ANYONE making an attempt to advertise at a small corridor boxing occasion within the Nineteen Sixties, very similar to at this time, wanted to be ready to lose some huge cash.
The Nineteen Fifties was the final decade the place such ventures may show worthwhile for normal exhibits. As that decade wore on and the tv began to make inroads into the lives of working households, and folks stopped going out to hunt their leisure, skilled boxing hit the skids, and the variety of tournaments declined quickly.
George Merritt was an old-school skilled from the Nineteen Thirties. From Silvertown, a tricky space down by the docks on the north aspect of the Thames, George had taken half in practically 150 contests in a tough profession that lasted between 1932 and 1945. Considered one of three boxing brothers, George was one of the best and in 1934, as an example, he took half in 34 contests, 5 of which have been 12-rounders. After his profession had ended George stayed in boxing and in 1962, on the age of 48, he determined to strive his hand as a promoter.
The very best of London’s small halls have been within the fingers of rivals. There have been a great few round together with West Ham Baths, the Seymour Corridor in Marylebone, Shoreditch City Corridor and the Majestic Ballroom in Finsbury Park. George needed to discover a venue of his personal and for his first present he tried the Winter Baths Corridor in East Ham. It was the one, and solely, present ever held there however George was sufficiently inspired to strive once more.
He then discovered one other new venue, a small art-deco pub in-built 1936, often known as the Roundhouse and positioned in Dagenham, an ideal place from which to draw struggle followers. George additionally discovered a great man to base these exhibits round; native fighter Tommy Rix had solely not too long ago turned skilled and in six months he had gained six contests. A Nationwide Faculties champion and London finalist, Tommy was an aesthetic performer with a great newbie pedigree, and he may promote tickets.
In January 1963 gained his seventh bout on the Roundhouse, on a invoice topped by one other native lad, Basildon’s Danny Wells. An excellent crowd turned up and George determined to go for month-to-month exhibits on the venue. With matchmaker Jack Hopwood, one other 100-bout veteran from the Nineteen Thirties, George lured Johnny Caiger, one other prime newbie from Dagenham, to the venue to make his debut. With Rix on the invoice once more, Merritt scored one other hit and issues have been trying good.
His third present happened in October with Rix successful once more. Caiger suffered a shock defeat by the hands of Joe Sommerville, shedding by disqualification within the third. Tommy regarded good in successful an eight-round choice over Wolverhampton’s Tommy Icke to register his thirteenth straight victory. On Monday November twenty fifth, Tommy picked up win quantity 14, when he topped the invoice for George once more, this time beating Nigerian, Tommy Atkins.
It regarded like Merritt had succeeded in establishing himself, with a great little venue and first rate playing cards full of native lads, just a few of whom regarded promising. However, with revenue margins being so tight, it wasn’t simple to justify the effort and time that have been wanted to rearrange these exhibits and George was a busy man away from the game.
Each Merritt, as a promoter, and Rix, as a fighter, have been inactive all through 1964. Rix returned in February 1965, at Nottingham, and he fought once more in March, this time for rival promoter Harry Grossmith at Shoreditch City Corridor.
In June 1965 Merritt, with out his star attraction, held his final present on the Roundhouse after which packed it in, deciding it wasn’t well worth the effort, and London misplaced one other small corridor. Rix retired the next yr, after his first loss.
The Roundhouse went on to raised issues within the Nineteen Seventies when, as a music venue, it hosted the likes of Led Zeppelin, Queen, Pink Floyd and a private favorite, Rory Gallagher. It’s nonetheless there and serves a good pint.
