Sweet Fighting Man: Ring of Truth by Melanie Lloyd

Author:Melanie Lloyd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pitch Publishing
Published: 2017-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

Johnny Kramer

‘Johnny Kramer’s career was almost over before it started. As a child, he was in and out of hospital for five years with a bone infection. But his mobility was not impaired and few fighters moved with Kramer’s grace. Although essentially a stylist, he was also a good banger with either hand and he could take a shot too.’

Graham Houston

THEY used to say that Johnny Kramer was an elegant boxer, a classy puncher and a smooth mover. His enthusiasm for a fight and his willingness to throw caution to the wind made him a popular prospect with a burgeoning following as he plied his trade around the London rings during his professional career, which began in 1959 and ended in 1970. After he retired, when they wrote about his achievements in the trade paper, they described his record of 68 fights, comprising 39 wins, 23 inside the distance, and three draws, as more than decent. However, what those bland statistics failed to capture was the excitement that Johnny generated in so many of his performances and the calibre of the opponents he faced. He became Southern Area champion at welterweight and middleweight, he fought six British champions, and the consensus of opinion back then was, and still remains, that Johnny Kramer should have gone so much further than he did.

Now that Johnny is in his 70s, the snowy white hair, the neatly trimmed moustache and the impeccable dress sense exemplify his relaxed nature and sunny disposition. Nevertheless, if push came to shove, one could be forgiven for reaching the conclusion that Johnny would still be prepared to have a go, if the situation truly called for it. Yet, this is a man who has been known to rescue injured pigeons off the street and nurse them back to health before setting them free. Johnny is one of life’s diplomats. He is discerning about the company he keeps, a social butterfly who is careful where he settles in any communal gathering, but he has a smile and a kind word for everyone along the way.

It was quite a few years back when I visited the Kramer household to interview Johnny for the first time. It was a gloriously sunny February morning, one of those bright and crisp days when one feels happy to be alive, and I sang my heart out to the songs on the car radio all the way to Canterbury. However, upon my arrival, my mood changed abruptly. I parked up, got out of the car to stretch my legs and telephoned the Kramers to let them know I was there. Johnny emerged from his front door and, as he strode towards me, I spotted a small dog frolicking at his heels. Being rather wary of dogs, I became quite alarmed when, the moment the little fella spotted me, the playful cavorting ceased immediately in favour of an aggressive strut, and he started growling. Johnny scooped the seemingly disgruntled canine up under his arm, prompting the snarling to become louder and more persistent.

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