John H. Stracey


John Henry Stracey British Empire|MBE] is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1969 to 1978. He is a former welterweight world champion, having held the WBC and lineal welterweight titles between 1975 and 1976. At regional level, he held the British and European welterweight titles between 1973 and 1975, and is ranked by BoxRec as the eighth best British welterweight of all time.

Amateur career

Stracey competed for Great Britain as a lightweight at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He was defeated in the Boxing at the [1968 Summer Olympics – Lightweight|Round of 16] by eventual gold medallist Ronnie Harris. Stracey won the 1969 ABA light-welterweight championship.

Professional career

Early career

Stracey began his professional career on 17 September 1969, knocking out Santos Martins in two rounds. Stracey won his first twelve fights, eleven by knockout, but against obscure opposition. Fight number thirteen was against Teddy Cooper, on 19 January 1971. Cooper was not a big name in boxing either, but this fight ended in controversy when Stracey won by a fifth round disqualification. On 5 October 1971 Stracey drew in ten rounds against Frankie Lewis.
Stracey produced five more wins before being matched with Marshall Butler, on 25 May 1972, at the Royal Albert Hall, suffering his first defeat after being outpointed by Butler over eight rounds. He then put a string of four more wins together, before facing Bobby Arthur for the British welterweight title, on 31 October, at the Royal Albert Hall. He lost the fight with another controversial ending: This time, Stracey found himself disqualified in round seven. Stracey then won five more bouts in a row. In February 1973, Stracey traveled to the United States, where he fought Danny McAloon on the undercard of the first Ali vs. Bugner fight, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, on 14 February. Stracey won the bout via unanimous decision. He then met Bobby Arthur in a rematch on 5 June, this time winning the British title with a fourth-round knockout.

Stracey vs. Menetrey

On 27 May 1974, Stracey got his chance at the European welterweight title, fighting Roger Menetrey at the Stade de Roland Garros, in Paris, France. Stracey won via eighth-round knockout. On 29 April 1975, he defended his European title against Max Hebeisen, at the Royal Albert Hall, winning via RTD in the sixth round.

Stracey vs. Nápoles

During the 1970s, it was a common practice to give world title shots to boxers who held continental titles. For example, the OPBF champion would be given priority over other challengers for world title fights. Stracey was no exception, and, after winning five more fights in a row, he received his first world title shot: challenging WBC welterweight champion José Nápoles, in Nápoles' home-town of Mexico City, Mexico, on 6 December 1975. Stracey was sent down in round one, but he recuperated to close Nápoles' eye and have referee Octavio Meyran stop the fight in the sixth round, Stracey winning the world championship by a technical knockout. The new champion declared, "He could have knocked me down in every round but I'd have won it anyway". It was Nápoles' last fight.

1976

On 20 March 1976 he retained the title against perennial world title challenger Hedgemon Lewis by a knockout in round ten, but on 22 June, at Wembley, he lost the world title, being knocked out in twelve rounds by California-based Mexican Carlos Palomino. In his next fight, he lost to future world title challenger Dave Boy Green, with a badly damaged eye in round ten. Stracey retired as a winner when he knocked out George Warusfel in nine rounds in Islington on 23 May 1978.

Outside the ring

A business associate of Stracey bought the Three Horseshoes pub in Briston, Norfolk, in 1975 and renamed it the John H Stracey. In 2011 the pub reverted to its original name. He also had, at one point, a boxing school in London.
John also had a hotel in Bournemouth with a public bar called The Ringside.when he was married to Michele, they also had a daughter called Laura.
He is now a supporter and patron of the Devon based Kings Boxing Academy. https://www.kingsboxingacademy.co.uk/patrons/

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
51WinGeorges WarusfelTKO9 23 May 1978Michael Sobell Sports Centre, London, England
50Loss44–5–1Dave Boy GreenTKO10 29 Mar, 1977Empire Pool, London, England
49Loss44–4–1Carlos PalominoTKO12, 1:3522 Jun, 1976Empire Pool, London, EnglandLost WBC and The Ring welterweight titles
48Win44–3–1Hedgemon LewisTKO10, 1:2520 Mar, 1976Empire Pool, London, EnglandRetained WBC and The Ring welterweight titles
47Win43–3–1José NápolesTKO6, 2:306 Dec, 1975Plaza de Toros México, Mexico City, MexicoWon WBC and The Ring welterweight titles
46Win42–3–1Keith AveretteDQ8 30 Sep, 1975Empire Pool, London, England
45Win41–3–1Ruben Vazquez ZamoraTKO8 30 Jun, 1975Royal Albert Hall, London, England
44Win40–3–1Max HebeisenRTD6 29 Apr, 1975Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandRetained European welterweight title
43Win39–3–1Ernie LopezTKO7 29 Oct, 1974Royal Albert Hall, London, England
42Win38–3–1Tony GarciaTKO3 1 Oct, 1974Empire Pool, London, England
41Win37–3–1Roger MenetreyTKO8 27 May 1974Stade Roland Garros, Paris, FranceWon List of [European Boxing Union welterweight champions|European welterweight title]
40Win36–3–1Vernon MasonKO4 23 Apr, 1974Royal Albert Hall, London, England
39Win35–3–1Jack TillmanTKO4 26 Mar, 1974Royal Albert Hall, London, England
38Loss34–3–1Cuby JacksonTKO3 11 Dec, 1973Royal Albert Hall, London, England
37Win34–2–1Marc GervaisTKO4 13 Nov, 1973Empire Pool, London, England
36Win33–2–1Urban BaptisteTKO4 30 Oct, 1973Royal Albert Hall, London, England
35Win32–2–1Jose Papo MelendezTKO3 10 Sep, 1973Empire Pool, London, England
34Win31–2–1Bobby ArthurKO4 5 Jun, 1973Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandWon British welterweight title
33Win30–2–1Pat MurphyTKO5 9 May 1973York Hall, London, England
32Win29–2–1Jose PetersonPTS813 Mar, 1973Empire Pool, London, England
31Win28–2–1Danny McAloonUD1014 Feb, 1973Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
30Win27–2–1Otha TysonKO3 15 Jan, 1973Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, England
29Win26–2–1David MelendezTKO7 5 Dec, 1972Royal Albert Hall, London, England
28Loss25–2–1Bobby ArthurDQ7 31 Oct, 1972Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandFor vacant British welterweight title
27Win25–1–1Les PearsonTKO2 10 Oct, 1972Royal Albert Hall, London, England
26Win24–1–1Joe YekinniTKO2 6 Jun, 1972Royal Albert Hall, London, England
25Win23–1–1Antonio TorresTKO6 22 May 1972Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester, England
24Loss22–1–1Marshall ButlerPTS825 Apr, 1972Royal Albert Hall, London, England
23Win22–0–1Ricky PorterPTS84 Apr, 1972York Hall, London, England
22Win21–0–1Des ReaTKO2 7 Mar, 1972Royal Albert Hall, London, England
21Win20–0–1Bernie TerrellTKO2 15 Feb, 1972Royal Albert Hall, London, England
20Win19–0–1Yvon MariolleKO4 25 Jan, 1972Royal Albert Hall, London, England
19Win18–0–1Guy VercoutterTKO7 17 Nov, 1971Empire Pool, London, England
18Win17–0–1Dave WyattTKO3 27 Oct, 1971York Hall, London, England
17Draw16–0–1Frankie LewisPTS85 Oct, 1971Royal Albert Hall, London, England
16Win16–0Bouzid Ait ElmenceurPTS84 May 1971York Hall, London, England
15Win15–0Dante PelaezPTS816 Mar, 1971Empire Pool, London, England
14Win14–0Yvon MariolleKO6 23 Feb, 1971Shoreditch Town Hall, London, England
13Win13–0Teddy CooperDQ5 19 Jan, 1971Royal Albert Hall, London, England
12Win12–0Ferdinand AhumibeTKO4 8 Dec, 1970Royal Albert Hall, London, England
11Win11–0Willie ReaTKO3 6 Oct, 1970Royal Albert Hall, London, England
10Win10–0Billy SeasmanRTD5 29 Sep, 1970York Hall, London, England
9Win8–0David PesentiPTS912 May 1970Empire Pool, London, England
8Win8–0Harri PiitulainenRTD6 27 Apr, 1970Royal Albert Hall, London, England
7Win7–0Bernard MartinRTD3 17 Mar, 1970Shoreditch Town Hall, London, England
6Win6–0Tei DoviTKO3 10 Feb, 1970Royal Albert Hall, London, England
5Win5–0Tommy CarsonTKO7 20 Jan, 1970Royal Albert Hall, London, England
4Win4–0Bryn LewisTKO6 9 Dec, 1969Royal Albert Hall, London, England
3Win3–0Ray OpukuTKO3 18 Nov, 1969York Hall, London, England
2Win2–0Ronnie CliffordTKO2 2 Oct, 1969York Hall, London, England
1Win1–0Santos MartinsKO2 17 Sep, 1969York Hall, London, England