Little Man, Big Punch

John Jarrett reflects on the life of the one and only George Bowes, who has passed away aged 82

- John Jarrett

TOP American trainer Harry Wiley knew a good fighter when he saw one. Sugar Ray Robinson was one of his boys. Another one was Teddy Rand. In October 1962, Harry brought Teddy to London to fight George Bowes at the National Sporting Club. After Bowes had punched Rand all over the ring, Wiley raved about the lad from County Durham.

“Man, can this Bowes bang!” he exclaimed to a reporter at ringside. “He can punch and he’s a crowd-pleaser. They’d love this guy at Madison Square Garden.”

They loved him at the New St James’ Hall in Newcastle. I remember matchmaker Joe Shepherd telling me, “We never lost money with Bowes on the bill. When he fought Pierre Cossemyns of Belgium in January 1959, Newcastle United had a big match on over the road and I was a bit worried about the gate. What happened? We had a full house.”

“My grandfather used to fight with the bare knuckles in the old days,” said George when I asked him how he got into boxing, “and later on he started a boys’ club with my father and I used to go and muck about in the gym.”