Bunce Diary: York Hall continues to produce memories and make history

Jon Pegg stated that it is your responsibility to engage the participants on the course and provoke their thoughts.

On Friday night at York Hall, Liz Norris, a graduate of Pegg’s, accomplished the remarkable feat of being the second woman in just two weeks to make history at the iconic East End venue.

Amy Pu made history as the inaugural British female referee under the jurisdiction of the British Boxing Board of Control. Just a week later, she displayed her expertise by swiftly stopping a severe cut in a British title fight. With her skillful use of swabs and composed demeanor, Pu indisputably became the first woman to salvage a British title. Her remarkable performance was especially impressive considering the severity of the cut.

Last Friday, the ancient venue in Bethnal Green experienced trembling in its aged walls.

The scene unfolded as it typically did: a night filled with blood-soaked contenders succumbing to agony, while the effortlessly stylish crowd, boasting impeccably groomed hair, reveled in the excitement from their ringside seats.

However, beyond the surface, the story of York Hall goes much deeper, with hidden secrets tucked away in the rooms beneath and behind the stage. The stage serves as a grand gathering place, where legendary figures like Johnny Tapia and John Tate once walked, commencing their final journeys into the ring. Countless other forgotten fighters have also readied themselves for battle within its confines.

York Hall is a stage that attracts talkers, dreamers, grifters, jibbers, and those seeking solace from the crowd to peacefully witness a fight. Finding tranquility at York Hall can be quite challenging.

Ashley Lane’s corner for the British bantamweight title fight against Chris Bourke included Norris, the sole woman in the group. Her responsibility was to handle any cuts that may occur during the match, requiring her to begin work early. In the first round, Lane suffered a nasty inch-long cut above his nose, positioned perfectly between his eyebrows, and wide enough to be noticeable. Although it was more of an annoyance than a serious threat, the blood could have had a negative impact on the fight. However, Lane was not performing well at that point, while Bourke appeared to be at ease. The cut could have posed a significant problem, but Norris managed to prevent any blood from flowing, resulting in a storybook ending in round six.

Norris attended one of Pegg’s courses towards the end of last year, which ultimately rescued Lane and fulfilled her seemingly unattainable dream. As I mentioned on TNT, Lane’s journey took her from a state of despair to homelessness, selling the Big Issue, and finally becoming the British champion. Pegg’s graduate played a significant role in her transformation.

Pegg stated that she frequently attends shows where people consistently approach her for help in bandaging their fighter’s hands and treating cuts. She firmly believes that everyone should possess the knowledge of wrapping hands and managing cuts. Consequently, she took the initiative to develop a course, which has been successfully conducted 10 or 11 times. Pegg proudly mentioned that their course is recognized and accredited by the Board.

Pegg possesses a remarkable background in the boxing world, having gained hands-on experience in various roles such as a fighter, promoter, matchmaker, trainer, manager, fixer, driver, and teaboy. His extensive involvement spans across every level of the sport, making him a versatile and well-rounded individual.

Pegg explained that during the course, he assigns partners and then transitions to the gym after the theory portion. He sets up scenarios where boxers have makeup cuts drawn on them to make things more exciting. When the round ends, the pairs attend to their assigned boxer. Sometimes, Pegg even instructs the boxer to request quitting to the person doing the cut, and he takes on the role of the referee to bother them. This added pressure goes beyond just the physical appearance of the cut.

Well, it worked.

Moses Itauma strolls with an air of ease, fooling others into thinking he has no worries. But don’t be fooled, he is well aware of the expectations placed upon him. Alongside Eddie Lam and Alan Smith, he confidently strides across the stage. “I’m just being myself,” he remarks. Despite his young age of 19, he exudes an aura of maturity, both in his words and appearance.

A while before his match with Itauma, Dan Garber and his uncle, Big Steve, made their way to the stage. It was a last-minute opportunity, and Dan understood the implications. When questioned about Itauma just an hour before the fight, Steve suggested, “Maybe he’s a good fighter, maybe he’s not.”

In 1989, at Hull’s City Hall, Steve gained notoriety when he forcefully pushed Lennox Lewis before their highly anticipated fight. As they were being introduced in the ring, Steve boldly confronted Lennox, catching him off guard. With only three prior fights under his belt, Lennox had never encountered such a provocative act before. This seemingly small gesture was Steve’s way of testing Lennox’s mettle, hoping to gauge his opponent’s resilience. While it had the potential to be effective, Lennox swiftly defeated Steve, emerging victorious in just 90 seconds.

In 1993, at the Grand Hall, Wembley, Garber found himself matched against the undefeated prospect, Joe Bugner Jnr. This fight was particularly significant because Mickey Duff had given Phil Martin and Garber an excessive amount of time to prepare, which turned out to be foolish. Before facing Bugner, Garber had won 18 fights and lost 18 fights, while Young Joe had a flawless record of seven wins. Recognizing the opportunity, Garber made sure to fully prepare for the fight. He entered a training camp in Moss Side, where he resided in a secret location within a council maisonette. During this time, Garber lived a disciplined lifestyle, focusing solely on his diet, training, and rest. Most importantly, he did his best to avoid any dangerous situations that could jeopardize his chances. As a result of his dedication, Garber surprised everyone by taking Bugner all the way to the sixth and final round, ultimately defeating him.

In York Hall, a glimpse into the hidden world of action unfolded. Steve Garber, Liz Norris, and Moses Itauma found themselves sharing a space, perhaps for the very first and final occasion. These encounters were fleeting, transpiring on a boxing stage.