This blog might have looked at great British boxers never to win a world title but one man who could very nearly have fallen into that category - but thankfully didn't - is a man they called Champagne Charlie.
Anyone wishing to experience the extreme highs and lows of being a professional boxer should pick up Charlie Magri's excellent autobiography, which was published in 2007.
Two parts of the book stick in the mind as memorable.
At one stage Charlie Magri was the WBC Flyweight Champion of the World Eloncio Mercedes and swaggering up and down the East End with his prized belt. The next moment, three years later at the age of 30, he was running through the streets with tears in his eyes as the realisation his career was over.
What does a man who has known and loved the routine of training, sparring, weight-making and fighting since a youngster do with himself now?
Magri could so easily have been a nearly-man after getting stopped twice earlier in his career and then having to wait - and wait - for a shot at the world title. Bear in mind Magri had a brilliant amateur pedigree and took the British Flyweight title in just three fights and the European belt in his 12th contest.
By the time he took on Mercedes he was 26 and he later admitted to being past his peak by this stage. Fortunately he picked up a win on cuts after a close contest. It was pretty much a slide down from there on but at least Magri was given his moment in the sun.
The book is not all doom and gloom though and for some humour try reading a section on Magri's British title triumph with Dave Smith. Needing to relieve himself in the toilet before the fight, who did Magri bump into? Only Dave Smith!
Smith apparently asked Magri if he was nervous to which Champagne Charlie stated there was no chance of that!
Anyone wishing to experience the extreme highs and lows of being a professional boxer should pick up Charlie Magri's excellent autobiography, which was published in 2007.
Two parts of the book stick in the mind as memorable.
At one stage Charlie Magri was the WBC Flyweight Champion of the World Eloncio Mercedes and swaggering up and down the East End with his prized belt. The next moment, three years later at the age of 30, he was running through the streets with tears in his eyes as the realisation his career was over.
What does a man who has known and loved the routine of training, sparring, weight-making and fighting since a youngster do with himself now?
Magri could so easily have been a nearly-man after getting stopped twice earlier in his career and then having to wait - and wait - for a shot at the world title. Bear in mind Magri had a brilliant amateur pedigree and took the British Flyweight title in just three fights and the European belt in his 12th contest.
By the time he took on Mercedes he was 26 and he later admitted to being past his peak by this stage. Fortunately he picked up a win on cuts after a close contest. It was pretty much a slide down from there on but at least Magri was given his moment in the sun.
The book is not all doom and gloom though and for some humour try reading a section on Magri's British title triumph with Dave Smith. Needing to relieve himself in the toilet before the fight, who did Magri bump into? Only Dave Smith!
Smith apparently asked Magri if he was nervous to which Champagne Charlie stated there was no chance of that!
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