Johnny Williams; Independent obit (boxer)
Hyfler/Rosner
Champion heavyweight boxer
The Independent
26 March 2007
Rob Cole
John Williams, boxer and farmer: born Barmouth, Merioneth 25
December 1926; married (one daughter); died Bitteswell,
Leicestershire 28 January 2007.
Johnny Williams was the Welsh-born heavyweight boxer who
became the darling of Midlands fight fans after moving from
his birthplace, Barmouth, to Rugby.
Williams was only three when his parents moved to Rugby and
it is said he learned to fight in the school playgrounds
because he could only speak Welsh. His brother, Robin, also
used to bet other boys they couldn't make Johnny cry. From
the playground, he switched to the fairground boxing booths,
making his début at the age of 10.
After moving from Barmouth his parents had run a farm in
Welton, on which the young Johnny used to work, but they
were forced to quit during the depressed years of the
Thirties. Money was tight and so Johnny used to sneak out at
night from his family's boarding house and fight in the
booths. His sister, Bradwin, used to bank his earnings -
boxers were paid £4 or £5 per fight - and the two of them
kept the business a secret.
Having learned his trade in the booths, Johnny Williams
skipped the amateur game and went straight into the
professional ranks. He made his début against Billy Rhodes
at Cossington Street swimming baths in Leicester on 12
February 1946, winning on points over six rounds.
It was a good beginning for Williams, who fell asleep in the
dressing room before the fight, and the end for Rhodes. He
was so badly beaten up he never fought again. That was the
start of a busy first year in the pro game for Williams, who
fought 10 times in 10 months. He won nine and drew one,
against Jim Greaves.
He was even busier in 1947, winning 12 fights in a row, nine
by knock-out, before suffering his first defeat. The unlucky
13th fight came against Reg Spring in Rugby on 2 December
1947, when he lost on points over eight rounds.
He would go on to gain his revenge over Spring in the 10th
of 13 fights the next year, winning the return by knock-out
in Exeter in the sixth round. That year also saw him fight
his big rival Don Cockell twice, losing on points over eight
rounds in their first meeting and winning the re-match after
Cockell was cut in the second round. Their third meeting,
five years later, was an epic 15-round clash that went the
Londoner's way and stripped Williams of his British and
Empire titles.
A stylist rather than heavy puncher, Williams worked his way
into title contention through his consistency. Never afraid
to take on much bigger men, a legacy of his younger days in
the booths, Williams toured South Africa, and fought in
Germany and the United States.
He eventually captured the British and Empire title when he
beat Jack Gardner, who two years earlier had beaten him in a
classic 12-rounder in what was a final eliminator for a
title shot, at Earls Court in London on 11 March 1952.
A special train - the Johnny Williams Express - was put on
from Rugby to London for the fight with Gardner, and
hundreds of fans went to support Williams. He eventually got
the nod after 15 rounds and thousands of fans lined the
streets to welcome him home to Rugby.
Williams became only the third Welshman to win the British
and Empire heavyweight titles, following in the footsteps of
Jack Petersen and Tommy Farr, and went on to defend his
Empire crown successfully against the South African Johnny
Arthur in Leicester seven months later.
At his peak, Williams was ranked eighth on the world
heavyweight ranking list. It was that man Cockell who
stripped him of his titles when they clashed at the
Harringay Arena on 12 May 1953. The fight went the full 15
rounds and Williams suffered similar frustration when he
fought for the vacant British heavyweight title against his
fellow Welshman Joe Erskine at Maindy Stadium, Cardiff in
1956. After that defeat he fought only once more, losing to
Joe Bygraves, and quit with a record of 60 wins, 11 defeats
and four draws in 70 fights in a near 11-year career.
After retiring from the ring, Williams returned to farming.
Rob Cole