cole owned it along with the one up bradford st ;
best wishes tommy ; astonian;
Click to expand...
tuity fruit was the nickname given to old george fewtrell, my old dad reckons he was the best con man in b,ham--if i,m allowed to say that, when i was a kid, i used to be employed, driving him around, he would call at the house for 9--30, am, my dad would have the stock ready, in winter it was electric fires, toys, dolls etc, by 10, we would be of, george would hit, three shops, sell the stuff and be back in the boozer for 12ish, i was paid up, jimmy brady also ran the "lamb" i think, just up from donleavys, now his son, chrissy, runs a boozer up bradford street, sounds like the same people.
 
HI TOMMY
Yes we are speaking of the same mob including jimmy on bradford street can,t mention is surname as you know we are limited on the forum as it does not allow it for legal reasons they are very good frotends and close friends to the man liam ;whom owns the pubs around brum and the kery man ; you know whom i mean don,t you ;and the blaney stone ;
have a good day ; best wishes astonian;
 
hi i was just found this site and my partner is michael kirby who is related to the late bert kirby, who you have any photos of bert or photos of his belt, thanks sue
 
hi do you have the photos of bert kirbys lonsdale belt which was displayed at the clements arms as my partner Mike Kirby was related to bert thanks sue
 
hi susie
i am truely surprized not one of your family of relie have not got a picture of old berts belt i would they would have treasured it
are you not in touch with the older generation of the family ;i am aware of the older generation of the family and they would have passed away ;
but surely one of hem may have kept them ; or should i say one ;i only have the memorys in my head with the older gen; of your berts family
and only the picture of them what they looked like
i wonder if any of the lawley family may have one after all he done alot of good and trained them down at the old GKN gym in heath street
along with roy and big jackie burns and the Mcgoatie brothers including others
they have all died now last of them died about four or five years now and the man some one mentionioned about to die four was dave rubin;
he had the bookies at six ways aston it must be about four or five years now the Mc groats brothers re still around thou but they aint members on the
forum but i did not think they would have had a pic; sorry i cannot help you out but may be some -one will come to life
may be there is still a boxing associated stil in brum whom will keep the records and posible a pic;
best wishes astonian;;
 
susan flanagan said:
hi i was just found this site and my partner is michael kirby who is related to the late bert kirby, who you have any photos of bert or photos of his belt, thanks sue
Click to expand...
well hello susan flanagan, may i suggest you have a good look on the site as i am sure there are a couple of pics of dear old bert, saw em myself i,m sure, also, may i suggest you tell michael to have a world with old jimmy who i know kept a couple of pics and news cuttings in his office, now i thought you two were coming over to see us? i,m missing my little mate. yours tom.
 
hello astonian, yes your right, i know who has some photos and have just replied to sue, who is a good friend of ours, as is little mick, they clearly dont know i,m on this site, haha.
 
Does anyone remember Tommy Jennings from Catherine street?. He used to box round about the late fifties early sixties. His sisters were Jackie and Georgina. Jean.
 
G.G.Jean Hello - I bumped into Tommy Jennings about 4/5 years ago,he is fit and well and working as an handyman for a property developer.We had a good chat about the old days.I boxed for Kyrle Hall and Tom was boxing for Aston ABC at the time.He got selected to box for England at lightweight against America,which he won.At the time I was at Kyrle Hall our top lightweight was a chap called Johnny Chivers,who moved on when Ken Cooper joined the club.Ken and Tom both boxed for England and became friends.Tom left Aston ABC to box for the Morris Commercial ABC down Alum Rock,hoping it would get him a job at the factory,which it did.
 
Hi Blane thanks for that. I was best friends with Jackie his sister and went out a with him for a short time but at the time thought he was too old for me?. My how things have changed. My husband Pete went to Kyrle Hall and I think it was a boys club?. I have posted a photo under boys clubs of the place. I am glad Tommy is doing OK?. Will ask Pete if he remembers Johnny Chivers. Thanks. Jean.
 
Blane said:
G.G.Jean Hello - I bumped into Tommy Jennings about 4/5 years ago,he is fit and well and working as an handyman for a property developer.We had a good chat about the old days.I boxed for Kyrle Hall and Tom was boxing for Aston ABC at the time.He got selected to box for England at lightweight against America,which he won.At the time I was at Kyrle Hall our top lightweight was a chap called Johnny Chivers,who moved on when Ken Cooper joined the club.Ken and Tom both boxed for England and became friends.Tom left Aston ABC to box for the Morris Commercial ABC down Alum Rock,hoping it would get him a job at the factory,which it did.
Click to expand...
yes i remember tommy jennings, a lot of good boxers came to the morris at the time as it was considered one of the best clubs in brum, good trainers too. i think i remember his sister jackie, nechells and aston was a lot smaller then.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top