[01
FEB 01] WARWICK DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS
Boxing Legend Turpin Could Get Statue
The
life of a great boxer could be commemorated in Warwick if plans
to erect a statue to Randolph Turpin are approved.
Born
in 1928, he lived in Warwick and Leamington all his life and
caused one of the biggest upsets in boxing history when he beat
Sugar Ray Robinson to win the world middleweight title in 1951.
The
most famous black sportsman of his generation, Turpin was
mentioned in the millennium Sporting legends, which were
announced last year.
He
will shortly be inaugurated into the American Boxing Hall of
Fame, and Warwick District Council is considering honouring him
in his home town.
Fund-raisers
have spent three years raising enough money for a statue to
Turpin, who also was the British light-heavyweight champion in
1952, 1955 and 1956 and the Commonwealth light-heavyweight
champion in 1952.
The
7ft statue is being commissioned by sculptor Karl Payne, who
recently completed a similar statue of Sir Stanley Matthews for
Stoke.
The
original scheme had been to put the statue in Leamington next to
the site of the Regent Hotel.
But
delays with the redevelopment of the site meant the statue would
not go up this year - the 50th anniversary of Turpin winning his
world title.
Turpin,
whose older brother Dick also won boxing titles, was a member of
the Leamington Boy’s Club and lived in Leamington and Warwick
throughout his life, and the focus has now turned to Warwick to
find a home for the statue in the town centre.
The
idea is being supported by Warwick Chamber of Trade and
Turpin’s family.
Turpin
only held the title for three months, losing a rematch to
Robinson in ten rounds. When Turpin left boxing he declined into
bankruptcy and died in 1966 when he committed suicide.
But
the first fight stunned the boxing world as he out-pointed the
ill-prepared champion, whose entourage included a midget,
masseur, shoeshine man and a hairdresser, and inflicted a gash
that required 14 stitches.
Such
was the impact of his victory that it is believed that the
statue will help attract tourists to the town.
Warwick
District Council’s executive will decide whether to support
the scheme at a meeting next Monday.
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