Football Programmes Centre

Flaming Pie · Joined: 26 Nov 2016 Posts: 931

Not football, but the Freddie Mills documentary on BBC last night was outstanding. He must have been one of the bravest boxers who ever lived. To try and make the big bucks, his manager often had him pitted against much bigger opponents( heavyweights) and the pounding that he was often subjected to took it’s toll on him. How he died is still a mystery. If you are into boxing and missed it, well worth a look.

derby1884 · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:28 pm Post subject:

It was a very illuminating documentary. I can see both sides of the argument as regards his eventual demise though the most salient factor - the rifle propped up against the seat (not highlighted in the film) - would suggest murder.

Great boxer that he was, he struck me as being a tad naive in how he interacted with the Soho underworld of the early 60s. These animals had no scruples whatsoever. Get on the wrong side of them and you're toast.

I think that's what happened to him.
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Flaming Pie · Joined: 26 Nov 2016 Posts: 931

Derby, l think you are right about The Mob’s involvement. . One of the reviews of the documentary mentioned that the fight scenes are brutal and quite frightening to watch. The refs were not keen to stop fights in those days! Doesn’t look like Mills was frightened of anyone, inside or outside the ring. Weapons are a different story however. The death of the other British boxing great from that era, Randolph Turpin, is another mystery.

derby1884 · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:18 pm Post subject:

I know next to nothing about boxing but Mills' American opponent (Gus L) hit him with the hardest punch I've ever seen as he got up off the floor in their first encounter. When you see punishment like that, it does make you wonder what the long-term effects on the brain are.

Having said that, more than one forensic psychologist has stated that no one - ever - shoots themselves in the eye when committing suicide. And, were it to happen, the eye would not remain open (as Freddie's did).

The counterbalancing argument - that his boxing injuries led directly to suicidal depressoin - isn't just tenuous but is also not borne out evidentially.

i did a Google Maps search on the area - I see that lane where it happened is still there though the area itself seems to have been ruthlessly redeveloped over the last 2 years.
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