The West Midlands role in Tony Sibson success
The good, the bad and the ugly – Tony Sibson went through it all boxing in the West Midlands through a storied pro career that saw much in 12 years.
In his prime, Sibson was the finest middleweight the United Kingdom had to offer and, from the start, travelling West from his East Midlands home-town of Leicester was per the norm.
The former British, Commonwealth and European champion and world title challenger, who shared a ring with Marvin Hagler at Madison Square Garden, eventually came full circle.
That was his last chance to win a world crown and it came on West Midlands turf, at the unlikely venue of the 'cowshed,' the Bingley Hall in Stafford, on 7 February 1988.
But what could have been a dream night instead became literally hell on earth, after a stoppage defeat inside the ring and carnage outside the ring before the contest had even started.
As it was the last fight of a great run as a respected warrior of the ring during his time, it's the end tale of a long-overdue autobiography, 'Sibbo,' about the painfully-shy 55-year-old.
Written by a retired Scottish police super-intendent and fan of the sport, 25 years on, gives strong indications why there's never been a pro boxing show held in the town since Sibson's last fight.
People attending the show from Stafford were not to blame, either, that laid at the door with many that had travelled to the venue to show the sort of support for the Englishman that no-one wanted.
The book reads: "Tony was being interviewed for ITV just before fight and, while he was, he had no idea that the country roads between Leicester and Stafford were severely congested.
"They were full of fans making their way to the fight, some of whom were spoiling for trouble. One journalist witnessed a van load of fans jumping out with iron bars and destroying the car in front.
"The first inside Bingley Hall knew what was brewing when there was a surge of fans into the main arena just before the main event, clearly intent on causing disruption.
"Soon after, someone let off a CS gas canister, leaving ringside guests and sports commentators, including Henry Cooper and Nigel Benn, weeping uncontrollably from the effects.
"Cooper, the elder statesman of British boxing himself, had to take to the ring and call for behaviour. The sports minister at the time, Colin Moynihan, was also at ringside.
"He added 'it's tragic that this should have happened. It's on live TV here and in the United States.' It's very depressing."
And that was before the main event had started, a controversial bout that had been cut from 15 to 12 rounds by the British Boxing Board of Control, opposed by the International Boxing Federation.
Promoter Frank Warren found a solution and the fight went ahead, IBF champion Frank Tate making the argument pointless by taking out 'Sibbo' for good with a big right hook in the 10th round.
Immediately after the bell, Sibson took to the microphone and told his fans he was retiring. When interviewed in front of the cameras, he disowned the trouble-makers.
He stated clearly that he knew all of the fans who followed him regularly and insisted they would have not have behind the disruption. They were the same fans who were West Midlands regulars.
Many were there when Sibson made his debut at Digbeth Civic Hall in 1976 and he boxed nine out of his first 10 fights in the area.
The big title fights came in London and overseas, but it was at the Digbeth and Wolverhampton Civic Halls, the Gala Baths in West Bromwich and Dudley Town Hall where he honed his craft.
He would never fight in the Black Country again after winning the British title in 1979 but, of his 32-fight pro record at this time, that's where 14 of those victories had taken place.
That included his last run-out before becoming British champion, a 10-round points revenge mission over Eddie Smith, in Wolverhampton the month before.
He was a promoter's dream in that scenario, namely Cannock's Ron Gray, regularly bringing hundreds of fans from the East to West Midlands, where both sets of supporters mingled together.
The book reads: "He was a god-send to the Midlands promoters, both Ron Gray and Dave Roden. Tony's fan base of loud and loyal supporters was increasing rapidly.
"Birmingham and Wolverhampton fight fans were joining the throng from Leicester."
Sibson himself recalled in the book: "I looked around and it was my fans that were filling the place. Ron Gray had a licence to print when he was promoting Tony Sibson.
"Wolverhampton would have been filled every week if I was fighting."
After the British crown, Commonwealth and then European belts were to follow, along with losing a WBC and WBA world title shot to Hagler and later a WBC shot to Dennis Andries.
The book also suggests that Hagler's opposition to English fans after boxing at Wembley Arena in 1980 put paid to his fight with Sibson taking place in Birmingham three years later.
Tate for the IBF in Stafford was his last hurrah and the 'Sibbo Army' came into disrepute that night. Why it should happen then and not umpteenth times before no one may ever know.
'Sibbo – the Tony Sibson Story,' has been written by Jim Kirkwood with a foreword by boxing pundit and author Bob Mee and is available from any reputable book-seller.
The ISBN number is 9780956925312. Alternatively, the book can be purchased from the author by sending a cheque or postal order for £21 to 10 Forest Grove, Kilmarnock, KA3 1UP.
By Craig Birch
