Dan Earthquake and Terry Marsh

"I was IBF Light Welterweight Champion - and that covered a third of the World. Well, being as the other two thirds of the World are covered in water, it ain't bad." - Terry Marsh on Walsall Hospital Radio, Sunday January 29th, 2006.

I was at an impressionable age when I first heard of Terry Marsh. I was in the Junior School, and used to like to watch No. 73 at my Nan and Granddad's on a Saturday morning. It was a mad show, about a boarding house that had a band in the basement and celebrity guests popping in. Sandy Togsvik was the host, but was known as Ethel in the show. One week there was a fireman on the show. I wanted to be a fireman, so was interested. His name was Terry Marsh, and he was going to fight for the World Light Welterweight Championship. I remember telling my Granddad that I liked the big men fighting the best, like those on the Wrestling. I was a big lad, and I fancied myself as a strongman or wrestler. Granddad told me that boxing was about skill, and that the smaller men were more exciting than the bigger ones. He said that he'd seen Terry Marsh box, and that he was very good. It was enough for me. I wanted Terry to win, and when he did, I was happy. I might have seen some of the fight on World of Sport the following week, but can't remember that much really, just Terry's curly hair and him holding the belt.

I was at a funny age. At eleven, my dad got run over and killed in a road accident and I was understandably devastated. My mum fed me clippings of Dave Gauder pulling Concorde and the like, and I took an interest in physical activity, always hoping that I'd end up a wrestler, strongman or both. I read comics and books with legends and would get up at 3 in the morning to watch Mike Tyson fight. Terry Marsh was a character of that era for me: as inspiring as Judge Dredd or Big Daddy. I thought it unlikely that I'd ever meet him.

I remember when the evening news reported that Frank Warren had been shot. I had never heard of him, had no idea who he was. When Terry Marsh was arrested for shooting him, I was incredulous. The Terry Marsh I had seen on No. 73 was a super hero. They must've been mistaken. I got on with my life, noticing a few months later that he was released. I wasn't at all surprised, and didn't give it much thought. By this time, Frank Warren was a familiar face on TV, and my interest in boxing increased. Whilst I knew who Barry Hearns and Mickey Duff were, they held no interest for me at all. I wanted to hear the boxers talk and see them fight. I remember thinking that the managers were smug, and they were like the politicians - full of themselves and their own self importance. Who wants to hear a manager when you could be watching the boxing or the wrestling? (With apologies to my good friend Dave Postan)

The years progressed, and I made my way in the world. I never became a wrestler, but I did 5 heats of the UK Strongest Man. I hope to do more in the future, having had a break from it. I've met many of my heroes of that magic era - Walsall Hospital Radio gave me an excuse to approach Pat Roach and Uri Geller, and had my photo taken with Kendo Nagasaki a few times, but never got to interview him. He kept his mystique even into retirement. Geoff Capes was referee for UK Strongest Man, and I got to talk to him too. I've talked a bit to Joe Egan, who was Tyson's sparring partner - surely one of the world's most dangerous jobs.  I've also become friends with Dave Gauder, holder of 17 uncontested Guinness World Records in strength - the man who pulled Concorde. He's still superman to me. 

As Chairman of Wolverhampton Amateur Boxing Club I get invited to things, and mix with some of the boxing crowd. With Tommo, I went to Scott Murray's new function room at Bar Sport in Cannock for a tribute evening to Ron Gray. On our table was Terry Marsh, and I was pleased that he found the time to talk to me.  I didn't buy one of his books that evening, being short on cash, but bought one of the copies that Tommo purchased a week later. Terry asked what inscription Tommo wanted in his book, and in characteristic fashion John asked him to put "To Tommo, £$%^ off, from Terry Marsh." Terry put something much politer in the end.

I read Terry's book with interest, noting his thoughts as a young amateur in comparison to some of the lads we see at the club. Which of them will become a champion? It's hard to say. Champions have something extra that's indescribable, but they're human, and often eat the wrong foods or get waylaid in their training by girls, work or circumstance. Terry aspired to be in the Military, as I once did, and I identified with his motivations. His journey through the ranks of the Marines, his experiences in Northern Ireland make exciting reading. It's easy to see Terry shaping himself into the champion that he will become, and developing the mental strength that will later be vital in his survival against the worst of situations. His account of his ultimate boxing victory is covered with surprising honesty, revealing the doubts that he had during the height of the action. His subsequent dealings with the media, and financial arrangements with his management team are also enlightening, and not what I would have expected. Terry's departure from fighting following victory in his first defence is compelling reading. I never knew how bad it got for Terry and am sorry to say that I never gave it a thought.

Of course, Terry Marsh's story is as much about battling with unfortunate events outside his control as it is with pugilistic opponents. Luck seems to desert Terry with disaster seemingly following every positive effort. It is here that his strength of character and champion's attitude protect him from the depths of the despair that would surely have polished off many in similar circumstances. Marsh's account of how he kept himself in shape whilst in prison is also notable, as it shows that even in the worst of situations exercise can play a valuable part of keeping healthy and maintaining a positive attitude. It would have been natural for some to have slumped into inactivity and depression.

Terry's victory in the courts did little to bring him back into the public consciousness in a positive way. The front page sensational headlines of the accusation were remembered long after the subsequent acquittal. Before the shooting, Terry was promoting his own fights and becoming a regular on television, but after he faced financial ruin. The papers and media move on finding new people to build up and knock down.

For me, the story of his imprisonment was especially revealing because at the time I had been so dismissive of the whole thing. I had assumed Terry Marsh to be innocent and was proved right. I had no thoughts of what had happened in between. How would any of us have reacted in similar circumstances? That's the question that Marsh's book puts to the reader.

Today, Terry Marsh is very active, working as a stockbroker and still doing celebrity things. He's become a good friend of Wolverhampton Amateur Boxing Club, and I was delighted to interview him live on Walsall Hospital Radio. We talked about Amir Khan, TV deals, celebrity television and the media. "To me, you're a super hero Terry, like Judge Dredd and Big Daddy." I told him. "Well, I'm flattered to be mentioned in the same breath as Judge Dredd and Big Daddy, " he replied.

Terry's book is available from his website: www.terrymarsh.biz