John Conteh

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John Anthony Conteh, Template:Post-nominals (born 27 May 1951) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1971 to 1980. He held the WBC light-heavyweight title from 1974 to 1977, and regionally the European, British and Commonwealth titles between 1973 and 1974. As an amateur, he represented England and won a gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games.[1][2][3] In 2017, Conteh was awarded an MBE for services to boxing at the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Professional career

Born in Liverpool, Lancashire (now Merseyside), to an Irish mother and Sierra Leonean father,[4] Conteh began boxing at the age of 10 at a boxing club in Kirkby that was a training ground for fellow British amateurs Joey Singleton and Tucker Hetherington. At 19, he won the middleweight gold medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. He won the WBC light-heavyweight title in October 1974 by defeating Jorge Ahumada. He held the title until 1977 when he was stripped for not going through with a mandatory defence.[5]

Conteh lost a 15-round split decision to the Yugoslavian fighter Mate Parlov when he attempted to regain the title.[6] He failed twice in further efforts to win back the crown, in 1979 and then again seven months later in 1980, on both occasions fighting the American Matthew Saad Muhammad. Muhammad won both bouts but the first victory was controversial.[7]

Appearances outside boxing

Conteh was one of the celebrities featured dressed in prison gear on the cover of the 1973 Wings album, Band on the Run.[8] He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1974.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Conteh was the British Superstars competition champion in 1974, the second year of the televised sporting event. Conteh is now an after-dinner speaker.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Conteh appeared on the BBC television programme Sporting Legends which was presented by Eamonn Holmes. There he spoke at length at how he started out in boxing and how Ali persuaded him to fight at light-heavyweight instead of heavyweight. Ali believed that Conteh was too small to be a heavyweight. Conteh also spoke of how his lifestyle led to alcoholism and a charge of assault; he stated that at the time he appeared on Sporting Legends he had been dry for nine years.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Conteh appeared in films Man at the Top (1973), The Stud (1978) and Tank Malling (1989), and made a starring appearance in the television show Boon in 1989, as a washed-up boxer. He appeared on a boxing special of The Weakest Link in 2009, where he finished in third place. His most recent TV acting appearance was in the crime drama Justice, in which he again played an ex-boxer.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Conteh was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to boxing.[9]

Conteh appeared in a celebrity episode of The Chase in 2024.[10]

Professional boxing record

Template:BoxingRecordSummary

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
39 Win 34–4–1 Template:Flagicon James Dixon TKO 5 (10), 2:49Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 31 May 1980 Template:Flagicon Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
38 Loss 33–4–1 Template:Flagicon Matthew Saad Muhammad TKO 4 (15), 2:27Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 29 Mar 1980 Template:Flagicon Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". For WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
37 Loss 33–3–1 Template:Flagicon Matthew Saad Muhammad UD 15 18 Aug 1979 Template:Flagicon Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". For WBC light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
36 Win 33–2–1 Template:Flagicon Ivy Brown PTS 10 4 Jun 1979 Template:Flagicon Liverpool, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
35 Template:DrawDraw 32–2–1 Template:Flagicon Jesse Burnett PTS 10 19 Apr 1979 Template:Flagicon Hilton on Park Lane, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
34 Win 32–2 Template:Flagicon Leonardo Rodgers KO 7 (10), 1:15Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 26 Sep 1978 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
33 Loss 31–2 Template:Flagicon Mate Parlov SD 15 17 Jun 1978 Template:Flagicon Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, YugoslaviaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". For WBC light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
32 Win 31–1 Template:Flagicon Joe Cokes PTS 10 7 Feb 1978 Template:Flagicon Michael Sobell Sports Centre, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
31 Win 30–1 Template:Flagicon Len Hutchins TKO 3 (15), 1:05Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 5 Mar 1977 Template:Flagicon Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained WBC light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
30 Win 29–1 Template:Flagicon Yaqui López UD 15 9 Oct 1976 Template:Flagicon Forum, Copenhagen, DenmarkScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained WBC light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
29 Win 28–1 Template:Flagicon Willie Taylor UD 10 16 Aug 1975 Template:Flagicon Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, USScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
28 Win 27–1 Template:Flagicon Lonnie Bennett TKO 5 (15), 1:10Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 11 Mar 1975 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained WBC light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
27 Win 26–1 Template:Flagicon Jorge Ahumada PTS 15 1 Oct 1974 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won vacant WBC light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
26 Win 25–1 Template:Flagicon Chris Finnegan TKO 6 (15) 21 May 1974 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained European, British, and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
25 Win 24–1 Template:Flagicon Tom Bogs RTD 6 (15) 12 Mar 1974 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained European light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
24 Win 23–1 Template:Flagicon Les Stevens PTS 10 12 Feb 1974 Template:Flagicon Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
23 Win 22–1 Template:Flagicon Fred Lewis TKO 3 (10) 14 Dec 1973 Template:Flagicon Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
22 Win 21–1 Template:Flagicon Baby Boy Rolle PTS 15 23 Oct 1973 Template:Flagicon National Ice Centre, Nottingham, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained Commonwealth light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
21 Win 20–1 Template:Flagicon Vicente Rondón TKO 9 (10) 10 Sep 1973 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
20 Win 19–1 Template:Flagicon Chris Finnegan PTS 15 22 May 1973 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained European light-heavyweight title;
Won British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
19 Win 18–1 Template:Flagicon Rüdiger Schmidtke TKO 12 (15), 2:28Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 13 Mar 1973 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won European light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
18 Win 17–1 Template:Flagicon Terry Daniels TKO 7 (10) 14 Feb 1973 Template:Flagicon Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, USScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
17 Win 16–1 Template:Flagicon Dave Matthews PTS 10 15 Jan 1973 Template:Flagicon Ice Stadium, Nottingham, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
16 Win 15–1 Template:Flagicon Sam McGill TKO 9 (10) 5 Dec 1972 Template:Flagicon Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
15 Win 14–1 Template:Flagicon John Hudgins KO 3 (10), 1:30Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 14 Nov 1972 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
14 Win 13–1 Template:Flagicon Bill Drover KO 7 (10), 2:24Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 31 Oct 1972 Template:Flagicon Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
13 Win 12–1 Template:Flagicon Ferenc Kristofcsak TKO 1 (8) 10 Oct 1972 Template:Flagicon Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
12 Loss 11–1 Template:Flagicon Eddie Duncan PTS 10 26 Sep 1972 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
11 Win 11–0 Template:Flagicon Johnny Mac TKO 2 (8) 19 Jul 1972 Template:Flagicon Croke Park, Dublin, IrelandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
10 Win 10–0 Template:Flagicon Billy Aird TKO 8 (8) 6 Jun 1972 Template:Flagicon Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
9 Win 9–0 Template:Flagicon Joe Gholston TKO 5 (8) 25 Apr 1972 Template:Flagicon Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
8 Win 8–0 Template:Flagicon Ruben Figueroa KO 2 (8) 28 Mar 1972 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
7 Win 7–0 Template:Flagicon Larry Sykes KO 1 (8) 15 Feb 1972 Template:Flagicon Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
6 Win 6–0 Template:Flagicon Wilhelm Janco TKO 1 (8) 25 Jan 1972 Template:Flagicon Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
5 Win 5–0 Template:Flagicon Emilio Okee TKO 5 (8) 7 Dec 1971 Template:Flagicon Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
4 Win 4–0 Template:Flagicon Tony Burwell PTS 8 24 Nov 1971 Template:Flagicon National Ice Centre, Nottingham, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
3 Win 3–0 Template:Flagicon Frank Bullard TKO 2 (10) 16 Nov 1971 Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2 Win 2–0 Template:Flagicon Pierre Minier TKO 5 (8) 8 Nov 1971 Template:Flagicon Grosvenor House Hotel, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1 Win 1–0 Template:Flagicon Okacha Boubekeur KO 1 (8) 18 Oct 1971 Template:Flagicon Hotel Café Royal, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Conteh Stripped of Title. United Press International via Star-News. 19 May 1977
  6. ↑ Parlov Decisions Conteh. Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. 17 June 1978
  7. ↑ Controversial ending to cruiserweight fight. The Gazette, Montreal. 10 December 1979
  8. ↑ Spizer, Bruce (2005). The Beatles Solo on Apple Records.
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:Sister project

Sporting positions

Template:S-text Template:S-before

ABA middleweight champion
1970 Template:S-ttl/check

Template:S-after Template:S-text

Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check European light-heavyweight champion
13 March 1973 – October 1974
Vacated Template:S-ttl/check 		Vacant
Title next held by
Domenico Adinolfi
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check British light-heavyweight champion
22 May 1973 – October 1974
Vacated Template:S-ttl/check 		Vacant
Title next held by
Johnny Frankham

Template:S-break

Commonwealth
light-heavyweight champion
22 May 1973 – October 1974
Vacated Template:S-ttl/check 		Vacant
Title next held by
Steve Aczel

Template:S-text Template:S-break

Vacant
Title last held by
Bob Foster 		WBC light-heavyweight champion
1 October 1974 – 21 March 1977 Template:S-ttl/check 		Vacant
Title next held by
Miguel Ángel Cuello

Template:S-text

Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Oldest living world champion
21 November 2015 – present Template:S-ttl/check 		Incumbent

Template:Footer Commonwealth Champions Middleweight Template:British Superstars Champions

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