18 Facts About Alan Minter

Alan Sydney Minter was a British professional boxer who competed from 1972 to 1981.

Alan Minter held the undisputed middleweight title in 1980, having previously held the British middleweight title from 1975 to 1976, and the European middleweight title twice between 1977 and 1979.

Alan Minter was born in Penge, Bromley, Kent, to Syd and Anne Alan Minter.

Alan Minter's father was a plasterer, and his mother was of German birth.

Alan Minter's family moved to Crawley, West Sussex, and he joined Crawley Boxing Club at aged 11, training under John Hillier and Dougie Bidwell.

Alan Minter took part at the 1970 European Junior Championships at the middleweight division, but in the very first fight he was stopped in the 2-nd round by Vyacheslav Lemeshev.

Alan Minter began his professional career with 11 straight wins, the first against Maurice Thomas in London on 31 October 1972, winning by knockout in the 6th round.

Alan Minter won his first five fights by knockout until 16 January 1973, when Pat Dwyer went the distance, Alan Minter taking the fight on points.

Alan Minter won his next five fights, three by knockout, before being defeated for the first time after the referee stopped the fight in the eighth round against "Scottish" Don McMillan due to bad cuts suffered by Alan Minter.

Alan Minter returned to top ten challenger status by upsetting the former World Welterweight and Light Middleweight Champion Emile Griffith with a ten-round decision win in Monte Carlo, but then he lost his European title to Gratien Tonna by a knockout in eight at Milan.

Alan Minter closed '77 with a third 15-round decision win over Finnegan to retain his British title.

Alan Minter finished his year by avenging his loss to Tonna with a six-round knockout.

In 1979, Alan Minter won all four of his fights, two of them by knockout.

Alan Minter won the title by a 15-round split decision in which the judges' scorecards varied wildly.

On 27 September 1980, Alan Minter's short run as world champion came to an abrupt end when he was stopped on cuts in the third round against 'Marvelous' Marvin Hagler at Wembley Arena in London.

Alan Minter beat fringe contender Ernie Singletary in London, in 1981, but after losses to future Hagler challengers Mustafa Hamsho in Las Vegas and Tony Sibson in London, he retired for good.

Alan Minter left boxing with a record of 39 wins, 9 losses and 1 no contest, with 23 wins by knockout.

Alan Minter died of cancer in September 2020, in Guildford at the age of 69.