Dave Boy Green

Dave Boy Green
Statistics
Real name David Robert Green
Nickname(s) Dave Boy Green
Fen Tiger
Rated at Light Welterweight
Nationality English
Born (1953-06-02) 2 June 1953
Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, England
Boxing record
Total fights 41
Wins 37
Losses 4

Dave "Boy" Green (born David Robert Green on 2 June 1953) is a former British welterweight boxing champion and businessman. Born in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, a small fenland town, he boxed as the "Fen Tiger".

Early years

In his youth at Cromwell School he was keen on football and cross-country but took up boxing in 1967 joining the Chatteris Amateur Boxing Club. His trainer was Arthur Binder who had taught Eric Boon, a famous local boxer. Green had 105 amateur contests winning 74 with 33 inside the distance.

In 1974, Green turned professional under the guidance of Andy Smith his manager. It was the same year (26 October 1974) he married Kay Curson of Sutton.

British Lonsdale Belt

On 1 June 1976, Green entered the ring in a tiger-skin dressing-gown to win the British light-welterweight Championship (Lonsdale Belt) against Joey "The Jab" Singleton of Liverpool with powerful hooks to the head and body.[1] Though receiving stinging jabs all the while. Singleton was the better boxer, but Green's power began to show. The crowd wanted Green to deliver his "muck spreader" punch but his boxing lead to a retirement in 6th round.

First European title

On 7 December 1976 Green took on the Pride of Paris Jean-Baptiste Piedvache for the European light welterweight championship. Green was staggered in the 8th round but Piedvache's left eye was closing. With a strong right and left hooks Green retired Piedvache in the 9th round while ahead on points. It was Green's 22nd straight win with 18 inside the distance.

Title fights

WBC Title eliminator

Dave "Boy" Green fought John H. Stracey on 29 March 1977 at Wembley as a final eliminator to challenge for the WBC title. Stracey was a former WBC world champion from the tough East End of London and it was anybody's fight. But Green's desire for victory won through as Stracey's left eye started to close. There could be no doubt Green had earned a shot at the WBC title.

Second European Title win

Dave Boy Green took on Henry Rhiney a Jamaican who boxed out of Luton winning with a 5 RSC. It was an all British fight with all the tickets sold. The bout started at a terrific pace both men going toe-to-toe. A solid right to the head of Rhiney lead Mr Nathan to stop the fight. Green was a dual European Champion the first Englishman since Ted "Kid" Lewis in 1920.

WBC Title challenge - Carlos Palomino

Dave Boy Green's first WBC welterweight bout was on 14 June 1977 against Carlos Palomino of Los Angeles at Wembley London. Fortunes swayed with Green digging deep his left eye closing but Palomino boxed superbly to win by a left-hook KO in 11th round. It was the first time Green had been floored as a professional.

Danish disaster

Due to money the WBC Champion Wilfred Benitez contracted to fight Sugar Ray Leonard. That meant Green had to defend his European title against the experienced 36-year-old Dane Jorgen Hansen on 28 June 1979. Looking for a quick finish Green left himself open being KO in the 3rd round by a vicious right. Being a true sportsman Green applauded Hansen when the belt was presented.

WBC Title challenge - Sugar Ray Leonard

The final challenge for the WBC welterweight belt happened on 31 March 1980 against the holder Sugar Ray Leonard at the Capital Centre Landover, Maryland USA. Green suffered a devastating knockout in the fourth round being out cold before he hit the canvas. Referee Arthur Mercante, ruled that it was too dangerous to continue the count and stopped at six. The Times Newspaper reported " Leaning forward, dipping to left and right so that either hand could hit with equal venom, Leonard struck Green with a left and followed up quickly with a right-left-right, that started a clangour in Green's head, and the Briton crashed onto his back at the same place in the ring where Carlos Palomino had sent him toppling backwards.[2]" Green showed lots of spirit but he did not have the answer to Sugar Ray Leonard's masterly boxing skill and timing.

Final bout

Dave Boy Green's final bout, on 3 November 1981, was at the Royal Albert Hall against Reg Ford a New York-based Guyanan who was a one time sparring partner to Thomas Hearns. Andy Smith retired Green in the 5th round with cuts and closing left eye. It was the correct decision to end Green's career when his fans remembered him as one of Britain's most popular and exciting fighters.

After boxing

Green appeared in the BBC Series Superstars where he competed in the multi discipline event against other sports stars.

Currently Green is Chairman of Renoak Limited in Chatteris, a company he founded with Bob Emerson. Dave takes part in charity golf events and is a respected member of the local community. His success can be summed up by Sugar Ray Leonard, "Dave was a brave fighting man who never gave less than one hundred per cent whenever he put the gloves on. He is a warm human being who does tremendous work for charity, and I'm thrilled he has made such a success in business".

In 2012, Green was award the MBE for services to Boxing and Charity in the Cambridgeshire area.

Professional Record 1974–1981

Career Summary

References

  1. ↑ Fen Tiger The Success of Dave "Boy" Green Lonkhurst, B: Potters Bar, BL Associates, 2004 ISBN 0-9540271-2-4
  2. ↑ The Times, Tuesday, Apr 01, 1980; pg. 27; Issue 60590; col C
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