Tony Sibson vs Alan Minter 1981 (Original Upload BBC Commentary)

Commentary by Harry Carpenter
European Middleweight Title
Post fight comments
"Tony put his heart and soul into it tonight and will be looking for a world title crack now." -Sam Burns, Sibson's manager
"Sibson hit me with a blinder of a punch. I think it would have knocked out any fighter in the world." -Alan Minter
FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
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Fair use
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[@duncansmith8992]

I met Alan in a pub before the Herol Graham vs Mike McCallum fight. An absolute gentleman. It was an honour to meet such a man.

[@thaumaturgeishere331]

Shame about his politics...

[@stephenshillingford980]

Shame on him for being a racist

[@duncansmith8992]

@@stephenshillingford980 Shame on Ali for being a racist.

[@Telcontar1962]

@@thaumaturgeishere331 He was a man of his time and there is nothing to condemn him for. If you really want to see racism in all its poisonous glory, blacks are THE group who can give everyone else lessons. Besides he paid for what he said. Hagler destroyed him inside 3 rounds and his boxing career along with it. That surely was punishment enough.

[@davidmccann9811]

@@stephenshillingford980 If Minter was a racist then so was Muhammed Ali, Larry Holmes, Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor and Floyd Mayweather. To name but a few.

[@JimmyPince]

RIP Great Warrior Champion Legend Alan Minter (17 August 1951 - 9 September 2020)

[@newtnicton9022]

I agree. Thanks for the info and vid. I have Alan Minters autograph.

[@fkthelefties]

How did you manage to get hold of the fight, when it was blocked from being on Sportsnight. Sure i remember waiting up for it, to be told by Harry C, the bad news.!

[@kevyarham]

I remember watching this when the bbc was good. Big fights mid week was the norm when I was a kid.

[@TheJohhnyrotten]

It's only taken me forty years to see this fight.

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

You too?

[@kakonis]

Mickey Duff said it was banned from being shown in the UK because of some ad on the fighter's trunks that technically violated a BBBC rule about advertising.

[@BustedKnuckles69]

The way and manner in which Hagler dismantled BOTH of these warriors proves just how GREAT Hagler was

[@antonyreed8281]

yes Marvin hailer was a all time great champ his fight with Roberto Duran and Thomas hears especially brilliant but tONY Sibson was a very brave man who took the fight to hagler and put up a brave performance against one of the all time greats

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

@@antonyreed8281 100% Tony put up a superb performance I think. He went at Hagler and showed great courage and tenacity. He deserves more recognition- did a right number on Minter too.

[@ppo2424]

Alan just cut easily, always did, he was fighting fine.@@liverpoolscottish6430

[@davidmclachlan6592]

Haggler.... arguably the greatest middleweight of all time.

[@steventownsend1344]

I used to live on same street as tony sibson many years ago in leicester . Yes sibson was good boxer but hagler was unstoppable back then .80s 90s was great era for boing

[@finnglynn9344]

I met minter when we boxed as amateurs in torquay he and Harry carpenter had a drink with all the boxers from Fitzroy Lodge it was about 89 imperial Hotel great night Alan was a great guy ,Harry carpenter a complete gentleman happy days ,I think all the tough fights minter had caught up with him by the time he fought Sibson.

[@Kedbuka]

Thanks for the upload. Two terrific, world class fighters

[@mac1975]

I have a hand written letter from Harry. It’s my most treasured possession, he was writing to tell me how much he appreciated my attempt at the southern area championship but was beaten on points. Means so much to me

[@MrMandelsohn]

Wow I tried to watch this over the years and only see it now for the first time. Thanks🙏

[@waynereynolds3211]

Great fight between 2 British legends rip Alan minter

[@John-wg1jh]

Legends?

[@nadirakyildiz8857]

​@@John-wg1jhEnglish legends from the 1970s and 80s

[@MikeHansen1970]

Thanks for sharing this. 2 great fighters.

[@JimmyPince]

Your welcome Mike 👍

[@jerryoshea3116]

Alan Minter was a tough&skillful Boxer/Fighter..But I always thought he took way to many "shots"..What would he have been like with a Coach of such quality like Emanuel steward!.

[@johnmc3862]

His defence was often poor., left himself open.

[@johntate5050]

Too many not to many.

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

Tony Sibson- what a fighter, gave Minter a Grade 'A' spanking in that last round.

[@andrewtaylor-fy9kk]

I used to follow sibbo everywhere, used to go and watch him train in the Queen Vic in syston, what a great guy he was

[@boum62]

Two lovely fellas.

[@Salieri47]

Respect for both fighters. In a different era they might've been world champ.

[@hyena131]

@Salieri47 Yes, in an era with average middleweights...

[@susanreinert6962]

MInter was the world champion

[@hyena131]

@@susanreinert6962 Barely...

[@Kaiserbill99]

@@hyena131 Minter was WBC/WBA and Ring magazine MW champion. He defeated Vito Antuofermo to win the titles and stopped him in the rematch. He lost his titles to none other than Marvin Hagler. You are clearly a casual and have no business commenting on boxing related forums. A simple google search would have prevented you making a tit of yourself.

[@martinlove7073]

Alan minter was our only undisputed world champ got beaten by the great Marvin haggler

[@dexocube]

Sibson's feints were a thing of beauty

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

Sibson's skills were a joy to watch. I had a boxing tutorial book in the eighties that Sibson was the fighter in the photos showing the moves. He might have even wrote it. Respect to in my opinion a legend of British boxing

[@klunny998]

Sibson a strong guy

[@MrANDYGEEZER]

Sibson was tough, game & always up for the fight, scrap & battle, a truly very good boxer/fighter at British & European level but he met the greatest middleweight of all time in MMH & came second, no disgrace or shame in that as MMH was just invincible & legendary & they became great friends in the years that followed, Sibson & Michael Watson were my two favourite British boxers but both were talented, tough & very very good but just not quite good enough ☹️, the GREATEST British boxer/fighter without a doubt was Joe Calzaghe who is head & shoulders above any boxer/fighter/brawler/scrapper from the UK, the best value for money exciting boxer & win or lose was Nigel Benn imho 😉

[@titanicicaproduction]

Pity Calzaghe and Froch never met inside the ropes

[@strtoneill]

Calzaghe, greatest ever.

[@titanicicaproduction]

@@strtoneill he was brilliant indeed. And the story of him and his father Enzo is incredible.

[@auctionnews]

Sibson was a really tough guy, fast and aggressive, he was at the Belgrave qym with me in the 1970.80 tough tough man who wanted to scrap

[@MRSIBBO1]

Iam so proud of him

[@vestibulate]

@MRSIBBO1 Your name suggests a familial connection, as does your expression of pride. Are you indeed related to this fine boxing champion?

[@MRSIBBO1]

Aye hes my cousin

[@vestibulate]

@@MRSIBBO1 He was one hell of a fighter- not just tough, but skilled. I hope he's well and enjoying life.

[@dread4836]

we were all proud of him, my favourite of all time British Boxers

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

@@MRSIBBO1 Your cousin is an inspiration. Even to this day I see a Sibson fight come up on the video feed and I still want to see it.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

11:04 Harry 'he doesn't know where he is' Carpenter.

[@jermainelong1843]

Gordon Bennett!! I've never seen this fight before but what a finish! Savage!

[@joemorgan636]

I remember when this fight wasn’t shown everybody was trying to find it back in the day I was only 14 years old. Funny enough, I went away without him into the year after 1982 for winning the junior ABAs Great Britain

[@paulgraham6316]

That was a brutal finish by Sibson. Respect

[@spiderreed350]

Tony was a tough customer.

[@anthonyclarke5579]

"Sibbo, Sibbo, Sibbo", two champ's, one winner.

[@anthonykelly9842]

He was the same age as my old man and I’ve watched a few of these old fights. He was unlucky to be in the haglar era, haglar had the title for many years , Alan was awesome fighter 👍🏻

[@hyena131]

@anthonykelly9842 It's *Hagler. At least spell the great man's name correctly, ya dunce.

[@paulanthony5274]

You get people spelling it Haggler as well 😂

[@sparkesman1980]

In those days, if you lost, you had to fight your way back up the chain again for a title shot. Unfortunately, it then all changed when the likes of the boxing promoter Don King and others, started introducing into the original fight contract, a clause that guaranteed an immediate return fight. This completely changed the whole boxing format, and is the reason why today, you do not necessarily see the two best boxers of that particular weight, fighting it out in the ring. $$$$$$$$$$$$%%

[@leoseries]

I share your dislike of Don King but return clauses were around long before he polluted the boxing scene.

[@misfit2022]

Harry was right it was the end for former world champion Alan Minter who sadly died a few years ago. Tony Sibson was good but his bout with Hagler showed Hagler was different class though not sure how many knew over 40 years on Hagler would still be the greatest middleweight from his era onwards.

[@NickPenlee]

I thought Minter was picking his shots quite nicely until getting caught with the left.

[@barriemeredith907]

Alan minter signed my boots

[@stevencarter87]

Minter was great but past his prime Sibson was up and coming! Pass on the mantle of Britain's best! Both amazing fighters end of 🥊

[@kendodd8734]

Ur bang on with that comment

[@harryheath9928]

Yeah after getting thrashed by Hagler he was on the downside but he's had a glorious carreer beating Vito for the glory and title

[@kendodd8734]

@@harryheath9928 hede started to cut real easy aswell towards the end Micky duff took to a specialist to get an explanation for this and the only conclusion he could come up with was he now fighting better opponents which u or me could have told him

[@John-wg1jh]

Great? Cmon.

[@petehaynes5882]

i saw Kevin Finnegan beat Tony Sibson - - Kevin was a better boxer IMO

[@colinhiggins4779]

Sibson was a beast. Probably would have been MW champ if Hagler hadn't been around

[@johnmc3862]

Hearns!

[@qamyasharahla4876]

Duran, ?.. Leonard? Benitez?

[@colinhiggins4779]

@@qamyasharahla4876 Benitez was a Super Welterweight. Leonard didn't come into the picture until 86-87. Duran might have beaten Sibson, but really wasn't a natural middleweight

[@christopherchristos7275]

@@colinhiggins4779 Leonard beat Benitez in 1979 to win his first title!

[@donovanwilliams9006]

@@christopherchristos7275 Leonard retired as a welterweight in '82 and came back as a middleweight in '87.

[@ricko3k]

I remember the fight and Sibson was brilliant. My favourite British Middleweight. Such a shame for Alan Minter, he'd been a great fighter, but he just didn't look right from the off, like a hospital patient shuffling around the ward.

[@simonlevett4776]

Really, he seemed all right in the first two rounds.

[@dread4836]

Sibbo was my favourite British Boxer of that era, he didn't seem up for it against Hagler, something was off on the night

[@Mozndon]

" Sibson - 23 years old, 46 fights". Unheard of today, true warriors. Loved Sibbo!

[@glenshea1967]

Anyone from Middlesbrough, north east England will know that John Topsey Lowe fought Minter. Topsey is well known in Middlesbrough for being a good boxing coach. He ran his gym above de niros nightclub which he also ran.

[@pinaconorth007]

1 on 1 ,most lethal sport in the World 🌎

[@paulweir7122]

Something that I always liked about Minter was his never making excuses re losses on cuts; unlike one heavyweight moaner whom most of the British public were blinkered to.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

A bit harsh perhaps, but I know where you're coming from.

[@simonlevett4776]

Which heavyweight would that be ?

[@dread4836]

100% agree

[@stevegasparutti8341]

Minter was great when he didnt get involved - but he was prone to get pulled into a slug fest. At his best - he was a similar fighter to Calzaghi (obviously - not in the same league)

[@johnmartin9321]

Minter similar to Calzaghe ??????????? must be a different Calzaghe oh Calzaghi

[@simonlevett4776]

Calzaghi was overrated in my opinion, and got a very lucky decision against Robin Reid.

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

@@simonlevett4776 Nigel Benn would have done Minter within four rounds. Calzaghi is a totally different story, but then again everyone has an opinion

[@tonyhyde6836]

I remember seeing this at the time , and felt so sorry for minter a great great British boxer , but they all come to an end sometime

[@fkthelefties]

It wasnt on tv, because Minter had DAF on his shorts.

[@jimcameron4672]

Great sportsmanship from Minter after the finish

[@blindposty]

omg..that was sooo sad..brought a tear ....

[@manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069]

I boxed on the same card as minters son Ross 1st amature bout at the New Addinton working mans club in 95

[@martinhowarth81]

Alan hero of my home town Crawley 🙏🙏 RIP champ

[@derekoshaughnessy9809]

Sibson was so strong

[@jasperspace6196]

Used to love watching the fights. And Errol bomber graham. At ingles camp Sheffield 👊🏻

[@neilcarpenter2669]

Alan Minter was a very good boxer but after the beating he took from Hagler he was never the same, he was probably better than Sibson when he was in his prime but boxers can go downhill practically overnight especially after a bad defeat.

[@tonyman2c]

What a great fighter Sibson was!

[@petyrkowalski9887]

Sibson was on fire that night. He smashed Minters nose so badly he got a massive abcess and needed surgery.

[@justinneill5003]

Alan Minter was the poster-boy of British boxing in those days, he had the marketable looks and character unlike Sibbo. A bit like the different way the media was treating Fury and Joshua a few years back. The media didn’t take Minter’s defeat too well. The DAF trucks advert on Minter’s shorts was just an excuse for the BBC not to show the fight.

[@fkthelefties]

BBC had a strict no advertising policy, hence some football matches were blacked out when kit men fked up. Nothing to do with their looks lol.

[@peterwest5525]

Who was the guy who won it ? Never got a mention, even after he´d won.

[@spiderreed350]

Yes sir,I seen Sibson in some big fights.

[@johncraig9011]

A great punch

[@ronmexico1874]

The end of Minter the Splinter. Sibson showed this bum way too much respect. If he had let his hands go from the start, he would have walked right through him.

[@royalordinance]

70's, 80's, 90' - Very entertai ing sports overall. ESPECIALLY Boxing!

[@grantross2609]

the funny thing is minter doesn't look half as good as he did against hagler and we all know what happened then.......

[@user-fq4qk9wz5k]

One of the best quotes I ever here’d in boxing was to do with minter I’m sure it was from the governor of commentary reg gutterage ( the tank commander who I think lost a leg in the Second World War not 100% sure about that fact though ) who said that his old manager ( mickey duff ) took him to a cuts and laceration specialist doctor to try and find out why minter was cutting so easy in his fights and apparently this specialist said to mickey maybe it’s because he’s fighting much better opponents now . Blinding , not to take anything away from minter he was a good fighter just had come to the end of the road in this one like all fighters do and unfortunately he also had in his era probably the best pound for pound fighter there has ever been in the truly great hagler

[@joeblow2069]

Remember that Mintor won the title and then defended it vs Vito Antuofermo a fighter with little offensive skills. Sibson was a much better offensive fighter than Vito Antuofermo.

[@OrbvsTomarvm]

no head and feet movement. brilliant hands though. rip champ.

[@stephenhubber9184]

I thought I saw Jimmy Saville in the corner, briefly. 😀

[@nadirakyildiz8857]

Is that jimmy saville in tony sibson's corner?

[@Anthony-Testicali]

Tony sibson broke the great Alan Minters nose.

[@johnmc3862]

Minter took some abuse over the years in fairness.

[@bernalwilliamm1666]

Sibson at his best (even against a diminished Minter).

[@carlosdeno]

Sibo was lazy, even admits it. Minters nose after this fight, Jesus! I loved watching both of these men, Hagler made short work of the pair of them, says it all! Hagler was an absolute beast!

[@arielcromwell]

11.42 Micky Duff before becoming Mrs Duff 😮

[@mikeweston3514]

Loved minter true warriors both tho

[@arielcromwell]

At his best, Alan Minter was a good boxer who turned in a respectable performance against (maybe GOAT) Hagler. But Sibbo shows that a puncher always has a chance.

[@superaj5314]

Searched up minter as in miniminter.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

11:09 No, it isn't. That's a ridiculous comment from Harry Carpenter. Fighters have *DIED* in the ring.

[@jasonhall4734]

I didn't think minter was all that

[@paulbuxton1326]

Sibbo our leicester legend 👌🇬🇧

[@charliebuttocks2400]

Alan minty minter v Tony sibo sibson go on my san

[@JamesJackson-xd7jq]

Let's face it , you take Minter 2 years earlier and he would've beat Sibson.. May God Bless His Soul Up In Heaven....

[@johnmc3862]

Meh.

[@TheW.Slayer-nw5ih]

LOL!

[@stevegriffiths4755]

"Boom Boom Minter" he was called after winning at the Olympics, never rated him that highly, personally, but he was a good amateur.

[@markhemming318]

You could apply that hypothesis too most fights. Every fighter has a sell by date.

[@patrickbrowne4606]

The great Hagler destroyed them BOTH!

[@Kaiserbill99]

Amazing how a fighter can deteriorate so dramatically once they taste adversity. Sibson KOd Minter cleanly and yet although beaten badly and cut badly against Hagler was not KOd just a year before. Minter also beat Vito Antuofermo twice without being in trouble once.

[@michaelb2388]

Minter was a munter

[@stevo62ful]

Herol Graham would have likely beaten both of these two.

[@fkthelefties]

😂 herol ''hello sailor'' graham.

[@ashleyhammond999]

Minter. A career ended like a taped-up punchbag. Vile tongue. Karma.

[@michaelemery1497]

My boy Hagler from my city Brockton mass, beat the shi*t out of both these guys

[@Salieri47]

Some respect, please.

[@sidbroughton8750]

Hagler is a legend, but respect any person who gets into the ring.

[@michaelemery1497]

@@sidbroughton8750 Of course..i watch the Mikey Ward vs Gatti fight alot

[@COBBETT1215]

Hagler wasn't "your boy". He wasn't anybody's "boy". And have some respect. True boxing fans who understand the game have too much respect for fighters to talk about them like that. I'm a working stiff who grew up in Louisville, but that's just a coincidence. It don't mean I got the right to go around claiming Muhammed Ali was "my boy".

[@michaelemery1497]

@@COBBETT1215 Don't be a goof..U ain't from Brockton like us..Eastside!!

[@adamdean988]

Minters footwork is the worst I've ever seen in boxing

[@lestergreen1190]

Wow, did Minter suck.

[@MyCold1]

He was at the end of his career here

[@kendodd8734]

That’s a bit harsh minter was descent fighter in this fight his career is winding down and he’s way past his best watch the some of his earlier fights u mite have a different opinion

[@lestergreen1190]

@@kendodd8734 You are probably right.

[@g4obb]

Don't you mean Mintoes ???

[@steventotsrusselldj.]

The commentator in this was brutal, in fact nasty springs to mind.

[@stevegriffiths4755]

Harry Carpenter was the commentator, best boxing commentator ever, I think your comments are unfounded.

[@mytmt1613]

@@stevegriffiths4755 Well said. Harry was great at presenting and commentating, and a gent.

[@lovelystuff1562]

Nasty? He didn't speak a word out of line.

[@TheW.Slayer-nw5ih]

LOL!.....Minter was a JOKE!.

[@bazbarrett8103]

Not saying Minter would have won ..but he he fought the wrong fight..toe to toe..

[@Granto-ni9qw]

Sibson became friends with hagler, after there fight