Main Performers | Muhammad Ali, John L Gardner (Hackney), Tony Blackburn (Wales), Jimmy Batten (Millwall), Brian Gregory (Doncaster), Joe Bugner (St. Ives), Boone Kirkman (USA), Billy Knight (East Lane), John Gerowski (Pennsylvania, USA), Gary Dunks (Stepney), Dick Goodman (Northampton), Mark Bliss (Tottenham), Alun Trembath (Rhondda), Albert Hillman (Penge) - boxers |
Secondary Performers | John Conteh, Muhammad Ali - commentators |
Set List | Exhibition Rounds - Muhammad Ali
Heavyweight - John L Gardner (Hackney) v Tony Blackburn (Wales), Light Middleweight - Jimmy Batten (Millwall) v Brian Gregory (Doncaster), Heavyweight - Joe Bugner (St. Ives) v Boone Kirkman (USA), (replaced by Albert Lovell), Light-Heavyweight - Billy Knight (East Lane) v John Gerowski (Pennsylvania, USA), Light Welterweight - Gary Dunks (Stepney) v Dick Goodman (Northampton), Featherweight - Mark Bliss (Tottenham) v Alun Trembath (Rhondda), Light Middleweight - Albert Hillman (Penge) |
Performance Notes | Original photographs of the event are held by Mirrorpix.
Boxer Muhammad Ali took part in a question and answer session from the ring.
Joe Bugner beat Albert Lovell (Argentina) Billy Knight beat John Gerowski.
The event was filmed by BBC Television.
"Not even the exuberance of Muhammad Ali could save the main event at last night's Albert Hall boxing promotion from being a travesty of a sporting match. Joe Bugner's Agentine oppponent Alberto Lovell was rescued by the referee after 2 min 15 sec of the second round of a bout in which he had done little except hold like an octopus and swing like a novice. Lovell left the ring to boos and cries of 'Disgrace' from ringside spectators who had paid £10.50 for their seats. I cannot blame Bugner, though a section of the angry public were prepared to do so. Lovell who was conceding a stone in weight and what looked like several inches in height, ducked far below his opponent's waist and held on so determindly that, in the first round, he was inadvertently pushed flat on his back by Roland Dakin the referee, as he attempted to break up a prolonged clinch." (The Times, 4 December 1974) |
Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1974/170) Handbill (RAHE/6/1974/10) |