Sweet D Data files: Funso Banjo was additional than just a title | Boxing News
I WAS scrolling by means of social media and discovered an aged write-up that grabbed my notice for the reason that of the names of the boxers it stated. Funso Banjo, Hughroy Currie, Colin Jones, Sylvester Mittee and Kostas Petrou. It was these a random collection. They have been great fighters, with different degrees of accomplishment.
As I read through about each and every fighter, I was get over with a wave of nostalgia, the pleased variety. What also got my attention was that beside Funso Banjo, it just mentioned, father of Ashley and Jordan Banjo.
That is proper. Funso is their father. For people who do not know, Ashley and Jordan are now television personalities. Their acceptance was born out of profitable Britain’s Acquired Expertise in 2009 as a element of ‘Diversity’ dance troop. Extra lately, Jordan was spotted in the most up-to-date I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Right here.
But Funso need to be remembered for far more than just staying the father of Ashley and Jordan Banjo. It is way too quick to neglect what boxers reached, the problems they overcame and the sacrifices they manufactured, notably if they did not win any key titles along the way.
Funso Banjo undoubtedly compensated his dues. As an newbie he won the Jap Counties heavyweight title in 1978 and was the runner-up in 1980. When he turned professional a calendar year later he went on to get his to start with 14 bouts and was recognised as just one of the very best big adult men in the state.
Then, in 1984, he confronted American contender Marvis Frazier in a 10-rounder in Muswell Hill. Beforehand, the television commentators mentioned that Banjo’s purpose was to display Frank Bruno that he was the most effective heavyweight in Britain. Victory more than Frazier, who was in-amongst his losses to Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson, would have introduced Banjo onto the entire world heavyweight scene.
But Banjo shed a shut factors decision to Frazier on a Frank Warren bill that also involved Pat Cowdell beating future belt-holder, Kelvin Seabrooks. Soon after the reduction to Frazier, Banjo would reduce another incredibly limited bout on factors, this time to Hughroy Currie – an opponent Banjo experienced previously outscored for the Southern Region title
– in a contest for the vacant British title. Banjo’s last bout came in 1986 when he hosted yet another prime American heavyweight, Greg Page. Funso retired after being disqualified by referee Mike Jacobs for keeping. His history examine 15-3 (6).
I bear in mind Banjo teaching at my gym in Tottenham. I’d only had five fights at the time. As a new experienced with a restricted beginner career, I was keen to spar with any heavyweight in the health and fitness center or wherever I could get sparring. As defined in a preceding column, which is how I designed up for my absence of encounter and developed my video game.
Banjo was much more knowledgeable than me but I was a 21 yrs aged and formidable. We sparred a few rounds. We moved close to the ring wanting for the other’s openings.
Rapidly, Funso realised that I was far better than he anticipated, and, to my surprise, he grabbed me and lifted me up like a weightlifter. He carried me around the top rope and dumped me out the ring then mentioned out loud: “You’re too excellent, male!” We laughed and turned good friends.
Banjo was a businessman and had numerous organizations, a person remaining a made use of car ton. I acquired a automobile from him but immediately after a number of months the car or truck had a mechanical problem, so Banjo instructed me to just take the vehicle back and he improved it for yet another a single. That auto had a difficulty as well, so he altered it once more.
Very well, soon after numerous months of me exchanging defective cars and trucks, he came very good and gave me a Red Mercedes Benz Coupe 280CE on one particular ailment – I could only have it for the weekend. Useless to say, I favored the car and being as though it offered considerably superior value for revenue that the other motor vehicles he’d marketed me, I held on to it for lengthier than just a pair of days.
Banjo didn’t get launched on to the globe scene as he envisioned but he did accomplish successes as a competitive boxer for the duration of a stable period. As very well as that early win above Currie, he also defeated Noel Quarless, Stewart Lithgo and Ron Ellis, a South African who obtained the choice over a 4- heavyweight known as Derek Williams in 1985!
The Banjo title is now recognised in leisure mainly because of the fame of Ashley and Jordan but I would add beside any foreseeable future biography, that Funso Banjo he was not only a quite superior British heavyweight he was also, back again in 1984, just 1 earn away from demanding the world’s most effective.
To gain a residing in the boxing business, as a qualified boxer, usually takes a whole lot of courage. That is a thing that should in no way be overlooked.
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I WAS scrolling by means of social media and discovered an aged write-up that grabbed my notice for the reason that of the names of the boxers it stated. Funso Banjo, Hughroy Currie, Colin Jones, Sylvester Mittee and Kostas Petrou. It was these a random collection. They have been great fighters, with different degrees of accomplishment.
As I read through about each and every fighter, I was get over with a wave of nostalgia, the pleased variety. What also got my attention was that beside Funso Banjo, it just mentioned, father of Ashley and Jordan Banjo.
That is proper. Funso is their father. For people who do not know, Ashley and Jordan are now television personalities. Their acceptance was born out of profitable Britain’s Acquired Expertise in 2009 as a element of ‘Diversity’ dance troop. Extra lately, Jordan was spotted in the most up-to-date I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Right here.
But Funso need to be remembered for far more than just staying the father of Ashley and Jordan Banjo. It is way too quick to neglect what boxers reached, the problems they overcame and the sacrifices they manufactured, notably if they did not win any key titles along the way.
Funso Banjo undoubtedly compensated his dues. As an newbie he won the Jap Counties heavyweight title in 1978 and was the runner-up in 1980. When he turned professional a calendar year later he went on to get his to start with 14 bouts and was recognised as just one of the very best big adult men in the state.
Then, in 1984, he confronted American contender Marvis Frazier in a 10-rounder in Muswell Hill. Beforehand, the television commentators mentioned that Banjo’s purpose was to display Frank Bruno that he was the most effective heavyweight in Britain. Victory more than Frazier, who was in-amongst his losses to Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson, would have introduced Banjo onto the entire world heavyweight scene.
But Banjo shed a shut factors decision to Frazier on a Frank Warren bill that also involved Pat Cowdell beating future belt-holder, Kelvin Seabrooks. Soon after the reduction to Frazier, Banjo would reduce another incredibly limited bout on factors, this time to Hughroy Currie – an opponent Banjo experienced previously outscored for the Southern Region title
– in a contest for the vacant British title. Banjo’s last bout came in 1986 when he hosted yet another prime American heavyweight, Greg Page. Funso retired after being disqualified by referee Mike Jacobs for keeping. His history examine 15-3 (6).
I bear in mind Banjo teaching at my gym in Tottenham. I’d only had five fights at the time. As a new experienced with a restricted beginner career, I was keen to spar with any heavyweight in the health and fitness center or wherever I could get sparring. As defined in a preceding column, which is how I designed up for my absence of encounter and developed my video game.
Banjo was much more knowledgeable than me but I was a 21 yrs aged and formidable. We sparred a few rounds. We moved close to the ring wanting for the other’s openings.
Rapidly, Funso realised that I was far better than he anticipated, and, to my surprise, he grabbed me and lifted me up like a weightlifter. He carried me around the top rope and dumped me out the ring then mentioned out loud: “You’re too excellent, male!” We laughed and turned good friends.
Banjo was a businessman and had numerous organizations, a person remaining a made use of car ton. I acquired a automobile from him but immediately after a number of months the car or truck had a mechanical problem, so Banjo instructed me to just take the vehicle back and he improved it for yet another a single. That auto had a difficulty as well, so he altered it once more.
Very well, soon after numerous months of me exchanging defective cars and trucks, he came very good and gave me a Red Mercedes Benz Coupe 280CE on one particular ailment – I could only have it for the weekend. Useless to say, I favored the car and being as though it offered considerably superior value for revenue that the other motor vehicles he’d marketed me, I held on to it for lengthier than just a pair of days.
Banjo didn’t get launched on to the globe scene as he envisioned but he did accomplish successes as a competitive boxer for the duration of a stable period. As very well as that early win above Currie, he also defeated Noel Quarless, Stewart Lithgo and Ron Ellis, a South African who obtained the choice over a 4- heavyweight known as Derek Williams in 1985!
The Banjo title is now recognised in leisure mainly because of the fame of Ashley and Jordan but I would add beside any foreseeable future biography, that Funso Banjo he was not only a quite superior British heavyweight he was also, back again in 1984, just 1 earn away from demanding the world’s most effective.
To gain a residing in the boxing business, as a qualified boxer, usually takes a whole lot of courage. That is a thing that should in no way be overlooked.