Post by dallen on Aug 26, 2010 18:06:35 GMT -5
Some years ago i read in Boxing News the UK bible on boxing that a oldtime Heavyweight was in a old peoples, home close to were i lived in Berkshire.I phoned the home and asked the matron if the heavyweight would like a visit from a boxing fan.She phoned back in minutes to say the boxer would love a visit,his name was Charlie Smith and had fought Reggie Meen for the British Title in 1931.I set off to visit Charlie and was hoping i did not bore him to tears,taking with me some boxing magazines to give to him.On arriving i was taken to a very large room with a mixture of old ladies and men having afternoon tea.All of a sudden a very large man rose with his hand outstreached to greet me,he said thank you for coming i said the pleasure is all mine.Charlie said lets go to my room so we can have a good old chat.On entering Charlies room there was a huge carving of a boxer on a plinth,Charlie said it was presented to him in Sweden after a fight there.I asked Chalie i was surprised that he lost the Title fight with Reggie Meen as he had previous beaten him quite easily.He said on the day of the fight his manager had given him a orange to suck on,when he got into the ring he was feeling very ill.Also he reckoned his manager had gambled a stash of cash on Meen at very good odds.Who can say what the truth is,or was a old man just making excuses for the loss.
We got talking about the boxers in his era,and when i mentioned Jack Kid Berg he said that arrogant little shit.Then he told me he was in the USA and bumped into Kid Berg being interviewed on the street after the Kid Chocolate fight.Charlie said i stepped forward to say well done and he turned his back on me and completely snubbed me.
Funny thing Charlie was proud off the fact he had his own toilet in the home,which he had paid extra for.And told me one of the resident kept creeping in and using it when his back was turned.It turned out the culprit had a poor aim and Charlie was furious when he found out it was a old vicar in the home.I said Charlie he was only blessing it for you,on leaving Charlie was still laughing at my remark.Sadly about three weeks later Charlie sadly passed away,but i will always have a soft spot for him.
We got talking about the boxers in his era,and when i mentioned Jack Kid Berg he said that arrogant little shit.Then he told me he was in the USA and bumped into Kid Berg being interviewed on the street after the Kid Chocolate fight.Charlie said i stepped forward to say well done and he turned his back on me and completely snubbed me.
Funny thing Charlie was proud off the fact he had his own toilet in the home,which he had paid extra for.And told me one of the resident kept creeping in and using it when his back was turned.It turned out the culprit had a poor aim and Charlie was furious when he found out it was a old vicar in the home.I said Charlie he was only blessing it for you,on leaving Charlie was still laughing at my remark.Sadly about three weeks later Charlie sadly passed away,but i will always have a soft spot for him.
