Five spars at the Spurs: Tottenham’s ground has been staging big boxing matches for almost a century
Five spars at the Spurs: Tottenham’s ground has been staging big boxing matches for almost a century, including Frank Bruno winning the first big fight promoted by Barry Hearn
- Anthony Joshua meets Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Tottenham’s old ground White Hart Lane staged some legendary bouts
- Bruce Woodcock won an epic Battle of Britain over Jack London in 1945
- Frank Bruno stopped Joe Bugner in eight rounds in front of 40,000 fans in 1987
- Michael Watson’s tragic loss to Chris Eubank was the last big fight at the Lane
Anthony Joshua prepares to meet Oleksandr Usyk at the spanking new Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Saturday.
But the history of boxing at Tottenham’s football ground goes back almost a century.
Sportsmail looks at five significant fights at Spurs’ old home White Hart Lane.
Anthony Joshua (pictured) will fight Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
It’s the first fight to be held at Spurs’ new stadium but White Hart Lane staged many bouts
JIM SMITH v PAT KING (April 13, 1922)
In the first open-air fight staged in London, 7,000 fans saw Smith beat King for the Dockland Settlements Championship.
FREDDIE MILLS v LEN HARVEY (June 20, 1942)
The event had to finish in daylight to avoid lights in the ground breaching the blackout imposed during the Blitz. Fearless Freddie obliged by knocking out British and Empire light-heavyweight champion Harvey in the second round.
BRUCE WOODCOCK v JACK LONDON (July 17, 1945)
In a highly-anticipated Battle of Britain, Woodcock inflicted three knockdowns in the sixth round to relieve Jack London of the British and Empire heavyweight titles.
FRANK BRUNO v JOE BUGNER (Oct 24, 1987)
Forty thousand flocked to the first big fight to be promoted by Barry Hearn.
Frank Bruno beat Joe Bugner in eight rounds at White Hart Lane in 1987 in front of 40,000 fans
Only family and friends supported Bugner, who had never been forgiven for his points defeat of heavyweight favourite Henry Cooper.
Bugner had come out of retirement but made a fight of it until Bruno stopped him in the eighth round.
CHRIS EUBANK v MICHAEL WATSON (Sept 24, 1991)
This tragic world super-middleweight title battle ended with Watson fighting for his life and then harrowingly disabled.
Chris Eubank’s fight with Michael Watson in 1991 saw Watson end up in a coma
Watson was ahead on all scorecards but was caught by an upper-cut in the 11th round from which he had not recovered when he was sent out for the 12th.
The fight was stopped and minutes later he collapsed.
With no ambulance present, vital minutes were lost before he received oxygen and was taken to hospital. Watson came out of a coma unable to speak or walk.
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