Boxing
Ricky Hatton Last
Round Knock Out Video, Click Here
Eric Mason was born into a boxing family. His father
Frederick, was a good amateur whilst on his mother's
side, Margaret Foy, both her father Jack and her
uncle Nick were to become professionals.
Nick was very quick both in his hands & footwork,
and so he was bestowed the name of "Marylebone
Cyclone"
Jack though was the better fighter, and in April
of 1905 in London, fought the American bantam-weight
champion George Dixon (Little Chocolate) to a fifteen
round contest which was declared a draw.
One of Eric's early memories of boxing, was being
allowed to get up at 3.00am together with his brother
Dennis to listen on the radio the heavyweight Tommy
Farr fighting Joe Louis. His father had become excited
at thinking Farr had won the bought..only to hear
the commentator declare Louis the winner and still
champion of the world!
Eric's brother Dennis had joined the sea-cadets and
had started to box for them which then got Eric interested
enough to join up himself & join his brother
boxing. They both boxed in the annual championships
held at Edgware drill hall and were presented with
a gold-plated bosuns pipe George Dixon................by
the then Admiral,Sir Roger Keyes......................................
One of the gym's frequented by Eric during the 50's
was Kline's in Fitzroy Square, and fate was to
play a hand as a young boxer of the name Reg Kray,
was also to box there.
Jack Solomon's was another gym Eric trained in, and
the opportunity to earn money was there in sparring
some of the American fighters who trained at Solomon's
prior to their contest over here in England.
Eric is now a member of both the ex-boxers associations,
London and Manchester respectively and regularly
attends their meetings.
Ricky Hatton is a great favourite of Eric, with the
young Mancunion's fortunes being followed with
visits to his gym to watch Ricky in training.
Whilst Eric was serving a 5 year prison sentence
at HMP Garth in Preston, Eric arranged for
Ricky and his team including the other fighter
Michael
Gomez, for an exhibition held for the inmates & staff.
It was a great success all round and gave a chance
for people to see the "Hitman" in action.
