Birmingham-born Charles 'Charley' Mitchell fought and lost to the great John L. Sullivan at Madison Square Garden in 1883 following an open-weight eliminator tournament the previous year. Despite dropping the "Boston Strong Boy" in round one, the fight was stopped in the third

Muhammad Ali threatens Jack Bodell with an uppercut inside the former pig farmer's chip shop in Coventry, 1983. The 1961 ABA Light-Heavyweight champion overpowered Roy Seward to win the Midlands Light-Heavyweight Title in just his sixth professional fight

Spectators enjoy a fight promoted by former featherweight Bert Adey in the field adjoining the Pear Tree public house in Cannock Road, Wolverhampton. Adey would use the same venue to stage the Southern Area Feather Weight Championship between Tommy Hyams and Tommy Rogers in 1933

Two weight British champion Wally Swift throws a right hand towards Birma the elephant at Billy Smart's Circus in 1960. Raised in Bilborough, Swift was matched against southpaw Brian Curvis for the Commonwealth welterweight title, losing a fifteen-round points decision

'The Blonde Destroyer' Paul Butlin tangles with Anthony Joshua in 2013. Hailing from Rutland and based in Melton, Butlin challenged twice for the Midlands Area heavyweight title, defeating Bulwell's Shane McPhilbin at the North Kesteven Centre in 2014

William 'The Tipton Slasher' Perry required 27 rounds in 1850 to defeat Tom Paddock to win the English heavyweight championship. Eight years previously, the Staffordshire fighter shared 74 rounds with Charles Freeman, before the fight was stopped due to fading light

Birmingham's Robert McCracken proudly holds up the Lonsdale Belt after defeating Andy Till on points in 1994 for the British light-middleweight title #boxing #boxinghistory #britishboxing #lonsdalebelt #bbbofc #boxingnews

Nottingham’s Herol “Bomber” Graham goes after Charles Brewer on the undercard of Lennox Lewis vs Shannon Briggs at the Boardwalk Convention Center in New Jersey, March 1998 #boxing #boxinghistory #britishboxing #boxingnews #nottingham #wincobank #brendaningle

Tony Sibson (Leicester) parries Marvellous Marvin Hagler’s southpaw jab in a WBC/WBA middleweight title fight at the DCU Center, Massachusetts in February 1983 #boxing #boxingnews #britishboxing #marvinhagler #marvellousmarvinhagler

Ghanaian Ben Odamattey takes evasive action to avoid a vicious right hook thrown by Carl Greaves. The Newark fighter would emerge an unanimous points winner to claim the WBF super-featherweight title at Nottingham Arena, April 2003 #boxinghistory #britishboxing #boxingnews

Conrad Metz’ depiction of Derby’s Tom Johnson taking on Issac Perrins in 1789. Despite giving away 4’’ in height and 19kg in weight, Johnson used superior skill and movement to claim victory after 62 rounds #boxinghistory #boxingnews #boxing #britishboxing

Clifton Mitchell, AKA Paddy Reilly challenged for both the British and European heavyweight titles. Trained by Brendan Ingle, Derby-born Mitchell retired with a 18-2 record and remains a popular figure on the British boxing scene #boxingnews #britishboxing #brendaningle

Telford local Richie Woodhall lands a left hook on Thulani Malinga at Telford Ice Rink in March 1998. Woodhall outpointed ‘Sugar Boy’ for the WBC super-middleweight title, later telling The Ring “Malinga was a tough guy… you don’t get a win over Nigel Benn if you’re not strong”

Kristian Laight slips a jab thrown by Jordan Gill, 2012. Known as ‘Mr Reliable’, the Nuneaton fighter’s boxing record belies considerable defensive skill, and in 300 fights the legendary journeyman was stopped only 5 times #boxing #boxingnews #britishboxing #boxinghistory

‘Dangerous’ Danny McAlinden sinks a left hook into Jack Bodell at Villa Park in June 1972. The former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion moved to Coventry in 1951 and trained at Edgwick ABC whilst working at the Standard Motor Company #boxinghistory #boxingnews #boxing

Jimmy Twite fighting for Triumph ABC knocks out David Haye of Fitzroy Lodge in the 1999 ABA Semi-finals David Haye Triumph ABC Fitzroy Lodge #boxing #boxingnews #boxinghistory #coventry