Roy Addison

Middleweight boxer Roy Addison was known as the “New Tipton Slasher” in honour of the last famous boxer from the West Midlands town, “Slasher” Bill Perry, 100 years earlier. Addison learned his boxing at Ocker Hill County Secondary Modern School in Tipton before joining the Wolverhampton ABC in 1954. He never won a title during his time the at Wolverhampton club, but that all changed after he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) when he was stationed at Bridgnorth. He was the RAF champion three years in succession 1958-60, and in 1960 was also the Inter-servces champion and Imperial Services champion.

Early in 1959, after damaging a hand, Addison was told by an RAF doctor hat he may never box again. Remarkably, he defied him, and in addition to the three services titles won that year, he had a run of 38 consecutive bouts without defeat, and won the ABA middleweight title with a narrow points victory over London’s Bob Nicholson in the final. The year culminated with Addison appearing at the Roma Olympics.

After 150 bouts, of which Addison lost just eight, he announced his retirement in December 1960, shortly after a defeat by Liverpool’s Alf Matthews. Addison cited a loss of interest in the sport as his reason for retirement. He was honoured by being admitted into the Wolverhampton Sporting Hall of Fame. Addison’s younger brother Malcolm was also a promising boxer as a teenager.