Nicky Piper
Born
Nicholas Piper

(1966-05-05) 5 May 1966 (age 57)
Cardiff, Wales
NationalityWelsh
Other namesThe KO King
Statistics
Weight(s)Super Middleweight
Light Heavyweight
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Boxing record
Total fights33
Wins26
Wins by KO20
Losses5
Draws2

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; he became the Commonwealth Light-heavyweight champion in 1995. He was trained by Charlie Pearson[2] and managed by Frank Warren. Since retiring from boxing, Piper has become a notable administrator in British boxing and currently works for The City Hospice as their Corporate Partnerships Manager.

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 Alexandra Palace in London on 12 December 1992. Benn stopped Piper in the eleventh round 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 round.[5] Piper fought twice more in 1994, a win over Charles Oliver, and a failed bid for the vacant Commonwealth Light-heavyweight title, where he was 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 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 Hanover. Piper was retired by his corner after the seventh round[6] and soon after retired from boxing.

Professional boxing record

26 Wins (21 knockouts, 5 decisions), 5 Losses (4 knockouts, 1 decision), 2 Draws [1] Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes Loss 34–0 Dariusz Michalczewski TKO 7 4 October 1997 , Hanover, Germany WBO Light Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 3:00 of the seventh round. Win 19–12–4 Stephane Nizard PTS 8 28 June 1997 , Norwich, England Win 18–1 Bruce Scott TKO 7 30 November 1996 , Tylorstown, Wales Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Title. Win 2–5–1 Danny Juma TKO 2 26 April 1996 Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff, Wales Win 26–6–2 Noel Magee KO 9 30 September 1995 Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales WBO Intercontinental/Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Titles. Win 9–6 John Keeton RTD 2 7 July 1995 Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales Keeton retired at 3:00 of the second round. Win 22–12–2 Tim Bryan TKO 1 17 June 1995 Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales Referee stopped the bout at 1:15 of the first round. Loss 18–6–1 Crawford Ashley PTS 12 19 November 1994 Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Title. Win 14–1–1 Charles Oliver TKO 5 21 September 1994 Star Centre, Cardiff, Wales Loss 18–1 Leeonzer Barber TKO 9 29 January 1994 Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales WBO Light Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:40 of the ninth round. Draw 9–1–1 Frank Rhodes PTS 8 23 October 1993 Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales Win 9–7 Trevor Ambrose TKO 5 10 July 1993 Wales National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales Win 15–4 Chris Sande TKO 9 10 April 1993 Swansea, Wales WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title. Win 30–19–8 Miguel Angel Maldonado UD 12 13 February 1993 Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title. Loss 34–2 Nigel Benn TKO 11 12 December 1992 Alexandra Palace, London, England WBC Super Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:44 of the 11th round. Win 13–9 Johnny Melfah TKO 5 25 July 1992 G-Mex Leisure Centre, Manchester, England Win 10–6 Larry Prather PTS 8 16 May 1992 Alexandra Pavilion, London, England, United Kingdom Win 22–7–1 Ron Amundsen PTS 10 11 March 1992 Star Centre, Cardiff, Wales Win 9–5 Frank Eubank PTS 10 22 January 1992 Star Centre, Cardiff, Wales Win 8–6 Carlos Christie KO 6 20 November 1991 Star Centre, Cardiff, Wales Win 13–36–2 Franky Moro TKO 4 29 October 1991 Royal Albert Hall, London, England Loss 9–3 Carl Thompson TKO 3 4 September 1991 York Hall, London, England Win 11–2 Simon Harris TKO 1 3 July 1991 , Reading, Berkshire, England Win 3–3 Martin Lopez KO 1 22 May 1991 New London Arena, London, England Win 11–18–6 Serge Bolivard TKO 1 8 May 1991 New London Arena, London, England Win 8–20–3 John Held TKO 3 5 March 1991 New London Arena, London, England Win 3–2–2 John Ellis KO 1 12 November 1990 s, Norwich, England Ellis knocked out at 0:12 of the first round. Win 16–7–1 Paul McCarthy TKO 3 23 October 1990 Granby Halls, Leicester, England Draw 2–0 Maurice Core PTS 6 22 May 1990 City Hall, Saint Albans, United Kingdom Win 5–14 Darren McKenna RTD 4 17 April 1990 New London Arena, London, England McKenna retired at 2:00 of the fourth round. Win 16–15–4 Dave Owens KO 1 19 December 1989 Ocean Rooms, Gorleston, England Win 2–7 Gus Mendes TKO 3 17 October 1989 Star Centre, Cardiff, Wales Win 4–10–1 Kevin Roper KO 2 6 September 1989 Afan Lido, Port Talbot, Wales Roper knocked out at 1:30 of the second round.

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 currently works for The City Hospice (formerly George Thomas Hospice Care) as their Corporate Partnership 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. ^ a b c d e "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. ^ a b "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 27 January 2008.
  9. ^ "Nicky Piper's linkedin profile". Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2009.

External links

Achievements VacantTitle last held byGary Delaney WBO Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion 30 September 1995 – 4 October 1997Lost bid for world title VacantTitle next held byMark Prince Preceded byNoel Magee Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion 30 September 1995 – 4 October 1997Retired VacantTitle next held byCrawford Ashley
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