I remember Sylvester, very well spoken. Fights televised on BBC on a Wednesday night, Harry Carpenter commentating :). Glad to hear he did well after retiring. Thanks Rich
@@jimmymalone9139 Close, not sure exactly where. Five brothers came to Merthyr Tydfil in S Wales for work around 1910. Merthyr was the industrial capital of the world.
Very good fighter. If he was around today he'd probably get some sort of world title shot. No disgrace in losing to two of the best British fighters of all time in Laing and Honeyghan.
David although Mittee was a very good boxer at British and European level but at world level he would have been found wanting. He didnt even dominant the domestic and European scene. He didnt win the European title which was more valued in those days.
I don't know... I could see him holding a belt in a division these days... not unified, and maybe not defend it - but perhaps he could get his hands on one? Great that he is remembered here either way. Interesting to contemplate.
Great video Rich, great subject matter, such a nice and well spoken man. Man, was Honeyghan a beast or what? A Kirkland Laing video would be a solid one Rich...a strange, sensitive and tragic figure right there.
Thanks as always for another really excellent upload. Great personal memories of that time in the UK. Reg Gutteridge on commentary had quite a life himself. Just from the fights shown here both Clinton McKenzie and Kirkland Laing are great tales to be told. Sincerest best wishes to you Rich, hoping you have many many more episodes in you to share with us !
@@logicalnetwork1611 No, sorry but you are incorrect. Reg is on much of the commentary (with Jim Watt for ITV) in the fights shown. Carpenter does also appear at times too.
Rich your choice of fight topics and your research, evidenced by your video footage, is unparalleled. Leafing thru your catalogue of vids I am always fascinated by your boxing history repertoire. Wish you would do something on Matthew Saad Muhammad, admitting my bias for Philly fighters as a native. Also check out my friend's documentary about the Executioners Boxing Club of Philly (not to be confused with B-Hop) produced by boxer/filmmaker and Philly native Dannon Green - history PLUS controversy throughout. Love your work!
Brilliant stuff here Clinton McKenzie fought Sugar Ray Leonard in the very same 76’ Olympics and went on to have a decent pro career Mittee too had a decent career, was certainly unlucky against Laing and very unfortunate to come up against a rampaging Honeyghan
It was always a means to a end for this great boxer( natural talent )....yet again great doc... and from my home 🇬🇧🇬🇧.... loved sylvester mittee ....thankyou
Great stuff Rich. Being a Brit, what a treat this is. I recall Mittee having the belter with Kostas Petrou & his other British title fights with Honeyghan & Laing. Thank you for this. Great stuff buddy. Bless up 👊
Kostas Petrous was another good british boxer. The Greek brummie was a skilfull durable battler who won domestic titles including a great win against the talented puncher Ensley Bingham.
Rich this documentary brings back fond memories for me watching British boxing. Mittee was a good all round fighter and his interviews were so articulate, I didn’t know he was a social worker and later in life a poet. I still drive through Bethnal Green area now and again and I will always think of him from now on when I next drive through that put of London. I lived not to far from Hackney where Kirkland Laing resided. He walked past me once while I was standing at a bus stop, he was whistling away and seemed to have no care in the world. The welterweight division was great at that time, Colin Jones world class, Kirkland Laing was too, and Honeyghan caused one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Laing was a real character (Such a shame he is no longer with us), brilliant to watch but such an enigma. Thanks for this Rich, great memories.
I use to see mittee at York hall at amateur and professional shows in the late eighties early 90s he had retired by then lovely bloke always had time for people very good fighter too in a exceptional era for British fighters at welterweight great post use to watch alot of his fights on grand stand happy days.
Superb documentary. Mittee was once scheduled to box Floyd Mayweather Sr in the UK but Floyd withdrew due to a training injury. Mittee would have made an excellent commentator, based on his command of the language.
This was amazing , not many people know of my grandfather n what he achieved as a young black man in the 80s . He was a forgotten legend and I’m sure when showing him this he’ll be over the moon
I really do think that Kirkland Laings win over Mitte was legit. Mitte did not like Laing and I think this was poor sportsmanship on his behalf. But I’m the one behind a keyboard and not the one taking that punch from Laing. Laing was a very good natural talent with very good punching power. Colin Jones once said that Laing s skill set was just as good as Milton McCrorys and Donald Curry. Now that’s a compliment and Laing did beat Duran 🥊
It’s vid like this that makes this UA-cam’s best boxing channel. No one else would have thought of this. Nice to hear the late great Reg ‘Gutteridge on commentary again. Mittee is very likable. Thanks Rich. From a fellow Lucian.
I remember that Kirkland Lang fight and I can’t lie I was rooting for the gifted one Kirkland Lang to do a number on Sylvester Mittee and he didn’t disappoint that night.
Thank you Rich, for covering a fighter I followed closely in the mid to late 80s along with Clinton McKenzie, Charlie Magri other great London fighters at the time. I clearly remember the late great Reg Guttering describing Mittie with the phrase, “why use one word when you can use 10”
Hi Richie. Thanks for doing a video on Sylvester Mittee. Mittee was a great British level boxer whose rivalry with future world champion Lloyd Honeyghan made big headlines in london.
The BBC and ITV are missing a trick with NOT having these small hall fights on TV...Friday night or Saturday night....the viewing figures would grow and it really could be a really great thing....local lads or girls....getting a following going...these were a staple when I was growing up ....whether you like this fact or not kids fight ...we did it with our fists not knives and I honestly think it was because we watched boxing...there was a certain honour about having a first fight...and if you won you won...and if you lost you lost...yea you had a thick lip or black eye...but the only thing hurting was your pride...and that healed because all your mates would say " at least you had a go "...stabbing people up..that was a mark of a coward.
I've nothing to say as most have already said it Rich.. Well.. Apart from. When I see a new upload from... Rich The Fight Historian.. Appear in my timeline. This happens... 😀😀😀
Rich, love that you focused on a less known British boxer. Mittee was solid and tough, just not quite world class. He knew when to leave the sport. So glad’s to see that he has led a productive life contributing to society. Btw, the footage of Honeyghan is a reminder that he was genuine world class. At his peak he was very fit, hungry, skilled, and mean. From 84-87 a great fighter.
@@RichtheFightHistorian Curry was a marvelous fighting machine. A unique stance and such a calm demeanor in the ring. When he met Honeyghan he wasn’t focused on the job at hand. He was also dead at the weight. Such a pleasure to watch in his heyday.
Thank you, sir, for another fine piece of work. I remember him well. Btw, something about Eubank Snr. reminds me of Mittee: the way they express themselves.
Seriously, nothing new there. EVERY boy was physically or mentally abused by their fathers back then EVERY boy. Me, my friends, relatives etc I'm guessing you were born in the 80s or 90s. 👍
Good technical fighter who often found someone too good for him. Laing was the biggest enigmas in the British boxing. Massive for his weight and so unorthodox. Nobody enjoyed fighting him.
I live about 10 miles from Howard Winstone Johnny Owen Joe calazaghe have you done any videos on Welsh valleys 🏴 boxer's great channel I love how you find these gems
Why is Sylvester not used as a boxing analyst on TV? He would be perfect. He is eloquent and extremely knowledgeable. Glad to hear he's done well in retirement
It's a shame he took on Honeyghan when Honeyghan was a monster. Glad to see his career in boxing didn't lead to misfortune after retirement. But that loss to Laing was karma at work. Kirk wasn't a joke.
I have watched boxing for most of my life and I remember after the Du Koo Kim fight that they stopped a lot of fights early, but some of these stoppages are curiously quick in my opionon.
Brian, in Britain the fights were generally stopped much quicker. There was more of a sense of once it became one way traffic referees would call a halt. It was also more common for trainers to stop fights between rounds to protect their fighter. Terry Lawless took this decision a few times with Mark Kaylor. There was a bit more humanity to the treatment of the fighters.
Rich how about you explore the southern rebel chris Calvin? A super entertaining fighter who killed a man in the ring and was never quite the same. Fought on ESPN and Friday night fights. Never in a dull fight.
I really enjoy your channel! Have you considered when you put up the names at the beginning of match footage to include trunks color? Some of the older footage would really benefit to know who's who. Thanks for the work you are putting in.
I knew Mittee during the 80' early 90's he was very humble smd modest and he done a lot of work in the community and charity
And smart dresser
We all new him,
@@Hoxton66 Hackneyite!!
I remember Sylvester, very well spoken. Fights televised on BBC on a Wednesday night, Harry Carpenter commentating :). Glad to hear he did well after retiring. Thanks Rich
Fight Night had a great, ominous yet funky theme.
Me name is macnara im the leader of the band. Your roots in limerick
@@jimmymalone9139 Close, not sure exactly where. Five brothers came to Merthyr Tydfil in S Wales for work around 1910. Merthyr was the industrial capital of the world.
Very good fighter. If he was around today he'd probably get some sort of world title shot. No disgrace in losing to two of the best British fighters of all time in Laing and Honeyghan.
David although Mittee was a very good boxer at British and European level but at world level he would have been found wanting. He didnt even dominant the domestic and European scene. He didnt win the European title which was more valued in those days.
@@logicalnetwork1611 Yes you're right, maybe I've overrated him slightly.
I don't know... I could see him holding a belt in a division these days... not unified, and maybe not defend it - but perhaps he could get his hands on one?
Great that he is remembered here either way. Interesting to contemplate.
@@sdriza yes your right Mittee was.good enough but just unlucky.
I met him at the Barry Michael/Rocky Lockridge fight, nice bloke who signed my program.
Bomb scare!
Another memory teaser! Thanks Rich👍
Sure thing, Monty.
Great video Rich, great subject matter, such a nice and well spoken man.
Man, was Honeyghan a beast or what?
A Kirkland Laing video would be a solid one Rich...a strange, sensitive and tragic figure right there.
Thanks, Get Smart Numerous requests for Laing so I'll boost him up the to do list.
Rich these short docs are just the best. You are building quite a following my friend. Keep up the good work!🥊
Thanks again, Baja.
Another great video. really enjoy your content.
Thanks, Bradley.
RIP Kirkland Lang many memories of you and Tony in our Ruddington ABC days
Another gem Rich! Thank you!
Thanks for this, I actually never heard of Mitee way before my time but it’s always a pleasure to learn about another fighter and their story.
I'd love to see a Kirkland Laing documentary. The man was a boxing genius who sadly didn't take the sport anywhere near as seriously as you need to.
It just has to happen! Laing is the man that pricked my interest in boxing. Legend!!
@@daviddrysdale2746 Of all British boxers in history I think only Hamed had more talent.
The Gifted One!
@@DavidUKesb I have to agree with you, for natural talent they were way ahead of the pack. So unorthodox yet so effective
Didn't he beat Duran?
Thanks as always for another really excellent upload.
Great personal memories of that time in the UK. Reg Gutteridge on commentary had quite a life himself.
Just from the fights shown here both Clinton McKenzie and Kirkland Laing are great tales to be told.
Sincerest best wishes to you Rich, hoping you have many many more episodes in you to share with us !
Martin Thats harry carpentar not Reg Gutteridge lol
@@logicalnetwork1611 No, sorry but you are incorrect. Reg is on much of the commentary (with Jim Watt for ITV) in the fights shown. Carpenter does also appear at times too.
@@MartinBlackburn sorry Martin. You are absolutely right the late legendary Reg gutteridge is indeed on the commentary. I jumped the gun:)
Sure thing, Martin. Thanks.
Reg was one of the best 👌🏽
Rich your choice of fight topics and your research, evidenced by your video footage, is unparalleled. Leafing thru your catalogue of vids I am always fascinated by your boxing history repertoire. Wish you would do something on Matthew Saad Muhammad, admitting my bias for Philly fighters as a native. Also check out my friend's documentary about the Executioners Boxing Club of Philly (not to be confused with B-Hop) produced by boxer/filmmaker and Philly native Dannon Green - history PLUS controversy throughout. Love your work!
Thanks so much for the kind words. I should have MSM up by the end of next month, he's one of my all-time favorite fighters.
Brilliant
Brilliant stuff here
Clinton McKenzie fought Sugar Ray Leonard in the very same 76’ Olympics and went on to have a decent pro career
Mittee too had a decent career, was certainly unlucky against Laing and very unfortunate to come up against a rampaging Honeyghan
Well done Rich,now that brought back memories,
Thank you.Dave.uk.🇬🇧
My pleasure, David.
Same here Dave 👊🏽
It was always a means to a end for this great boxer( natural talent )....yet again great doc... and from my home 🇬🇧🇬🇧.... loved sylvester mittee ....thankyou
Great stuff Rich. Being a Brit, what a treat this is. I recall Mittee having the belter with Kostas Petrou & his other British title fights with Honeyghan & Laing. Thank you for this. Great stuff buddy. Bless up 👊
Always a pleasure, Nick.
Kostas Petrous was another good british boxer. The Greek brummie was a skilfull durable battler who won domestic titles including a great win against the talented puncher Ensley Bingham.
Saw him a few days ago in the park ,still eloquent and still got 3D six-pack abs with muscles everywhere
@@MrRONINDEX I'm sure Eubank Sr picked up tips from him, verbally wise & exaggerated it.
Rich this documentary brings back fond memories for me watching British boxing. Mittee was a good all round fighter and his interviews were so articulate, I didn’t know he was a social worker and later in life a poet. I still drive through Bethnal Green area now and again and I will always think of him from now on when I next drive through that put of London. I lived not to far from Hackney where Kirkland Laing resided. He walked past me once while I was standing at a bus stop, he was whistling away and seemed to have no care in the world. The welterweight division was great at that time, Colin Jones world class, Kirkland Laing was too, and Honeyghan caused one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Laing was a real character (Such a shame he is no longer with us), brilliant to watch but such an enigma. Thanks for this Rich, great memories.
My pleasure, Brett.
Same here Brett 👊🏽
Used to watch his fights with my Dad in the eighties. Great memories.
Same Robert 👊🏽
nice 1 rich... remember watching some of these fights . Sylvester was a character 👍
I use to see mittee at York hall at amateur and professional shows in the late eighties early 90s he had retired by then lovely bloke always had time for people very good fighter too in a exceptional era for British fighters at welterweight great post use to watch alot of his fights on grand stand happy days.
Great video, I remember Sylvester Mittee well. Great time for british welterwieights.
Another WELL DONE depiction of a Meek and Mild mannered Master of the Sweet Science. Thanks Rich!
Can't get enough of your channel..I look forward to every new video🤟😎
Right on, S A.
Those were the days. This is excellent stuff mate. This was when boxing was pure and technical. Both very well schooled fighters. Beautiful stuff.
Thank I remember seeing him fight back in the 80’s.
Thank god Rich is back! Thank you very much, man!
Sure thing, Risbo.
Superb documentary. Mittee was once scheduled to box Floyd Mayweather Sr in the UK but Floyd withdrew due to a training injury. Mittee would have made an excellent commentator, based on his command of the language.
Big Up Sylvester Mittee 🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨💪💪💪
Brilliant video. Mittee was one of boxing's few intellectuals.
As a Brit I'm glad you refrained from playing music during the boxing nice one.
Incredibly well done. Much appreciated.
hey thanks, whitehurstcomic.
This was amazing , not many people know of my grandfather n what he achieved as a young black man in the 80s . He was a forgotten legend and I’m sure when showing him this he’ll be over the moon
Much respect to your grandfather, R D.
More great stuff rich..well done sir
Rich, I was just about to ask if you were going to mention Laing and here it is, BRAVOOOO!!!
I really do think that Kirkland Laings win over Mitte was legit. Mitte did not like Laing and I think this was poor sportsmanship on his behalf. But I’m the one behind a keyboard and not the one taking that punch from Laing.
Laing was a very good natural talent with very good punching power. Colin Jones once said that Laing s skill set was just as good as Milton McCrorys and Donald Curry. Now that’s a compliment and Laing did beat Duran 🥊
Another excellent docu Rich. I remember seeing Mittee and Laing sparring at Terry Lawless gym and there was real needle between them.
It’s vid like this that makes this UA-cam’s best boxing channel. No one else would have thought of this. Nice to hear the late great Reg ‘Gutteridge on commentary again. Mittee is very likable. Thanks Rich. From a fellow Lucian.
Always a pleasure, Toracube.
It's a great channel 👍🏽
Thanks for the production.
I am a fellow Brit but Im sorry to say I had never heard of him prior to this
Sure thing, Andy. Mittee seemed to have been pretty popular in the mid-1980s.
Good one but how about one of my favorites alexis arguello love to see that one
Arguello will be a while down the road but I'll do one one him eventually.
Another terrific profile Rich. Well done. 👍
Thanks, James.
Thanks for the video, RICH THE FIGHT HISTORIAN
First boxer that I have never heard of. You stumped me with this one Rich. You must be The Greatest to stump me! Lol
haha, yeah Mittee was always in the KO Magazine rankings in the mid-1980s so I was curious about him.
@@RichtheFightHistorian I must have missed him. And I thought I was good...
He may have stumped our resident Statto too Ron 👊🏽
A great video as always Rich and a great story in this one. So nice to hear that a retired boxer has more than just his gloves. Thanks for sharing!
This guy seems like the original Chris Eubank with the linguistics and love for poetry
I remember that Kirkland Lang fight and I can’t lie I was rooting for the gifted one Kirkland Lang to do a number on Sylvester Mittee and he didn’t disappoint that night.
Sylvester Mittee was/is so articulate, I think its a loss to the sport that he doesn't have a boxing-pundit role in the sport today. 🤔
Thank you Rich, for covering a fighter I followed closely in the mid to late 80s along with Clinton McKenzie, Charlie Magri other great London fighters at the time. I clearly remember the late great Reg Guttering describing Mittie with the phrase, “why use one word when you can use 10”
Reg was brilliant 👌🏽
Hi Richie. Thanks for doing a video on Sylvester Mittee. Mittee was a great British level boxer whose rivalry with future world champion Lloyd Honeyghan made big headlines in london.
My pleasure, L N.
Ive met slyvester a few times, a credit to British boxing
The BBC and ITV are missing a trick with NOT having these small hall fights on TV...Friday night or Saturday night....the viewing figures would grow and it really could be a really great thing....local lads or girls....getting a following going...these were a staple when I was growing up ....whether you like this fact or not kids fight ...we did it with our fists not knives and I honestly think it was because we watched boxing...there was a certain honour about having a first fight...and if you won you won...and if you lost you lost...yea you had a thick lip or black eye...but the only thing hurting was your pride...and that healed because all your mates would say " at least you had a go "...stabbing people up..that was a mark of a coward.
These videos are great fella 👍🏽
Glad you like them!
Mate it would be good to interview you on our show sometime 👊🏽
I've nothing to say as most have already said it Rich..
Well..
Apart from.
When I see a new upload from...
Rich The Fight Historian..
Appear in my timeline.
This happens...
😀😀😀
haha, right on, Nicholas.
Rich, love that you focused on a less known British boxer. Mittee was solid and tough, just not quite world class. He knew when to leave the sport. So glad’s to see that he has led a productive life contributing to society.
Btw, the footage of Honeyghan is a reminder that he was genuine world class. At his peak he was very fit, hungry, skilled, and mean. From 84-87 a great fighter.
Yeah, I was a Honeyghan fan even though he beat one of my all-time favorites in Curry.
@@RichtheFightHistorian Curry was a marvelous fighting machine. A unique stance and such a calm demeanor in the ring. When he met Honeyghan he wasn’t focused on the job at hand. He was also dead at the weight. Such a pleasure to watch in his heyday.
I agree James
"Rich The Fight Historian" the best in his craft...nobody does it better 👍!!! #truschoolsports 🥊🥊
Very nice of you to say, thank you.
Thank you, sir, for another fine piece of work. I remember him well. Btw, something about Eubank Snr. reminds me of Mittee: the way they express themselves.
I think you're right, there are some similar speech cadences there with Eubank.
Subscribed. Keep it up.
It's really interesting, and disturbing, to learn how many of these great boxers were physically or mentally abused by their fathers.
Seriously, nothing new there.
EVERY boy was physically or mentally abused by their fathers back then EVERY boy.
Me, my friends, relatives etc
I'm guessing you were born in the 80s or 90s. 👍
Good technical fighter who often found someone too good for him. Laing was the biggest enigmas in the British boxing. Massive for his weight and so unorthodox. Nobody enjoyed fighting him.
Great 👍🏼 You should do one on George Benton great fighter
Ahhh a more happier ending at least with slyvester .
Thanks rich the fight historic picture creator...my 11 video view
I live about 10 miles from Howard Winstone Johnny Owen Joe calazaghe have you done any videos on Welsh valleys 🏴 boxer's great channel I love how you find these gems
Why is Sylvester not used as a boxing analyst on TV? He would be perfect. He is eloquent and extremely knowledgeable. Glad to hear he's done well in retirement
Good point Stuart
@@InTheBoxSeat thank-you 👍
Missed ya buddy. Thank you!!
Still here, AAH, good to hear from you.
It's a shame he took on Honeyghan when Honeyghan was a monster. Glad to see his career in boxing didn't lead to misfortune after retirement. But that loss to Laing was karma at work. Kirk wasn't a joke.
The Sage of Rage
I have watched boxing for most of my life and I remember after the Du Koo Kim fight that they stopped a lot of fights early, but some of these stoppages are curiously quick in my opionon.
Brian, in Britain the fights were generally stopped much quicker. There was more of a sense of once it became one way traffic referees would call a halt.
It was also more common for trainers to stop fights between rounds to protect their fighter. Terry Lawless took this decision a few times with Mark Kaylor. There was a bit more humanity to the treatment of the fighters.
I noticed that too.
Rich how about you explore the southern rebel chris Calvin? A super entertaining fighter who killed a man in the ring and was never quite the same. Fought on ESPN and Friday night fights. Never in a dull fight.
hey thanks, Baja. I got the Southern Rebel scheduled within the next ten or so.
This is another brilliant film, can you do one on Kirkland laing
Thanks, Gareth. Yeah, I have the Gifted One on the to do.
@@RichtheFightHistorian thank you
How did he come by the name master blaster ? Who did he ever blast out of there ?
@ Rich the fight historian .. How do I find Lopez little Red , training routine .. I’m very interested on how he got so conditioned for his fights ..
I believe he has an active Facebook page. Perhaps you can try him there.
I really enjoy your channel! Have you considered when you put up the names at the beginning of match footage to include trunks color? Some of the older footage would really benefit to know who's who. Thanks for the work you are putting in.
Duly noted, Nicholas. I need to do that with the lesser known fighters.
Do a documentary on tony galiento
I had one up but most of his footage is copyrighted by the Associated Press so I took it down.
If one of those uppercuts would have landed flush. Lights out!!!😜
Master blaster? 😂😂
Cool dude!!!