Maurice Hope

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Template wrapper".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".

Maurice Hope GCH OBE (born 6 December 1951) is a British former boxer, who was world junior middleweight champion. Born in Antigua, he grew up in Hackney, London. He represented Great Britain at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany.

He is a Recipient of the Order of Princely Heritage

Boxing career

Amateur career

Maurice Hope was born in St. John's, Antigua, and moved at a very young age to the UK. Hope's aptitude towards boxing was evident early in childhood; he began to train as a very young boy. Hope went on to box at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where he would lose to German boxer János Kajdi in the quarter finals.

Professional career

Hope made his professional debut on 18 June 1973, defeating John Smith by decision in eight rounds at Nottingham.

On Hope's second fight, held on 25 September of that year, he scored his first knockout win, a victory in three rounds over Len Gibbs in Shoreditch. Hope won his first four professional fights.

On 21 November, he suffered his first defeat, being beaten by Mickey Flynn over eight rounds by decision.

After that loss, Hope went on to win five fights in a row, four by knockout, before winning his first regional belt, when he beat Larry Paul, 5 November 1974, by a knockout in round eight of a fifteen-round bout, at Wolverhampton, to win the British Jr. Middleweight title.

Hope then won three more fights, including one (a fourth-round knockout of Don Cobbs on 11 February 1975 at Royal Albert Hall) which was refereed by legendary referee Harry Gibbs, who also oversaw the refereeing of the Wilfredo Gómez-Carlos Zarate bout, among many other famous fights.

After these three wins, Hope went up in weight to fight for the vacant British Middleweight title, vacated by Kevin Finnegan, who, in turn, lost four times to Alan Minter. On 10 June, Hope was defeated by knockout for the first time, losing to Bunny Sterling in the eighth round for that regional title.

Hope's career took on an upwards movement after the loss to Sterling. He followed that loss with a knockout in a rematch against Larry Paul on 30 September at London's Empire Pool. This was the beginning of a four knockout win streak that took him to fight Tony Poole, 12 April 1976, for the vacant British Commonwealth Jr. Middleweight title. He won the regional belt by knocking out Poole in the twelfth round, and, after one more win, he met future world Middleweight champion Vito Antuofermo, on 10 October, at Rome, Italy, for the European Boxing Union's Jr. Middleweight title. Hope conquered his third regional title by knocking out Antuofermo (who would later last the full fifteen rounds in a fight with Marvin Hagler), in the fifteenth and last round. This bout was Hope's first fight abroad.

Having won three regional titles, Hope was ranked among the top Jr. Middleweight challengers by the WBC, and so, he obtained his first world title try, on 15 March 1977, against the WBC's world champion, Eckhard Dagge, in Berlin, Germany. After fifteen rounds, the fight was declared a draw (tie).

Hope regrouped with six wins in a row, before getting his second world title try. On 4 March 1979, he faced the then WBC world champion Rocky Mattioli in Sanremo, Italy. Hope became a world champion by knocking Mattioli out in the ninth round.[1]

On 25 September, he defended the WBC's world title for the first time, knocking out Mike Baker in the seventh round, at London.[2] His second defence, on 12 June 1980, was a rematch with Mattioli. This time, they fought in London, and Hope repeated his previous win, but with an eleventh round technical knockout instead. On 26 November, he defended his crown against well known Argentina[3] contender Carlos Herrera (not to be confused with the Argentine boxer of the same name who was born in 1983) in London, winning by a fifteen-round decision.

Hope went to Las Vegas, for his next defence, which also turned out to be his first, and, ultimately, last fight in the United States. He planned to marry his girlfriend while in Las Vegas. On 23 May 1981, at the Caesars Palace, Hope lost the world Jr. Middleweight title to Wilfred Benítez,[4] suffering a twelfth-round knockout that later made television sports show highlights. While Benitez became the first Latin American to win world titles in three different divisions, the youngest boxer in history to do so, and the first in 40 years to achieve the accomplishment, Hope had to be hospitalised, but he recuperated and was able to marry his girlfriend before returning to England.

After one more defeat, to Luigi Minchillo, Hope permanently retired from boxing. Throughout his career Hope was managed by his mentor Terry Lawless, whose stable of top-quality boxers also included John H Stracey, Jim Watt, Charlie Magri and Frank Bruno. Their PR was handled by Norman Giller who, like all the boxers apart from Scottish hero Watt, was based in East London. They all trained in the famous East End fight academy run by Lawless at the Royal Oak in Canning Town. Most of their major fights were under the umbrella of leading London promotion team of Harry Levene, Mike Barrett and Mickey Duff.

Professional boxing record

Template:BoxingRecordSummary

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
35 Loss 30–4–1 Luigi Minchillo SD 12 Mar 30, 1982 Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
34 Loss 30–3–1 Wilfred Benítez KO 12 (15) May 23, 1981 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Lost WBC light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
33 Win 30–2–1 Carlos Maria del Valle Herrera UD 15 Nov 26, 1980 Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained WBC light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
32 Win 29–2–1 Rocky Mattioli TKO 11 (15) Jul 12, 1980 Conference Centre, Wembley, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained WBC light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
31 Win 28–2–1 Mike Baker TKO 7 (15) Sep 25, 1979 Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained WBC light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
30 Win 27–2–1 Rocky Mattioli TKO 9 (15) Mar 4, 1979 Teatro Ariston, San Remo, Liguria, ItalyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won WBC light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
29 Win 26–2–1 Alfonso Hayman TKO 5 (10) Sep 26, 1978 Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
28 Win 25–2–1 Melvin Dennis PTS 10 Apr 4, 1978 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
27 Win 24–2–1 Vincenzo Ungaro KO 5 (10) Jan 24, 1978 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
26 Win 23–2–1 Joel Bonnetaz KO 5 (15) Nov 8, 1977 Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained EBU light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
25 Win 22–2–1 Tony Lopes TKO 6 (10) Sep 27, 1977 Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
24 Win 21–2–1 Frank Wissenbach MD 15 May 7, 1977 Congress Centre, Hamburg, West GermanyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained EBU light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
23 Template:DrawDraw 20–2–1 Eckhard Dagge SD 15 Mar 15, 1977 Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg, Berlin, West GermanyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". For WBC light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
22 Win 20–2 Vito Antuofermo TKO 15 (15) Oct 1, 1976 Palazzetto dello Sport, Roma, Lazio, ItalyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won EBU light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
21 Win 19–2 Tim McHugh TKO 4 (8) Jun 1, 1976 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
20 Win 18–2 Tony Poole TKO 12 (15) Apr 20, 1976 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained BBBofC British light-middleweight title;
Won vacant Commonwealth light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
19 Win 17–2 Kevin White TKO 4 (10) Mar 20, 1976 Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
18 Win 16–2 Mimoun Mohatar TKO 2 (10) Mar 2, 1976 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
17 Win 15–2 Carl Speare TKO 4 (8) Feb 25, 1976 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
16 Win 14–2 Larry Paul TKO 4 (15) Sep 30, 1975 Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained BBBofC light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
15 Loss 13–2 Bunny Sterling TKO 8 (15) Jun 10, 1975 Café Royal, Piccadilly, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". For vacant BBBofC middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
14 Win 13–1 Jürgen Voss KO 3 (10) Apr 2, 1975 Cunard Hotel, Hammersmith, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
13 Win 12–1 Don Cobbs TKO 4 (10) Feb 11, 1975 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
12 Win 11–1 Cuby Jackson TKO 7 (8) Dec 10, 1974 Ice Rink, Nottingham, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
11 Win 10–1 Larry Paul KO 8 (15) Nov 5, 1974 Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won BBBofC British light-middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
10 Win 9–1 Dave Davies TKO 8 (10) May 13, 1974 Hilton Hotel, Mayfair, London, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
9 Win 8–1 John Smith KO 2 (8) Apr 17, 1974 Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester, Lancashire, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
8 Win 7–1 Mike Manley TKO 4 (8) Apr 1, 1974 Café Royal, Piccadilly, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
7 Win 6–1 Mick Hussey KO 3 (8) Mar 12, 1974 Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
6 Win 5–1 Mike Manley PTS 8 Jan 28, 1974 Great International Sporting Club, Nottingham, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
5 Loss 4–1 Mickey Flynn PTS 8 Nov 21, 1973 Grosvenor House, Mayfair, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
4 Win 4–0 Arthur Winfield TKO 4 (8) Oct 23, 1973 Ice Rink, Nottingham, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
3 Win 3–0 Pat Brogan PTS 8 Oct 1, 1973 Great International Sporting Club, Nottingham, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2 Win 2–0 Len Gibbs RTD 3 (8) Sep 25, 1973 Shoreditch Town Hall, Shoreditch, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1 Win 1–0 John Smith PTS 8 Jun 18, 1973 Great International Sporting Club, Nottingham, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Later life

Hope continued in the public eye in England, doing various jobs, and he has enjoyed his earnings as a boxer. Furthermore, with Benitez suffering from diabetes and boxing-related conditions, he later became a frequent visitor to Puerto Rico, where he and Benitez sometimes spent days talking about their old days as boxers. Hope now lives in Hackney; he was involved with boxing training for the local residents and youths in upper Clapton. Hope also has property in Antigua after being given land by the government to mark his achievements in the ring. Hope has been an outstanding ambassador for Antigua and is happily involved in the island's tourist industry.

On 11 December 2024, the High Commission of Antigua and Barbuda in London hosted the launch of “Land of Hope and Glory“, a book-interview by Maurice Hope with sports analyst Jaydee Dyer in which Hope talks about how he overcame the hardships of the Windrush generation to become a world-champion boxer from Antigua.[5]

In recognition of Hope's achievements while a resident, the London Borough of Hackney named a major cycle route after him.

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/18377
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Antigua.news

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Sporting positions

Template:S-text

Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check British
super welterweight champion
5 November 1974 – 1976
Vacated Template:S-ttl/check 		Vacant
Title next held by
Jimmy Batten
Vacant
Title last held by
Charkey Ramon 		Commonwealth
super welterweight champion
20 April 1976 – 1976
Vacated Template:S-ttl/check 		Vacant
Title next held by
Kenny Bristol
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check EBU
super welterweight champion
1 October 1976 – 1978
Vacated Template:S-ttl/check 		Vacant
Title next held by
Gilbert Cohen

Template:S-text

Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check WBC super welterweight champion
4 March 1979 – 23 May 1981 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Maurice_Hope&oldid=1543881"