Reg Gutteridge
British boxing commentator and journalist for over three decades.
Reg Gutteridge, a British boxing commentator and journalist, was born into a fighting family in Islington. His grandfather was the first pro boxer at the original National Sporting Club, and his father and uncle were top trainers in the 1920s and 1930s. Gutteridge fought as an amateur flyweight before being drafted into the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1942. During the Normandy invasion, he lost his left leg after stepping on a mine, ending his own boxing ambitions. After the war, he wrote about boxing for the London Evening News for over three decades. From 1962 to 1998, he was the main voice of ITV's boxing coverage, later partnering with Jim Watt on Sky Sports. He also worked for Talksport and covered six Olympics. Gutteridge received the Sam Taub Award, was made an OBE in 1995, and entered both the International and World Boxing Halls of Fame. He died in 2009 at 84.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 29 March 1924
- Birthplace
- Islington, London, England
- Died
- 24 January 2009
- Place of death
- Barnet, London, England
- Occupation
- Sports journalist; TV commentator
- Relatives
- Jackie Pallo (cousin)
Facts from the source article.
Background
Gutteridge's boxing pedigree ran deep. His grandfather, Arthur, was the first professional boxer to appear at the original National Sporting Club. His father and uncle, Dick and Jack—known as the Gutteridge Twins—were recognised as the premier cornermen and trainers in Britain throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Gutteridge himself was an amateur flyweight boxer when he was conscripted as a foot soldier with the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1942. During the Invasion of Normandy two years later, he jumped from a tank and landed on a mine. That cost him his left leg and his dreams of becoming a boxing champion. But he kept his sense of humour: on holiday in Italy, he went to the beach at San Remo, swam, then hopped out on one leg shouting 'Shark, shark!', having hidden his prosthetic limb under a towel.
Did You Know?
- Muhammad Ali provided the foreword for Gutteridge's 1998 autobiography Uppercuts and Dazes.
- Gutteridge was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1994, surprised by Michael Aspel at Thames Television's Teddington Studios.
- He was a first cousin of UK wrestler Jackie Pallo.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Reg Gutteridge born?
Reg Gutteridge was born on 29 March 1924 in Islington, London, England.
When did Reg Gutteridge die?
Reg Gutteridge died on 24 January 2009 in Barnet, London, England.
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