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Hogan Bassey

Hogan Bassey
Born(1932-04-27)27 April 1932
Died26 January 1998(1998-01-26) (aged 65)
Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria

Hogan "Kid" Bassey listen MBE MON (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 and trained by Peter Banasko from Liverpool. After winning the British Empire Featherweight title George Biddles bought out Bassey's Contract for £600 which was a big risk at the time. He was then managed and trained by Biddles and Jimmy August.[3]

Boxing career

After 14 contests in Nigeria, Bassey went to Liverpool, England, arriving there three days before Christmas 1951.[4]

After winning the Empire featherweight championship, he won the WBA world featherweight title by defeating French Algerian Cherif Hamia in Paris on the 24 June 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.[citation needed]

Life after boxing

In the 1958 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "for services to sport in the Eastern Region, Nigeria".[5][6] Bassey went on to become a coach in Nigeria, which awarded him the country's highest honour, the Order of the Niger, in 1973.[7] 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[8]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 68–13–4 United States Davey Moore RTD 11 (15) 19 August 1959 California Los Angeles, United States For NBA, The Ring, and lineal featherweight titles
Loss 68–12–4 United States Davey Moore RTD 13 (15) 18 March 1959 California Los Angeles, United States Lost NBA, The Ring, and lineal featherweight titles
Win 68–11–4 Mexico Ernesto Parra UD 10 13 December 1958 California Hollywood, United States
Win 67–11–4 United States Carmelo Costa UD 10 31 October 1958 New York (state) New York City, United States
Win 66–11–4 United States Willie Pep TKO 9 20 September 1958 Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 65–11–4 Ivory Coast Jules Touan TKO 7 24 June 1958 United Kingdom Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Win 64–11–4 Mexico Ricardo Moreno KO 3 (15) 1 April 1958 California Los Angeles, United States Retained NBA, The Ring, and lineal featherweight titles
Win 63–11–4 Belgium Jean Pierre Cossemyns PTS 10 23 January 1958 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 62–11–4 France Victor Pepeder PTS 10 7 October 1957 United Kingdom Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Win 61–11–4 France Cherif Hamia TKO 10 (15) 24 June 1957 France Paris, France Won vacant NBA, The Ring, and lineal featherweight titles
Win 60–11–4 Puerto Rico Miguel Berrios UD 12 26 April 1957 United States Washington, District of Columbia, United States featherweight title eliminator
Win 59–11–4 Trinidad and Tobago Percy Lewis PTS 15 1 April 1957 United Kingdom Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom Retained Commonwealth featherweight title
Win 58–11–4 Brazil Joao Dos Santos PTS 10 26 November 1956 United Kingdom Leicester, East Midlands, United Kingdom
Loss 57–11–4 Belgium Jean Sneyers TKO 4 26 November 1956 Belgium Liège, Belgium
Win 57–10–4 South Africa Alby Tissong PTS 8 6 September 1956 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 56–10–4 Italy Aldo Pravisani PTS 8 3 May 1956 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 55–10–4 Belgium Louis Cabo TKO 4 22 March 1956 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 54–10–4 Belgium Jean Sneyers TKO 4 7 February 1956 United Kingdom Harringay, London, United Kingdom
Win 53–10–4 Northern Ireland Billy Kelly KO 8 19 November 1955 United Kingdom Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom Commonwealth Featherweight Title.
Win 52–10–4 Brazil Joe Quinn KO 1 8 October 1955 United Kingdom Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Win 51–10–4 Spain Juan Oscar Alvarez PTS 10 25 August 1955 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 50–10–4 France Andre Pierson PTS 10 3 June 1955 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Win 49–10–4 France Marcel Ranvial KO 5 22 March 1955 United Kingdom Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Win 48–10–4 Trinidad and Tobago Percy Lewis PTS 8 31 January 1955 United Kingdom Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Win 47–10–4 Belgium Aime Devisch PTS 10 29 November 1954 United Kingdom Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Win 46–10–4 United Kingdom Harry Ramsden PTS 8 27 October 1954 United Kingdom Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Win 45–10–4 Spain Luis Romero PTS 10 3 September 1954 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Loss 44–10–4 Belgium Jo Woussem PTS 8 12 August 1954 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 44–9–4 France Jacques Legendre PTS 10 2 July 1954 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Win 43–9–4 Italy Enrico Macale PTS 8 3 June 1954 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 42–9–4 Belgium Jean Sneyers PTS 10 29 April 1954 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 41–9–4 United Kingdom Johnny Butterworth PTS 10 4 March 1954 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Loss 40–9–4 United Kingdom Billy Kelly PTS 8 8 December 1953 United Kingdom Harringay, London, United Kingdom
Win 40–8–4 United Kingdom Sammy McCarthy PTS 10 6 October 1953 United Kingdom Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Loss 39–8–4 Spain Juan Oscar Alvarez PTS 10 7 September 1953 United Kingdom Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Win 39–7–4 United Kingdom Tommy Higgins PTS 8 27 August 1953 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 38–7–4 United Kingdom Denny Dawson KO 4 9 July 1953 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Loss 37–7–4 France Emile Chemama TKO 5 24 March 1953 United Kingdom Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Win 37–6–4 Spain Luis Romero TKO 8 27 February 1953 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Loss 36–6–4 United Kingdom Johnny Haywood DQ 3 30 January 1953 United Kingdom Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Win 36–5–4 United Kingdom Ken Lawrence TKO 5 20 January 1953 United Kingdom Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Win 35–5–4 United Kingdom Jackie Briers PTS 10 8 January 1953 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 34–5–4 United Kingdom Bobby Boland TKO 5 15 December 1952 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Loss 33–5–4 Belgium Jean Pierre Cossemyns PTS 10 8 December 1952 United Kingdom Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Win 33–4–4 United Kingdom Tommy Proffitt TKO 7 14 November 1952 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Win 32–4–4 United Kingdom Tommy Proffitt PTS 8 27 October 1952 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Win 31–4–4 United Kingdom Eddie Carson PTS 8 9 October 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 30–4–4 United Kingdom Eddie McCormick PTS 8 22 September 1952 United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Win 29–4–4 United Kingdom Stan Skinless TKO 7 11 September 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 28–4–4 United Kingdom Tommy Higgins PTS 8 28 August 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 27–4–4 United Kingdom Jimmy Cardew PTS 8 7 August 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 26–4–4 United Kingdom Johnny Barclay KO 6 28 July 1952 United Kingdom West Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom
Win 25–4–4 United Kingdom Ivor Davies KO 2 23 June 1952 United Kingdom West Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom
Loss 24–4–4 United Kingdom Frankie Williams PTS 8 15 May 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Loss 24–3–4 United Kingdom John Kelly PTS 8 26 April 1952 United Kingdom Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Win 24–2–4 United Kingdom Bobby Boland KO 5 17 April 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Draw 23–2–4 United Kingdom Glyn Evans PTS 8 1 April 1952 United Kingdom Hanley, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Win 23–2–3 United Kingdom Len Shaw PTS 8 24 March 1952 United Kingdom Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Win 22–2–3 United Kingdom Tommy Higgins PTS 8 5 March 1952 United Kingdom Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Win 21–2–3 United Kingdom Peter Fay PTS 8 19 February 1952 United Kingdom Hanley, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Win 20–2–3 United Kingdom Ray Hillyard TKO 4 31 January 1952 United Kingdom Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Win 19–2–3 Gold Coast (British colony) Young Spider Neequaye PTS 12 28 September 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria West African Bantamweight Title
Win 18–2–3 Nigeria Steve Jeffra PTS 12 29 August 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria Nigerian Bantamweight Title
Draw 17–2–3 Ghana Little Joe PTS 10 Jul 08, 1951 Nigeria Emmy Cinema Theatre, Aba
Win 17–2–2 Ghana Adjetey Sowah PTS 10 30 May 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Win 16–2–2 Nigeria Jack Salami PTS 8 16 May 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Win 15–2–2 Kid Chukudi TKO 3 4 May 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Win 14–2–2 Nigeria Dick Turpin PTS 6 29 January 1951 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Win 13–2–2 Nigeria Joe Bennett TKO 10 (12) Nov 10, 1950 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria Nigerian Bantamweight Title
Win 12–2–2 Nigeria Eddie Phillips PTS 6 Oct 06, 1950 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Win 11–2–2 Nigeria Steve Jeffra PTS 12 7 July 1950 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
Draw 10–2–2 Ghana Ogli Tettey PTS 12 31 May 1950 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria West African Flyweight Title
Loss 10–2–1 Nigeria Bola Lawal TKO 5 (6) Mar 01, 1950 Nigeria Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos
Win 10–1–1 Nigeria Bob Emmanuel TKO 4 (12) Dec 26, 1949 Nigeria Railway Stadium, Lagos Nigerian Flyweight Title
Loss 9–1–1 Nigeria Dick Turpin DQ 5 (12) Nov 28, 1949 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria Nigerian Flyweight Title
Win 9–0–1 Nigeria Texas Kid PTS 10 26 October 1949 Nigeria Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos Nigerian Flyweight Title
Win 8–0–1 Nigeria Dick Turpin PTS 12 27 July 1949 Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria Nigerian Flyweight Title
Win 7–0–1 Nigeria Jack Sala TKO 4 (6)) 27 Jul 1949 Nigeria Royal Hotel, Lagos
Win 6–0–1 Ghana Ogli Tettey PTS 12 28 Mar 1949 Nigeria Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos
Win 5–0–1 Nigeria Jack Sala TKO 4 (6) 31 January 1949 Nigeria African Tennis Club, Lagos
Win 4–0–1 Nigeria Hurry Kid KO 4 (6) 30 December 1948 Nigeria Lagos
Win 3–0–1 Nigeria Hurry Kid PTS 6 29 November 1948 Nigeria Lagos
Draw 2–0–1 Nigeria Bolo Lawal PTS 6 26 May 1948 Nigeria Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos
Win 2–0 Nigeria Jack Sala PTS 6 6 February 1948 Nigeria Lagos
Win 1–0 Nigeria Jimmy Brown PTS 6 28 November 1947 Nigeria African Tennis Club, Lagos

See also


References

  1. ^ "Hogan "Kid" Bassey – First Nigerian to become a world boxing champion". Records Nigeria. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. 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. ^ United Kingdom list: "No. 41268". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1957. p. 25.
  6. ^ "Hogan". NigerDeltaCongress.com. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Hogan "Kid" Bassey — Meet the First Nigerian To Become A World Boxing Champion". Talk Africana. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  8. ^ "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