Howard Winstone


Howard Winstone, British Empire|MBE] was a Welsh world champion boxer, born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. As an amateur, Winstone won the Amateur Boxing Association bantamweight title in 1958, and a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff.

Boxing style

In his early amateur days Winstone was very much a two-fisted fighter, but as a teenager, whilst working in a local toy factory, he lost the tips of three fingers on his right hand in an accident. As a result, he lost much of the punching power in his right hand and so had to change his style to rely much more on a straight left.

Amateur career

Winstone won 83 of his 86 amateur fights, and in 1958 he was the ABA bantamweight champion.
Representing Wales at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Winstone won the gold medal at bantamweight. Winstone won the first of his three BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year awards the same year – winning his second in 1963 and his third in 1967.

Professional career

Winstone turned professional in 1959 and was managed by former European welterweight champion, Eddie Thomas.
Winstone made his professional debut in February 1959 at Wembley Stadium, London, when he beat Billy Graydon on points over six rounds. He then proceeded to win his first 24 fights, at which point he was considered ready for a shot at the British featherweight title.
In May 1961 he fought Terry Spinks the holder of the British featherweight title at the Empire Pool, Wembley. He out-boxed Spinks, forcing him to retire after ten rounds, and so claimed the British title.
He continued to win all his contests and in April 1962 he defended his title against Derry Treanor, at the Empire Pool, winning by a technical knockout in the fourteenth round. The next month he defended his title against Harry Carroll in Cardiff forcing him to retire after six rounds.
His first defeat came in November 1962 his 35th fight after 34 straight wins. He was beaten by Leroy Jeffery, an American featherweight, by a technical knockout in the second round after having been knocked down three times.
In January 1963, he defended his British title for the third time, defeating Johnny Morrisey by a technical knockout in the eleventh, in Glasgow.
In July 1963, he challenged for the European featherweight title, fighting Italian holder, Alberto Serti in Cardiff. Winstone won the title when the referee stopped the fight in the fourteenth round.
One month later he defended both titles against Billy Calvert in Porthcawl, winning on points over fifteen rounds. In December 1963 he again defended his titles against John O'Brien, again winning on points.
In January 1964 he suffered only his second defeat in 45 fights, losing to the American, Don Johnson.
In May 1964 he defended his European title against Italian, Lino Mastellaro at the Empire Pool, winning by a technical knockout in the Eighth round.
In January 1965 he defended his European title again, against Frenchman, Yves Desmarets in Rome. He won on points over fifteen rounds.

World title fights

In September 1965 he challenged for the WBA and WBC world featherweight titles held by the Mexican southpaw, Vicente Saldivar. The fight was held at Earls Court Arena, London and Saldivar won on points over fifteen rounds.
In March 1966 he defended his European title against Andrea Silanos in Italy winning by a technical knockout in the fifteenth round. In September 1966 he defended it against Belgian, Jean de Keers at Wembley and won on a technical knockout in three rounds.
In December 1966 he defended his British and European titles against the Welsh featherweight, Lennie Williams, defeating him at Port Talbot in eight rounds.
In June 1967 he was ready for another world title challenge against Vicente Saldivar, this time in Cardiff, but again lost on points, although the decision favoured Saldivar by only half a point.
Four months later, in October 1967, he fought Saldivar again, this time in Mexico City, but lost after being knocked down in the seventh and twelfth rounds. His manager threw in the towel in the twelfth.
After his latest successful defence, Saldivar announced his retirement leaving his world title vacant. In January 1968, Winstone fought the Japanese, Mitsunori Seki for the vacant WBC world featherweight title at the Royal Albert Hall. He won when the fight was stopped in the ninth due to a cut eye, and so finally gained a world title. Saldivar was in the audience to see his vacated title won by his old rival.
In July 1968 he defended his newly won world title against the Cuban, José Legrá, at Porthcawl, Wales. Although Winstone had beaten Legra twice before, he was knocked down twice in the first round. He continued fighting, but unfortunately he sustained a badly swollen left eye, which caused the bout to be stopped in the fifth round. Having lost the world title in his first defence, Winstone decided to retire at the age of 29.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
67Loss61–6José LegráTKO5 1968-07-24Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl, Wales, U.K.Lost WBC featherweight title
66Win61–5Jimmy AndersonPTS10 1968-04-09Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
65Win60–5Mitsunori SekiTKO9 1968-01-23Royal Albert Hall, London, England, U.K.Won vacant WBC featherweight title
64Loss59–5Vicente SaldivarTKO12 1967-10-14Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, MexicoFor WBA, WBC & The Ring featherweight titles
63Loss59–4Vicente SaldivarPTS15 1967-06-15Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.For WBA, WBC & The Ring featherweight titles
62Win59–3Richard SuePTS10 1967-01-17Royal Albert Hall, London, England, U.K.
61Win58–3Lennie WilliamsTKO8 1966-12-07Afan Lido, Port Talbot, Wales, U.K.Retained British & European featherweight titles
60Win57–3Don JohnsonDQ4 1966-10-10Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England, U.K.
59Win56–3Jean De KeersTKO3 1966-09-06Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.Retained European featherweight title
58Win55–3Andrea SilanosTKO15 1966-03-07Teatro Verdi, Sassari, ItalyRetained European featherweight title
57Win54–3Brian CartwrightTKO9 1965-12-13National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
56Loss53–3Vicente SaldivarPTS15 1965-09-07Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, England, U.K.For WBA, WBC & The Ring featherweight titles
55Win53–2José LegráPTS10 1965-06-22Winter Gardens, Blackpool, England, U.K.
54Win52–2Eduardo GuerreroTKO5 1965-06-01Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
53Win51–2Don JohnsonPTS10 1965-03-29Market Hall, Carmarthen, Wales, U.K.
52Win50–2Yves DesmaretsPTS15 1965-01-22Palazzetto dello Sport, Roma, ItalyRetained European featherweight title
51Win49–2Boualem BelouardPTS10 1964-12-14Ice Rink, Nottingham, England, U.K.
50Win48–2Baby LuisPTS10 1964-12-01Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
49Win47–2Jose BisbalPTS10 1964-09-21Midland Hotel, Manchester, England, U.K.
48Win46–2Phil LundgrenTKO7 1964-06-22National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
47Win45–2Lino MastellaroTKO8 1964-05-12Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.Retained European featherweight title
46Win44–2Rafiu KingPTS10 1964-03-24Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
45Loss43–2Don JohnsonPTS10 1964-01-28Olympia, London, England, U.K.
44Win43–1John O'BrienPTS15 1963-12-09National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.Retained British & European featherweight titles
43Win42–1Miguel CalderinPTS10 1963-09-20Corwen Pavilion, Corwen, Wales, U.K.
42Win41–1Billy CalvertPTS15 1963-08-20Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl, Wales, U.K.Retained British & European featherweight titles
41Win40–1Alberto SertiTKO14 1963-07-09Maindy Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.Won European featherweight title
40Win39–1Juan CardenasPTS8 1963-05-13National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
39Win38–1Gracieux LampertiTKO8 1963-04-29Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
38Win37–1Johnny MorriseyTKO11 1963-01-31Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.Retained British featherweight title
37Win36–1Teddy RandTKO3 1962-12-27National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
36Win35–1Freddie DobsonTKO3 1962-12-10Kings Hall, Manchester, England, U.K.
35Loss34–1Leroy JefferyTKO2 1962-11-05Queens Hall, Leeds, England, U.K.
34Win34–0Billy DavisTKO7 1962-09-11Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
33Win33–0George BowesPTS10 1962-08-18Newtown Pavilion, Newtown, Wales, U.K.
32Win32–0Dennis AdjeiPTS8 1962-08-02Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
31Win31–0Harry CarrollRTD6 1962-05-30Maindy Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.Retained British featherweight title
30Win30–0Derry TreanorTKO14 1962-04-10Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.Retained British featherweight title
29Win29–0Oripes dos SantosPTS8 1962-01-09Royal Albert Hall, London, England, U.K.
28Win28–0Olli MäkiPTS8 1961-11-20Ice Rink, Nottingham, England, U.K.
27Win27–0Gene FosmirePTS10 1961-09-04Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
26Win26–0Aryee JacksonPTS10 1961-08-24Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, England, U.K.
25Win25–0Terry SpinksTKO10 1961-05-02Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.Won British featherweight title
24Win24–0Floyd RobertsonPTS10 1961-01-19Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
23Win23–0Roy JacobsPTS10 1960-11-28Market Hall, Carmarthen, Wales, U.K.
22Win22–0Jean RenardPTS10 1960-10-25Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
21Win21–0Jean RenardTKO8 1960-09-22Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
20Win20–0Sergio MilanTKO6 1960-08-15Ynys Field, Aberdare, Wales, U.K.
19Win19–0Phill JonesPTS10 1960-07-27Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl, Wales, U.K.
18Win18–0Noel HazardTKO3 1960-06-23Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, England, U.K.
17Win17–0Con Mount BassiePTS10 1960-05-19Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, England, U.K.
16Win16–0George CarrollTKO4 1960-05-09Vetch Field, Swansea, Wales, U.K.
15Win15–0Gordon BlakeyRTD8 1960-03-31Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
14Win14–0Terry ReesTKO8 1960-02-24Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
13Win13–0Colin SalcombeTKO6 1960-02-04Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, England, U.K.
12Win12–0Robbie WilsonPTS8 1960-01-25National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
11Win11–0George O'NeillRTD7 1960-01-14Drill Hall, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
10Win10–0Billy CalvertPTS8 1959-12-14National Sporting Club, London, England, U.K.
9Win9–0Joe TaylorTKO4 1959-09-14Welfare Ground, Ebbw Vale, Wales, U.K.
8Win8–0Billy CalvertTKO7 1959-09-01Ynys Field, Aberdare, Wales, U.K.
7Win7–0Hugh O'NeillPTS6 1959-08-08Welfare Ground, Ebbw Vale, Wales, U.K.
6Win6–0Ollie WylliePTS6 1959-07-14Ynys Field, Aberdare, Wales, U.K.
5Win5–0Jake O'NealePTS6 1959-06-24Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl, Wales, U.K.
4Win4–0Jackie BowersPTS6 1959-05-27Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
3Win3–0Tommy WilliamsPTS6 1959-04-15Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
2Win2–0Peter SextonPTS6 1959-03-14Stow Hill Drill Hall, Newport, Wales, U.K.
1Win1–0Billy GraydonPTS6 1959-02-24Wembley Stadium, London, England, U.K.

Retirement

He continued living in Merthyr Tydfil after retirement. In 1968 he was awarded the MBE. Later, he was made a Freeman of Merthyr Tydfil due to his boxing accomplishments. He died from kidney disease on 30 September 2000, aged 61.
In 2001, one year after his death, a bronze statue of Winstone by Welsh sculptor David Petersen was unveiled in St. Tydfil's Square, Merthyr Tydfil.
In 2005, he beat Owen Money, Richard Trevithick, Joseph Parry and Lady Charlotte Guest to be named "Greatest Citizen of Merthyr Tydfil", in a public vote competition run by Cyfarthfa Castle and Museum as part of the centenary celebrations to mark Merthyr's incorporation as a county borough in 1905.
His brother, Glyn Winstone continues to run a café business in the town's bus station under the boxing-themed trading-style "The Lonsdale Bar".

Film

The life of Howard Winstone was made into a feature film called Risen Starring British actor Stuart Brennan as Howard Winstone which was released in 2011.