Yesterday somebody passed away who I remember fondly from my childhood days when I first got into the sport of Boxing ? Jack Bodell.
Bodell was a heavyweight boxer who boxed as a light-heavyweight as an amateur but who won the British heavyweight title back in October 1969 and after losing it to Henry Copper won it back against Joe Bugner in 1971 to become the British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight title holder.
Born in Derbyshire, Bodell had 71 fights, winning 58 and losing 13, retiring in 1972.
Back in 1966, Bodell became friends with the legend that was Muhammed Ali and sparred with the great when he was preparing for a world heavyweight title fight against Karl Mildenburger.
Bodell and Ali remained friends and Ali came to the UK to officially open a Fish and Chip shop that Bodell owned in Coventry.
In his later life Bodell suffered from dementia, at his time of passing he was 76.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
RIP – Jack Bodell.
Jack Bodell – RIP
