John Henry Stracey MBE (born 22 September 1950) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1969 to 1978. He is a former welterweight world champion, having held the WBC and lineal welterweight titles between 1975 and 1976. At regional level, he held the British and European welterweight titles between 1973 and 1975, and is ranked by BoxRec as the eighth best British welterweight of all time.

Amateur career Stracey competed for Great Britain as a lightweight at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He was defeated in the Round of 16 by eventual gold medallist Ronnie Harris. Stracey won the 1969 ABA light-welterweight championship.

Professional career Early career Stracey began his professional career on 17 September 1969, knocking out Santos Martins in two rounds. Stracey won his first twelve fights, eleven by knockout, but against obscure opposition. Fight number thirteen was against Teddy Cooper, on 19 January 1971. Cooper was not a big name in boxing either, but this fight ended in controversy when Stracey won by a fifth round disqualification. On 5 October 1971 Stracey drew (tied) in ten rounds against Frankie Lewis.

Stracey produced five more wins before being matched with Marshall Butler, on 25 May 1972, at the Royal Albert Hall, suffering his first defeat after being outpointed by Butler over eight rounds. He then put a string of four more wins together, before facing Bobby Arthur for the British welterweight title, on 31 October, at the Royal Albert Hall. He lost the fight with another controversial ending: This time, Stracey found himself disqualified in round seven. Stracey then won five more bouts in a row. In February 1973, Stracey traveled to the United States, where he fought Danny McAloon on the undercard of the first Ali vs. Bugner fight, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, on 14 February. Stracey won the bout via unanimous decision. He then met Bobby Arthur in a rematch on 5 June, this time winning the British title with a fourth-round knockout.Golesworthy, Maurice (1988) Encyclopaedia of Boxing, 8th edition, Robert Hale Limited, , p. 229

Stracey vs. Menetrey On 27 May 1974, Stracey got his chance at the European welterweight title, fighting Roger Menetrey at the Stade de Roland Garros, in Paris, France. Stracey won via eighth-round knockout. On 29 April 1975, he defended his European title against Max Hebeisen, at the Royal Albert Hall, winning via RTD in the sixth round.

Stracey vs. Nápoles During the 1970s, it was a common practice to give world title shots to boxers who held continental titles. For example, the OPBF (Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation) champion would be given priority over other challengers for world title fights. Stracey was no exception, and, after winning five more fights in a row (including a win over Ernie Lopez), he received his first world title shot: challenging WBC welterweight champion José Nápoles, in Nápoles' home-town of Mexico City, Mexico, on 6 December 1975. Stracey was sent down in round one, but he recuperated to close Nápoles' eye and have referee Octavio Meyran stop the fight in the sixth round, Stracey winning the world championship by a technical knockout. The new champion declared, "He [Nápoles] could have knocked me down in every round but I'd have won it anyway". It was Nápoles' last fight.

1976 On 20 March 1976 he retained the title against perennial world title challenger Hedgemon Lewis by a knockout in round ten, but on 22 June, at Wembley, he lost the world title, being knocked out in twelve rounds by California-based Mexican Carlos Palomino. In his next fight, he lost to future world title challenger Dave Boy Green, with a badly damaged eye in round ten. Stracey retired as a winner when he knocked out George Warusfel in nine rounds in Islington on 23 May 1978.

Outside the ring A business associate of Stracey bought the Three Horseshoes pub in Briston, Norfolk, in 1975 and renamed it the John H Stracey. In 2011 the pub reverted to its original name. He also had, at one point, a boxing school in London.

John also had a hotel in Bournemouth with a public bar called The Ringside.when he was married to Michele, they also had a daughter called Laura. He is now a supporter and patron of the Devon-based Kings Boxing Academy. https://www.kingsboxingacademy.co.uk/patrons/

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes51WinGeorges WarusfelTKO9 (10)23 May 197850Loss44–5–1Dave Boy GreenTKO10 (10)29 Mar, 197749Loss44–4–1Carlos PalominoTKO12 (15), 22 Jun, 197648Win44–3–1Hedgemon LewisTKO10 (15), 20 Mar, 197647Win43–3–1José NápolesTKO6 (15), 6 Dec, 197546Win42–3–1Keith AveretteDQ8 (10)30 Sep, 197545Win41–3–1Ruben Vazquez ZamoraTKO8 (10)30 Jun, 197544Win40–3–1Max HebeisenRTD6 (15)29 Apr, 197543Win39–3–1Ernie LopezTKO7 (10)29 Oct, 197442Win38–3–1Tony GarciaTKO3 (10)1 Oct, 197441Win37–3–1Roger MenetreyTKO8 (15)27 May 197440Win36–3–1Vernon MasonKO4 (10)23 Apr, 197439Win35–3–1Jack TillmanTKO4 (10)26 Mar, 197438Loss34–3–1Cuby JacksonTKO3 (10)11 Dec, 197337Win34–2–1Marc GervaisTKO4 (10)13 Nov, 197336Win33–2–1Urban BaptisteTKO4 (10)30 Oct, 197335Win32–2–1Jose Papo MelendezTKO3 (10)10 Sep, 197334Win31–2–1Bobby ArthurKO4 (15)5 Jun, 197333Win30–2–1Pat MurphyTKO5 (10)9 May 197332Win29–2–1Jose PetersonPTS813 Mar, 197331Win28–2–1Danny McAloonUD1014 Feb, 197330Win27–2–1Otha TysonKO3 (10)15 Jan, 197329Win26–2–1David MelendezTKO7 (10)5 Dec, 197228Loss25–2–1Bobby ArthurDQ7 (15)31 Oct, 197227Win25–1–1Les PearsonTKO2 (12)10 Oct, 197226Win24–1–1Joe YekinniTKO2 (10)6 Jun, 197225Win23–1–1Antonio TorresTKO6 (8)22 May 197224Loss22–1–1Marshall ButlerPTS825 Apr, 197223Win22–0–1Ricky PorterPTS84 Apr, 197222Win21–0–1Des ReaTKO2 (8)7 Mar, 197221Win20–0–1Bernie TerrellTKO2 (8)15 Feb, 197220Win19–0–1Yvon MariolleKO4 (8)25 Jan, 197219Win18–0–1Guy VercoutterTKO7 (10)17 Nov, 197118Win17–0–1Dave WyattTKO3 (8)27 Oct, 197117Draw16–0–1Frankie LewisPTS85 Oct, 197116Win16–0Bouzid Ait ElmenceurPTS84 May 197115Win15–0Dante PelaezPTS816 Mar, 197114Win14–0Yvon MariolleKO6 (8)23 Feb, 197113Win13–0Teddy CooperDQ5 (8)19 Jan, 197112Win12–0Ferdinand AhumibeTKO4 (8)8 Dec, 197011Win11–0Willie ReaTKO3 (8)6 Oct, 197010Win10–0Billy SeasmanRTD5 (8)29 Sep, 19709Win8–0David PesentiPTS912 May 19708Win8–0Harri PiitulainenRTD6 (8)27 Apr, 19707Win7–0Bernard MartinRTD3 (8)17 Mar, 19706Win6–0Tei DoviTKO3 (8)10 Feb, 19705Win5–0Tommy CarsonTKO7 (8)20 Jan, 19704Win4–0Bryn LewisTKO6 (8)9 Dec, 19693Win3–0Ray OpukuTKO3 (6)18 Nov, 19692Win2–0Ronnie Clifford TKO2 (8)2 Oct, 19691Win1–0Santos MartinsKO2 (6)17 Sep, 1969

See also List of world welterweight boxing champions List of British world boxing champions

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