Terry Downes

Terry Downes, BEM was a British middleweight boxer, occasional film actor, and businessman. He was nicknamed the "Paddington Express" for his aggressive fighting style.
At the time of his death, Downes was Britain's oldest surviving former world champion. He held the world middleweight title for ten months from 1961-62.

Early life

Terry Downes was born in Paddington, London. His father Richard worked as a mechanic, and his mother Hilda in a department store. Downes boxed as a junior for the Fisher ABC.
He moved with his parents to the United States in 1952, while still a teenager, to live with his trapeze artist sister Sylvia, who had lost an arm in a traffic accident, going on to serve in the US Marine Corps from 1954–56, being recruited after boxing against them for the YMCA. In the Marines he won several amateur trophies, including the all-services championship and the Amateur Golden Gloves.
He missed out on selection for the US Olympic team, being ruled ineligible on residence grounds, and after his term of service, he returned to London and turned professional.

Professional boxing career

Managed by Sam Burns, Downes won his first two pro fights before a defeat by future world champion Dick Tiger. After building up a record of 16 wins and 3 defeats, Downes won the British middleweight title, vacated by Pat McAteer's retirement, by beating Phil Edwards on 30 September 1958 at the Harringay Arena, London. In 1959, Downes lost and won back the title from John "Cowboy" McCormack. On 5 July 1960, Downes successfully defended the title against Edwards again.
Downes lost his first World Title shot to Paul Pender in Boston in January 1961. The following July, however, Downes fought Pender again, this time in London, and defeated the American in front of a raucous Wembley crowd, with Pender retiring at the end of the ninth round with cuts over both eyes. Downes was recognised as world champion by The Ring magazine in August 1961, and was named Sports Writers' Association Sportsman of the Year later that year. Pender won the title back 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 seven bouts, including a win over Sugar Ray Robinson in September 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 moved up to light heavyweight in 1963, winning his first three fights at the weight before facing Willie Pastrano for the world title in Manchester on 30 November 1964. Downes was knocked down twice in the 11th round, while reportedly well ahead on points, and Pastrano retained his title when referee Andrew Smyth controversially waved it off – it was to be Downes' last fight.
Downes was famous for a number of quips. After a particularly brutal fight early in his career against Dick Tiger, Downes was asked who he wanted to fight next. He replied, "The bastard who made this match", in reference to Mickey Duff.
Downes fought six world champions and beat three: Robinson, Pender and Joey Giardello. His record was: 44 fights, 35 wins, 9 losses.

Acting career

Post-boxing, Downes acted occasionally between 1965 and 1990, usually appearing as a thug, villain or bodyguard. One of his more prominent roles was in Roman Polanski's 1967 film The Fearless Vampire Killers, in which he played "Koukol", a hunchbacked servant. His other film credits included appearances in A Study in Terror, Five Ashore in Singapore, The Golden Lady, If You Go Down in the Woods Today, and the Derek Jarman film Caravaggio.

Films

A Study in Terror - Chunky
The Fearless Vampire Killers - Koukol, the Servant
Five Ashore in Singapore - Sgt. Gruber
The Golden Lady - Trainer
If You Go Down in the Woods Today - Woodsman
Caravaggio - Bodyguard
Other business interests

After his retirement, Downes owned a nightclub. and worked as a boxing manager, working with British title challenger Colin Lake in the late 1960s. In 1964, with his manager Sam Burns, he opened a chain of betting shops. The company, Burns & Downes Ltd., is currently owned by the William Hill Group, and listed with Companies House as inactive.

Personal life

Downes and his wife Barbara were married from 1958 until his death in 2017. They had four children and eight grandchildren, one of whom includes prominent football writer and comedian James McNicholas. They lived for many years in a large detached house in Milespit Hill, Mill Hill, London NW7.
Downes was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2012 Birthday Honours, in recognition of his sporting achievements and charity work. He died on 6 October 2017, aged 81.

Professional boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
44	Loss	35–9	Willie Pastrano	TKO	11	Nov 30, 1964	King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, Lancashire, England, U.K.	For WBA, WBC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles
43	Win	35–8	Ed Zaremba	PTS	10	May 28, 1964	Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
42	Win	34–8	Mike Pusateri	TKO	5	Nov 25, 1963	King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, Lancashire, England, U.K.
41	Win	33–8	Rudolf Nehring	KO	3	Oct 8, 1963	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
40	Win	32–8	Jimmy Beecham	TKO	9	Mar 5, 1963	Seymour Hall, Marylebone, London, England, U.K.
39	Win	31–8	Phil Moyer	TKO	9	Nov 13, 1963	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
38	Win	30–8	Sugar Ray Robinson	PTS	10	Sep 25, 1962	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
37	Win	29–8	Don Fullmer	PTS	10	May 22, 1962	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
36	Loss	28–8	Paul Pender	UD	15	Apr 7, 1962	Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.	Lost NYSAC and The Ring middleweight titles
35	Win	28–7	Paul Pender	RTD	9	Jul 11, 1961	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.	Won NYSAC and The Ring middleweight titles
34	Win	27–7	Tony Montano	RTD	5	May 2, 1961	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
33	Win	26–7	Willie Greene	TKO	3	Mar 7, 1961	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
32	Loss	25–7	Paul Pender	TKO	7	Jan 14, 1961	Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.	For NYSAC and The Ring middleweight titles
31	Win	25–6	Joey Giardello	PTS	10	Oct 11, 1960	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
30	Win	24–6	Phil Edwards	RTD	12	Jul 5, 1960	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.	Retained BBBofC British and Commonwealth middleweight titles
29	Win	23–6	Richard Bouchez	KO	2	Jun 9, 1960	King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, Lancashire, England, U.K.
28	Win	22–6	Orlando DePietro	KO	4	Mar 24, 1960	The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, U.K.
27	Win	21–6	Carlos Vanneste	TKO	4	Mar 8, 1960	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
26	Win	20–6	John McCormack	TKO	8	Nov 3, 1959	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.	Won BBBofC British and Commonwealth middleweight titles
25	Loss	19–6	John McCormack	DQ	8	Sep 15, 1959	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.	Lost BBBofC British middleweight title; For vacant Commonwealth middleweight title
24	Win	19–5	Andre Davier	KO	7	Jul 7, 1959	Streatham Ice Rink, Streatham, London, England, U.K.
23	Loss	18–5	Michel Diouf	TKO	5	Feb 24, 1959	Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
22	Loss	18–4	Ellsworth Webb	TKO	8	Dec 9, 1958	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
21	Win	18–3	Mohammed Ben Taibi	KO	3	Nov 4, 1958	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
20	Win	17–3	Phil Edwards	TKO	13	Sep 30, 1958	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.	Won vacant BBBofC British middleweight title
19	Win	16–3	Constant Alcantara	TKO	3	Jul 15, 1958	Streatham Ice Rink, Streatham, London, England, U.K.
18	Win	15–3	Pat McAteer	PTS	8	Jun 3, 1958	White City Stadium, White City, London, England, U.K.
17	Win	14–3	Tuzo Portuguez	PTS	8	Apr 15, 1958	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
16	Win	13–3	Salah Ben Fahrat	TKO	4	Mar 17, 1958	Leyton Baths, Leyton, London, England, U.K.
15	Win	12–3	Dennis Booty	TKO	3	Feb 25, 1958	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
14	Loss	11–3	Freddie Cross	TKO	6	Jan 28, 1958	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
13	Win	11–2	Serge Leveque	TKO	4	Jan 7, 1958	Town Hall, Shoreditch, London, England, U.K.
12	Win	10–2	Hamouda Bouraoui	RTD	4	Dec 19, 1957	Town Hall, Shoreditch, London, England, U.K.
11	Win	9–2	George Lavery	KO	5	Dec 10, 1957	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
10	Loss	8–2	Les Allen	PTS	8	Nov 19, 1957	Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
9	Win	8–1	Eddie Phillips	TKO	3	Oct 28, 1957	Leyton Baths, Leyton, London, England, U.K.
8	Win	7–1	Derek Liversidge	TKO	2	Oct 1, 1957	Shoreditch Town Hall, Shoreditch, London, England, U.K.
7	Win	6–1	Lew Lazar	PTS	8	Sep 17, 1957	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
6	Win	5–1	John Woolard	TKO	7	Jun 25, 1957	Town Hall, Shoreditch, London, England, U.K.
5	Win	4–1	Sammy Hamilton	TKO	3	Jun 18, 1957	Streatham Ice Rink, Streatham, London, England, U.K.
4	Win	3–1	Alan Dean	TKO	4	Jun 4, 1957	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
3	Loss	2–1	Dick Tiger	TKO	5	May 14, 1957	Town Hall, Shoreditch, London, England, U.K.
2	Win	2–0	Jimmy Lynas	TKO	3	Apr 30, 1957	Manor Place Baths, Walworth, London, England, U.K.
1	Win	1–0	Peter Longo	KO	1	Apr 9, 1957	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.