My photo shows Ron Cooper (left) & Sammy McCarthy (right) visiting the Geezers in Bow. They were accompanied by Charlie Wright, Chairman of the London Ex-Boxers Association.
In my 3 min audio clip Charlie Wright asks Ron Cooper how he got started in boxing.
It was brilliant to hear what are now historic stories directly from the participants themselves. Ron Cooper won the ABA light-weight title in 1947 which got him a place in the 1948 Olympic team. Sammy McCarthy was the British featherweight champion between 1954 and 1955 and also fought for the British lightweight title and the European and British Empire featherweight titles.
Both of these two fighters boxed at Mile End Arena and other local venues, but their boxing records include multiple fights at the Royal Albert Hall and Earls Court. We were hearing from boxing royalty, and it was a privilege to be there.