Gary Mason (boxer)

Gary Mason
Born
Gary Anthony Mason

(1962-12-15)15 December 1962
London, England
Died6 January 2011(2011-01-06) (aged 48)
Wallington, London, England
Nationality
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 1+3⁄4 in (1.87 m)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights38
Wins37
Wins by KO34
Losses1

Gary Mason (15 December 1962 – 6 January 2011) was a Jamaican professional boxer who was based in Chatham, Kent, England. He was born in London.[1] Mason fought at the heavyweight level and became the British heavyweight champion in 1989. Mason was a top ten contender, his main strengths being his punching power and physical strength.

Professional career

Mason fought 38 times as a professional in a career that spanned 10 years from 1984 to 1994, with 37 wins (34 by knockout) and only one loss, that being to Lennox Lewis when he challenged for the European title in 1991. Mason gave Lewis his hardest fight up to that point in his career.[citation needed]

Mason defeated a number of well known heavyweights, including Tyrell Biggs, James Tillis, Alfonzo Ratliff, Ricky Parkey, James Pritchard, Louis Pergaud, Hughroy Currie and David Jaco.

Mason sparred with the former WBA World cruiserweight number one and British heavyweight champion David Pearce. Pearce helped him with sparring in preparation for Mason's title fights, he praised Pearce and said he was instrumental in his helping his career.

He suffered a detached retina in a bout with Everett Martin in 1990. After a short retirement he staged a comeback, which ended with a TKO defeat by Lennox Lewis, which aggravated Mason's eye injury. He came back once again, but after winning two fights in the US he retired for good.

Rugby

Club career

Mason played three rugby league matches for the London Crusaders (now London Broncos), scoring a try in his first game.[2] Mason also played in occasional soccer matches as part of an 'Arsenal Celebrities' team at the old 'Highbury' football ground in North London.

Television appearances

Mason appeared in a special celebrity show of Gladiators that raised money for charity in 1993 which John Fashanu won. Mason also appeared on the panel of the ITV show You Bet!, and the second episode of the first series of GamesMaster in 1992 playing Sonic Blast Man arcade. Mason's home was also one of those featured on the panel show Through the Keyhole.[citation needed]

Death

On the morning of 6 January 2011 Mason died after being hit by a van in Sandy Lane South, Wallington, South London whilst cycling. He was pronounced dead at the scene.[3]

Professional boxing record

38 fights 37 wins 1 loss
By knockout 34 1
By decision 3 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
38 Win 37–1 Martin Foster TKO 3 (10), 0:53 10 Sep 1994 Flamingo Hilton, Laughlin, Nevada, US
37 Win 36–1 Kevin P Porter TKO 2 (10), 2:58 29 Jan 1994 UND Sports Center, Grand Forks, North Dakota, US
36 Loss 35–1 Lennox Lewis TKO 7 (12), 0:44 6 Mar 1991 Wembley Arena, London, England Lost British heavyweight title;
For European heavyweight title
35 Win 35–0 James Pritchard TKO 9 (10), 2:09 12 Dec 1990 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
34 Win 34–0 Everett Martin PTS 10 14 Mar 1990 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
33 Win 33–0 Mark Anthony Wills PTS 10 6 Dec 1989 Wembley Arena, London, England
32 Win 32–0 Tyrell Biggs KO 7 (10), 3:00 4 Oct 1989 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
31 Win 31–0 Jess Harding KO 1 (12), 0:30 28 Jun 1989 International Centre, Brentwood, England Retained British heavyweight title
30 Win 30–0 Terry Armstrong KO 3 (10) 29 Mar 1989 Wembley Grand Hall, London, England
29 Win 29–0 Hughroy Currie KO 4 (12), 3:00 18 Jan 1989 Royal Albert Hall, London, England Won vacant British heavyweight title
28 Win 28–0 James Tillis TKO 5 (10), 1:50 30 Nov 1988 Elephant & Castle Centre, London, England
27 Win 27–0 David Jaco TKO 4 (10), 2:52 24 Oct 1988 Blazers Nightclub, Windsor, England
26 Win 26–0 Manoel De Almeida TKO 7 (10) 13 Apr 1988 York Hall, London, England
25 Win 25–0 Ricky Parkey TKO 1 (10), 2:47 9 Mar 1988 Wembley Grand Hall, London, England
24 Win 24–0 Alfonzo Ratliff TKO 6 (10), 1:17 3 Feb 1988 Wembley Grand Hall, London, England
23 Win 23–0 Sammy Scaff TKO 2 (8) 3 Dec 1987 Cliff's Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, England
22 Win 22–0 Andrew Gerrard TKO 6 (8) 24 Oct 1987 White Hart Lane, London, England
21 Win 21–0 Andre van den Oetelaar KO 2 (8) 25 Sep 1987 Cliff's Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, England
20 Win 20–0 Eddie Richardson TKO 7 (8) 30 Aug 1987 Plaza de Toros, Marbella, Spain
19 Win 19–0 Billy Joe Thomas TKO 2 (8) 26 May 1987 Wembley Arena, London, England
18 Win 18–0 Woody Clark TKO 2 (8), 2:39 18 Apr 1987 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
17 Win 17–0 Richard Scott TKO 1 (8), 1:27 24 Mar 1987 Wembley Arena, London, England
16 Win 16–0 Rodney Smith TKO 1 (8), 1:04 22 Feb 1987 Wembley Grand Hall, London, England
15 Win 15–0 Oscar Holman PTS 8 26 Nov 1986 Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England
14 Win 14–0 Donnie Long KO 1 (8), 1:31 4 Nov 1986 Wembley Arena, London, England
13 Win 13–0 Lorenzo Boyd KO 2 (8) 17 Sep 1986 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
12 Win 12–0 Mark Young KO 5 (8) 19 Jul 1986 Wembley Stadium, London, England
11 Win 11–0 Ivy Brown KO 2 (8) 20 May 1986 Wembley Arena, London, England
10 Win 10–0 Maurice Gomis TKO 3 (8), 1:17 24 Apr 1986 York Hall, London, England
9 Win 9–0 Louis Pergaud RTD 4 (8), 3:00 9 Apr 1986 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
8 Win 8–0 Charles Hostetter TKO 1 (8), 2:35 4 Mar 1986 Wembley Arena, London, England
7 Win 7–0 Denroy Bryan KO 1 (6), 1:20 19 Feb 1986 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
6 Win 6–0 Steve Gee TKO 5 (6), 1:25 4 Dec 1985 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
5 Win 5–0 Steve Gee TKO 5 (6), 1:38 5 Nov 1985 Wembley Arena, London, England
4 Win 4–0 Luc Goossens KO 1 (6), 2:33 6 Mar 1985 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
3 Win 3–0 Frank Robinson TKO 1 (6) 18 Jan 1985 York Hall, London, England
2 Win 2–0 Al Malcolm TKO 2 (6), 0:20 14 Dec 1984 Wembley Conference Centre, London, England
1 Win 1–0 Al Malcolm KO 1 (6) 16 Oct 1984 Royal Albert Hall, London, England

References

  1. ^ "boxer: Gary Mason". boxrec.com. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  2. ^ Scott, Brough (21 April 2001). "Boxing: Mason still on the canvas". The Daily Telegraph. London.[dead link‍]
  3. ^ "Boxer Gary Mason dies in cycling collision in London". BBC News. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
Achievements
Preceded by British Heavyweight Champion
18 January 1989 – 6 March 1991 		Succeeded by