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Stars come out for former starmaker

23/ 6/2005

Boxing

SEVEN former ABA senior champions, all trained by one man - Terry Hernon - turned up at the Wellfield Club in Rochdale last Thursday night to honour the man on his 65th birthday.

Hernon, who now lives in south Wales, travelled up thinking he was going to be making a presentation to Kevin Taylor who is now chief coach with Hamer Amateur Boxing Club.

The surprise birthday bash was launched on him when Joey Jacobs made an announcement soon after the legendary Hernon had walked into the room along with his wife Glenys.

Hernon was chief coach with the Hamer club and also coached at the Fox club in Blackley before joining the pro ranks.

The "guest" list was like a who's who of north west boxing in the last 30 or so years.

There was former pro Glen Campbell whom Hernon trained while with the Rochdale Pro Gym, promoter and manager Jack Doughty now of Tara Sports and Leisure, Crain Fisher, whom Hernon said had the hardest punch in boxing during his time in the ring, former national champion Joey Jacobs, Jeff Armitage, who won all his five fights as a pro then quit boxing, former Olympic boxer then pro Kevin Taylor, and Mick Mulcahy.

Enter more such as boxing brothers Darren, Steven and Tony Connellan, Derek Wormald who fought for British pro titles, Gary White, Peter English and Eric Noi.

The legendary Johnny Butterworth was there, as was a legend from north Manchester - Jimmy Lewis of Fox ABC.

But it was not a night all about boxing. Family and friends were there along with two "special" guests - Barry Walmsley and Johnny Padden.

They went to St Patrick's School along with Hernon who said: "Me and Johnny once had a fight which lasted three days. The guy wouldn't be beaten."

It was the first time Walmsley had met Hernon for 50 years.

All in all it was a special night for a special person.