Tim Wood

Tim Wood, an English boxer who campaigned as a heavyweight before finding his best form at light heavyweight, was born in Camden Town, London, on 10 August 1951. He later lived in Leicester, boxed orthodox, and finished his professional career with 19 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw from 31 bouts, scoring 7 knockouts. He held the British light heavyweight title from 1976 to 1977.

Wood’s boxing roots lay in Leicester after a move there as a teenager, joining Belgrave Amateur Boxing Club. As an amateur, he won the ABA heavyweight title in 1972, a serious domestic prize in any era, then watched the Munich Olympic team named without him, a decision that prompted a public dispute at the time.

He turned professional on 2 October 1972 and began as a heavyweight, a big, physical man who was expected to learn quickly in the old British way. He was trained by his father, Arthur, and by Jim Knight at the Jolly Angler pub on Wharf Street in Leicester, and he was managed first by Johnny Griffin and later by Carl Gunns. His early run was solid, eight wins and a draw in his first nine, before he met Les Stevens in January 1974 for the vacant Southern Area heavyweight title and suffered his first defeat on points. Further losses, including to Eddie Neilson and the future British heavyweight champion Richard Dunn, persuaded his team that the smarter route lay at a lower weight.

Slimmed down to light heavyweight, Wood became a more dangerous proposition, and the timeline tightened. He won four straight in 1975, including wins over Victor Attivor and Baby Boy Rolle, then lost a British title final eliminator to Roy John by only half a point, the kind of narrow verdict that can stick in a man’s throat. In February 1976, he beat Johnny Wall for the Southern Area light heavyweight title, and two months later, he boxed Phil Martin for the vacant British championship, winning narrowly on points to become British champion.

His reign was short and ended sharply. In March 1977, he lost the British title in his first defence when Bunny Johnson knocked him out in the opening round. Wood continued boxing until 1979 but did not get back into another title fight, his career settling into the unglamorous reality most champions recognise once the belt has moved on. He died in September 2010 after a heart attack, aged 59, and was survived by his wife, Maureen, and four children.