Terry Waller

A member of Walworth’s famous Lynn Amateur Boxing Club, Terry Waller was a junior ABA champion in 1962, and in a senior amateur career from 1964-74 won a post-war record-equalling five ABA titles, and appeared at the 1968 Olympics and 1970 British Commonwealth Games.

Waller beat Ron Thurston to win his first ABA title (lightweight) in 1967 and the following year went to the Mexico Olympics, where he lost his opening bout against Cuban Enrique Regueiferos. Sadly, Waller’s Olympic career lasted just 173 seconds because he was knocked down three times in the opening round, and on the third occasion fractured his leg, and the referee duly stopped the fight.

Waller fared slightly better at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh by reaching the welterweight quarter-final before losing to Tommy Joyce. Also in 1970, Waller won his second ABA title, at welterweight, but suffered defeat in the 1971 final at the hands Dave Davies. Waller then won three consecutive titles 1972-74 at light-welter, and welterweight, as he joined a small band of boxers to win five ABA titles. During his long amateur career, Waller, who later ran a pub in Gillingham, had 34 fights with a 26-8-0 record. He never boxed as a professional.