Fight fans have chance to see gallery from 1980s

Boxing fans across London are in for a treat next month when an exhibition of pictures from the sport goes on show at the Globe pub, Hackney.

The pictures on show were taken by Chris Moyse and feature many east London boxers who were making a name for themselves during the 1980s.

The exhibition, called ‘The Fight Business’, opens on May 19 at 4.30pm, with free admission and all are welcome.

“In February 1980 I was asked by a publisher if I’d take photographs for a book to be written by BBC boxing commentator Harry Carpenter,” said Moyse.

“I knew nothing about sport and even less about boxing, but I accepted the task, and set off to take a series of photographs depicting all aspects of a boxer’s journey.

“Over the next five months I was lucky enough to photograph the ABA. finals at Wembley, an amateur boxing evening in Eltham, and a couple of professional shows at the Royal Albert Hall.

“I travelled to Bradford and Halifax to photograph Tommy Miller’s fighters, men who worked hard by day and fought at night. At the Royal Oak Gym, Canning Town, I photographed Maurice Hope, Jimmy Flint, and Sylvester Mittee.

“I photographed a British title fight between Kirkland Laing and Colin Jones in London and a world title fight between Charlie Nash and Jim Watt at the Kelvin Hall Glasgow.

“Two years later I photographed the heavyweight boxer Frank Bruno, after turning professional with Terry Lawless.

“Over the period I saw the best and the worst of boxing: the camaraderie, the bravery, the hard and ruthless nature of the business. I was helped along by the generosity of the fighters, the promoters, managers, and trainers etc.

“This exhibition is dedicated to all those boxers, who’s dignity and bravery was without equal; who fought their opponents with great courage and without malice while engaging in The Fight Business”.