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{{Short description|British boxer (born 1945)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
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| name = Richard Dunn
| name = Richard Dunn
| image =
| image =
| caption = Richard Dunn, Heavyweight Champion of Europe, Great Britain, and the Commonwealth {{deletable image-caption|Saturday, 13 May 2017|F7}}
| caption = Richard Dunn, Heavyweight Champion of Europe, Great Britain, and the Commonwealth
| nationality = {{Flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom|British]]
| nationality = {{Flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom|British]]
| nickname =
| nickname =
| height = {{convert|6|ft|4|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1945|1|19}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1945|1|19}}
| birth_place = [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], [[England]]
| birth_place = [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England
| style = [[Southpaw stance|Southpaw]]
| style = [[Southpaw stance|Southpaw]]
| total = 45
| total = 45
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| no contests = 0<ref name="Boxing stats">{{cite web|title=Richard Dunn|url=http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9391&cat=boxer|work=Boxing Stats|accessdate=10 November 2011}}</ref>
| no contests = 0<ref name="Boxing stats">{{cite web|title=Richard Dunn|url=http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9391&cat=boxer|work=Boxing Stats|accessdate=10 November 2011}}</ref>
}}
}}

'''Richard Dunn''' (born 19 January 1945 in [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]])<ref name="Boxing stats"/> is an English former heavyweight [[boxing|boxer]] who was the [[List of British heavyweight boxing champions|British]] (1975-76), [[List of European Boxing Union champions|European]] (1976) and [[List of Commonwealth Boxing Council champions|Commonwealth]] (1975-76) champion. He competed unsuccessfully with the American boxer [[Muhammad Ali]] for the [[List of world heavyweight boxing champions|World Heavyweight title]] in 1976.<ref>Profile of Richard Dunn's boxing career, 'BoxRec' website (2020). https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9391</ref>
'''Richard Dunn''' (born 19 January 1945) is an English former heavyweight [[boxing|boxer]] who was the [[List of British heavyweight boxing champions|British]] (1975–76), [[List of European Boxing Union champions|European]] (1976) and [[List of Commonwealth Boxing Council champions|Commonwealth]] (1975–76) Champion. He unsuccessfully challenged [[Muhammad Ali]] for the [[List of world heavyweight boxing champions|world heavyweight title]] in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BoxRec: Richard Dunn |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9391 |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=boxrec.com}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Dunn played [[rugby football|rugby]] in his teens and early 20's. Starting boxing as an amateur in the early 1960's, he turned professional in his mid-20's whilst continuing to work as a scaffolder, living in [[Bradford]], [[West Yorkshire]]. He was unable to afford the expense of [[sparring]] partners to train with for most of his career, and his coach was his father-in-law.<ref>'Richard Dunn: Yorkshire lad on a perilous mission', New York Times, 23 May 1976.</ref> He was a soldier in the [[British Army]], serving as a [[non-commissioned officer]] with [[4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment]] in the 1960's-70's, being awarded the Corps' Fishmongers' Trophy in 1974.<ref>Military biography of Richard Dunn, 'Para Data' website (2020). https://www.paradata.org.uk/people/richard-dunn</ref>
Richard Dunn was born in [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]] on 19 January 1945.<ref name="Boxing stats"/> He played [[rugby football|rugby]] in his teens and early 20s. Starting boxing as an amateur in the early 1960s, he turned professional in his mid-20s whilst continuing to work as a scaffolder, living in [[Bradford]], [[West Yorkshire]]. He was unable to afford the expense of [[sparring]] partners to train with for most of his career, and his coach was his father-in-law.<ref>'Richard Dunn: Yorkshire lad on a perilous mission', New York Times, 23 May 1976.</ref> He was a soldier in the [[British Army]], serving as a [[non-commissioned officer]] with [[4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment]] in the 1960s-70s, being awarded the Corps' Fishmongers' Trophy in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Richard Dunn {{!}} ParaData |url=https://www.paradata.org.uk/people/richard-dunn |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=www.paradata.org.uk}}</ref>


==Boxing career==
==Boxing career==
A [[Southpaw stance|southpaw]], Dunn's professional career began with a win over [[Cardiff]] fighter Del Phillips in a heavyweight eliminator competition in [[Mayfair]], London in July 1969. His second fight was on the same day in the semi-final. It was a first-round defeat against [[Danny McAlinden]], who dispatched all three of his opponents in under three rounds to win the competition. However, in May 1973, Dunn defeated Billy Aird on points in an eliminator for the British Heavyweight Championship at [[Grosvenor House]] in London. He lost the final eliminator against Bunny Johnson, in October, after a tenth-round knockout at the [[Belle Vue Zoological Gardens|King's Hall]] in [[Manchester]]. However, when he faced the same opponent at the [[Wembley Arena|Empire Pool]] at [[Wembley]] for both the British and Commonwealth titles in September 1975, he prevailed on points, after 15 rounds.
A [[Southpaw stance|southpaw]], Dunn's professional career began with a win over [[Cardiff]] fighter Del Phillips in a heavyweight eliminator competition in [[Mayfair]], London in July 1969. His second fight was on the same day in the semi-final. It was a first-round defeat against [[Danny McAlinden]], who dispatched all three of his opponents in under three rounds to win the competition. However, in May 1973, Dunn defeated Billy Aird on points in an eliminator for the British Heavyweight Championship at [[Grosvenor House]] in London. He lost the final eliminator against Bunny Johnson, in October, after a tenth-round knockout at the [[Belle Vue Zoological Gardens|King's Hall]] in [[Manchester]]. However, when he faced the same opponent at the [[Wembley Arena|Empire Pool]] at [[Wembley]] for both the British and Commonwealth titles in September 1975, he prevailed on points, after 15 rounds.


=== British title ===
He made his first defence against McAlindon two months later. However, this time it was Dunn that won with a knockout after McAlinden went down three times in the second round.
Dunn made his first defence against McAlinden two months later. However, this time it was Dunn that won with a knockout after McAlinden went down three times in the second round.


On 6 April 1976 Dunn won the European Heavyweight Title by a third-round TKO of the German boxer [[Bernd August]] at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in London.
On 6 April 1976 Dunn won the European Heavyweight Title by a third-round TKO of the German boxer [[Bernd August]] at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in London.


=== Title shot ===
On 24 May 1976 Dunn was given the chance of fighting for the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] and [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] titles against the American champion [[Muhammad Ali]] at the [[Olympiahalle|Olympic Hall]] in [[Munich]], [[Germany]], for which he received £52,000<ref name="For fighting Muhammad Ali I got £52,000 says Richard Dunn but David Haye will get millions against useless lumps - and good luck to him">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-1227853/For-fighting-Muhammad-Ali-I-got-52-000-says-Richard-Dunn-David-Haye-millions-useless-lumps--good-luck-him.html|title=For fighting Muhammad Ali I got £52,000 says Richard Dunn but David Haye will get millions against useless lumps - and good luck to him|publisher=dailymail.co.uk|date=31 December 2012|accessdate=1 January 2013|location=London}}</ref> (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £658,500 in 2017).<ref name="Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds">{{cite web|url=http://www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/|title=Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds|publisher=Measuring Worth|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}</ref> Dunn, despite fighting in a spirited fashion, found himself seriously outmatched by Ali in power and technique, being knocked down several times by the American champion, who clearly realized the un-equalness of the competition in his favour and began to land carefully timed and weighted punches to stun Dunn but minimize the chance of physical injury to him as the fight went on. At the 2:05 minute mark in the fifth round Dunn went to the floor for the final time and the referee stopped the match in a technical knock-out, with Ali playing to the crowd comically windmilling a punch that was coming that would be overwhelming, and to encourage the referee to end the match as having run its course. (This was to be the last knockout Ali achieved in his professional career).<ref>Muhammad Ali vs Richard Dunn, 24 May 1976, published on Youtube 7 April 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGkLv5AKZ9E&t=272s </ref>
On 24 May 1976 Dunn was given the chance of fighting for the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] and [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] titles against the American champion [[Muhammad Ali]] at the [[Olympiahalle|Olympic Hall]] in [[Munich]], [[Germany]]. Dunn, despite fighting in a spirited fashion, found himself seriously outmatched by Ali in power and technique, being knocked down several times by the American champion, who clearly realized the un-equalness of the competition in his favour and began to land carefully timed and weighted punches to stun Dunn but minimize the chance of physical injury to him as the fight went on. At the 2:05 minute mark in the fifth round Dunn went to the canvas for the final time and the referee stopped the match in a technical knock-out, with Ali playing to the crowd comically windmilling a punch that was coming that would be overwhelming, and to encourage the referee to end the match as having run its course. (This was to be the last knockout Ali achieved in his professional career).<ref>{{Citation |title=Muhammad Ali vs Richard Dunn 1976-05-24 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGkLv5AKZ9E |language=en |access-date=2022-11-09}}</ref>


=== Aftermath ===
Dunn lost his next fight in London five months later with [[Joe Bugner]], surrendering all his titles in a first-round knock-out. His final fight was a fifth-round knock-out defeat to the South African boxer [[Kallie Knoetze]] at the Ellis Park Tennis Stadium in [[Johannesburg]] on 10 September 1977, after which Dunn retired from the sport.
Dunn lost his next fight in London five months later with [[Joe Bugner]], surrendering all his titles in a first-round knock-out. His final fight was a fifth-round knock-out defeat to the South African boxer [[Kallie Knoetze]] at the Ellis Park Tennis Stadium in [[Johannesburg]] on 10 September 1977, after which Dunn retired from the sport.


Dunn was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1976 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] just ahead of his fight with [[Muhammad Ali]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigredbook.info/richard_dunn.html |title=Richard Dunn |publisher=Bigredbook.info |date= |accessdate=17 May 2017}}</ref>
Dunn was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1976 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] just ahead of his fight with [[Muhammad Ali]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}


==Post-career civic honours==
==Post-career civic honours==
[[File:Richard Dunn’s sports centre - geograph.org.uk - 16164.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Odsal Top, Bradford]]
[[File:Richard Dunn’s sports centre - geograph.org.uk - 16164.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Odsal Top, Bradford]]
The 'Richard Dunn Sports Centre' was opened by [[Bradford Council]] in Dunn's home town in 1978, named in honour of his sporting achievements. The facility was closed in November 2019, and is due to be demolished in 2020, with the Council announcing the intention to name a new road on the site after Dunn in the future.<ref>'Bradford Street to be named after Richard Dunn,' BBC News, 17 January 2020. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-51146371 </ref><ref>[http://www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/leisure_and_culture/sports_and_leisure/sports_facilities/richard_dunn_sports_centre/rdsc Bradford Metropolitan District Council | Sports and Leisure facilities | Richard Dunn Sports Centre<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The 'Richard Dunn Sports Centre' was opened by [[Bradford Council]] in Dunn's home town in 1978, named in honour of his sporting achievements. The facility was closed in November 2019, and was due to be demolished in 2020, with the Council announcing the intention to name a new road on the site after Dunn in the future.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-01-17 |title=Bradford Street to be named after boxer Richard Dunn |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-51146371 |access-date=2022-11-09}}</ref><ref>[http://www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/leisure_and_culture/sports_and_leisure/sports_facilities/richard_dunn_sports_centre/rdsc Bradford Metropolitan District Council | Sports and Leisure facilities | Richard Dunn Sports Centre<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However the future of the unused leisure centre is now in doubt, after Historic England granted the building Grade II listed status, following an appeal by the Twentieth Century Society.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20047086.surprising-decision-sees-richard-dunn-centre-awarded-listed-status/|title='Surprising decision' sees Richard Dunn Centre awarded listed status|date=5 April 2022 }}</ref>

⚫
==Later life==
⚫
After his sports career, having lost money in a failed hotel venture, Dunn lived in [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]], [[North Yorkshire]] with his wife Janet and three children, returning to work as a scaffolder. He was seriously injured in 1989 on an [[oil rig]] in the [[North Sea]] after a 40&nbsp;ft fall which broke both of his legs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1993-04-12 |title=Where are they now?: Richard Dunn |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/where-are-they-now-richard-dunn-1454973.html |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> In retirement he lives in Scarborough, where he has been associated with charity work for [[Parkinson's UK]] and is the honorary president of the town's amateur boxing club.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Gareth A. |date=2016-06-05 |title=Muhammad Ali beating me was the highlight of my life, says Richard Dunn |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/boxing/2016/06/05/muhammad-ali-beating-me-was-the-highlight-of-my-life-says-richar/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>


Dunn has [[dementia]] and [[Alzheimer's disease]].<ref name="bbcn">{{cite web |title=Richard Dunn: Boxer's family sent rare fight footage after appeal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-58501497 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 September 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230915144220/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-58501497 |archive-date=15 September 2023 |date=9 September 2021}}</ref>
⚫
==Later life==
⚫
After his sports career, having lost money in a failed hotel venture, Dunn lived in [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]] with his wife Janet and three children, returning to work as a scaffolder. He was seriously injured in 1989 on an [[oil rig]] in the [[North Sea]] after a 40ft fall which broke both of his legs.<ref>'Where are they now?: Richard Dunn', 'The Independent, 13 April 1993. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/where-are-they-now-richard-dunn-1454973.html</ref> In retirement he lives in Scarborough,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-1227853/For-fighting-Muhammad-Ali-I-got-52-000-says-Richard-Dunn-David-Haye-millions-useless-lumps--good-luck-him.html | location=London | work=Daily Mail | title=For fighting Muhammad Ali I got £52,000 says Richard Dunn but David Haye will get millions against useless lumps - and good luck to him}}</ref> where he has been associated with charity work for [[Parkinson's UK]] and is the honorary president of a local amateur boxing club.<ref>'Muhammad Ali beating me was the highlight of my life, says Richard Dunn', Daily Telegraph', 5 June 2016. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/boxing/2016/06/05/muhammad-ali-beating-me-was-the-highlight-of-my-life-says-richar/ </ref>


==Professional boxing record==
==Professional boxing record==
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|5
|5
|10 Sep 1977
|10 Sep 1977
|align=left|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[Standard Bank Arena|Ellis Park Tennis Stadium]], [[Johannesburg, Gauteng]], [[South Africa]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[Standard Bank Arena|Ellis Park Tennis Stadium]], [[Johannesburg]], South Africa
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|1
|1
|12 Oct 1976
|12 Oct 1976
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Wembley Arena|Empire Pool]], [[Wembley, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Empire Pool, London, England
|align=left|{{small|'''[[BBBofC]] British/Commonwealth/[[European Boxing Union|EBU]] Heavyweight Titles'''.}}
|align=left|{{small|'''[[BBBofC]] British/Commonwealth/[[European Boxing Union|EBU]] Heavyweight Titles'''.}}
|-
|-
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|TKO
|TKO
|5
|5
|24 May 1976
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Richard Dunn|24 May 1976]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Olympiahalle]], [[Munich]], [[Germany]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Olympiahalle]], [[Munich]], Germany
|align=left|{{small|'''[[World Boxing Association|WBA]]/[[World Boxing Council|WBC]] World Heavyweight Titles'''. Referee stopped the bout at 2:05 of the fifth round.}}
|align=left|{{small|'''[[World Boxing Association|WBA]]/[[World Boxing Council|WBC]] Heavyweight Titles'''. Referee stopped the bout at 2:05 of the fifth round.}}
|-
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|{{yes2}}Win
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|3
|3
|6 Apr 1976
|6 Apr 1976
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Royal Albert Hall]], [[Kensington, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Royal Albert Hall, London, England
|align=left|{{small|'''[[European Boxing Union|EBU]] Heavyweight Title'''. Referee stopped the bout at 1:38 of the third round.}}
|align=left|{{small|'''[[European Boxing Union|EBU]] Heavyweight Title'''. Referee stopped the bout at 1:38 of the third round.}}
|-
|-
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|3
|3
|25 Nov 1975
|25 Nov 1975
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Royal Albert Hall]], [[Kensington, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Royal Albert Hall]], London, England
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:29 of the third round.}}
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:29 of the third round.}}
|-
|-
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|2
|2
|4 Nov 1975
|4 Nov 1975
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Wembley Arena|Empire Pool]], [[Wembley, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Empire Pool, London, England
|align=left|{{small|'''[[BBBofC]] British/Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles'''.}}
|align=left|{{small|'''[[BBBofC]] British/Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles'''.}}
|-
|-
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|15
|15
|30 Sep 1975
|30 Sep 1975
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Wembley Arena|Empire Pool]], [[Wembley, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Wembley Arena|Empire Pool]], London, England
|align=left|{{small|'''[[BBBofC]] British/Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles'''.}}
|align=left|{{small|'''[[BBBofC]] British/Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles'''.}}
|-
|-
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|7
|7
|7 May 1975
|7 May 1975
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Hall|Solihull Civic Hall]], [[Solihull, West Midlands]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Solihull Civic Hall, Solihull, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|4
|4
|17 Feb 1975
|17 Feb 1975
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Grosvenor House]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Grosvenor House, London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|8
|8
|9 Sep 1974
|9 Sep 1974
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Grosvenor House]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Grosvenor House, London, England
|align=left|{{small|79-78.}}
|align=left|
|-
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|{{no2}}Loss
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|4
|4
|22 May 1974
|22 May 1974
|align=left|{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Madrid]], [[Spain]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Madrid]], Spain
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|7
|7
|11 Apr 1974
|11 Apr 1974
|align=left|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Berlin]], [[Germany]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Berlin]], Germany
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|8
|8
|18 Feb 1974
|18 Feb 1974
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Mayfair Sporting Club]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Mayfair Sporting Club, London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|10
|10
|14 Jan 1974
|14 Jan 1974
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Grosvenor House]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Grosvenor House, London, England
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:50 of the tenth round.}}
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:50 of the tenth round.}}
|-
|-
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|10
|10
|11 Oct 1973
|11 Oct 1973
|align=left|{{flagicon|Lancashire}} [[Belle Vue Zoological Gardens|King's Hall]], [[Manchester]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|Lancashire}} [[Belle Vue Zoological Gardens|King's Hall]], Manchester, England
|align=left|
|align=left|{{small|'''[[BBBofC]] British Heavyweight Title Eliminator'''.}}
|-
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|{{yes2}}Win
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|4
|4
|9 Jul 1973
|9 Jul 1973
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Grosvenor House]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Grosvenor House, London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|10
|10
|14 May 1973
|14 May 1973
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Grosvenor House]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Grosvenor House, London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|{{small|'''[[BBBofC]] British Heavyweight Title Eliminator'''. 49.25-48-75.}}
|-
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|{{yes2}}Win
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|3
|3
|15 Mar 1973
|15 Mar 1973
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Grosvenor House]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Grosvenor House, London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|3
|3
|13 Feb 1973
|13 Feb 1973
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Wolverhampton Civic Hall]], [[Wolverhampton]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|8
|8
|15 Jan 1973
|15 Jan 1973
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Grosvenor House]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Grosvenor House, London, England
|align=left|{{small|39-38.}}
|align=left|
|-
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|{{yes2}}Win
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|8
|8
|20 Nov 1972
|20 Nov 1972
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Grosvenor House]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Grosvenor House, London, England
|align=left|{{small|39.5-39.25.}}
|align=left|
|-
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|{{yes2}}Win
Line 254: Line 261:
|1
|1
|16 Oct 1972
|16 Oct 1972
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Grosvenor House]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Grosvenor House, London, England
|align=left|{{small|Renaud knocked out at 1:45 of the first round.}}
|align=left|{{small|Renaud knocked out at 1:45 of the first round.}}
|-
|-
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|10
|10
|21 Mar 1972
|21 Mar 1972
|align=left|{{flagicon|Yorkshire}} [[Midland Hotel, Bradford|Midland Hotel]], [[Bradford, Yorkshire]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|Yorkshire}} [[Midland Hotel, Bradford|Midland Hotel]], Bradford, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|{{yes2}}Win
|{{small|3-2}}
|{{small|3-2}}
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States}} [[Ron Oliver]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States}} Ron Oliver
|KO
|KO
|1
|1
|21 Feb 1972
|21 Feb 1972
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Mayfair Sporting Club]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Mayfair Sporting Club]], London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|1
|1
|9 Dec 1971
|9 Dec 1971
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Wolverhampton Civic Hall]], [[Wolverhampton]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|4
|4
|24 Nov 1971
|24 Nov 1971
|align=left|{{flagicon|Nottinghamshire}} [[Nottingham Ice Stadium]], [[Nottingham, Nottinghamshire]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|Nottinghamshire}} Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|8
|8
|22 Sep 1971
|22 Sep 1971
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Hall|Solihull Civic Hall]], [[Solihull, West Midlands]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Solihull Civic Hall, [[Solihull]], England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|8
|8
|22 Jun 1971
|22 Jun 1971
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Cafe Royal]], [[Piccadilly, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Cafe Royal]], London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|8
|8
|25 Jan 1971
|25 Jan 1971
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[National Sporting Club]], [[Piccadilly, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} National Sporting Club, London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|1
|1
|14 Dec 1970
|14 Dec 1970
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[National Sporting Club]], [[Piccadilly, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[National Sporting Club]], London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|1
|1
|2 Nov 1970
|2 Nov 1970
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Hotel|County Hotel]], [[Bedford, Bedfordshire]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} County Hotel, Bedford, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|6
|6
|7 Sep 1970
|7 Sep 1970
|align=left|{{flagicon|Lancashire}} [[Hotel|Hotel Piccadilly]], [[Manchester]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|Lancashire}} Hotel Piccadilly, Manchester, England
|align=left|{{small|'''[[BBBofC]] Central Heavyweight Title'''.}}
|align=left|{{small|'''[[BBBofC]] Central Heavyweight Title'''.}}
|-
|-
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|5
|5
|21 May 1970
|21 May 1970
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Sporting club|Anglo-American Sporting Club]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Anglo-American Sporting Club, London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|6
|6
|4 May 1970
|4 May 1970
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Bedford, Bedfordshire]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Bedford, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|6
|6
|31 Mar 1970
|31 Mar 1970
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[York Hall]], [[Bethnal Green, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[York Hall]], London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|8
|8
|23 Feb 1970
|23 Feb 1970
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Grosvenor House]], [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Grosvenor House]], London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|6
|6
|25 Nov 1969
|25 Nov 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|Yorkshire}} [[Leeds Town Hall]], [[Leeds, Yorkshire]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|Yorkshire}} [[Leeds Town Hall]], [[Leeds]], England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|2
|2
|3 Nov 1969
|3 Nov 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Hotel|County Hotel]], [[Bedford, Bedfordshire]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} County Hotel, Bedford, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|3
|3
|3 Nov 1969
|3 Nov 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Hotel|County Hotel]], [[Bedford, Bedfordshire]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} County Hotel, Bedford, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|3
|3
|3 Nov 1969
|3 Nov 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Hotel|County Hotel]], [[Bedford, Bedfordshire]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} County Hotel, [[Bedford]], England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|3
|3
|13 Oct 1969
|13 Oct 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|Nottinghamshire}} [[Nottingham Ice Stadium]], [[Nottingham, Nottinghamshire]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|Nottinghamshire}} [[Nottingham Ice Stadium]], [[Nottingham]], England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|2
|2
|8 Sep 1969
|8 Sep 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|Lancashire}} [[Hotel|Hotel Piccadilly]], [[Manchester]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|Lancashire}} Hotel Piccadilly, [[Manchester]], England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|3
|3
|7 Jul 1969
|7 Jul 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} London, England
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|-
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|1
|1
|7 Jul 1969
|7 Jul 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[Mayfair, London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|England}} [[London]], England
|align=left|
|align=left|
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{boxrec|id=009391|name=Richard Dunn}}
*{{boxrec|id=009391|name=Richard Dunn}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunn, Richard}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunn, Richard}}
⚫
[[Category:1945 births]]
⚫
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English male boxers]]
[[Category:English male boxers]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Boxers from Bradford]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Bradford]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Bradford]]
⚫
[[Category:1945 births]]
⚫
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:European Boxing Union champions]]
[[Category:European Boxing Union champions]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Halifax, West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Halifax, West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Scarborough, North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Scarborough, North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:British Parachute Regiment soldiers]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Halifax, West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:20th-century British Army personnel]]

Latest revision as of 21:50, 1 June 2024

Richard Dunn
Born (1945-01-19) 19 January 1945 (age 79)
Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights45
Wins33
Wins by KO16
Losses12
Draws0
No contests0[1]

Richard Dunn (born 19 January 1945) is an English former heavyweight boxer who was the British (1975–76), European (1976) and Commonwealth (1975–76) Champion. He unsuccessfully challenged Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight title in 1976.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Richard Dunn was born in Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire on 19 January 1945.[1] He played rugby in his teens and early 20s. Starting boxing as an amateur in the early 1960s, he turned professional in his mid-20s whilst continuing to work as a scaffolder, living in Bradford, West Yorkshire. He was unable to afford the expense of sparring partners to train with for most of his career, and his coach was his father-in-law.[3] He was a soldier in the British Army, serving as a non-commissioned officer with 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment in the 1960s-70s, being awarded the Corps' Fishmongers' Trophy in 1974.[4]

Boxing career

[edit]

A southpaw, Dunn's professional career began with a win over Cardiff fighter Del Phillips in a heavyweight eliminator competition in Mayfair, London in July 1969. His second fight was on the same day in the semi-final. It was a first-round defeat against Danny McAlinden, who dispatched all three of his opponents in under three rounds to win the competition. However, in May 1973, Dunn defeated Billy Aird on points in an eliminator for the British Heavyweight Championship at Grosvenor House in London. He lost the final eliminator against Bunny Johnson, in October, after a tenth-round knockout at the King's Hall in Manchester. However, when he faced the same opponent at the Empire Pool at Wembley for both the British and Commonwealth titles in September 1975, he prevailed on points, after 15 rounds.

British title

[edit]

Dunn made his first defence against McAlinden two months later. However, this time it was Dunn that won with a knockout after McAlinden went down three times in the second round.

On 6 April 1976 Dunn won the European Heavyweight Title by a third-round TKO of the German boxer Bernd August at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Title shot

[edit]

On 24 May 1976 Dunn was given the chance of fighting for the WBC and WBA titles against the American champion Muhammad Ali at the Olympic Hall in Munich, Germany. Dunn, despite fighting in a spirited fashion, found himself seriously outmatched by Ali in power and technique, being knocked down several times by the American champion, who clearly realized the un-equalness of the competition in his favour and began to land carefully timed and weighted punches to stun Dunn but minimize the chance of physical injury to him as the fight went on. At the 2:05 minute mark in the fifth round Dunn went to the canvas for the final time and the referee stopped the match in a technical knock-out, with Ali playing to the crowd comically windmilling a punch that was coming that would be overwhelming, and to encourage the referee to end the match as having run its course. (This was to be the last knockout Ali achieved in his professional career).[5]

Aftermath

[edit]

Dunn lost his next fight in London five months later with Joe Bugner, surrendering all his titles in a first-round knock-out. His final fight was a fifth-round knock-out defeat to the South African boxer Kallie Knoetze at the Ellis Park Tennis Stadium in Johannesburg on 10 September 1977, after which Dunn retired from the sport.

Dunn was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1976 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews just ahead of his fight with Muhammad Ali.[citation needed]

Post-career civic honours

[edit]
Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Odsal Top, Bradford

The 'Richard Dunn Sports Centre' was opened by Bradford Council in Dunn's home town in 1978, named in honour of his sporting achievements. The facility was closed in November 2019, and was due to be demolished in 2020, with the Council announcing the intention to name a new road on the site after Dunn in the future.[6][7] However the future of the unused leisure centre is now in doubt, after Historic England granted the building Grade II listed status, following an appeal by the Twentieth Century Society.[8]

Later life

[edit]

After his sports career, having lost money in a failed hotel venture, Dunn lived in Scarborough, North Yorkshire with his wife Janet and three children, returning to work as a scaffolder. He was seriously injured in 1989 on an oil rig in the North Sea after a 40 ft fall which broke both of his legs.[9] In retirement he lives in Scarborough, where he has been associated with charity work for Parkinson's UK and is the honorary president of the town's amateur boxing club.[10]

Dunn has dementia and Alzheimer's disease.[11]

Professional boxing record

[edit]
33 Wins (16 knockouts, 17 decisions), 12 Losses (11 knockouts, 1 decision) [12]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 12-2 South Africa Kallie Knoetze KO 5 10 Sep 1977 South Africa Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
Loss 51-7-1 United Kingdom Joe Bugner KO 1 12 Oct 1976 England Empire Pool, London, England BBBofC British/Commonwealth/EBU Heavyweight Titles.
Loss 51-2 United States Muhammad Ali TKO 5 24 May 1976 Germany Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany WBA/WBC Heavyweight Titles. Referee stopped the bout at 2:05 of the fifth round.
Win 21-2-1 Germany Bernd August TKO 3 6 Apr 1976 England Royal Albert Hall, London, England EBU Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:38 of the third round.
Win 32-12-1 United States Terry Krueger TKO 3 25 Nov 1975 England Royal Albert Hall, London, England Referee stopped the bout at 2:29 of the third round.
Win 27-5-2 United Kingdom Danny McAlinden KO 2 4 Nov 1975 England Empire Pool, London, England BBBofC British/Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles.
Win 43-6 Jamaica Bunny Johnson PTS 15 30 Sep 1975 England Empire Pool, London, England BBBofC British/Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles.
Win 22-17-3 Antigua and Barbuda Rocky Campbell TKO 7 7 May 1975 England Solihull Civic Hall, Solihull, England
Win 5-1 Wales Neville Meade TKO 4 17 Feb 1975 England Grosvenor House, London, England
Win 8-2-1 United Kingdom Tim Wood PTS 8 9 Sep 1974 England Grosvenor House, London, England
Loss 44-5-3 Spain Jose Manuel Urtain KO 4 22 May 1974 Spain Madrid, Spain
Loss 2-1-2 Nigeria Ngozika Ekwelum KO 7 11 Apr 1974 Germany Berlin, Germany
Loss 9-4-1 United States Jimmy Young TKO 8 18 Feb 1974 England Mayfair Sporting Club, London, England
Win 12-2 United States Obie English TKO 10 14 Jan 1974 England Grosvenor House, London, England Referee stopped the bout at 2:50 of the tenth round.
Loss 34-6 Jamaica Bunny Johnson KO 10 11 Oct 1973 Lancashire King's Hall, Manchester, England
Win 12-5 United States Larry Beilfuss TKO 4 9 Jul 1973 England Grosvenor House, London, England
Win 13-5-2 United Kingdom Billy Aird PTS 10 14 May 1973 England Grosvenor House, London, England
Win 21-7 United States Johnny Griffin KO 3 15 Mar 1973 England Grosvenor House, London, England
Win 17-5 United States Rufus Brassell DQ 3 13 Feb 1973 England Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England
Win 17-2 United States Roy Williams PTS 8 15 Jan 1973 England Grosvenor House, London, England
Win 24-10-5 United States Ray Patterson PTS 8 20 Nov 1972 England Grosvenor House, London, England
Win 16-5 Canada Larry Renaud KO 1 16 Oct 1972 England Grosvenor House, London, England Renaud knocked out at 1:45 of the first round.
Win 21-6-3 United Kingdom Roger Tighe PTS 10 21 Mar 1972 Yorkshire Midland Hotel, Bradford, England
Win 3-2 United States Ron Oliver KO 1 21 Feb 1972 England Mayfair Sporting Club, London, England
Loss 18-11-1 Antigua and Barbuda Rocky Campbell TKO 1 9 Dec 1971 England Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England
Win 11-3 England Cliff Field TKO 4 24 Nov 1971 Nottinghamshire Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, England
Win 31-10 Wales Carl Gizzi PTS 8 22 Sep 1971 England Solihull Civic Hall, Solihull, England
Win 8-2 Jamaica Dennis Forbes PTS 8 22 Jun 1971 England Cafe Royal, London, England
Win 22-4 Jamaica Bunny Johnson PTS 8 13 Apr 1971 England Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Win 7-3-2 United Kingdom Brian Jewitt PTS 8 25 Jan 1971 England National Sporting Club, London, England
Win 6-1 Jamaica Dennis Forbes KO 1 14 Dec 1970 England National Sporting Club, London, England
Loss 8-18-4 United Kingdom George Dulaire TKO 1 2 Nov 1970 England County Hotel, Bedford, England
Loss 6-1 United Kingdom Billy Aird TKO 6 7 Sep 1970 Lancashire Hotel Piccadilly, Manchester, England BBBofC Central Heavyweight Title.
Win 9-16-2 United Kingdom Obe Hepburn TKO 5 21 May 1970 England Anglo-American Sporting Club, London, England
Win 12-25-3 Antigua and Barbuda Billy Wynter PTS 6 4 May 1970 England Bedford, England
Win 9-15-2 United Kingdom Obe Hepburn PTS 6 31 Mar 1970 England York Hall, London, England
Loss 4-1 United Kingdom Billy Aird PTS 8 23 Feb 1970 England Grosvenor House, London, England
Win 18-22-3 Jamaica Lloyd Walford PTS 6 25 Nov 1969 Yorkshire Leeds Town Hall, Leeds, England
Win 5-15-3 United Kingdom George Dulaire TKO 2 3 Nov 1969 England County Hotel, Bedford, England
Win 3-3 United Kingdom John Cullen PTS 3 3 Nov 1969 England County Hotel, Bedford, England
Win 4-0 United Kingdom Billy Aird PTS 3 3 Nov 1969 England County Hotel, Bedford, England
Win 2-4 United Kingdom Jack Cotes TKO 3 13 Oct 1969 Nottinghamshire Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, England
Win 2-3 United Kingdom Jack Cotes TKO 2 8 Sep 1969 Lancashire Hotel Piccadilly, Manchester, England
Win 7-0-1 Wales Del Phillips PTS 3 7 Jul 1969 England London, England
Loss -- United Kingdom Danny McAlinden KO 1 7 Jul 1969 England London, England

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Richard Dunn". Boxing Stats. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  2. ^ "BoxRec: Richard Dunn". boxrec.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  3. ^ 'Richard Dunn: Yorkshire lad on a perilous mission', New York Times, 23 May 1976.
  4. ^ "Richard Dunn | ParaData". www.paradata.org.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  5. ^ Muhammad Ali vs Richard Dunn 1976-05-24, retrieved 9 November 2022
  6. ^ "Bradford Street to be named after boxer Richard Dunn". BBC News. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  7. ^ Bradford Metropolitan District Council | Sports and Leisure facilities | Richard Dunn Sports Centre
  8. ^ "'Surprising decision' sees Richard Dunn Centre awarded listed status". 5 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Where are they now?: Richard Dunn". The Independent. 12 April 1993. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  10. ^ Davies, Gareth A. (5 June 2016). "Muhammad Ali beating me was the highlight of my life, says Richard Dunn". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Richard Dunn: Boxer's family sent rare fight footage after appeal". BBC News. BBC. 9 September 2021. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  12. ^ Richard Dunn - Boxer
[edit]
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