Nicky Piper

Nicky Piper
Statistics
Real name	Nicky Piper
Nickname(s)	The KO King
Rated at	Super-Middleweight/Light-Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Nationality	Welsh
Born	5 May 1966 Cardiff, Wales
Boxing record
Total fights	33
Wins	26
Wins by KO	20
Losses	5
Draws	2
No contests	0

Nicky Piper MBE (born 5 May 1966) is a retired Welsh super middleweight and light heavyweight boxer from Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff.^[1] His career was at its peak in the 1990s becoming the Commonwealth Light-heavyweight champion in 1995. He was trained by Charlie Pearson^[2] and managed by Frank Warren. Since retiring from fighting Piper has become a notable administrator in British boxing.

Boxing career

Piper's first professional fight is recorded as being against fellow Welshman Kevin Roper.^[3] Piper won the match in the second round via a knockout. Piper then won nine of his next ten encounters, all scheduled for either six or eight rounds.^[3] Of the ten bouts, only one, against future British Heavyweight champion Maurice Core went the full distance resulting in a draw. Piper stopped his other nine opponents through retirement, knockout or technical knockout. Piper's first professional loss was to future World Cruiserweight Champion Carl Thompson at York Hall on 4 September 1991, Piper being stopped by technical knockout in the third round.^[3] The next month Piper was back in the ring, beating Franky Moro in a contest at the Royal Albert Hall. He completed 1991 with a sixth round knockout over Carlos Christie.^[3]

Piper won his first three fights of 1992, all on points decisions, the first of which, over Frank Eubank, was an eliminator for the British Super Middleweight title. Another eliminator for the Super Middleweight belt saw Piper stop Johhny Melfah by technical knockout in the fifth at the G-Mex centre in Manchester.^[3] Piper's next fight was against WBC Super Middleweight champion Nigel Benn, in a challenge for the title. The twelve round contest was held at the Alexandria Pavilion in London on 12 December 1992. Benn stopped Piper in the eleventh on a technical knockout.^[4]

Despite the loss to Benn, Piper's very next match was another title fight; this time for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental light heavyweight belt. The fight against Argentinean Miguel Angel Maldonando went the distance with Piper being given the title by unanimous points decision. Two months later, on 10 April 1993, Piper successfully defended his title against Chris Sande in Swansea. Piper completed the year with a victory over Trevor Ambrose and a drawn match with Frank Rhodes. Piper started 1994 with a challenge for the WBO Light-heavyweight title, then held by Leeonzer Barber. Piper failed in his bid when he was again stopped by technical knockout, this time in the ninth.^[5] Piper fought twice more in 1994, a win over Charles Oliver and a failed bid for the vacant Commonwealth Light-heavyweight title, beaten by Crawford Ashley.

Piper's next fight was a win in an uneven contest against American Tim Bryan in June 1995, followed by a victory over John Keeton, both fights held in Cardiff. Then on the 30 September he faced Noel Magee for the Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight title. Held at the Cardiff Arms Park, the fight lasted until the ninth round when Magee was knocked out, giving Piper his most senior belt of his career. In 1996 Piper fought in two bouts. A win over Danny Juma in Cardiff, and a successful defence of his Commonwealth belt to Bruce Scott at Tylorstown. The following year saw Piper's final two fights. In June he defeated Stephane Nizard in Norwich, before a title attempt for the WBO Light-heavyweight against Dariusz Michalczewski in Hannover. Piper was retired by his corner after the seventh^[6] and soon after retired from boxing.

Professional boxing record

Personal history

After his retirement from boxing Piper became a sports commentator and in 1997 a member of the British Boxing Board of Control.^[7] Piper served as Chairman of the Professional Boxing Association and in 2005 he was awarded the MBE for his services to the sport.^[7] Piper is a member of Mensa^[8] and works for George Thomas Hospice Care as events manager.^[9]

References

1. "Nicky Piper: Biography". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
2. "Maccarinelli's trainer steps down". BBC Sport. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
3. "Nicky Piper: Boxing record". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
4. "Nigel Benn vs. Nicky Piper". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
5. "Leeonzer Barber vs. Nicky Piper". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
6. "Dariusz Michalczewski vs. Nicky Piper". BoxingRec. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
7. "MBE boosts Welsh boxing - Piper". BBC Sport. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
8. Staff. "Golf: Sharpest brains are in the ring!". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
9. "Nicky Piper's linkedin profile". Retrieved 2009-11-24.

External links

• Audio commentry of the Nicky Piper v Nigel Benn fight from 1992 BBC.co.uk
• Professional boxing record for Nicky Piper from BoxRec