Manager Lawless dies, 76

Boxing legend passes away after long illness

Last updated: 24th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Manager Lawless dies, 76

Lawless with Frank Bruno

That one phone call just completely changed my life.

Jim Watt on Terry Lawless
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Legendary British boxing manager Terry Lawless has died in the early hours of Christmas Eve.

Lawless, who steered Frank Bruno to a world title challenge against Mike Tyson, had been suffering ill health for several years after moving with his wife, Sylvia, to Marbella.

He died in hospital in Spain following a gall bladder operation. He was 76.

Lawless managed more than 50 boxers and guided John H. Stracey, Maurice Hope, Jim Watt and Charlie Magri to versions of world titles.

Throughout his managing career, Lawless was based at the Royal Oak gym in the Canning Town district of London close to where he was born.

He worked closely with promoters Mickey Duff, Jarvis Astaire, Harry Levene and Mike Barrett when they were the powers in British boxing throughout the sixties and into the 1980s.

Compassionate

Lawless was a walking record book on boxing, and a fitness fanatic who was best man at the wedding of his boyhood friend Sammy McCarthy, a British featherweight champion in the 1950s. It was this friendship that led him into first training and then managing fighters.

He was famous for looking after his fighters like a father rather than a manager and did not want to expose his boxers to unnecessary dangers.

After retiring to live in Spain in the 1990s, Lawless often said that he was happy to be remembered as the manager who did not want his boxers hurt.

Lawless' early stable of local boxers included former London amateur stars Stan Kennedy, Johnny Caiger, Jimmy Tibbs, Silvester Mittee and Jimmy Anderson.

He hired George Wiggs and Frank Black as his training assistants, both of whom stayed with him for more than 10 years.

Tibbs later rejoined Lawless as a trainer, as did George Francis, who later formed a winning team with Frank Bruno.

Revitalised

Jim Watt, one of six Lawless-trained-and-managed boxers who went on to win world titles (including Bruno, and Joe Calzaghe under different management), said: "I had a great association with Terry.

"My career wasn't really going anywhere and I had split with my Scottish manager. Terry called me and at that time he had John H Stracey who had just won the world title a couple of months before in Mexico.

"He said to me he'd always felt I could have achieved more than I had done and reckoned if I signed up with him, we could maybe put that right. But I didn't ever think it was going to go as far as it did.

"That one phone call just completely changed my life. If Terry hadn't picked up the phone that day, I'm not under any illusions, I would never have been world champion and would never have had the life that I've enjoyed ever since."

Tibbs, who now trains Beijing Olympian Billy Joe Saunders and world lightweight title contender Kevin Mitchell and was quick to pay tribute to his mentor.

"I'm dumbstruck and so sad," he said. "I've been in the training business for 30-odd years now.

"I started off with Terry Lawless in at the deep end because they were all champions. But we succeeded with Terry, myself and Frank Black and we had a lot of success at that wonderful gym, the Royal Oak.

"We had champions through the Southern Area, British, Commonwealth, European and world level and everyone did their jobs.

"Terry Lawless was one of the top managers in the world, probably, and I'm very sad to hear this news."

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Comments (12)

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Steve Lumley says...

Gob smacked!!!! only just seen this and it is sad sad news. Hadnt seen it any where else, which surprises me as Terry is a boxing legend!!! My heart felt respect goes out to his family. Terry, you may have gone, but you will never be forgotten, Rest in Peace terry.

Posted 16:58 16th January 2010

Giovanni Branchini says...

My father has been a boxing manager for over 50 years(1940/1990) and I followed the same path having my first "Boxing Manager's Licence" issued by the italian federation in 1974 when i was 18. My father was my idol and my inspiration (he managed 7 World Champions) , when I came to London to cooperate with Mickey Duff and Mike Barrett as a matchmaker I had the opportunity to know well Terry and was love at "first sight". He was a superb professional but more than anything else a great human being,I found in his style the same spirit of respect and care for the man/fighter that I was used to breath in my family and in our gym. It was a very special and unique friendship,we have been opponent so many times (Hope-Mattioli/ Hope-Minchillo/Magri-Udella) but we had a great deal of respect toward to eachother. I am not surprised of this sad new,time is unbeatable..... But I did feel the need to write this note to reaffirm how much I respected this fine gentleman. Bye Terry,the final bell never rings for people like you !

Posted 15:37 7th January 2010

Darren King says...

missed but never forgoton god bless terry

Posted 17:33 31st December 2009

Phil Crawley says...

A big loss to boxing as Terry was a legend and will not be forgot, as he has left too many memories with the boxing world.

Posted 03:38 29th December 2009

Paul Phillips says...

i am saddened to hear of the death of terry lawless a great mentor of boxers and a really genuine person god bless terry

Posted 10:47 26th December 2009

Farhan Hussain says...

I eco what you said Dave. Rest in peace may god rest his soul and my thoughts are with family and friends.

Posted 22:29 24th December 2009

Ross Warner says...

The man was a legend. Cared for his boxers careers and their well being. An advert for true boxing and not the money farce it is now. God Bless you Terry. R.I.P.

Posted 22:15 24th December 2009

Richard 'nobby' Clark says...

I am deeply saddened to hear this news. As a youngster, Terry Lawless fighters were inspirational to me. I followed their fortunes on the BBC and through the pages of boxing news. I used to write to Terry and he always answered me, sending signed photographs of his boxers.Years later in 1994, a chance meeting with Terry¿s Son, Stephen, led to an association with Terry that ultimately led to my involvement in professional boxing. I often sat ringside with Terry and his lovely wife Sylvia at shows, among the likes of Mickey Duff and Jarvis Astaire, soaking up everything, learning as much as I could among people I had looked up to as a kid. Travelling home from shows with Terry, or sat in his house on a Saturday morning, presented wonderful opportunities to tap into his immense knowledge and anecdotes. I did this as often as I could. Terry suggested I write to the board seeking a job as an inspector, which I did. Over a ten year period, I was privileged to sit ringside and wander into the changing rooms at some of the most exciting nights in boxing terms in the last ten years. By this time, Terry had retired, with Sylvia, to Spain. Nevertheless, the Lawless influence reared its head again, as three years ago, one of the fighters he introduced me to, Jason Rowland, asked me to manage the boxers he trained. I always found Terry to be a most compassionate man. In 1997, whilst in hospital, Terry telephoned and chatted to me, trying as best he could to brighten my day. So you see, I have a lot to be thankful to Terry for. I know there are those with many more memories than I, who shared the glory years with him, however, in the short time I knew him, he had a profound effect on me and I shall be ever grateful for having shared my love of the game with him. I can only aspire to his achievements as a manager. God bless Terry. Thanks for the wonderful memories.

Posted 20:24 24th December 2009

Dan S says...

Such a shame for english boxing, he will however be remembered as a truly great man and boxing manager, Thoughts and prayers go out to his family x

Posted 13:34 24th December 2009

Geoff Fawcett says...

My earliest boxing memories were of Terry and his boxers. He was a total credit to the greatest sport. He will be remembered as a warm, caring and knowledgeable boxing man. God bless you Terry.

Posted 13:17 24th December 2009

Michael Antoniou says...

very sad indeed,i did`nt know well,but when i did see him in marbella or in london he always shouted me over and paid me sincere compliments, a gem of man, who`s feet were firmly on the ground, and did a great deal for british boxing, i`m sure he will be sadly missed,r.i.p Terry

Posted 11:35 24th December 2009

Dave H says...

Such sad news, remembered as a gentlemen and a credit to both boxing and britain.......thoughts are with his family. Rest in peace Terry.

Posted 11:01 24th December 2009
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