Terry Downes, BEM (9 May 1936 – 6 October 2017) was a British middleweight boxer, occasional film actor, and businessman. He was nicknamed the "Paddington Express" for his aggressive fighting style.
At the time of his death, Downes was Britain's oldest surviving former world champion. He held the world middleweight title (the version recognised by Europe, New York, and Massachusetts) for ten months from 1961-62.
Early life
Terry Downes was born in Paddington, London. His father Richard worked as a mechanic, and his mother Hilda in a department store.Maume, Chris (2017) "Terry Downes: The ‘whirlwind’ boxer who was king for a day and retired aged 28", The Independent, 13 October 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017 Downes boxed as a junior for the Fisher ABC.Rawling, John (2017) "Terry Downed Obituary", The Guardian, 8 October 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017
He moved with his parents to the United States in 1952, while still a teenager, to live with his trapeze artist sister Sylvia, who had lost an arm in a traffic accident, going on to serve in the US Marine Corps from 1954–56, being recruited after boxing against them for the YMCA. In the Marines he won several amateur trophies, including the all-services championship and the Amateur Golden Gloves.
He missed out on selection for the US Olympic team, being ruled ineligible on residence grounds, and after his term of service, he returned to London and turned professional.
Professional boxing career
Managed by Sam Burns, Downes won his first two pro fights before a defeat by future world champion Dick Tiger. After building up a record of 16 wins and 3 defeats, Downes won the British middleweight title, vacated by Pat McAteer's retirement, by beating Phil Edwards on 30 September 1958 at the Harringay Arena, London. In 1959, Downes lost and won back the title from John "Cowboy" McCormack. On 5 July 1960, Downes successfully defended the title against Edwards again.
Downes lost his first World Title shot to Paul Pender in Boston in January 1961. The following July, however, Downes fought Pender again, this time in London, and defeated the American in front of a raucous Wembley crowd, with Pender retiring at the end of the ninth round with cuts over both eyes. Downes was recognised as world champion by The Ring magazine in August 1961, and was named Sports Writers' Association Sportsman of the Year later that year. Pender won the title back the following year, defeating Downes in Boston once more, this time on points.
Downes responded to the loss of his title by winning his next seven bouts, including a win over Sugar Ray Robinson in September 1962. Robinson was, however, 41 at the time, and when asked after the fight how it felt to beat a boxer of such esteem, Downes famously replied, "I didn't beat Sugar Ray, I beat his ghost." Downes moved up to light heavyweight in 1963, winning his first three fights at the weight before facing Willie Pastrano for the world title in Manchester on 30 November 1964. Downes was knocked down twice in the 11th round, while reportedly well ahead on points, and Pastrano retained his title when referee Andrew Smyth controversially waved it off – it was to be Downes' last fight.
Downes was famous for a number of quips. After a particularly brutal fight early in his career against Dick Tiger, Downes was asked who he wanted to fight next. He replied, "The bastard who made this match", in reference to Mickey Duff.
Downes fought six world champions and beat three: Robinson, Pender and Joey Giardello. His record was: 44 fights, 35 wins (28 KOs), 9 losses.
Acting career
Post-boxing, Downes acted occasionally between 1965 and 1990, usually appearing as a thug, villain or bodyguard. One of his more prominent roles was in Roman Polanski's 1967 film The Fearless Vampire Killers, in which he played "Koukol", a hunchbacked servant. His other film credits included appearances in A Study in Terror (1965), Five Ashore in Singapore (1967), The Golden Lady (1979), If You Go Down in the Woods Today (1981), and the Derek Jarman film Caravaggio (1986).
Films
A Study in Terror (1965) - Chunky The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) - Koukol, the Servant Five Ashore in Singapore (1967) - Sgt. Gruber The Golden Lady (1979) - Trainer If You Go Down in the Woods Today (1981) - Woodsman Caravaggio (1986) - Bodyguard
Other business interests
After his retirement, Downes owned a nightclub. and worked as a boxing manager, working with British title challenger Colin Lake in the late 1960s. In 1964, with his manager Sam Burns, he opened a chain of betting shops. The company, Burns & Downes Ltd., is currently owned by the William Hill Group, and listed with Companies House as inactive.
Personal life
Downes and his wife Barbara (nee Clarke) were married from 1958"Sugar Ray to Defend Title", The Age, 23 December 1958. until his death in 2017. They had four children and eight grandchildren, one of whom includes prominent football writer and comedian James McNicholas. They lived for many years in a large detached house in Milespit Hill, Mill Hill, London NW7.
Downes was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2012 Birthday Honours, in recognition of his sporting achievements and charity work. He died on 6 October 2017, aged 81.Sandomir, Richard (2017) "Terry Downes Dies at 81; Middleweight Champion Was Britain’s Pride", The New York Times, 13 October 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes44Loss35–9 Willie PastranoTKO11 (15)Nov 30, 1964 43Win35–8 Ed ZarembaPTS10May 28, 1964 42Win34–8 Mike PusateriTKO5 (10)Nov 25, 1963 41Win33–8 Rudolf NehringKO3 (10)Oct 8, 1963 40Win32–8 Jimmy BeechamTKO9 (10)Mar 5, 1963 39Win31–8 Phil MoyerTKO9 (10)Nov 13, 1963 38Win30–8 Sugar Ray RobinsonPTS10Sep 25, 1962 37Win29–8 Don FullmerPTS10May 22, 1962 36Loss28–8 Paul PenderUD15Apr 7, 1962 35Win28–7 Paul PenderRTD9 (15)Jul 11, 1961 34Win27–7 Tony MontanoRTD5 (10)May 2, 1961 33Win26–7 Willie GreeneTKO3 (10)Mar 7, 1961 32Loss25–7 Paul PenderTKO7 (15)Jan 14, 1961 31Win25–6 Joey GiardelloPTS10Oct 11, 1960 30Win24–6 Phil EdwardsRTD12 (15)Jul 5, 1960 29Win23–6 Richard BouchezKO2 (10)Jun 9, 1960 28Win22–6 Orlando DePietroKO4 (10)Mar 24, 1960 27Win21–6 Carlos VannesteTKO4 (10)Mar 8, 1960 26Win20–6 John McCormackTKO8 (15)Nov 3, 1959 25Loss19–6 John McCormackDQ8 (15)Sep 15, 1959 24Win19–5 Andre DavierKO7 (10)Jul 7, 1959 23Loss18–5 Michel DioufTKO5 (10)Feb 24, 1959 22Loss18–4 Ellsworth WebbTKO8 (10)Dec 9, 1958 21Win18–3 Mohammed Ben TaibiKO3 (10)Nov 4, 1958 20Win17–3 Phil EdwardsTKO13 (15)Sep 30, 1958 19Win16–3 Constant AlcantaraTKO3 (10)Jul 15, 1958 18Win15–3 Pat McAteerPTS8Jun 3, 1958 17Win14–3 Tuzo PortuguezPTS8Apr 15, 1958 16Win13–3 Salah Ben FahratTKO4 (8)Mar 17, 1958 15Win12–3 Dennis BootyTKO3 (8)Feb 25, 1958 14Loss11–3 Freddie CrossTKO6 (10)Jan 28, 1958 13Win11–2 Serge LevequeTKO4 (8)Jan 7, 1958 12Win10–2 Hamouda BouraouiRTD4 (8)Dec 19, 1957 11Win9–2 George LaveryKO5 (8)Dec 10, 1957 10Loss8–2 Les AllenPTS8Nov 19, 1957 9Win8–1 Eddie PhillipsTKO3 (8)Oct 28, 1957 8Win7–1 Derek LiversidgeTKO2 (8)Oct 1, 1957 7Win6–1 Lew LazarPTS8Sep 17, 1957 6Win5–1 John WoolardTKO7 (8)Jun 25, 1957 5Win4–1 Sammy HamiltonTKO3 (8)Jun 18, 1957 4Win3–1 Alan DeanTKO4 (8)Jun 4, 1957 3Loss2–1 Dick TigerTKO5 (8)May 14, 1957 2Win2–0 Jimmy LynasTKO3 (6)Apr 30, 1957 1Win1–0 Peter LongoKO1 (6)Apr 9, 1957
See also List of middleweight boxing champions List of British middleweight boxing champions
References
External links
"The Fighter at Home with Yogi Bear", Sports Illustrated profile from 1962