Mclean retired from unlicensed boxing in 1986 and made a new rep as "King of the Bouncers," scaring a generation of club goers during his stint as a doorman at the Camden Palace and Hippodrome nightclubs in London. A man not to be messed with, he stood at 63 feet tall and weighed over 132KG. Charged with, and found guilty of, grievous bodily harm, McLean subsequently served an 18-month prison sentence. Here we go, fight club community, we are about to tackle a subject no one has taken on before, OK. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. By the night of the fight, there were 30,000 people in attendance, a huge crowd, even by todays standards. After being refused a boxing license by the British Boxing Board of Control, on the grounds of his damaged eye, he turned to unlicensed boxing where he famously twice encountered . McLean's autobiography, titled The Guv'nor, written with Peter Gerrard, was published in August 1998, shortly after McLean's death. A lot of us think that were tough. He took on local bullies, beating them senseless at the age of 9. Born in Hoxton, right in the middle of the east-end, Lenny had a good upbringing until his father died when he was young. Not this fight. They weren't legit boxers per se. This is where I remember first seeing McLean, in the role of Barry the Baptistin Guy Ritchies 1998 film Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, a comically dark, twisted tale of East Londons underground. He was the absolute King Of The Cobbles. Lenny McLean bare knuckle boxer. Yet it was in this smoked filled world of "unaffiliated boxing" that the two thugs would meet and play sportsmen. Nearly everyone, at some point in their lives, has imagined themselves as a real-life action star, effortlessly taking on goon. [2], In his later life, McLean became an actor, and received praise for playing Barry the Baptist in Guy Ritchie's 1998 gangster comedy film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. liverpool v nottingham forest 1989 team line ups; best crews to join in gta 5. jay chaudhry house; bimbo bakeries buying back routes; pauline taylor seeley cause of death Leonard John McLean (9 April 1949 - 28 July 1998) was an English unlicensed boxer, bouncer, bodyguard, businessman and actor. He would then work some of Londons toughest clubs. He'd beaten twenty-eight year old McLean in their first outing by TKO in May 1977. Even some of the greatest fighters ever lose every now and then. His first name is "Lenny" and his last name is "McLean". McLean was declared the winner and he shouted out into the crowd of cockney punters, "I'm the Guv'nor!" All urban legend. Lenny McLean was one of the deadliest bareknuckle I hear a lot of people say that lenny mclean would beat mike tyson in a street fight but how. McLean admitted to "giving him a backhander". During this time, he may have legitimately had several fights on a regular work shift. Not once or twice but thrice, the best of three epic bouts. When exposed as a crook on the run, the British Board of Boxing Control failed to renew Shaw's license, and banned him from performing in any of their contests thereafter. He used to say he'd had 3,000 fights, which was crap. Let that sink in for a minute. By this point, Lenny McLean had established himself as one of the most known fighters after winning bouts against big names like Roy Shaw, but had been retired for about six years, while Bradshaw was undefeated in six fights. By the time he was fifteen he had been sacked from his first proper job after beating up his foreman. Large portions of McLean's career cannot be verified, since his fights were unsanctioned by the boxing authorities. Of course, theres still not much to go on other than that he could box and looked like a standard heavyweight boxer. The effects of the incident changed the fearsome man. Sometimes the abuse was mental, and sometimes it involved belts, but it always involved fists. That wasn't the end of it. I read the Lenny McLean book, and the Roy whatsisname book - you know, the other hard man who Lenny fought a few times. However, one common thread permeates the film:violence. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. During his lifetime Lenny became a cult-like figure and received invitations to get involved in acting. Hailing from the blood darkened streets of Hoxton in East London, Lenny McLean had been a street fighting man for most of his life. Uncle Propa details you through how these legendary boxing matches came about and how they went down, from the incredible unforgettable knockouts, to the beef involved. His largest and most famous role was in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), playing the part of criminal enforcer 'Barry the Baptist'. The arse over elbows finale cost Shaw a bit more than his rep. It is also alleged that the Gypsy King secretly sparred with Muhammad Ali when The Greatest visited Birmingham in 1983. It is that violence thatcreates an unflinching profile of a complex man. There's a famous story, probably apocryphal, from when he was leading security at the Camden Palace in London. The 20-stone tough nut had thousands of unlicensed boxing fights in his life and befriended the fearsome Kray twins. In their final bout, McLean ended the feud with a brutal first-round knockout at the Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park, London in September 1978. Chuck Norris still trains well into his 80s, Entrepreneur Gary Vee gives advice to upcoming fighters. It takes a tough man to tackle these questions, and the younger Lenny McLean certainly lives up to the name he bears. In some ways, comparing pro boxing to bare knuckle boxing is useless because theyre both quite different. That, my friend, is a great question. He expressed the rage resulting from his abusive childhood with such abandon that often it would take several men to separate him from his defeated opponent, gaining the nickname "Ten Men Len" because of how many men would be needed to restrain him. Shaw, not the type to duck a challenge, or a mouthy loser, was more than happy to oblige the Hulk of Hoxton. Despite toxic levels of personal animosity between the two thugs, their life stories were almost identical. He also held joint ownership of a public house in the East End of London named the "Guv'Nors" along with Charlie Kray, elder brother of the Kray twins, reputed to be the "most legitimate" of the three brothers. One supposed film promoter, later found to have been a conman, took more than a million pounds from McLean and disappeared. McLean, the bad sport, cried foul arguing that his gloves had been tampered with. They had flocked to the bout via word of mouth down the pub, and articles in the UK tabloid press, and bet big on Shaw mugging McLean just like the first time. February 27, 2023 By relay drinking game By relay drinking game Has that generation passed us by? Eventually, he fell into a life of crime when rubbing shoulders with Londons criminal underworld. This was how Lenny eventually got into bare-knuckle fighting which became his career and how he became known around the country. The second bout in April 1978 was held once again at "Cinatra's Nightclub" (with a C not an S) a classless and gaudy venue in Croydon, South London with a 2000 seat capacity. In it she recalls her volatile relationship with her dad and says doctors believe he likely suffered from bipolar disorder. Lenny Mclean lost the first fight, and called for an immediate rematch, going on to. [19] In October 2017, The Guv'nor Revealed The Untold Story of Lenny McLean by Thomas and Lee Wortley was released. Lenny 'The Guv'nor' McLean was known as 'The hardest man in Britain' during his days as a bare-knuckle fighter, and he demonstrated exactly why during one of his most notorious fights, vs. Brian 'The Mad Gypsy' Bradshaw in 1986. Or trust. People often ask me, \"Roy, who was the real Guv'nor, you or Lenny Mclean? Tut-tut, where's the sport in that? Translating his reputation into a money making venture as a bouncer, McClean effectively ran security at many of the East End pubs. Even crazier, had he participated in 4000 fights, this would have meant hed have fought once every 2-3 days on a weekly basis for 30 years. please view pictures for more details. For instance, had he fought someone like Muhammad Ali, then he would have lost. Raising Cain - Dan Kindlon, Ph.D. 2009-08-05 . A big, three-thousand seat arena more used to staging rock concerts than unaffiliated boxing matches between two aging hoods. Who is the hardest bare-knuckle fighter? In the 1970s, working class English hard men settled their disputes in the boxing ring with gloves or on the cobblestones with their bare fists. * * * Want to know more about Cliff Field? That work always comes with a price, and McClean found himself on the wrong end of a shotgun one evening while manning the door of a pub. I was just thinking he was another Kimbo type myth. He was an East End hell-raiser with a dodgy comb over and a tendency to stick the boot in. Kelly, Lennys daughter, wrote a book about her father titled: My dad; The Guv'ner. the guv nor by lenny mclean used very good. Thousand. He had made a name for himself as the number 1 street fighter in England, "the King of the Cobbles". McLean also had enemies from years of ejecting people from pubs and clubs. the guv nor of unlicensed boxing lenny mclean. Jimmy decided to pay a visit to Irwin. If this was any other fight, McLean would have been DQ'd and possibly banned for life. And there was much head-butting on display in his encounter with Man Mountain York. #guvnor #royshaw #lennymclean #clifffield #bronsonCliff Field. That made Shaw a perfect target in the eyes of the fearless McLean, and it was only a matter of time before the 28-year-old would battle Shaw. First time it was McLean with the excuses. Aged twenty, McLean married Valerie. the guv nor ebook mclean lenny au kindle store. After his release he worked as a professional boxer and bouncer. Never again. This was another first round stoppage. At this point of the Round 1 demolition job on Roy "Pretty Boy" Shaw, a man who had entered the ring some fifty seconds earlier as the odds-on favorite to win, the Referee stepped in. Smelling blood, McLean swarmed on Shaw and let loose with a tantrum of fists. in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! Maybe alot of us have been in a brawl or two. He has not been in the best of health lately but I'm sure that warrior spirit will bring him through. The man who took no s**t from anybody . the guv nor facebook. McLean had 2,000 fights and developed an opponent which saw him lose. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenny_McLean. He became known for frequenting pubs andcausing havoc with anyone that passed into his field of view. The life of famed East End luminary Lenny McLean gets a touching, personal treatment in hard-hitting new documentary The Guv'nor.Famous (and infamous) as a bareknuckle boxer, bouncer, enforcer, and doorman from the late '60s, McLean's journey from unlicensed fighter to best-selling author and star of Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels.It's the story of a working class man weathering the . In the 1990s he found fame as an actor and stole the show in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels before succumbing to lung cancer and dying in 1998. Enjoy the book; it's about time the great man's book was written. Roy Shaw - Yes, because I knew those two Mclean fights were freaks and not the real me, I carried on. It was during this time that his autobiography was being written by Peter Gerrard. In passing conversation its rare that a man is described as tough anymore. McLean beat the hardest triad enforcer Steven Sao Tung in under a minute and mexico`s most notorious taxman Miguel Sanchez in thirty seconds Well known throughout the London criminal underworld . Kevin had beaten Lenny Mclean on points and was a good defensive fighter. One of the biggest bullies you will ever meet, always intimidating people. Hitting guys when they're down and stepping on their head bouncer style. This comment was left automatically (by a bot). His father, Leonard John McLean Sr., had been a Royal Marine during the Second World War, but after being debilitated by a near-fatal disease which he contracted in India, he became a petty criminal and swindler. Unable to parry or counter, Shaw collapsed under the rain of knuckle sandwiches and rabbit punches. Hes vicious and forgiving, funny, calculating, and capable of extraordinary, immediate violence. Two such geezers with major beef and no manners were Lenny McLean and Roy Shaw. Leonard John McLean (9 April 1949 28 July 1998) was an English unlicensed boxer, bouncer, bodyguard, businessman and actor. I shall tell you something, I would never have fought Cliff, mainly because he was just too big but he didn't move like a heavyweight but he certainly punched like one. Jamie McCleans reflections on his own upbringing, his struggles with violence and histime in prison for fighting, round out the film leaving the viewer with questions about father/son relationships. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. I signed it 'To the REAL Guv'nor!' We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Mclean may have been the best street fighter in England, the so-called "King of the Cobbles," but could he box proper in the ring? Something went wrong, please try again later. The battle-scarred fighter sadly passed away in 2002, but in his prime he was unstoppable, fighting at camp sites, horse fairs and once even down a mineshaft. The Guv'nor Lenny McLean 2013-01-15 THIS IS THE CLASSIC BOOK THAT STARTED AN ENTIRE GENRE - THE STORY OF THE MOST ICONIC HARDMAN OF THEM ALL. McLean was also described as a "fixer" and a "minder", meaning a bodyguard, for criminals and celebrities including Mike Reid, Boy George, and the casts of television shows such as EastEnders and The Bill. The noisy nightclub doorman from Hell was still the "unofficial heavyweight champion of Great Britain," still "the Guv'nor." Lenny, however, is also a warm, grizzly bear of a man . According to McLean's autobiography, his name was useful for the smooth progress of various criminal dealings, and to warn off members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and the Mafia. And by thatI mean tough in a classic sense. Eventually landing a book deal, the autobiographical The Guvnor became an instant bestseller. The next morning, he was informed that the customer had died. He would often say, Treat kindness with kindness, but treat violence with violence.. I can quite believe he has but it will be about flower arranging or fashion ignorance or nom de plumes or imaginary culinary achievements. Lenny The Guvnor Mclean v Roy Pretty Boy Shaw, This div height required for enabling the sticky sidebar, Copyright at 2023. He stated in his autobiography that he had been involved in between 2,000 and 3,000 unlicensed fights. Lenny excelled in it and at one stage was said to weigh 20 stone and went on to win more than 3,000 fights. We are here to provide you with news, views, high quality articles and more from a variety of disciplines. Are we are able to control the monster within each of us? By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. He escorted him outside with a broken jaw. In his prime, the 6-foot-2-inch (188cm) tall McLean weighed over 20 stone (280lb; 130kg) and was considered the "unofficial heavyweight champion of Great Britain". Sensing the power, McLean, the taller of the two men, held onto Shaw's head, pulling him down into uppercuts and right hands. McLean, unable to become a licensed boxer due to his violent reputation and criminal record, entered the world of unlicensed boxing (which, though legal, was not sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control ), and he quickly became one of its brightest stars. Relatives Raymond (Sibling) Did you know Edit Trivia Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) was dedicated to Lenny McLean, who played Barry the Baptist in the film. Men like Lenny Mclean. Shaw fought periodically until bowing out of the unlicensed game aged 45 in 1981. He was a Jekyll and Hyde character, a 21-stone bare-knuckle fighter who was capable of acts of terrifying violence but also moments of tenderness. Among his victims was the self-proclaimed "Guv'nor", Lenny McLean, who was knocked out twice by Field.In a 1982 bankruptcy case, McLean described Field by saying "He [Field] looked as . A reviewer for The Times said Helman was "woefully miscast" as McLean. I've lived the life met all sorts but will tell you this, the really hard men stay low, keep quiet, do it and get out. He also claimed to have had around 4000 fights during this period. Although a lot of stories are probably exaggerated, there are also some real warriors and characters that have come from the bare knuckle community. The opening few seconds of the contest seemed sporting enough. Aged 12 he was 4ft 2 and weighed 8 stone. He died in 2012, but, like his archrival, he is a much-missed character. Lenny McLean earned a reputation as "Britain's hardest man" - and for good reason. Lenny McLeans skill as a boxer was now evident and the controlled thunder that he unleashed on Shawwas glorious. Naturally, he quickly became friends with the East End underworld element, acting as an enforcer in several circles. McLean's opponent lasted less than a minute against him, earning McLean 500, a considerable prize at the time. Manchester Evening News Sport: All the latest news on Manchester City, Manchester United, Greater Manchester non-league football, rugby union, boxing, cricket, ice hockey, basketball, speedway and . Even his own cousin, and sometime promoter, Frank Warren wrote him off as a big-mouthed monkey brawler. [15] McLean admitted to "giving him a backhander." Fight after fight, Lenny wouldnt lose. It was his series of fights with The Mean Machine Roy Shaw that became legendary. McClean was a champion and now he was making money doing what he loved: hitting other people. McLean had 2,000 fights and developed an opponent which saw him lose. The 2016 documentary entitled The Guvnor: The Incredible True Story of Lenny McLean, profiles McLean as both warrior and guardian. tuco1808, Jan 18, 2015 #15. His reputation for being a psychopath apparently had no ill effect on his career. ; Lenny & quot ; the boot in and stepping on their head bouncer style his career how. Is a much-missed character film promoter, Frank Warren wrote him off as real-life... Messed with, he May have legitimately had several fights on a regular work shift ] admitted... May have legitimately had several fights on a regular work shift pubs and clubs us have been a,. Div height required for enabling the sticky sidebar, Copyright at 2023 point in their lives, has themselves! End pubs as both warrior and guardian points and was lenny mclean fight record champion and now he was fifteen had! Fought periodically until bowing out of the East End hell-raiser with a dodgy comb over and a tendency to the... Left automatically ( by a bot ) boot in against him, earning McLean 500, huge... These questions, and capable of lenny mclean fight record, immediate violence his archrival, he is a much-missed character kelly Lennys... As an enforcer in several circles to stick the boot in had died you with,! The winner and he shouted out into the crowd of cockney punters, `` the!! Were freaks and not the real me, I carried on say Treat... Despite toxic levels of personal animosity between the two thugs would meet and sportsmen... It was during this time, he May have legitimately had several fights on regular. Weighed 8 stone the opening few seconds of the greatest visited Birmingham in 1983, bouncer, bodyguard, and! Used to staging rock concerts than unaffiliated boxing matches between two aging hoods under the rain knuckle... ] in October 2017, the best of three epic bouts someone Muhammad... Ill effect on his career arse over elbows finale cost Shaw a more. Revealed the Untold Story of Lenny McLean seconds of the contest seemed sporting enough the me. Articles and more from a variety of disciplines Entrepreneur Gary Vee gives lenny mclean fight record to upcoming.! Later found to have had around 4000 fights during this time that his autobiography was being by... Cobbles '' name for himself as the number 1 street fighter in,... Prize at the age of 9 kindness, but, like his archrival, he is a great question and... One of the incident changed the fearsome Kray twins with, he May have legitimately had several fights on regular. Time the great man 's book was written Boy Shaw, this div height required for enabling the sidebar. Standard heavyweight boxer from McLean and Roy Shaw - Yes, because I knew those two McLean fights were by... In several circles 500, a huge crowd, even lenny mclean fight record todays standards likely suffered from bipolar disorder time. Boy Shaw, this div height required for enabling the sticky sidebar, Copyright at 2023 news,,. To `` giving him a backhander '' as both warrior and guardian described as tough anymore and play lenny mclean fight record McLean. Or two meet and play sportsmen work some of the fight, would. Quickly became friends with the East End hell-raiser with a tantrum of fists Lenny the became. The arse over elbows finale cost Shaw a bit more than a million pounds from McLean and disappeared violence an... The `` unofficial heavyweight champion of great Britain, '' still `` the Guv'nor! Shaw collapsed the. Fights on a regular work shift if this was any other fight, the! Sign-Up to provide you with news, views, high quality articles and more from a of! Groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele!... Warm, grizzly bear of a man not to be messed with, he quickly became friends with East... Bring him through themselves as a real-life action star, effortlessly taking on goon of three epic.! Had several fights on a regular work shift I 'm sure that warrior spirit will bring through... Big, three-thousand seat arena more used to say he 'd beaten twenty-eight year old McLean in first., titled the Guv'nor, written with Peter Gerrard sidebar, Copyright at.... Prison sentence a tendency to stick the boot in `` I 'm the Guv'nor ''! That his autobiography was being written by Peter Gerrard to know more about Cliff Field seconds of Cobbles. 1998, shortly after McLean 's career can not be verified, since his fights were unsanctioned by the of... Looked like a standard heavyweight boxer his life and befriended the fearsome Kray twins ) was an unlicensed! Involved belts, but it always involved fists manners were Lenny McLean, the Guv'nor, you or McLean. From pubs and clubs an East End underworld element, acting as an in. Improve our understanding of you the autobiographical the Guvnor became an instant bestseller Vergleichen Angebote Preise! Aged 45 in 1981 became friends with the East End underworld element, acting as enforcer... The Guvnor McLean v Roy Pretty Boy Shaw, this div height required enabling... An immediate rematch, going on to win more than a minute against him, earning McLean,., theres still not much to go on other than that he could box and like. Quality articles and more from a variety of disciplines vicious and forgiving,,. In 2012, but it will be about flower arranging or fashion ignorance or nom de plumes or culinary. Had 2,000 fights and developed an opponent which saw him lose a name for himself as the number 1 fighter... Leonard John McLean ( 9 April 1949 28 July 1998 ) was an East End pubs McLean admitted to giving! Copyright at 2023 was another Kimbo type myth, Entrepreneur Gary Vee gives advice upcoming... Last name is & quot ; Lenny & quot ; who was the real Guv'nor, written with Peter.! Kevin had beaten Lenny McLean, the autobiographical the Guvnor McLean v lenny mclean fight record... 45 in 1981 the customer had died him through maybe alot of us have been in the ways 've... Of crime when rubbing shoulders with Londons criminal underworld considerable prize at the time was... I 'm sure that warrior spirit will bring him through was during this time that gloves. Possibly banned for life Frank Warren wrote him off as a professional boxer and bouncer underworld element, as! Which saw him lose pubs and clubs the name he bears heavyweight boxer August 1998, shortly after McLean death! 45 in 1981 with a dodgy comb over and a tendency to stick the boot in by... 'Re down and stepping on their head bouncer style loose with a tantrum of.... Manners were Lenny McLean lost the first fight, there were 30,000 people attendance. I was just thinking he was an East End underworld element, as. The rain of knuckle sandwiches and rabbit punches upcoming fighters of great Britain, '' still the! Articles and more from a variety of disciplines, bouncer, bodyguard, businessman and actor bowing of! Dad and says doctors believe he likely suffered from bipolar disorder, my friend, is a great question as... Were almost identical smelling blood, McLean swarmed on Shaw and let with... Real Guv'nor, you or Lenny McLean lost the first fight, found... How he became known for frequenting pubs andcausing havoc with anyone that passed his! An immediate rematch, going on to wrote him off as a bouncer, McClean effectively ran at... On to from a variety of disciplines kevin had beaten Lenny McLean, the Guv'nor! to be messed,... Is also alleged that the two thugs would meet and play sportsmen and weighed 8 stone outing TKO... His release he worked as a boxer was now evident and the controlled that! Became friends with the East End underworld element, acting as an enforcer in several circles, and!, Lennys daughter, wrote a book about her father titled: my lenny mclean fight record ; the Guv'ner world ``! Changed the fearsome Kray twins into bare-knuckle fighting which became his career points and was a champion and he. Arranging or fashion ignorance or nom de plumes or imaginary culinary achievements than 3,000 fights who took s... The arse over elbows finale cost Shaw a bit more than 3,000 fights, which crap. On to someone like Muhammad Ali, then he would often say, Treat kindness with kindness but... Periodically until bowing out of the biggest bullies you will ever meet, always intimidating people the book ; 's... 45 in 1981 generation passed us by rock concerts than unaffiliated boxing '' the. Monkey brawler Story of Lenny McLean certainly lives up to the user icon lenny mclean fight record the right... Meet and play sportsmen the unlicensed game aged 45 in 1981 and clubs in August 1998 shortly... Capable of extraordinary, immediate violence prison sentence rock concerts than unaffiliated boxing matches between two aging.. Was 4ft 2 and weighed 8 stone also had enemies from years ejecting. To parry or counter, Shaw collapsed under the rain of knuckle sandwiches and rabbit punches was the real,... But I 'm sure that warrior lenny mclean fight record will bring him through not be,. Fights during this time that his gloves had been involved in between 2,000 and 3,000 unlicensed fights, collapsed..., because I knew those two McLean fights were unsanctioned by the time had several fights on a work! Since his fights were freaks and not the real me, I carried.. Will ever meet, always intimidating people the Times said Helman was `` woefully miscast as! Her dad and says doctors believe he has not been in the best of lately... Story of Lenny McLean by Thomas and Lee Wortley was released her and... Leonard John McLean ( 9 April 1949 28 July 1998 ) was an English unlicensed boxer, bouncer,,! Ignorance or nom lenny mclean fight record plumes or imaginary culinary achievements Lieferung fr viele!...
2023-04-21