Howard Winstone – A truly remarkable man, who over came impossible odds to become one of the greatest Welsh boxing warriors of all time.

Few are those who are gifted with the determination and burning desire to succeed in the face of adversity, such as faced by Howard Winstone.

As a young man Howard, a boxer with great potential lost the tips of three fingers of his right hand, whilst working in a local toy factory in his home town of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. The accident was so severe that he was unable to make a fist with his right hand.

Such an accident would have spelt the end of a fighting carrier for any boxer but Howard was not just anybody, being very much a two-fisted fighter with a powerful right hand he completely changed the way he boxed so as to overcome the problem of his weakened right hand by relying much more on a straight left. Remarkably he went on to become Champion of Britain, Champion of Europe and Champion of the World!

 

 

Howard Winstone’s life was an incredible journey of accomplishment, determination and courage – truly giving credibility to the old proverb – Were There Is A Will There Is A Way.

What makes Howard Winston, achievements truly amazing was the fact that he was virtually a one-handed world champion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amateur Career

Howard Winstone, MBE (15 April, 1939 – 30 September, 2000) was a Welsh world champion boxer, born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. As an amateur, Winstone won the Amateur Boxing Association bantamweight title in 1958, and a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff.

Amateur record – Howard Winstone won 83 of his 86 amateur fights.

 

Professional Career

 

He turned professional in 1959 and was managed by former European welterweight champion, Eddie Thomas.

Winstone made his professional debut in February 1959 at Wembley Stadium, London, when he beat Billy Graydon on points over six rounds. He then proceeded to win his first 24 fights.

 

 

In May 1961 he fought Terry Spinks for the British featherweight title at the Empire Pool, Wembley. Spinks retired after the tenth round and Howard Winstone was the new British champion.

 

 

 

His first defeat came at the hands of American, Leroy Jeffery by a technical knockout in the second round after having been knocked down three times. (It was Winstone’s 35th fight).

In July 1963, he challenged for the European featherweight title, fighting Italian holder, Alberto Serti in Cardiff. Winstone won the title when the referee stopped the fight in the fourteenth round.

In 1964 he suffered his second career defeat against another American, Don Johnson. (It was Winstone’s 45th fight).

World Title -- In September 1965 he challenged for the WBA and WBC world featherweight titles held by the Mexican southpaw, Vicente Saldivar. The fight was held at Earls Court Arena, London and Saldivar won on points over fifteen rounds.

In June 1967, Winstone made another bid for the world title and again he lost against Vicente Saldivar, by just half a point.

 

In October of the same year Winstone lost for a third time against Saldivar , this time in Mexico City.

 

In January 1968, Winstone fought the Japanese, Mitsunori Seki for the vacant WBC world featherweight title at the Royal Albert Hall. He won when the fight was stopped in the ninth due to a cut eye, and so finally gained a world title. Saldivar was in the audience to see his vacated title won by his old rival.

 

 

In July 1968 he defended his newly won world title against the Cuban, Jose Legra, at Porthcawl, Wales. Although Winstone had beaten Legra twice before, was knocked down twice in the first round. He continued fighting, but unfortunately he sustained a badly swollen left eye, which caused the bout to be stopped in the fifth round. Having lost the world title in his first defence, Winstone decided to retire at the age of 29.

 

Howard Winstone passed away on the 30th September 200.

There is no doubt that if you were to make a list of fighters with the biggest hearts to go with all the talent, Howard Winstone would be at the top of the list.

A short film of the Howard Winstone story was screened at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, directed by the award winning Neil Jones and starring actor Stuart Brennan as Howard.

Risen – A full length feature film celebrating the life and incredible determination of Howard Winston is set for it's premiere at the WBC Night Of Champions event in Cardiff on July 29th, 2010.