Page 5 - Boxing News Magazine (January 2020)

GUEST COLUMN

‘THE BEST OF MEN’

Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ALEX MORTON

THE funeral of Larry
O’Connell, who passed
away aged 81 on December
30, will take place on Tuesday
January 21 at Thames View
Crematorium, Gravesend Road,
Gravesend, DA12 3JH. It
starts at midday.

NEVER FORGET:
O’Connell in his
Fitzroy Lodge days
[inset] and as a
referee

I owe Larry O’Connell so much, he taught me how to be a better person

ARRY He wasn’t like me; I came from a in an effort to catch the ball. It was Thomas had $7 left between us. We
O’CONNELL showbiz family and I don’t mind Larry. He misjudged it completely played slot machines with it. My
L was my best admitting I was a bit of a show-off in and ended up flat on his face, rolling money disappeared quickly. So too
the ring as I danced around but Larry
down a little slope towards a garage.
friend in boxing.
did Adrian’s. But Larry won $1,600
He helped me
enormously strolled, taking everything in his stride. Next time I saw him he was all and he insisted on sharing it between
the three of us. That’s the kind of
bandaged up! The image of him flying
Without doubt he was among the
when I first best referees the world has ever seen. through the air will always make me bloke he was.
became a He was upset when he got laugh. Not sure what his wife, Beryl, I’ll never forget him tearing into a
referee, but criticised so much for scoring the first thought of it all though. A few years fellow referee who took the p**s out
that was Larry. Lennox Lewis-Evander Holyfield fight later I went to Larry’s house and I was of my own boxing career, jumping to
He’d go out of a draw in March1999. joking about him and his infamous my honour out of the blue.
his way to help He was honest and truthful – ball-catching skills. Beryl stopped He was so talented, too. There’s a
anyone. almost to a fault – and he would have what she was doing and said to Larry, huge painting of his of a horse on the
My first scored that fight exactly as he saw it at ‘Oh, so that’s how you did it? That’s wall in a pub in York. But he was an
Mickey memory that moment. Just because few people not what you told me!’ even better engraver, which was his
Vann of Larry is agreed with him doesn’t make him There was another at the WBC business – he had a shop on Maddox
Former star- watching wrong, either. He was the only one Convention in Las Vegas. We went Street in London. He engraved for the
class referee him box Dick sitting on that stool with that view, over the there with the sole intention Royal Family, for the Pope, for famous
McTaggart in don’t forget. Too often we watch from of voicing our concerns that British people all over the world. He even
the ABA final in the 1960s on the our screens and presume we have a referees were not getting the chance designed the cutlery that was used
television. I thought he won that – but better view than anyone. to officiate in world title fights as at Prince Charles’ wedding to Diana
he didn’t get the decision. There are so many memories of often as we believed we deserved. The in 1981.
He was a lovely boxer. Even in the Larry that put a smile on my face. So day before we were due to be heard Whenever I was in London I’d
ring he was a gentleman. He could many that highlight his sense of fun we got invited out by some American go and see him at his shop. “Hello
fight but he preferred to box. Certain and what incredibly good company referees for drinks. Well, one drink led Mickey,” he’d say when he saw me,
fighters get in the ring with the he was. We were in Madrid with other to another and it’s suddenly 5am and smiling from ear to ear. How I wish
intention of having a row, but Larry referees at an EBU Convention. I used we’re stumbling back to our rooms. I could see that smile now and say
got in the ring with the intention of to take a little rugby ball with me, and Next thing we know it’s 8pm and thank you for all that he did for me.
defusing an argument. Everything Richie Davies and I were throwing we’ve completely missed the meeting I wouldn’t have been the man that
about him was elegant and classy. it to each other. All of a sudden, we went over there for! I am without him – he taught me to
He was the same as a referee. He and seemingly out of nowhere, this The next day at the airport, myself, appreciate life and all that comes
was always so smart and focused. body comes flying through the air Larry and Welsh referee Adrian with it.

w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 5