Boxing: Howard Winstone - champ at last

Jan 24 2008 David Williams, Merthyr Express

40 years ago this week Howard Winstone fulfilled his dream and the dreams of thousands of fight fans across Wales when he finally won the World Featherweight Title...

Home a hero to fight again

“Come on out, Howard, we all knew you could do it!” – a shout from the heaving, seething crowd that jostled around the town hall in Merthyr last night like a crowd scene from Ben Hur.

But in its way that remark summed up the reason for every one of the 5,000 crowd’s being there. They all knew their pocket-sized hero would top the world one day and it was just a matter of waiting.

And wait they did, the first of Howard’s home town supporters started to trickle into the square in front of the Town Hall at 6pm.

By 9pm there were plenty of ruined shoes in Merthyr. The crowd swayed around the Town Hall, chanting and yelling for “The Champ.”

Children were perched on top of post boxes, Belisha beacons, road signs and railings. Crowds even lined the roof of the ABC cinema, where inside a very small audience were trying to watch, of all things, Thunder of the Kings above the din.

On the steps of the Town Hall a firing squad of photographers got in the way of St John Ambulance women who were treating the girls who fainted in the crush.

The only thing that stopped the Town Hall from being swept away on a flood tide of humanity was a one deep, sweating line of policemen. One officer who rushed out of the town Hall still trying to get his chin strap disentangled from his tonsils shouted to a sergeant: “It’s a real battle of the bulge out there.”

When the champ finally did arrive - an hour late - the police thought they could not restrain the crowd and smuggled him through a side door.

The first indication the people of Merthyr had of the arrival of the new world featherweight champion was the Dowlais Male Voice Choir wading into We’ll Keep a Welcome like a battleship sliding down a slipway.

In the confusion it was hard to get a glimpse of the man who had puffed up the entire valley with pride. Winstone, in blazer and slacks, was ushered out on to the balcony and when the crowd saw him they roared loud enough to blow him over the roof of the Town Hall.

“I am not much for words,” he told them quietly. “I said I would do my best and I think I have done it.” That in the minds and voices of the entire population of Merthyr last night ranked as the understatement of the year.

Howard, with strands of white fur from his twin daughters’ coats clinging to the shoulders of his jacket, was swept away from the balcony and the people of Merthyr who regard him as their personal property. He had scarcely been jostled 10 yards from the victor’s balcony when the crowd erupted with the chant “We want Howard. We want Howard.”

He was taken to the council chamber. He sat to the right of the Mayor of Merthyr, Ald. Mrs Alice Evans, with his twin daughters on his knees, his two sons, Wayne and Roy, and his mother clustered around him.

He looked tired, a little bewildered, but happy as he was toasted by the civic dignitaries. He stood up again to thank everybody for supporting him, with the quiet modesty that Merthyr people say is one of the most pleasant things about him.

After the civic reception Howard managed to avoid a small army of reporters and went for a quiet drink.

Back in Merthyr the streets were deserted and only the litter was left to remind the town of the champ who came home last night.

Celebrity status for Wales' hero
WHEN you’re at the top there’s usually only one way to go.

And it wasn’t any different for Howard Winstone.

Six months after being crowned world champion, the 29-year-old was beaten up by Spain’s Jose Legra in his first and only defence of the world title – it would turn out to be his last ever fight.

But thoughts of a defence weren’t in Winstone’s or the people of Merthyr’s minds immediately after the Seki fight.

Crowds flocked to the streets of Winstone’s home town to hail the triumphant Welshman on his return.

Chants of "We want Howard" rang out from the hoards who gathered at Merthyr town hall with some fainting in the excitement.

But boxing wasn’t all Winstone had going on in his life at the time.

Hours after his return he was in a divorce court – even the judge congratulated him on his victory – following his split with first wife Benita.

He wasn’t short of offers for a new wife however.

Fifteen women offered their hands in marriage but Winstone wasn’t interested with four children to look after.

He even failed his driving test before beating Jimmy Anderson in a catchweight contest in April 1968 before his defence against Legra who he’d beaten back in 1965.

The euphoria following the Seki victory had promoters purring and if press reports of the time are to be believed offers of up to £30,000 for a title defence came Winstone’s way.

A date for Winstone’s first – and what turned out to be only defence – was set for July 24 at Coney Beach, Porthcawl.

Winstone dragged his feat over making the defence and it turns out it was for good reason as the Spaniard stopped the champ after two minutes and two seconds of the fifth round.

Winstone’s eye had been completely closed by a first round Legra blow and the champ was put on the canvas twice in the first few minutes.

Despite trying to battle back the Welshman had no answer to Legra’s fast hands and when referee Harry Gibbs stepped in in the fifth there was no way back.

Almost immediately after the fight Legra offered Winstone a re-match.

Winstone was eager to carry on but many felt the time was right to retire and that was the way it turned out.

Today, retiring at 29 years old, would be unheard of but there was nothing left for Winstone to achieve in the sport.

British, European, Commonwealth and World champion before 30 was remarkable feat for a man who had to endure so much in his life outside the ring.

A total of 61 wins from 67 fights – five world title fights – ranks among the best the country has ever seen.

By the end of 1968, Winstone had added two more titles to his name, an MBE and the freedom of his hometown – a fitting end to a fantastic career.

Tributes from a fellow boxing great
FORTY years ago former world lightweight champion Ken Buchanan won the British title at his weight.

He was a close friend and training partner of Winstone at the time of the fight and watched from ringside.

It was thought a cold picked up by Winstone was caught from the young Scot.

"It’s unbelievable how quickly forty years have gone by," said Buchanan, then aged 22.

"He was very confident going into the fight and wanted it badly after three defeats to Saldivar.

"He did well against Saldivar but he was a really special fighter and much better than Seki.

"Howard was a far classier boxer than Seki with a good jab and movement around the ring and he did what was necessary to win the fight.

"It was a fairly close fight but Howard new he had done enough. He had a great left hand and was a good counter puncher and also at coming forward.

"I’d put him in the top ten featherweight world champions of all time.

"He was British, European and World champion and had a very successful amateur career and was a brilliant guy to know.

"The scenes were unbelievable when we got back to Merthyr, you couldn’t move."

Page 5 - The legend lives on
Page 5 - He did so much for Welsh boxing