Ambrose Mendy
Encyclopedia
Ambrose Mendy is a Black British
boxing
promoter and sports agent
. One of eleven children born to a British Mother and West African Father, Mendy was raised in East London. He was a precocious football talent who was on the books at West Ham until an early marriage put paid to his ambitions. Mendy's first venture into sport was as advisor to his friend Laurie Cunningham. Cunningham was the finest pure talent of his era.
Mendy then joined forces with Frank Warren in a foray into an alternative to the established British Boxing Board of Control's grip on Boxing in the UK.
The group in that ensemble included The late Jon'Tiny' Robinson, Mick Williamson, Vic Andretti and Chris Dundee all of whom were to become significant figures in the British Fight industry. Mendy and Warren split acrimoniously.
He later represented Boxer Lloyd Honeyghan who became undisputed World Welterweight Champion defeating the acclaimed 'pound for pound' best fighter n the planet, Donald Curry,in one of the greatest upsets in sports history. Mendy then represented boxer Nigel Benn
taking him to the pinnacle of World Middleweight Champion and a global sporting star. Benn achieved the status of becoming a star at both the Box office as well as notching up record TV and radio audiences. Mendy promoted Benn in a unique style of hype and substance. As well as co promoting some of the greatest fights ever to be staged in the UK, Mendy took on the British sporting bodies on behalf of his clients using the Highest courts of the land as adjudicators! He won a landmark case brought by Promoter Frank Warren (who had been Best Man at Mendy's wedding in 1986)which defined restraint of trade and became the practise direction in law. Advising other Boxers in their quest to free themselves from held agreements and contracts Mendy represented and advised Frank Bruno, Garry Stretch, Chris Eubank, Chris Pyatt, Terry Marsh and Micheal Watson. He worked with or advised many of the great black footballers of the 1970s, 1980s and nineties were represented or advised including Laurie Cunningham, the first British player ever to play for Real Madrid, Cyrille Regis, John and Justin Fashanu, Ian Wright, Mark Bright, David Rocastle, Dalian Atkinson, John Barnes, Mark Walters, Dany Wallace, Paul Ince -who as a 19 year old West Ham FC player, Mendy correctly predicted would one day captain England! His understanding of the media and interaction with sports audiences made Mendy a leading force in the sports business. National print media titles and Television gave him a considerable platform to operate upon.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Mendy fought legal battles including Fraud convictions resulting in imprisonment. During incarceration Mendy completed two degrees. At the Court of Appeal, he gained a distinction in becoming the practise direction in Jury Verdicts as his conviction was quashed following Jury misdirection.
As of 2007, he was acting as a consultant to promoter Dennis Hobson.
Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
promoter and sports agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
. One of eleven children born to a British Mother and West African Father, Mendy was raised in East London. He was a precocious football talent who was on the books at West Ham until an early marriage put paid to his ambitions. Mendy's first venture into sport was as advisor to his friend Laurie Cunningham. Cunningham was the finest pure talent of his era.
Mendy then joined forces with Frank Warren in a foray into an alternative to the established British Boxing Board of Control's grip on Boxing in the UK.
The group in that ensemble included The late Jon'Tiny' Robinson, Mick Williamson, Vic Andretti and Chris Dundee all of whom were to become significant figures in the British Fight industry. Mendy and Warren split acrimoniously.
He later represented Boxer Lloyd Honeyghan who became undisputed World Welterweight Champion defeating the acclaimed 'pound for pound' best fighter n the planet, Donald Curry,in one of the greatest upsets in sports history. Mendy then represented boxer Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn , known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British former boxer who held world titles in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions....
taking him to the pinnacle of World Middleweight Champion and a global sporting star. Benn achieved the status of becoming a star at both the Box office as well as notching up record TV and radio audiences. Mendy promoted Benn in a unique style of hype and substance. As well as co promoting some of the greatest fights ever to be staged in the UK, Mendy took on the British sporting bodies on behalf of his clients using the Highest courts of the land as adjudicators! He won a landmark case brought by Promoter Frank Warren (who had been Best Man at Mendy's wedding in 1986)which defined restraint of trade and became the practise direction in law. Advising other Boxers in their quest to free themselves from held agreements and contracts Mendy represented and advised Frank Bruno, Garry Stretch, Chris Eubank, Chris Pyatt, Terry Marsh and Micheal Watson. He worked with or advised many of the great black footballers of the 1970s, 1980s and nineties were represented or advised including Laurie Cunningham, the first British player ever to play for Real Madrid, Cyrille Regis, John and Justin Fashanu, Ian Wright, Mark Bright, David Rocastle, Dalian Atkinson, John Barnes, Mark Walters, Dany Wallace, Paul Ince -who as a 19 year old West Ham FC player, Mendy correctly predicted would one day captain England! His understanding of the media and interaction with sports audiences made Mendy a leading force in the sports business. National print media titles and Television gave him a considerable platform to operate upon.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Mendy fought legal battles including Fraud convictions resulting in imprisonment. During incarceration Mendy completed two degrees. At the Court of Appeal, he gained a distinction in becoming the practise direction in Jury Verdicts as his conviction was quashed following Jury misdirection.
As of 2007, he was acting as a consultant to promoter Dennis Hobson.