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Outlook: The reluctant fighter who made boxing history

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Maurice Hope

21/05/2024 GMT

The reluctant fighter who made boxing history

BBC World Service - Outlook, The reluctant fighter who made boxing history

How champion boxer Maurice Hope faced his battles, in and out of the ring

Maurice Hope never wanted to fight. But with his brother's encouragement, he discovered a gift for boxing that would make him a champion.

Maurice Hope was born in Antigua to a big family. He was a sensitive boy who cried easily, but his older brother Lex was determined to 'toughen' him up and pushed him to fight with other boys his age. At 9 years old, Maurice moved with his family to the U.K. as part of the Windrush generation - Caribbean people who were invited to help rebuild the British economy. Though he settled in, he experienced racist violence in the streets and was spurred on to learn to box in East London's famous boxing club, The Repton.

In 1972 Maurice became the first black British Olympian boxer alongside Billy Knight. He went on to become a professional boxer and soon found himself a world champion. He was riding high until it suddenly all came crashing down in Las Vegas. But Maurice still had more fight in him - and it would take him to the most unexpected places, including an audience with the late Queen of Britain.

Maurice has written a book about his life called Land of Hope and Glory: The Windrush Kid Who Conquered The World.

Presented by Mobeen Azhar
Producer by Sarah Kendal

(Photo: Maurice Hope in the boxing ring. Credit: Getty Images)

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