Nicky Piper
| Nicky Piper | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Nicky Piper |
| Nickname(s) | The KO King |
| Rated at | Super-Middleweight/Light-Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Nationality |
 Welsh |
| Born |
5 May 1966 Cardiff, Wales |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 33 |
| Wins | 26 |
| Wins by KO | 20 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 0 |
Nicky Piper MBE (born 5 May 1966) is a retired Welsh super middleweight and light heavyweight boxer from Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff.[1] His career was at its peak in the 1990s becoming the Commonwealth Light-heavyweight champion in 1995. He was trained by Charlie Pearson[2] and managed by Frank Warren. Since retiring from fighting Piper has become a notable administrator in British boxing.
Boxing career
Piper's first professional fight is recorded as being against fellow Welshman Kevin Roper.[3] Piper won the match in the second round via a knockout. Piper then won nine of his next ten encounters, all scheduled for either six or eight rounds.[3] Of the ten bouts, only one, against future British Heavyweight champion Maurice Core went the full distance resulting in a draw. Piper stopped his other nine opponents through retirement, knockout or technical knockout. Piper's first professional loss was to future World Cruiserweight Champion Carl Thompson at York Hall on 4 September 1991, Piper being stopped by technical knockout in the third round.[3] The next month Piper was back in the ring, beating Franky Moro in a contest at the Royal Albert Hall. He completed 1991 with a sixth-round knockout over Carlos Christie.[3]
Piper won his first three fights of 1992, all on points decisions, the first of which, over Frank Eubank, was an eliminator for the British Super Middleweight title. Another eliminator for the Super Middleweight belt saw Piper stop Johhny Melfah by technical knockout in the fifth at the G-Mex centre in Manchester.[3] Piper's next fight was against WBC Super Middleweight champion Nigel Benn, in a challenge for the title. The twelve round contest was held at the Alexandria Pavilion in London on 12 December 1992. Benn stopped Piper in the eleventh on a technical knockout.[4]
Despite the loss to Benn, Piper's very next match was another title fight; this time for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental light heavyweight belt. The fight against Argentinean Miguel Angel Maldonando went the distance with Piper being given the title by unanimous points decision. Two months later, on 10 April 1993, Piper successfully defended his title against Chris Sande in Swansea. Piper completed the year with a victory over Trevor Ambrose and a drawn match with Frank Rhodes. Piper started 1994 with a challenge for the WBO Light-heavyweight title, then held by Leeonzer Barber. Piper failed in his bid when he was again stopped by technical knockout, this time in the ninth.[5] Piper fought twice more in 1994, a win over Charles Oliver and a failed bid for the vacant Commonwealth Light-heavyweight title, beaten by Crawford Ashley.
Piper's next fight was a win in an uneven contest against American Tim Bryan in June 1995, followed by a victory over John Keeton, both fights held in Cardiff. Then on the 30 September he faced Noel Magee for the Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight title. Held at the Cardiff Arms Park, the fight lasted until the ninth round when Magee was knocked out, giving Piper his most senior belt of his career. In 1996 Piper fought in two bouts. A win over Danny Juma in Cardiff, and a successful defence of his Commonwealth belt to Bruce Scott at Tylorstown. The following year saw Piper's final two fights. In June he defeated Stephane Nizard in Norwich, before a title attempt for the WBO Light-heavyweight against Dariusz Michalczewski in Hanover. Piper was retired by his corner after the seventh[6] and soon after retired from boxing.
Professional boxing record
| 26 Wins (21 knockouts, 5 decisions), 5 Losses (4 knockouts, 1 decision), 2 Draws | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 34-0 |  Dariusz Michalczewski |
TKO | 7 | 4 Oct 1997 |  Stadionsporthalle, Hanover, Germany |
WBO World Light Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 3:00 of the seventh round. |
| Win | 19-12-4 |  Stephane Nizard |
PTS | 8 | 28 Jun 1997 |  Sports Village, Norwich, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 18-1 |  Bruce "Lionheart" Scott |
TKO | 7 | 30 Nov 1996 | Rhondda Fach Sports Centre, Tylorstown, United Kingdom |
Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 2-5-1 | Danny Juma |
TKO | 2 | 26 Apr 1996 | Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 26-6-2 |  Noel Magee |
KO | 9 | 30 Sep 1995 | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
WBO Intercontinental/Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Titles. |
| Win | 9-6 | John "Buster" Keeton |
RTD | 2 | 7 Jul 1995 | Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
Keeton retired at 3:00 of the second round. |
| Win | 22-12-2 |  "Terrible" Tim Bryan |
TKO | 1 | 17 Jun 1995 | Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
Referee stopped the bout at 1:15 of the first round. |
| Loss | 18-6-1 | Crawford Ashley |
PTS | 12 | 19 Nov 1994 | Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 14-1-1 | "Prince" Charles Oliver |
TKO | 5 | 21 Sep 1994 | Star Centre, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
|
| Loss | 18-1 | Leeonzer Barber |
TKO | 9 | 29 Jan 1994 | Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
WBO World Light Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:40 of the ninth round. |
| Draw | 9-1-1 | Frank "Colossus" Rhodes |
PTS | 8 | 23 Oct 1993 | Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 9-7 | Trevor Ambrose |
TKO | 5 | 10 Jul 1993 | Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 15-4 |  Chris Sande |
TKO | 9 | 10 Apr 1993 | Swansea, United Kingdom |
WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 30-19-8 |  Miguel Angel Maldonado |
UD | 12 | 13 Feb 1993 | Free Trade Hall, Manchester, United Kingdom |
WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title. 120-105, 120-105, 120-107. |
| Loss | 34-2 | Nigel Benn |
TKO | 11 | 12 Dec 1992 | Alexandra Pavilion, Muswell Hill, London, England, United Kingdom |
WBC World Super Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:44 of the 11th round. |
| Win | 13-9 | Johnny Melfah |
TKO | 5 | 25 Jul 1992 | G-Mex Leisure Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom |
BBBofC British Super Middleweight Title Eliminator. |
| Win | 10-6 | Larry Prather |
PTS | 8 | 16 May 1992 | Alexandra Pavilion, Muswell Hill, London, England, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 22-7-1 | Ron Amundsen |
PTS | 10 | 11 Mar 1992 | Star Centre, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 9-5 | Frank Eubank |
PTS | 10 | 22 Jan 1992 | Star Centre, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
BBBofC British Super Middleweight Title Eliminator. 99-96.5. |
| Win | 8-6 | Carlos Christie |
KO | 6 | 20 Nov 1991 | Star Centre, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 13-36-2 |  Franky Moro |
TKO | 4 | 29 Oct 1991 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, United Kingdom |
|
| Loss | 9-3 | Carl "The Cat" Thompson |
TKO | 3 | 4 Sep 1991 | York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 11-2 | Simon "Says" Harris |
TKO | 1 | 3 Jul 1991 |  Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 3-3 |  Martin "Tino" Lopez |
KO | 1 | 22 May 1991 | New London Arena, Millwall, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 11-18-6 | Serge Bolivard |
TKO | 1 | 8 May 1991 | New London Arena, Millwall, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 8-20-3 |  "Big" John Held |
TKO | 3 | 5 Mar 1991 | New London Arena, Millwall, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 3-2-2 | "Big" John Ellis |
KO | 1 | 12 Nov 1990 | Norwich Lads Boxing Club, Norwich, United Kingdom |
Ellis knocked out at 0:12 of the first round. |
| Win | 16-7-1 | Paul "The Beatle" McCarthy |
TKO | 3 | 23 Oct 1990 | Granby Halls, Leicester, United Kingdom |
|
| Draw | 2-0 | Maurice Core |
PTS | 6 | 22 May 1990 |  City Hall, Saint Albans, United Kingdom |
58.5-58.5. |
| Win | 5-14 | "Boxing" Darren McKenna |
RTD | 4 | 17 Apr 1990 | New London Arena, Millwall, United Kingdom |
McKenna retired at 2:00 of the fourth round. |
| Win | 16-15-4 | Dave Owens |
KO | 1 | 19 Dec 1989 | Ocean Rooms, Gorleston, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 2-7 | Gus Mendes |
TKO | 3 | 17 Oct 1989 | Star Centre, Cardiff, United Kingdom |
|
| Win | 4-10-1 | Kevin Roper |
KO | 2 | 6 Sep 1989 | Afan Lido, Port Talbot, United Kingdom |
Roper knocked out at 1:30 of the second round. |
Personal history
After his retirement from boxing Piper became a sports commentator and in 1997 a member of the British Boxing Board of Control.[7] Piper served as Chairman of the Professional Boxing Association and in 2005 he was awarded the MBE for his services to the sport.[7] Piper is a member of Mensa[8] and works for George Thomas Hospice Care as events manager.[9]
References
- ↑ "Nicky Piper: Biography". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ↑ "Maccarinelli's trainer steps down". BBC Sport. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Nicky Piper: Boxing record". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ↑ "Nigel Benn vs. Nicky Piper". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ↑ "Leeonzer Barber vs. Nicky Piper". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ↑ "Dariusz Michalczewski vs. Nicky Piper". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- 1 2 "MBE boosts Welsh boxing – Piper". BBC Sport. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ↑ Staff. "Golf: Sharpest brains are in the ring!". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
- ↑ "Nicky Piper's linkedin profile". Retrieved 2009-11-24.
External links
- Audio commentry of the Nicky Piper v Nigel Benn fight from 1992 BBC.co.uk
- Professional boxing record for Nicky Piper from BoxRec
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant Title last held by Gary Delaney |
WBO Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion 30 September 1995 – 4 October 1997 Lost bid for world title |
Vacant Title next held by Mark Prince |
| Preceded by Noel Magee |
Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion 30 September 1995 – 4 October 1997 Retired |
Vacant Title next held by Crawford Ashley |