Reg Gutteridge
Encyclopedia
Reg Gutteridge, OBE (March 29, 1924 – January 24, 2009) was a boxing
journalist
and television commentator.
Gutteridge was born into a boxing family in Islington, London
. His grandfather, Arthur, was the first professional boxer to appear at the original National Sporting Club
. His father and uncle (Dick and Jack, the 'Gutteridge Twins') were recognised as the premier cornermen and trainers in Britain throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Gutteridge was an amateur flyweight boxer when he was conscripted as a foot soldier with the King's Royal Rifle Corps
in 1942. During D-Day
two years later, Gutteridge jumped from his tank and landed on a mine. This cost him his left leg and dreams of becoming a boxing champion. However, the incident provided him with the opportunity for some entertainment: for instance, during one holiday in Italy
, he went to the beach at San Remo
. He went for a swim and hopped out on one leg shouting "Shark
, shark!", having hidden his prosthetic limb under a towel.
After World War II
, Gutteridge became a journalist and reported on boxing for the London Evening News
for more than 30 years. He became better known the voice of ITV
's boxing coverage, a job he performed for from 1962 until 1998. During this time he formed a long-lasting commentating partnership with former world lightweight champion Jim Watt, which continued on Sky Sports
during the 1990s, while ITV had reduced coverage of the sport. He also commentated for Talk Sport radio during the 1990s.
His awards as a commentator included the Sam Taub Award
for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism and Presenter of the Year. He covered six Olympiads and commentated on sports as diverse as greyhound racing and tug o' war while working on the Saturday show World of Sport
.
One of his most bizarre experiences was to be summoned by Muhammad Ali
to interview him in the corner during a world title defence. Gutteridge and Ali became friends, and when he was ill in a London hospital during the 1980s, he woke up to find Ali in prayer at his bedside, as recalled in his 1998 autobiography "Uppercuts and Dazes" for which Muhammad Ali provided the foreword
He was married to childhood sweetheart Connie for nearly 60 years; they have two daughters (Susan and Sally-Ann) and four grandsons. He was a first cousin of Jackie Pallo
, the UK wrestler.
Gutteridge, an after-dinner speaker, became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1995. He is also an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
and the World Boxing Hall of Fame
. His autobiography "Uppercuts and Dazes" was published in 1998, and Muhammad Ali provided the foreword.
Gutteridge died following a stroke on January 24, 2009, aged 84.Many sportswriter colleagues paid their respects to Gutteridge, a former chairman of the Sports Journalists Association on the SJA website.http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/blog/?p=1667
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...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and television commentator.
Gutteridge was born into a boxing family in Islington, London
London Borough of Islington
The London Borough of Islington is a London borough in Inner London. It was formed in 1965 by merging the former metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. The borough contains two Westminster parliamentary constituencies, Islington North and Islington South & Finsbury...
. His grandfather, Arthur, was the first professional boxer to appear at the original National Sporting Club
National Sporting Club
The National Sporting Club was a club founded in London in 1891, which did more to establish the sport of boxing in Great Britain than any other organisation.-Origins:...
. His father and uncle (Dick and Jack, the 'Gutteridge Twins') were recognised as the premier cornermen and trainers in Britain throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Gutteridge was an amateur flyweight boxer when he was conscripted as a foot soldier with the King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
in 1942. During D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
two years later, Gutteridge jumped from his tank and landed on a mine. This cost him his left leg and dreams of becoming a boxing champion. However, the incident provided him with the opportunity for some entertainment: for instance, during one holiday in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, he went to the beach at San Remo
Sanremo
Sanremo or San Remo is a city with about 57,000 inhabitants on the Mediterranean coast of western Liguria in north-western Italy. Founded in Roman times, the city is best known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera. It hosts numerous cultural events, such as the Sanremo Music Festival...
. He went for a swim and hopped out on one leg shouting "Shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
, shark!", having hidden his prosthetic limb under a towel.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Gutteridge became a journalist and reported on boxing for the London Evening News
London Evening News
The London Evening News was a newspaper that was first published on 14 August 1855.Usually when people mention the London Evening News they are actually referring to The Evening News, that was published in London from 1881 to 1980 when it was incorporated into the Evening Standard.A newspaper under...
for more than 30 years. He became better known the voice of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's boxing coverage, a job he performed for from 1962 until 1998. During this time he formed a long-lasting commentating partnership with former world lightweight champion Jim Watt, which continued on Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
during the 1990s, while ITV had reduced coverage of the sport. He also commentated for Talk Sport radio during the 1990s.
His awards as a commentator included the Sam Taub Award
Sam Taub Award
The Sam Taub Award is a yearly award presented by the International Boxing Hall of Fame for Excellence in Broadcasting Journalism. The award is named after Sam Taub, a journalist and radio broadcaster who is best known for his work covering boxing. It is similar to Major League Baseball's Ford C....
for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism and Presenter of the Year. He covered six Olympiads and commentated on sports as diverse as greyhound racing and tug o' war while working on the Saturday show World of Sport
World of Sport (UK TV series)
World of Sport was a British television sport anthology programme which ran on ITV between 2 January 1965 to 28 September 1985 in response to competition from BBC's Grandstand...
.
One of his most bizarre experiences was to be summoned by Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
to interview him in the corner during a world title defence. Gutteridge and Ali became friends, and when he was ill in a London hospital during the 1980s, he woke up to find Ali in prayer at his bedside, as recalled in his 1998 autobiography "Uppercuts and Dazes" for which Muhammad Ali provided the foreword
He was married to childhood sweetheart Connie for nearly 60 years; they have two daughters (Susan and Sally-Ann) and four grandsons. He was a first cousin of Jackie Pallo
Jackie Pallo
Jackie "Mr TV" Pallo was an English professional wrestler, a star of British televised wrestling in its 1960s and 1970s heyday, when the sport had a regular 40-minute slot before the Saturday afternoon football results on ITV.Even before the publication of his 1985 autobiography "You...
, the UK wrestler.
Gutteridge, an after-dinner speaker, became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1995. He is also an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
and the World Boxing Hall of Fame
World Boxing Hall of Fame
The World Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Riverside, California, United States, in Southern California. The WBHF is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame with the other being the International Boxing Hall of Fame , with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized...
. His autobiography "Uppercuts and Dazes" was published in 1998, and Muhammad Ali provided the foreword.
Gutteridge died following a stroke on January 24, 2009, aged 84.Many sportswriter colleagues paid their respects to Gutteridge, a former chairman of the Sports Journalists Association on the SJA website.http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/blog/?p=1667