The British produced some quality heavyweights during the 1950’s and 60’s. Of course ” Ol’ ” Enry ‘ Cooper comes to mind. There was rugged Joe Erskine and Wales gave us Dick Richardson. Later Billy ” The Golden Boy ” Walker would emerge. One of the best was Brian London who would twice fight for world title honors.
Brian was born in 1934 and turned professional in 1955. He won his first twelve bouts, eleven by knockout before being stopped in one round by Henry Cooper in 1956. Brian bounced back to win eight of his next nine before dropping a decision to the clever Willie Pastrano in 1958. Three months later London would halt Joe Erskine in eight rounds to win the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. He would then stop Pastrano on cuts in a rematch.
Brian was now a serious contender for a world title shot. In 1959 he lost his titles by decision to Henry Cooper. Nevertheless he was awarded a shot at Floyd Patterson’s heavyweight title. After a valiant effort, Floyd stopped London in eleven rounds. Brian would then be stopped in seven by the dangerous Nino valdes.
In 1960 London would halt former Olympic Gold Medallist Pete Rademacher. Later in the year Dick Richardson he stop Brian in his attempt to win the European title. In 1961 the highly rated Eddie Machen kayoed London in ten. In 1962 he dropped a decision to Santo Amonti.
In 1963 Brian would lose a twelve round decision to former world champion Ingemar Johansson. It would be Ingo’s last fight. In 1964 he again lost a fifteen rounder to Henry Cooper with the European, British and Commonwealth titles on the line. He then lost to up and coming Johnny Prescott but amazingly rebounded to defeat Chip Johnson, Billy Walker and Roger Rischer.
In 1966 he dropped a decision to a very talented Thad Spencer. Later in the year Brian received his second shot at immortality when he met Muhammad Ali for the world’s title. In one of young Ali’s best performances, he battered Brian in three rounds.
Brian continued on. He lost a tough decision to the highly touted Jerry Quarry. He then defeated Zora Folley. In 1968 he suffered damaging kayo losses to Roberto Davilla and Jack Bodell. Although he drew with Henry Clark in 1969 he later lost to Jimmy ” The King ” Fletcher and was taken out in two in a return bout with Quarry.
In 1970 Brian was taken out in five by rising star Joe Bugner and that ended his career. London engaged in 58 professional contests. He won 37 of them, 26 by knockout. He fought four world champions. Ali, Patterson, Johansson and Pastrano. He met six boxers that vied for world title honors in Henry Cooper, Pete Rademacher, Eddie Machen, Jerry Quarry, Zora Folley and Joe Bugner. He also met other top notch guys like Nino Valdes, Thad Spencer and Henry Clark just to name a few.
Brian London had a very respectable career and he did England proud.