Nicky Piper
I thought this guy deserved a mention. Nicky Piper was a super middleweight and light heavyweight world title challenger and a top contender of the 90s. He was one of few Welsh top fighters of the 90's, especially at 175. Although he never won a world title, he won a number of smaller titles in his career and finished his career with a record of 26 (21)-5-2.
Piper was born 5 May 1966 in Cardiff, where he also grew up. He won the 1989 ABA (Amateur British Association title) at light heavyweight. Standing 6'3, Piper had a sinewy build and always came in in top shape. He turned pro 6 September 1989, winning by a KO2 against Kevin Roper. He fought as a light heavy first. In his fifth fight, he faced Maurice Core, then unbeaten at 2-0, and although he had Core down twice, the fight ended as a draw after 6 completed rounds. Piper then progressed and scored 6 knockout victories before fighting his first big opponent: Carl Thompson. Thompson was actually a natural cruiserweight and came in 10 pounds over the limit. It was 4 September '91 at York Hall in Bethnal Green and the more mobile and strong Thompson proved to be too much for the young Welshman and Piper was caught early on in round 3 by a big combination and dropped. Although he got up, he was waved off by the referee. On 22 January next year, he fought against Frank Eubank, the brother of Chris, in an eliminator for the British super middleweight title and won on points, 99-96 1/2. It seems the brutal loss to Thompson made Piper switch to the 168. However, for some reason, he had to fight yet another eliminator against Johnny Melfah, a journeyman, 25 July same year. Piper won by TKO 5 at the G-Mex Centre in Manchester. However, instead of fighting for the British belt, he challenged the WBC champion Nigel Benn. The fight happened 12 December that year at Alexandra Pavillion in Muswell Hill, London. Piper significantly towered above the 5'9 Benn, but Benn had plenty in store for him, with his superior speed, reflexes and amazing power, as well as boxing ability. Piper put on a brave performance, but eventually he was overpowered by Benn and stopped in the 11th round, after being down three times. Judge Mickey Vann had Piper ahead by 96-95 at the time of stoppage, but everyone agrees Benn had the fight won somewhere after the 6th round. Piper managed to stun Benn once but his warrior mentality made him trade too much, which was the main reason for his loss and getting stopped. This might have been his best performance, still.
He then won the minor WBA Penta-Continental title at super middleweight by UD12 against Miguel Angel Maldonado and defended it against Chris Sande by TKO 9, but then he decided to go back to light heavyweight, in 1993. He beat Trevor Ambrose in his return to the division, by TKO 5 at the National Ice Rink in Cardiff, 10 July that year. After drawing against Frank Rhodes, he challenged the WBO champion Leeonzer Barber from Detroit, who like him stood 6'3 and was a muscular fighter with power. It was 29 January '94 at the National Ice Rink and the scores were divided after 8 rounds when Barber stopped Piper by TKO in round 9. Another big setback, but it wouldn't get any better in his next fight against another tall lhw-Crawford Ashley. Once again they fought at the Ice Rink and Ashley put Piper down once but the fight was hotly contested and in the end, Ashley was the winner by 117 1/2-116. It was the last fight of 1994 for Piper and next year on 30 September he beat Noel Magee by KO 9 to win the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title and the Commonwealth title, which Magee was defending. Piper caught him with a huge overhand right and Magee fell down face-first and was counted out in the middle of the round. Piper made one successful defense of the Commonwealth belt by stopping the Jamaican-born Bruce Scott by TKO 7, 30 November '96 at Rhondda Fach Sports Centre in Tylorstown, Wales. He won one more fight, at the cruiserweight limit, by a razor-thin decision in 8 rounds against Frenchman Stephane Nizard, before fighting his last big fight. It was once again for the WBO title and his opponent was now the man who beat Barber-Dariusz Michalczewski of Poland. Michalczewski was 34-0 and would remain undefeated for a long time. The fight was in Stadionsporthalle in Hannover, Germany, 4 October '97.
"Tiger Dariusz" was slightly shorter at 6'1 but was a strong and hard-hitting warrior in his peak and he put Piper down in the very first round with a left to the body. The Pole kept catching the Welshman coming in with counter left hands and then in the same first round he caught him with an overhand right that put Piper down again. In round 2 Piper began utilizing his jab and did better, but was still a rather easy target for Michalczewski's straight punches. He was caught with a big right midway thru the round. In round 3 the fight heated up and there were numerous exchanges between the two, however, the Pole still got the better of the action. Piper was hurt again by another overhand right and started holding. He landed some good one-twos but they had very little effect on the Pole's iron chin. 4 was Piper's best round and he landed some good left hand counters and a big right to the chin. Piper closed strong in round 5 and hit the champion with a great combination, which was his best moment in the fight. He looked like he was gaining ground in round 6 as well, once again closing strong in the final seconds. However, midway through round 7, Piper was again nailed by a big right and sank to his knees. The champion flung himself at him and pinned him against the ropes, firing away, but the spirited Welshman fired back. Still, it was in vain. The Pole was stronger and once again hurt him while against the ropes with that dangerous right hand. Piper was still punching back, but looked tired and weary. After receiving some more hard blows, Piper's corner stopped the fight following the round. It was a sad but still worthy farewell for Nicky Piper.
He had already become a successful businessman and a boxing pundit on TV before his last fight, and he continued doing that after the retirement. He also became a member of the British Boxing Board of Control in 1997 and later a chairman for the Professional Boxing Association and in 2005 he was awarded an MBE for his services to the sport. He has a remarkably high IQ and is a member of the Mensa, organization founded by and for the highly intelligent people. Nicky Piper was a capable boxer, but his height made him awkward and lacking in footwork and a rather easy target for the best opponents. He was a tough guy with a warrior mentality and hit hard as well, once scoring a knockout in 12 seconds! Nicky Piper, I salute you.
Piper was born 5 May 1966 in Cardiff, where he also grew up. He won the 1989 ABA (Amateur British Association title) at light heavyweight. Standing 6'3, Piper had a sinewy build and always came in in top shape. He turned pro 6 September 1989, winning by a KO2 against Kevin Roper. He fought as a light heavy first. In his fifth fight, he faced Maurice Core, then unbeaten at 2-0, and although he had Core down twice, the fight ended as a draw after 6 completed rounds. Piper then progressed and scored 6 knockout victories before fighting his first big opponent: Carl Thompson. Thompson was actually a natural cruiserweight and came in 10 pounds over the limit. It was 4 September '91 at York Hall in Bethnal Green and the more mobile and strong Thompson proved to be too much for the young Welshman and Piper was caught early on in round 3 by a big combination and dropped. Although he got up, he was waved off by the referee. On 22 January next year, he fought against Frank Eubank, the brother of Chris, in an eliminator for the British super middleweight title and won on points, 99-96 1/2. It seems the brutal loss to Thompson made Piper switch to the 168. However, for some reason, he had to fight yet another eliminator against Johnny Melfah, a journeyman, 25 July same year. Piper won by TKO 5 at the G-Mex Centre in Manchester. However, instead of fighting for the British belt, he challenged the WBC champion Nigel Benn. The fight happened 12 December that year at Alexandra Pavillion in Muswell Hill, London. Piper significantly towered above the 5'9 Benn, but Benn had plenty in store for him, with his superior speed, reflexes and amazing power, as well as boxing ability. Piper put on a brave performance, but eventually he was overpowered by Benn and stopped in the 11th round, after being down three times. Judge Mickey Vann had Piper ahead by 96-95 at the time of stoppage, but everyone agrees Benn had the fight won somewhere after the 6th round. Piper managed to stun Benn once but his warrior mentality made him trade too much, which was the main reason for his loss and getting stopped. This might have been his best performance, still.
He then won the minor WBA Penta-Continental title at super middleweight by UD12 against Miguel Angel Maldonado and defended it against Chris Sande by TKO 9, but then he decided to go back to light heavyweight, in 1993. He beat Trevor Ambrose in his return to the division, by TKO 5 at the National Ice Rink in Cardiff, 10 July that year. After drawing against Frank Rhodes, he challenged the WBO champion Leeonzer Barber from Detroit, who like him stood 6'3 and was a muscular fighter with power. It was 29 January '94 at the National Ice Rink and the scores were divided after 8 rounds when Barber stopped Piper by TKO in round 9. Another big setback, but it wouldn't get any better in his next fight against another tall lhw-Crawford Ashley. Once again they fought at the Ice Rink and Ashley put Piper down once but the fight was hotly contested and in the end, Ashley was the winner by 117 1/2-116. It was the last fight of 1994 for Piper and next year on 30 September he beat Noel Magee by KO 9 to win the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title and the Commonwealth title, which Magee was defending. Piper caught him with a huge overhand right and Magee fell down face-first and was counted out in the middle of the round. Piper made one successful defense of the Commonwealth belt by stopping the Jamaican-born Bruce Scott by TKO 7, 30 November '96 at Rhondda Fach Sports Centre in Tylorstown, Wales. He won one more fight, at the cruiserweight limit, by a razor-thin decision in 8 rounds against Frenchman Stephane Nizard, before fighting his last big fight. It was once again for the WBO title and his opponent was now the man who beat Barber-Dariusz Michalczewski of Poland. Michalczewski was 34-0 and would remain undefeated for a long time. The fight was in Stadionsporthalle in Hannover, Germany, 4 October '97.
"Tiger Dariusz" was slightly shorter at 6'1 but was a strong and hard-hitting warrior in his peak and he put Piper down in the very first round with a left to the body. The Pole kept catching the Welshman coming in with counter left hands and then in the same first round he caught him with an overhand right that put Piper down again. In round 2 Piper began utilizing his jab and did better, but was still a rather easy target for Michalczewski's straight punches. He was caught with a big right midway thru the round. In round 3 the fight heated up and there were numerous exchanges between the two, however, the Pole still got the better of the action. Piper was hurt again by another overhand right and started holding. He landed some good one-twos but they had very little effect on the Pole's iron chin. 4 was Piper's best round and he landed some good left hand counters and a big right to the chin. Piper closed strong in round 5 and hit the champion with a great combination, which was his best moment in the fight. He looked like he was gaining ground in round 6 as well, once again closing strong in the final seconds. However, midway through round 7, Piper was again nailed by a big right and sank to his knees. The champion flung himself at him and pinned him against the ropes, firing away, but the spirited Welshman fired back. Still, it was in vain. The Pole was stronger and once again hurt him while against the ropes with that dangerous right hand. Piper was still punching back, but looked tired and weary. After receiving some more hard blows, Piper's corner stopped the fight following the round. It was a sad but still worthy farewell for Nicky Piper.
He had already become a successful businessman and a boxing pundit on TV before his last fight, and he continued doing that after the retirement. He also became a member of the British Boxing Board of Control in 1997 and later a chairman for the Professional Boxing Association and in 2005 he was awarded an MBE for his services to the sport. He has a remarkably high IQ and is a member of the Mensa, organization founded by and for the highly intelligent people. Nicky Piper was a capable boxer, but his height made him awkward and lacking in footwork and a rather easy target for the best opponents. He was a tough guy with a warrior mentality and hit hard as well, once scoring a knockout in 12 seconds! Nicky Piper, I salute you.