Dave Needham (15 August 1951 – 19 September 2008) was a British boxer. He was a Commonwealth Games gold medal winner and one of the few boxers to have held both the
BBBC
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom.
History
The British Boxing Board of Control was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff. ...
bantamweight and featherweight titles.
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Early life and amateur career
Needham was born in Nottingham and attended Cottesmore School. He trained at the Nottingham Boxing School in Radford
Radford may refer to:
Places England
* Radford, Coventry, West Midlands
* Radford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
* Radford, Plymstock, Devon
*Radford, Oxfordshire
* Radford, Somerset
*Radford, Worcestershire
*Radford Cave in Devon
*Radford Semele, ...
.Amateur Boxing Association
England Boxing, known until 2013 as the Amateur Boxing Association of England, is the Sports governing body, governing body of amateur boxing clubs in England. There are separate organisations for Scotland and Wales with boxing in Northern Irela ...
British flyweight title, when boxing out of the Nottingham School of Boxing ABC.gold medal
A gold medal is a medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture.
Since the eighteenth century, gold medals have bee ...
in the flyweight division, at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games
The 1970 British Commonwealth Games (Scottish Gaelic: Geamannan a 'Cho-fhlaitheis Bhreatainn 1970) were held in Edinburgh, Scotland, from 16 to 25 July 1970.
This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, the first tim ...
in Edinburgh, Scotland.[ defeating Uganda's ]Leo Rwabwogo
Leo Rwabwogo (3 June 1949 – 14 January 2009) was a Ugandan boxer, who won two Olympic medals during his career as an amateur in the flyweight division (up to 51 kg). He won a bronze medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico C ...
in the final.
Professional career
Needham's first professional fight was on 25 January 1971 when he fought Jimmy Killeen.Mayfair
Mayfair is an affluent area in the West End of London towards the eastern edge of Hyde Park, in the City of Westminster, between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane. It is one of the most expensive districts in the world. ...
on a technical knockout (TKO) to the same Paddy Maguire.
On 20 April 1978 at the World Sporting Club, Piccadilly
Piccadilly () is a road in the City of Westminster, London, to the south of Mayfair, between Hyde Park Corner in the west and Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is part of the A4 road that connects central London to Hammersmith, Earl's Court, ...
. Needham won the title of British featherweight champion when he defeated Alan Richardson on points.
On 16 December 1978 in Leon, Spain, he fought for the EBU
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU; french: Union européenne de radio-télévision, links=no, UER) is an alliance of public service media organisations whose countries are within the European Broadcasting Area or who are members of the Co ...
featherweight title, but lost on a TKO to Roberto Castanon
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
.
Needham lost the featherweight title on 6 November 1979 at the Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...
when he was defeated by Pat Cowdell on points.
His last fight was on 29 May 1979 at Wolverhampton Civic Hall against Pat Cowdell for the British featherweight title. Cowdell won on a TKO.
Retirement
Needham retired aged 29 in 1980, after becoming disillusioned with the sport. He went on to run a motorcycle dealership with his brother.
He spent the last couple of years of his life in Thailand. Needham died in Chonburi hospital from liver problems. He was 57.[
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See also
* List of British bantamweight boxing champions
* List of British featherweight boxing champions
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Needham, Dave
1951 births
2008 deaths
English male boxers
Boxers from Nottingham
Flyweight boxers
Featherweight boxers
Bantamweight boxers
Boxers at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England
English expatriates in Thailand
Commonwealth Games medallists in boxing
Dave Needham
Medallists at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games