Brian Curvis a Credit to Boxing

Brian Curvis. Image courtesy of Derek Rowe

Brian Curvis from the off looked like a fighter who could well add to the list of outstanding boxing champions produced in Wales over the years. Curvis (birth name Nancurvis) was born on the 14 August 1937. Curvis, who boxed in the southpaw stance, showed his ability in the amateurs winning the ABA welterweight crown in 1958.

The Welshman entered the punch for pay code on the 2 June 1959 with an impressive 2 round stoppage over Harry Haydock in a bout staged at the Empire Pool Wembley, London. Curvis continued his successful run of wins resulting in a much deserved first crack at a major title. This opportunity came in his 14th fight on the 9 May 1960 against Australian George Barnes for the Commonwealth welterweight crown. This was no easy match for Curvis, Barnes the reigning champion was an experienced fighter who was entering the fight with a record of 65 battles winning 43 losing 18 with 4 drawn. The contest took place at Vetch Field in Swansea and to the delight of the many fans in attendance Curvis boxed his way to a 15 round points decision. After a further 2 winning matches Curvis went for his 2nd title against Wally Swift who would be defending his British welterweight title against the Welshman at the Ice Rink in Nottingham. Curvis’ Commonwealth title would also be at stake in the match. Swift had participated in 28 fights which comprised of 24 wins 3 defeats and 1 draw. In the contest which took place on the 21 November 1960 the contest went the full route of 15 rounds with Curvis emerging the winner by way of a points decision. (This created a family double for the Curvis family, since on the 24 July 1952 Brian’s older brother Cliff had also won the British welterweight and Commonwealth titles during his career when knocking out the then defending champion Wally Thom in round 9 of 15).

On the 8 May 1961 Curvis entered the ring in a return match with Wally Swift at the Ice Rink in Nottingham, both the British & Commonwealth titles were on the line. Once again Curvis won on points over the course of 15 rounds to not only retain his titles but to take his unblemished record to an impressive record of 20 bouts without defeat.

Curvis was making excellent progress and was fast becoming a fan favourite. A further 3 fights followed which included two more successful defences of his British and Commonwealth titles. On the 10 April 1962 Curvis suffered his first loss in the professional ranks when he met American Guy Sumlin at the Empire Pool Wembley, being stopped in round 8 of 10 due to a cut eye. This was a setback but the Welsh boxer was soon back in action. On the 11 September 1962 Curvis returned to the Empire Pool and entered the ring to meet Ralph Dupas from the USA who was a tricky opponent with a record of 117 fights winning 95 losing 16 with 6 drawn. Curvis found his way back into the win column when Dupas was disqualified in round 6 of a scheduled 12 for various infringements during the encounter. (Dupas later went on to capture a world title in the super-welterweight division in 1963 when defeating the then defending champion Denny Moyer.)

Curvis put on the gloves again on the 16 October 1962 and gained revenged over the first man to defeat him, Guy Sumlin, when he boxed his way to a 10 round points decision at the Empire Pool, Wembley. On the night of the fight with Curvis, Sumlin had a slate of 30 bouts consisting of 22 wins 7 defeats and 1 drawn.

by Ralph Oates

Commonwealth titles against Tony Smith at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington in London. Smith was a worthy challenger who climbed into the ring with a record of 37 bouts winning 30 and losing 7. Curvis left the ring still champion when he stopped his challenger in round 9 of 15. Curvis had now made 4 successful defences of the British title and 5 of the Commonwealth crown.

Curvis added another 2 victories to his resume after the Smith match which took him into an intriguing contest with the reigning British and former European and Commonwealth lightweight title holder Dave Charnley who, like Curvis, boxed in the southpaw stance. Charnley was an exciting fighter who was world class and always gave his all in each competition he took part in. The contest took place on the 24 March 1964 at the Empire Pool, Wembley. Charnely came into the battle with a record of 58 bouts winning 47 losing 10 with 1 drawn. The fans were not disappointed, they were treated to an excellent fight with the Welshman securing the win by way of a 10 round points decision. Johnny Cooke was the next to be defeated by Curvis when he challenged him for the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles on the 28 July 1964 at the Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl in Wales. Cooke entered the ring having previously taken part in 36 fights with 26 wins 8 defeats and 2 drawn. On this occasion Cooke retired in round 5 of 15.

Emile Griffith, born in the Virgin Islands, was the reigning world welterweight champion and he was an outstanding title holder who had amassed a record of 47 bouts winning 41 losing 5 including 1 match declared a no contest. This was the man Curvis had to topple if he was to take the top spot in the division. Clearly not an easy task. The Welshman had met good opponents since he had turned professional but no one like Griffith. The champion was something else, a level well above anyone the Briton had ever confronted before. At the Empire Pool, Wembley on the 22 September 1964, Curvis faced the champion for his attempt to win global honours. Griffith was the favourite to retain the title and after a valiant effort, Curvis lost a 15 round points decision to the title holder. The champion had an answer for everything Curvis attempted during the fight. This was of course a disappointment, but the Welsh hero was aware that he had lost to the very best and there was nothing to be ashamed of in his performance.

After a brief rest Curvis laced up the gloves and at the Sophia Gardens Pavilion in Cardiff on the 20 January 1965, outpointed American Vince Shomo over 10 rounds to get back on to his winning ways. The following month Curvis stepped back into the battle zone and on the 23 February he crossed gloves with the very experienced Gaspar Ortega of Mexico at the Royal Albert Hall and hence won a 10 round points decision. The visitor had a fight record consisting of 170 fights winning 131 losing 33 with 6 drawn. On the 3 April 1965 the ever busy British and Commonwealth champion packed his case and travelled to South Africa to meet Willie Ludick at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg. This was Curvis’ first overseas match which saw him lose a 10 round points decision to the home fighter. Ludick had a resume of 16 fights with 15 wins and 1 defeat.

Isacc Logart was next up to face Curvis on the 23 September 1965 at the Sophia Gardens Pavilion in Cardiff. The American duly retired in round 6 of a scheduled 10. Prior to meeting Curvis, Logart had fought on 108 occasions winning 69 and losing 30 with 9 drawn.

Three more victories followed the Logart fight which led Curvis to a shot at the vacant European welterweight title on the 25 April 1966 against Frenchman Jean Josselin. The last British holder of this title was Peter Waterman (brother of actor Dennis Waterman of Sweeney, New Tricks and Minder fame he held the title in 1958). The Welshman would be in for a difficult night since he had to do battle in France where Josselin would have home advantage. A win here for Curvis could well put him back in contention for another world title shot so there was everything to play for. Sadly any dreams or aspirations Curvis may have had for a second crack at a world crown were destroyed when he went down to defeat. The end came when he retired in round 14 of 15 at the Palais des Sports in Paris. Josselin with a record of 37 fights comprising of 35 wins 1 defeat and 1 draw proved too strong for the Welshman.

The Market Hall in Carmarthen witnessed the last professional contest which Curvis would participate in. On the 12 September 1966 Des Rea who had a resume of 16 bouts with 12 wins with 3 defeats and 1 draw provided the opposition and was duly stopped in round 8 of a scheduled 10.

Brian Curvis left the sport with an outstanding record of 40 fights with just 4 defeats, and during his time in the professional ranks he was never beaten by a British opponent. He proudly defended the domestic title on six occasions and thus won two Lonsdale Belts outright. Sadly Curvis passed away on the 9 January 2012. Truly he was a credit to boxing in every sense of the word.