THEY just wander away and are in no way witnessed or heard from again. They are the vanished boxers, the legitimate missing souls from our sport.
They are the fighters with the names and fights you have overlooked, and then they are talked about in casual conversation and you invariably utter: “What took place to him?” Some had a handful of fights many others had been champions, and some were obtaining completely ready for their large night. They are united by their vanishing.
Ahmet Patterson disappeared in 2016 on the eve of a British title battle versus Liam Williams at super-welter. He was having all set for the title struggle he was functioning at dusk and under no circumstances listened to the insults that were being staying thrown at him and he never observed the brick that smacked his head. The combat was off, he went lacking to recover and stayed missing. Gone. He was 28 and experienced won all 17 of his fights.
Minimal George Kean started off his job finding rave critiques, having terrific comparisons and then he started out to reduce his way, and soon after two losses in eight fights, he was gone. It seemed like far too a lot tension, much too soon. He was nevertheless a child when he fought for the past time. Beautiful George, as he was recognised, walked away from boxing when he was just 24. That was in 2015. George is out there somewhere, not as well complicated to observe down, but lost to the activity.
Significant Tom Baker was just starting off to get the exact same assessments, just starting up to create as a true fighter and he was unbeaten in 14 fights at gentle-heavyweight. And then Huge Tom walked away. That was in 2016, he was only 24 at the time. Tom was long gone for excellent.
Georgie Kean poses immediately after defeating Faheem Khan at York Corridor on July 17, 2015 (Leigh Dawney/Getty Visuals)
Boxers that all of a sudden quit extended before their occupations are more than do so for so quite a few distinct motives it can be income, force, wellbeing concerns, appreciate or perhaps even a greater calling. All people in the fight game has a tale about a vanished boxer. A man, possibly even a female, who could have been a real contender right before the magic second they disappeared.
Most likely the patron saint of the disappeared is Peter Oboh. One night in 2007 at Wembley Arena, just an hour or so ahead of his newest British light-heavyweight title defence, Oboh remaining the venue. That was it, he give up the fight recreation and left behind his Lonsdale Belt and his job. Oboh walked and Tony Oakey, the challenger, was left devoid of a struggle. Oakey experienced no strategy what was likely on, no thought that the champion was concluded with the activity. Oakey organized for the battle Oboh was lost to one more fight.
Sweet Peter Oboh could hear the voices in his head as he traveled to the venue: “Peter, your boxing profession is more than.” It was adequate of a indicator, and it was not the initial time the voices experienced offered him steering.
Oboh’s manager, Dean Powell, knew just a bit a lot more than Oakey on the night. Powell realized the electrical power of Oboh’s faith. Oboh was a male of God. At the exact same time as he was the British winner, he walked the streets of South London with a signal declaring his enjoy for his Lord. “It just bought way too considerably for Peter – really should he combat or preach? He made his conclusion and walked out on the night time,” Powell mentioned. Kellie Maloney, the promoter, was furious and advised Oboh he would under no circumstances combat again. Oboh was not bothered by the menace, he was gone.
Apostle Oboh is now a renowned preacher in Nigeria. Oakey, incidentally, won the vacant British light-heavyweight title just 22 evenings later. The Board wasted no time stripping Oboh.
Possibly my favourite vanished boxer is known as Tommy Shiels. He boxed for the Stowe club as an beginner and was risky. He experienced a fearsome track record a real buzz was upcoming to his title. He stopped a shut mate of mine 1 afternoon in the old PLA championships at Walthamstow Town Hall. And then he turned skilled in 1986. He was just 19, the most deadly hunting choirboy in heritage.
He was the star, the blonde teenage kid in Frank Warren’s young secure. He would seem to be in every one of the promotional shots from that time. He fought 11 instances in just about two yrs in undercard fights and was revealed on ITV nights. He stopped or knocked out 9 of his opponents. He conquer some quite good men in model: Del Bryan was dropped three periods and stopped following 15 seconds of the second spherical Johnny Nanton, Lindon Scarlett, Kid Milo and Roy Callaghan all went the exact way. They ended up tricky guys Shiels was the true offer, a preventing baby that could bang.
And then he vanished. He was spotted in Australia. He experienced identified God, they reported. There was a difficulty in a nightclub, and he was charged with assault in Australia, they reported. He was then noticed again in Paddington and driving a bus. Then he was spotted at Leicester Sq. on a Sunday early morning, part of a preaching pack, keeping bibles likes infants and spreading the term of the gospel. Someone claimed they experienced observed Tommy knock out a male a single day for the duration of a Sunday sermon. All this was in the early Nineties. The tales continued and Tommy stayed long gone.
I feel I have found Tommy Sheils, secure and sound in Australia. His brother, Dean, by the way could certainly struggle.
Ahmet, George, Tom Baker, Peter the Pastor and Tommy Shiels are just some of the adult men that walked away from our business enterprise and still left guiding a several recollections and a great deal of inquiries. Patterson, by the way, is again at the Peacock and wanting to combat yet again. That is 1 thriller solved.
Tommy Shiels
