EAST END IDOL The Amazing Story of Terry Spinks MBE

Hardback. PRESENTATION COPY. A Boxing biography of the British featherweight champion and Olympic Gold Medallist Terry Spinks. Despite having retired from boxing almost 40 years previously, Terry Spinks remained one of the sport's most popular personalities. His story, however, is not just about success. It is also one of failure, sadness and emotion. In fact his life had been a roller-coaster ride. He took up boxing at the age of 9, and in an amateur career of 200 contests, won Schoolboy and ABA championships, and boxed for England on 5 occasions. The pinnacle of his career was in 1956 when he won a gold medal at the Melbourne Olympics. During a successful professional career, he won the British Featherweight championship, but after retiring from the ring in 1962, disaster struck. In the years which followed he had to cope with the pressures of failed business ventures and bankruptcy. An addiction to gambling seriously affected his life-style and family well-being. Although he returned to boxing to train the South Korean team for the 1972 Olympics, and later became a successful professional trainer, disaster struck again. Two failed marriages were followed by serious illness which he was fortunate to survive. Only the love, patience and caring of his cousin Rosemary carried him through. Told with warmth, affection and emotion, this is an enthralling insight into the life of a man who grew up on the streets of Canning Town. Illus., Bibliog. + Appendix. 295pp. 8vo. h/back. F. in F. dw. From the library of the legendary Scotland Yard detective, the late Leonard 'Nipper' Read, who was Chair then President of the British Boxing Board of Control. PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED AND SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR to 'Nipper' Read. A fairly heavy book which may require additional postage if shipped overseas.