Terry Downes

Terry Downes, (born in Paddington, London on May 9, 1936) is a retired British middleweight boxer.

Career highlights

Despite a relatively short boxing career, Downes managed to accomplish a great deal in the sport, most notably by winning the World Middleweight Title on the 11th July 1961 by defeating Paul Pender at the Empire Pool, Wembley, England.

After a successful first fifteen months in the profession, comprising 17 wins and 2 defeats, Downes won the British Commonwealth Middleweight Title, vacated by Pat McAteer's retirement, by beating Phil Edwards on the 30th September 1958 at the Harringay Arena, London. In the autumn of 1959, Downes went on to lose and then win back the title from John Cowboy McCormack. On the 5th July 1960, Downes successfully defended the title against Edwards once more.

Downes lost his first World Title shot with Pender at Boston in January 1961. The following Summer, however, Downes fought Pender again, this time in London, and defeated the American convincingly in front of a raucous Wembley crowd. Pender would win back the title the following year, defeating Downes in Boston once more, this time on points.

Downes responded to the loss of his title by winning his next 7 bouts, and having felt he had accomplished all he could at Middleweight level, he fought Willie Pastrano for the World Light-Heavyweight Title in Manchester, England on the 30th November 1964. Pastrano knocked Downes down twice in the 11th round, retaining his title, and it was to be Downes' last fight.

One of the most impressive scalps of Downes' 8-year career was that of Sugar Ray Robinson in the Autumn of 1962. Robinson was, however, 41 at the time, and when asked after the fight how it felt to beat a boxer of such esteem, Downes famously replied, "I didn't beat Sugar Ray, I beat his ghost."

Downes fought 6 world champions and beat 3: Robinson, Pender and Joey Giardello. His record is impressive: 44 fights, 35 wins (28 ko's), 9 losses.

Life outside the ring

Post-boxing, Downes acted occasionally between 1965 and 1990. Film producers would make use of his fearsome reputation, often using Downes as a thug, villain or bodyguard. His most successful film was Roman Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers (released in the UK as Dance of the Vampires)(1967), in which Downes played Koukol, a hunchbacked servant. In 1990, Downes also appeared for two episodes as Purvis in The Bill.

The present day

Downes currently lives with his wife, Barbara, in Oxhey, Hertfordshire. He is Britain's oldest living World Champion, and has 4 children and 8 grandchildren.

Terry is still working out and is currently training with a skinny boy with a big chin known as The Pigeon.

ee also

* List of British middleweight boxing champions