Comments on: Stephen "Johnny" Hicks, the boxer-poet

By: John Warren

John Warren — Wed, 29 May 2019 11:12:23 +0000

Boxing has always been my favourite sport and i like poetry so when i saw Stephens book for sale in an East London shop i knew i had to buy it. His is a great story that deserves to be read.

By: I was just going through some of my boxing books when I came across The Boxer Speaks by Stephen Hicks. His poems are absolutely fantastic - really wonderful. I also learned from the messages above that Stephen has passed on. Did Stephen have many poetry b

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 19:33:34 +0000

If any of this lovely man’s poetry is still available, I would like to purchase them.
Brian Madden (Belfast)

By: terry fisher

terry fisher — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 20:25:05 +0000

steve was a lovely man he would come see my mum dad for dinner he gave us sweets my dad billy fisher took him home in his car my mum got loads off photos what he give to her and books what he had done

By: Dawn Bates

Dawn Bates — Thu, 22 May 2014 10:41:09 +0000

I was a neighbour of Steve Hicks in the 1970’s. I was only young but remember he would throw a comic and a few coins out of his window to us when we were playing outside. He was quite ill at the time but must have enjoyed hearing the young voices outside having fun (unlike some of the older tenants). He was quite frail towards the end his closest neighbour used to make his dinners. I remember when he died, a few famous boxers turned up for his funeral (Henry Cooper). That was a strange site in our old victorian buildings.

By: Sean Corby

Sean Corby — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:28:49 +0000

I read this with great interest and a little lump in my throat. I’ll continue to read Stephen’s poems and will try to find out more about him.

I’ve been an amateur boxer and a professional trumpet player. An odd combination, so Stephen’s story is very inspiring.

By: William Ewing

William Ewing — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:54:14 +0000

The old uns are the good uns both in sport (boxing) and honest literature. From Bill Ewing former amateur boxer in West Ham.

By: Joy

Joy — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:00:26 +0000

How lovely to see my Uncle Stevie memories and poems on this site.I remember him as a gentle quiet man the same as his brother my grandfather Jack Hicks.
As a child I never heard U.Stevie or my Grandad talk about thier boxing days although I did know they both boxed. I have found out more since researching the Hicks family tree.
Alan, he mentions in his book about his niece Margeret and her husband Billy Fisher I know nothing of these can you throw any light on them?
U.Stevie was a very good life poet some of his works still apply today.

By: Gary Slinn

Gary Slinn — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:19:56 +0000

I am the grandson of Harry Brown who unfortunately threw the punch that blinded poor Johnny Hicks. My Grandfather was not an unfeeling man and indeed was very sensitive. He never mentioned the fact that an opponent was blinded to us and I feel that it would have distressed him greatly. I am pleased to see Johnny describe it as an unlucky blow for that is what it was and I hope they have been able to be united again as boxing colleagues .

By: Nick Pollard

Nick Pollard — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:11:00 +0000

Great to see this out again – I’ve recently read my copy of Sparring for Luck again and it’s fantastic to find that this kind of book and these voices are being read by new generations.

By: Alan Gilbey

Alan Gilbey — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:06:25 +0000

It was lovely to see some of Steve’s stuff out in the world again. As one of the original producers of his books it’s good that there’s a new way of his work living on.