1970's Unlicensed boxing

[mofo2]

Lenny Mclean vs Roy Shaw.......Hard men in and out of the ring,both gained notoriety for thier explosive short fuses and travelling the country/World to take on all comers bare knuckle fighting...Argueably two of the toughest hardmen of the last 30 years to come out of the UK....thoughts lads


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[The Lads]

Good at what they did and the environment they did it in. Exposed when fighting "real" boxers. Mclean knocked out by a middleweight. Shaw realistically always too old as he didnt start fighting till 42. both very dangerous men, although contrary to popular belief many say mclean was a bully.

[The Lads]

"mclean was unbeatable" - I doubt that. I'd pick Shaw to beat him.

Also, kevin paddock beat mclean, he was a middleweight pro with an average record of something like 10-10.
Cliff knocked him clean out in the first round.

[bongsbomber]

"mclean was unbeatable" - I doubt that. I'd pick Shaw to beat him.

didn't they fight 3 times - Lenny x1 and Roy x2 ???

[The Lads]

They did, but didnt mclean win 2 of the 3 ? That was in the ring, I always thought Shaw was limited in the ring. To fght someone just over 10 years younger, 6 inches taller and about 4 stone heavier (when you're 42) is commendable. Shaw tried to fight Mclean on the cobbles but Lenny (allegedly) didnt want to know saying he'd left all that behind and wanted to concentrate on acting.

[SeasideSlugger]

It's all a bit ropey those fights. As has been said they were both double hard but a bit limited in the ring.

Shaw actually fought Ron Stander and won on points. Stander had a broken rib at the time!! Shaw said he caught him flush on the chin and expect him to go but but he stayed upright and said " that's it Roy keep 'em coming". Shaw saw the gulf between what he was doing and the real pro's and even said he'd have got hammered if Stander was in anything like proper condition.

Fought Frazier for the World title apparently.

[TomPodmore]

Bartley Gorman would probably have hammered both of them.

Bartley, who's nephew, Sam, makes his comeback to professional boxing in Leciester on February 16 after 17 months out of the game, offered to fight Roy Shaw and Lenny McLean several times and was turned down.

He is legend in the Midlands.

Have a read of this if you don't know too much about the 'King of the Gypsies'
:[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[The Lads]

I have a documentary with him, he doesnt look as hard as them, and during the doc its hard to believe he was a right hard bast****. Although he throws some combos at the bag and even at 55ish they looked quick and hurtful

[The Lads]

Ah, I stand corrected then. he was beat by a middleweight and knocked clean out by a light heavyweight - regardless the unbeatable monster myth is somewhat tarnished by defeats.

I dont think Bartley Gorman can be dismissed as a different league to these guys just because Shaw hadnt heard of him.

[The Lads]

Bartley Gorman would probably have hammered both of them.

Bartley, who's nephew, Sam, makes his comeback to professional boxing in Leciester on February 16 after 17 months out of the game, offered to fight Roy Shaw and Lenny McLean several times and was turned down.

He is legend in the Midlands.

Have a read of this if you don't know too much about the 'King of the Gypsies'
:[Only registered and activated users can see links]


Tom,

i read the following on the wiki page for Bartley


After a drinking session in Coventry, Bartley was challenged to take on Blond Simey, one of two top fighters in the vast Irish clan of travellers, the Dochertys. He arrived at the old building site where the Irish clan were staying, tore off his shirt and fought off two dogs which were set on him. When it became clear his opponent wasn't there, he overturned a car in anger and made off.


I wonder if Blond SImey of the Docherty clan is any relation to Tony Docherty?

[The Lads]

The lads...you fucking arrogant prick.

Yes?

or was that an insult because I dont buy into the fact kicking seven shades of shit out of pub goers, and fighting like minded trained athletes is the same thing?

[brown bomber]

I dont buy into the fact kicking seven shades of shit out of pub goers, and fighting like minded trained athletes is the same thing? I can tell you first hand that your 100% correct.

[TomPodmore]

Tom,

i read the following on the wiki page for Bartley



I wonder if Blond SImey of the Docherty clan is any relation to Tony Docherty?

Every chance. I heard that Tony Docherty has a famous bare-knuckle fighting background.

[The Lads]

Not sure Tony (junior) has one? He was an accompliched Welsh welterweight amateur with, i believe, 100 odd fights under his belt. His family however is vast. Doesnt his grandmother have 90 grandchildren or something?

[TomPodmore]

Sorry, meant to put that Tony has a family with a famous bare-knuckle background. Tony, of course, was an international amateur.

[brown bomber]

Tony is quality was very suprised when he lost to Mcintyre however in hindsight not such a bad result.

[The Lads]

Did he ever really "take off" as a pro. I didnt think he ever really made the transition, not compared to what I personally expected.

[janitor]

These guys are basicaly glorified bar brawlers and nothing more. They dominated a verry small and isolated talent pool.

I would not compare them in any way to the British bare knuckle champions of the 19th century such as Tom Cribb who were genuine athletes.

[brown bomber]

Did he ever really "take off" as a pro. I didnt think he ever really made the transition, not compared to what I personally expected. Not really but I think thats more to do with ******s softly, softly approach which doesn't really suit all fighters. I trained with him a few times and he is quick and heavy handed... I would certainly put him amongst the most talented fighters i've trained with.

[TomPodmore]

I've only seen him live once as a pro - a 60-54 points win over my mate Ernie Smith at the Nottingham Arena in 2006 - but you get the impression he could and should be acheiving more. I did see him at the Commonwealth Games in 2002, losing to Ali Nuumembe on a cut. No shame in that.

I think it would be true to say that his career has never really hit the heights it should have, though he is only young (24) and has time on his side. I've never seen someone with so much family at ringside.

That close loss to Kevin McIntyre doesn't look so bad in light of the Scot winning the British title.