Coming in all sizes, they were simply the finest

SEARCH on You Tube and you will come across the 1970 choreographed dream heavyweight bout between Muhammed Ali and Rocky Marciano. This was not a real fight nor a computer fight, but a crafty way of making money at a time when neither was able to fight legally, Ali because of his ban following his refusal to go to Vietnam and Marciano because of his age.

The two greats sparred for about 70 to 75 rounds, the whole thing was filmed and guided by computer findings drawn from 250 boxing experts and the outcome was that Marciano, toupee at all, won by a 13th round knockout. Travesty.

Ali reportedly said: 'That computer was made in Alabama,' joking that Marciano was favoured because he was white.

But whatever, it failed to prove anything other than you can make money if the idea is original.

Judging the respective abilities of boxers across the generations and weight categories is about as hazardous as stepping into the ring with the undefeated Marciano was in his pomp. But, it's done nevertheless and as a new domestic boxing season fast approaches it offers us the excuse to determine just who were the great Guernsey boxers?

Nobody is around who can recall the pre Occupation greats of the sport, an era when the local pugilists fought for Guernsey and Channel Islands titles.

And with no hard evidence to work on I have steered clear of the pre-war men and concentrated on those who have thrilled local crowds over the last six decades.

Les Guille, 79, and stalwart of the Amalgamated Boys Club, was a valuable source of information as to who were the men to avoid. So, too, was former Press sports editor John Le Poidevin who, like Guille, recollects some of the noisy, smoky nights at St George's Hall.

In latter years 'JLeP' particularly enjoyed the cracking Sarnian ABC Sunday night shows at the Carlton Hotel and for many winters was a regular at the dinner boxing at the Duke of Richmond.

Throw in the expertise of former Amalgamated and Sarnia club coach Gerry Walsh, who once fought Dick McTaggart, the 1956 Olympic Games lightweight champion, former CI light middleweight champion Colin Devenport and my own 30 years of ringside experiences at the Carlton, Richmond and St Pierre Park and we have enough evidence to compile a short list of seven greats spanning the decades since the war when the Regal Cinema was regularly packed to the seams.

Inevitably, many a decent fighter has not make the list. Current star Matt Jennings was considered, as were the likes of Reg Le Gallez, Norman Veron, Freddie Mahy, Jimmy Enticott, the Opies, Kenny Simon and Johnny Kreckeler, the hard-hitter who called his right hand Morphia, because it put his opponents to sleep.

They are presented in no particular order.

The Marciano-Ali film farce showed how impossible it was to put one great of one era above another, but the following magnificent seven were not to be messed with.

Les Collins

Never beaten on local soil, the undefeated CI middleweight champion and legendary footballer, ever lost only one bout, against Walter Beckett in the ABA finals.

A measure of Beckett's class was that he went on to fight the great Randolph Turpin.

Domestically, nobody could touch this super-fit man, dedicated to his boxing.

He fought Jersey star Ronnie Duncombe four times for the CI middleweight championship and stopped him on most occasions.

Service champion after service champion was brought along to St George's Hall to challenge the super Sarnian, but none could get the better of him.

Jonny Veron

The Matt Jennings of his time and as tough as they come.

A knockout specialist he thrilled St George's crowds.

In 1957 when professional boxing tournaments were revived there and a crowd of 1,300 fought their way in, leaving 200-plus disappointed and outside on the pavement, Veron topped the bill against Wembley's Danny Wall.

Hard-nut Veron did his best in front of his home crowd to avenge a recent KO by Wall, but the best he could do was stay the distance with the English pro.

But in domestic amateur terms, Veron was fairly formidable - 'a formidable hitter' Les Guille called him - and held the title of island heavyweight champion.

Devenport, who admits to favouring Jonny's brother Norman - 'he was my idol and I'd rate his against anybody' - recalls one particular Jonny Veron bout.

'I saw him when he fought Malloy, the southern area champion, in Jersey. Jon hit him so hard it was the last fight Malloy had.'

Sadly, Veron's career will always be associated with the sad death of a local opponent, Len Lorier, who died as a result of a KO punch at St George's Hall.

Matthew Walsh

Undoubtedly the most skilful boxer of the modern era and good enough to beat the European junior lightweight champion M. Kulaz from Germany at the Carlton.

Boxed 98 times all told, 36 of them as a senior and with very few defeats.

Represented the England schoolboys team twice and the juniors once. He was unlucky to miss out on a second junior cap when the English ABA abandoned a trip to the USA where he was scheduled to box Mark Breland who went on to become WBA welterweight champion.

Good enough also to be matched with the senior ABA champion Terry Marsh, who went onto win the IBF world light-welterweight title before having to retire through illness.

Alain Branquet

Followed his elder brother Marcel, from their French birthplace in Denain near the Belgian border and was good enough to turn professional.

Shane, one of his two surviving sons, understands his father fought over 80 amateur bouts before turning professional in 1956.

He boxed as a pro for five years and although it was without great success the money from his dozen-plus fights was sufficient to cover the cost of buying a plot and building a family home at L'Eree where his widow still lives today.

A CI bantamweight champion his career was held up for two years as a result of a boxing trip to his homeland.

He was forced to do two years national service and he went to fight with the French paratroopers in Vietnam.

'He was tough . . . a very compact boxer,' said Devenport.

Died of a heart attack aged 47.

Don Cosheril

Ridunian Don left for a professional career in London in 1954 and within a few years had climbed into the top five in the British bantamweight rankings.

Boxed an official eliminator against John Smiley in Middlesbrough, losing on points.

A professional for eight years it is believed he remains the only Channel islander to have boxed 10 rounds.

That was against Ron Jones in an eliminator for the southern area title at St George's Hall.

Before leaving the amateur circles he twice won the CI bantamweight title in the early 50s, on one of those occasions knocking out Marcel Branquet in the second round at Springfield in Jersey.

Marcel Branquet

Quick and game, the elder of the brothers was an outstanding flyweight of his time - the 1950s.

He was brought to the island by the German forces as a labourer early in the Occupation.

Before very long he had taken up boxing and was one of a number of very talented boxers to come out of the Delancey Progressive Club.

Won both the CI and south-west of England area titles and on his retirement became a judge at dinner boxing shows.

Was also instrumental in starting up the Vale Rec minis' football section.

Paul Rose

A pulverising hitter and brave as they come.

'He was such a strong lad and a promoter's dream,' recalls Walsh of the Ridunian light-heavyweight who at a Sarnian ABC show at the Carlton beat Harold Hilton who went onto win the ABA heavyweight title and represent England at the Commonwealth Games.

'Paul could hit severely with both hands. He wasn't a clean KO puncher but the aggression meant his opponents were always wary of him.

An openclass boxer he retired to a trainer's career and is now producing another generation of Ridunian fighters. If any of them turn out to be as talented and brave as 'Rosy,' then boxing fans will be in for a real treat.