A Boxing Memory: Tony Sibson vs. Alan Minter

A Boxing Memory: Tony Sibson vs. Alan Minter

“Sibson hit me with a blinder of a punch. I think it would have knocked out any fighter in the world.” Alan Minter

Boxing rarely allows a former champion to leave the sport without shedding at least some semblance of their dignity. Very few leave boxing on their own terms. Many are in denial that they are no longer what they once were. Some reside on the right side of delusion, but they still need to fight on for a multitude of reasons. The reasons may differ, but the majority end up on the wrong side of a vicious or humiliating defeat.

In September of 1980, Alan Minter was the undisputed middleweight champion of the world. Less than a year later, Minter was starting life as a retired boxer. Marvelous Marvin Hagler had ripped away his world titles on an infamous night in British boxing history. Minter’s face was sliced to pieces by the slashing fists of the fearsome American, and a section of the Wembley crowd let themselves down, and their country, with a racially motivated drunken riot as Hagler was crowned the new world middleweight champion.

Minter talked about once again winning the world title, but after a comeback win over Ernie Singletary, Minter travelled to America and lost a split decision to Mustafa Hamsho that ended any immediate hopes of another world title shot. Minter seemed to fade down the stretch, and those closing rounds cost Minter the decision, although many still had him beating Hamsho.

Tony Sibson was the up-and-coming British middleweight contender. Sibson had enjoyed reigns as the British, Commonwealth and European champion and hadn’t tasted defeat since the night Kevin Finnegan beat him in 1979 when the Leicester fighter turned up in less than-peak condition. By 1981, Sibson was the reigning European champion and was coming off a win in Spain against Andoni Amana, which had earned Sibson his European bauble. With Minter needing to take a step down after his loss to Hamsho and Sibson needing a marque win against an established name to push himself into the world title picture, the fight between the two was a natural and was made with the European title on the line. But after nine years as a professional, and after losing two of his last three fights, Minter knew his entire career was on the line also.

“This is my chance to come out of the shadows,” Sibson said while Minter talked about old sparring sessions and said he couldn’t retire without facing his British rival. Minter believed he was the fighter with the bigger punch. The fight itself would tell a very different story.

The fight was scheduled to air on the BBC, but when Minter got an advertising deal with DAF Trucks, the BBC wouldn’t show the fight because of the DAF logo on Minter’s shorts. The Minter camp tried to cover the logo with sticking plaster, but when the plaster kept falling off, the BBC pulled the fight from their schedule because of their strict advertising policy. The fight took place on the 15th September at the Wembley Arena with Sibson and Minter, both earning a reported £80,000. Although there was some suggestion that Minter earned a little more than his British rival.

After a tight opening round, which Minter probably edged from his southpaw stance, the former world champion continued his good start in the following round. Sibson was missing with his patented left hook, and Minter picked him off almost at will. But the fight between the two former sparring partners would explode in the third round.

After his slow start, Sibson picked up the pace and started landing more frequently with his more powerful punches, but there were no signs that the end was imminent. But one almighty left hook dropped Minter when the two fighters were on the ropes. Somehow, Minter got to his feet, but when Sibson dropped him again, the fight was over. And the career of Minter also. Minter was only 29, but his long career had taken its toll.

Sibson couldn’t quite emulate Minter on the world stage. He found Marvin Hagler far too good for him in 1983, and at the tail end of his career Sibson lost world title fights to Dennis Andries and Frank Tate and retired in 1988 after a long and eventful career.