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John Claridge’s Boxers (Round Nine)

December 26, 2012
by the gentle author

On Boxing Day, the day in the festive calendar traditionally associated with sporting activities, it is my delight to introduce Round Nine in the epic series of characterful portraits of the members of the London Ex-Boxers Association by Contributing Photographer John Claridge.

David Parker (First fight 1956 – Last fight 1961)

Anthony Brinton (Boxing Trainer)

Freddie King (First fight 1951 – Last fight 1965)

Dean Ferris (First fight 1986 – Last fight 1993)

Henry Browne “of London Town” (First fight 1936 – Last fight 1952)

Jim Oliver (First fight 1961 – Last fight 1978)

Billy Walker (First fight 1959 – Last fight 1962)

Stephen Kent (London Ex-Boxers Association resident filmmaker)

Bernie Dillan (First fight 1945 – Last fight 1961)

Albert Collier (Footballer from boxing family)

Billy Meek (First fight 1949 – Last fight 1972. Plus parallel career as jockey)

Roy Pollard (First fight 1947 – Last fight 1954)

Photographs copyright © John Claridge

Take a look at

John Claridge’s Boxers (Round One)

John Claridge’s Boxers (Round Two)

John Claridge’s Boxers (Round Three)

John Claridge’s Boxers (Round Four)

John Claridge’s Boxers (Round Five)

John Claridge’s Boxers (Round Six)

John Claridge’s Boxers (Round Seven)

John Claridge’s Boxers (Round Eight)

and these other pictures by John Claridge

John Claridge’s East End

Along the Thames with John Claridge

At the Salvation Army with John Claridge

In a Lonely Place

A Few Diversions by John Claridge

This was my Landscape

John Claridge’s Spent Moments

Signs, Posters, Typography & Graphics

Working People & a Dog

Invasion of the Monoliths

Time Out with John Claridge

Views from a Dinghy by John Claridge

People on the Street & a Cat

In Another World with John Claridge

A Few Pints with John Claridge

A Nation Of Shopkeepers

Some East End Portraits by John Claridge

Sunday Morning Stroll with John Claridge

John Claridge’s Cafe Society

Graphics & Graffiti

Just Another Day With John Claridge

At the Salvation Army in Eighties

8 Responses leave one →
  1. December 26, 2012

    More great faces.

  2. December 26, 2012

    Fantastic faces!!

  3. Adrian Taylor permalink
    December 26, 2012

    Such magnificent mugs!
    Happy New Year!
    AT

  4. David Drakes permalink
    December 27, 2012

    JC’s lens never lies! . . . clearly these guys , captured during the festive season, are looking forward to the next round in the pub rather than the ring!

  5. December 27, 2012

    Oh John how apt sent on Boxing day – thats great. They are all such wonderful images as ever,and I hope that there are many more to come in the New Year.

    Happy New Year

  6. Olga Secerov permalink
    December 28, 2012

    Stephen Kent looks like a fascinating guy, a boxer and a filmaker. They all look fascinating. I always look forward to more portraits. Happy New Year.

  7. Marien de Goffau permalink
    December 29, 2012

    It’s fascinating. Style and approach are unique. Great to see these portraits again and again and to read their story in those faces. Asking questions and getting answers. The better you look the more they say. That’s much more than just photography. A great experience?

  8. john edwards permalink
    January 11, 2013

    The procession of portraits – & yes! I know you’re going the distance with this one, smudger – appears to grow in intensity as it moves through. And, while it passes ‘ You did what’? ‘ Stuck your nose right on a
    gloved fist coming at you like the Mallard express …. a lot of times’ !!! through the mind, it is moving.
    Knowing the innate cunning, bred in the bone, of the lttle nipper behind these works raining blows on our mind’s eye I reckon that he’s increasing, ever so subtly , not just contrast, but a dream of time articulated in pinning the same marks of battered pugilists – the common canvas shared by all, while showing the unique and marked differences of each old warrior mask …. I was feeling like looking at the ref to stop the contest – but on leaving it to Claridge-Ify for a while I can ‘see perfectly .. again ..’ Take me with you ‘ ….. Albert Collier ‘s gaze wakes another classic of two lovely black eyes, that of John Huston’s ‘ The Maltese Falcon’ with the brilliant debut of Sidney Greenstreet as Gutman – ‘Admire your skill and tenacity sir. Indeed I do man of your qualities sir. Not afraid to go too far!
    Terrific sir!’

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