Hogan Bassey

Hogan Bassey
Born (1932-04-27)27 April 1932
Cross River, Creek Town, Calabar, Nigeria
Died 26 January 1998(1998-01-26) (aged 65)
Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria
Nationality Nigerian

Hogan "Kid" Bassey MBE (3 June 1932 – 26 January 1998) was a Nigerian-British boxer; he was the first man of Nigerian descent to become a world boxing champion.[1]

He was born Okon Asuquo Bassey on the banks of the Cross River, Creek Town, Calabar, Nigeria, and became naturalised British when he moved to the UK, where he spent most of his life in Liverpool.[2] He took the name Kid Bassey when he turned professional as a boxer. He was managed by and trained by George Biddles and Jimmy August.[3]

Boxing career

After 14 contests in Nigeria, Bassey went to Liverpool in 1952.[4]

After winning the Empire featherweight championship, he won the world crown by defeating French Algerian Cherif Hamia in Paris in 1957. He lost the title to US fighter Davey Moore on 18 March 1959. Other opponents include Billy "Spider" Kelly, Percy Lewis, Tommy Profitt, Sammy McCarthy, Ricardo Moreno, and Willie Pep.

Life after boxing

In 1959 he was awarded the MBE[5] following his world title win and went on to become a coach in Nigeria, which awarded him the country's highest honour in 1973. He died on 26 January 1998 at his home in Apapa, Lagos.

Professional boxing record

59 Wins (21 knockouts, 38 decisions), 13 Losses (4 knockouts, 9 decisions), 2 Draws[6]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 36–5–1 United States Davey Moore RTD 11 19 August 1959 California Los Angeles, United States For World Featherweight Title.
Loss 35–5–1 United States Davey Moore RTD 13 18 March 1959 California Los Angeles, United States Lost World Featherweight Title.
Win 20–11–1 Mexico Ernesto Parra UD 10 13 December 1958 California Hollywood, United States 98–89, 98–93, 98–91. Bassey was knocked down in the fifth round.
Win 34–7–4 United States Carmelo Costa UD 10 31 October 1958 New York (state) New York City, United States Costa was knocked down twice in the third round.
Win 220–8–1 United States Willie Pep TKO 9 20 September 1958 Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts, United States Pep was knocked down twice in the ninth round.
Win 22–5–3 Ivory Coast Jules Touan TKO 7 24 June 1958 United Kingdom Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Win 29–3–1 Mexico Ricardo Moreno KO 3 1 April 1958 California Los Angeles, United States Retained World Featherweight Title.
Win 39–11–2 Belgium Jean Pierre Cossemyns PTS 10 23 January 1958 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 23–3–3 France Victor Pepeder PTS 10 7 October 1957 United Kingdom Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Win 30–1–2 France Cherif Hamia TKO 10 24 June 1957 France Paris, France Won World Featherweight Title.
Win 35–9–1 Puerto Rico Miguel Berrios UD 12 26 April 1957 United States Washington, District of Columbia, United States World Featherweight Title eliminator.
Win 9–2 Trinidad and Tobago Percy Lewis PTS 15 1 April 1957 United Kingdom Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom Retained Commonwealth featherweight title
Win -- Brazil Joao Dos Santos PTS 10 26 November 1956 United Kingdom Leicester, East Midlands, United Kingdom
Loss 62–10–5 Belgium Jean Sneyers TKO 4 26 November 1956 Belgium Liege, Belgium
Win 47–17–5 South Africa Alby Tissong PTS 8 6 September 1956 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 44–7–3 Italy Aldo Pravisani PTS 8 3 May 1956 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 19–18–3 Belgium Louis Cabo TKO 4 22 March 1956 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom Referee stopped the fight at 1:00 of the fourth round.
Win 60–8–5 Belgium Jean Sneyers TKO 4 7 February 1956 United Kingdom Harringay, London, United Kingdom Referee stopped the fight in the fourth round due to a severe cut.
Win 48–7–1 Northern Ireland Billy "Spider" Kelly KO 8 19 November 1955 United Kingdom Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom Commonwealth Featherweight Title.
Win 30–5–1 Brazil Joe Quinn KO 1 8 October 1955 United Kingdom Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Win 18–8–6 Spain Juan Oscar Alvarez PTS 10 25 August 1955 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 14–1–1 France Andre Pierson PTS 10 3 June 1955 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Win 30–2 France Marcel Ranvial KO 5 22 March 1955 United Kingdom Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Win 4–0 Trinidad and Tobago Percy Lewis PTS 8 31 January 1955 United Kingdom Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Win 8–5–1 Belgium Aime Devisch PTS 10 29 November 1954 United Kingdom Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Win 19–1–3 United Kingdom Harry Ramsden PTS 8 27 October 1954 United Kingdom Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Win 93–12–3 Spain Luis Romero PTS 10 3 September 1954 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Loss 11–6 Belgium Jo Woussem PTS 8 12 August 1954 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 34–16–4 France Jacques Legendre PTS 10 2 July 1954 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Win 12–4–5 Italy Enrico Macale PTS 8 3 June 1954 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 52–5–3 Belgium Jean Sneyers PTS 10 29 April 1954 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 29–5–2 United Kingdom Johnny Butterworth PTS 10 4 March 1954 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Loss 39–5–1 United Kingdom Billy Kelly PTS 8 8 December 1953 United Kingdom Harringay, London, United Kingdom
Win 27–0–1 United Kingdom Sammy McCarthy PTS 10 6 October 1953 United Kingdom Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Loss 14–2–3 Spain Juan Oscar Alvarez PTS 10 7 September 1953 United Kingdom Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Win 18–28–1 United Kingdom Tommy Higgins PTS 8 27 August 1953 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 53–29–6 United Kingdom Denny Dawson KO 4 9 July 1953 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Loss 25–6–3 France Emile Chemama TKO 5 24 March 1953 United Kingdom Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Win 88–10–3 Spain Luis Romero TKO 8 27 February 1953 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Loss 14–14–2 United Kingdom Johnny Haywood DQ 3 30 January 1953 United Kingdom Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Win 15–2–1 United Kingdom Ken Lawrence TKO 5 20 January 1953 United Kingdom Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Win 24–8–1 United Kingdom Jackie Briers PTS 10 8 January 1953 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 46–16–3 United Kingdom Bobby Boland TKO 5 15 December 1952 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Loss 14–0 Belgium Jean Pierre Cossemyns PTS 10 8 December 1952 United Kingdom Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Win 34–9–1 United Kingdom Tommy Proffitt TKO 7 14 November 1952 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Win 34–8–1 United Kingdom Tommy Proffitt PTS 8 27 October 1952 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Win 58–18–4 United Kingdom Eddie Carson PTS 8 9 October 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 10–19–4 United Kingdom Eddie McCormick PTS 8 22 September 1952 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Win 20–6–2 United Kingdom Stan Skinless TKO 7 11 September 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 16–22–1 United Kingdom Tommy Higgins PTS 8 28 August 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 27–19–2 United Kingdom Jimmy Cardew PTS 8 7 August 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 10–2–1 United Kingdom Johnny Barclay KO 6 28 July 1952 United Kingdom West Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom
Win 9–9–2 United Kingdom Ivor Davies KO 2 23 June 1952 United Kingdom West Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom
Loss 30–10 United Kingdom Frankie Williams PTS 8 15 May 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Loss 5–0 United Kingdom John Kelly PTS 8 26 April 1952 United Kingdom Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Win 45–12–3 United Kingdom Bobby Boland KO 5 17 April 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Draw 28–6–3 United Kingdom Glyn Evans PTS 8 1 April 1952 United Kingdom Hanley, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Win 19–25–5 United Kingdom Len Shaw PTS 8 24 March 1952 United Kingdom Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Win 13–18–1 United Kingdom Tommy Higgins PTS 8 5 March 1952 United Kingdom Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Win 41–18–11 United Kingdom Peter Fay PTS 8 19 February 1952 United Kingdom Hanley, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Win 8–1–1 United Kingdom Ray Hillyard TKO 4 31 January 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win -- Gold Coast (British colony) Young Spider Neequaye PTS 12 28 September 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria West African Bantamweight Title
Win 0–1 Nigeria Steve Jeffra PTS 12 29 August 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria Nigerian Bantamweight Title
Win -- Gold Coast (British colony) Adjetey Sowah PTS 10 30 May 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Win -- Nigeria Jack Salami PTS 8 16 May 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Win -- Kid Chukudi TKO 3 4 May 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Win 1–1 Nigeria Dick Turpin PTS 6 29 January 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Win -- Nigeria Joe Bennett TKO 10 10 November 1950 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria Nigerian Bantamweight Title
Loss -- Nigeria Bola Lawal PTS unknown 9 September 1950? Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Win -- Nigeria Eddie Phillips PTS unknown 8 August 1950? Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Win -- Nigeria Steve Jeffra PTS unknown 7 July 1950? Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Draw -- Gold Coast (British colony) Ogli Tettey PTS 12 31 May 1950 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria West African Flyweight Title
Loss 0–1 Nigeria Dick Turpin DQ 5 6 June 1949 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria Nigerian Flyweight Title
Win -- Nigeria Dick Turpin PTS 12 1 January 1949 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria Nigerian Flyweight Title

See also

References

  1. "Hogan "Kid" Bassey – First Nigerian to become a world boxing champion". Records Nigeria. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  2. "Hogan "Kid" Bassey". The Cyber Boxing Zone. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  3. "Biography at boxrec.com". boxrec.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  4. "Obituary: Hogan Bassey". Independent (London). FindArticles.com. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  5. "Hogan". NigerDeltaCongress.com. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  6. "Hogan Kid Bassey – Boxer". BoxRec.com. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
Vacant
Title last held by
Sandy Saddler
World Featherweight Champion
24 June 1957 – 18 March 1959
Succeeded by
Davey Moore
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