Three Anniversaries 

Double Celebrations for welterweight legend John H Stracey, the Pride of Bethnal Green, who is today May 27^th celebrating two milestone anniversaries.

It`s John H and Kathy Jane`s thirtieth Wedding Anniversary, and they`ve crossed the English Channel to spend a few idyllic days in Paris with a toast or two of Champers.

On the self same day fifty years ago, John H won the EBU welterweight title by stopping Roger Menetrey via an eighth round TKO. On that fabled evening Kevin Finnegan with whom  John H is photographed,  won the EBU middleweight title via a UD over Jean Claude Boutier. Both triumphs happened in the famous Stade Roland Garros, right in the heart of Paris.

Kevin, who was the younger brother Chris, who won Olympic Gold in Mexico 1968 and was a top  light heavyweight. Chris won the British, Commonwealth and European titles. He bravely challenged Bob Foster for the world Title.

Kevin was an accomplished boxer in his own right. Kevin won the British middleweight title three times and the European crown twice. He fought Marvin Hagler twice in 1978 and Marvin always insisted Kevin was the toughest opponent he ever fought.  Kevin fought Alan Minter three times. They became great friends and Kevin described Alan as like a brother.  In retirement he turned his gnarled hands to the most exquisite painting, becoming an accomplished artist.  He died aged only sixty in 2008. Chris died a year later.

John H who  on December 6^th 1975, became Jose Sulaiman`s first world champion, just one day after Don Jose became World Boxing Council President, by defeating the legendary Jose Napolis, in the Plaza de Toros Mexico City, with a TKO in round six. It remains the most remarkable away from home victory by a British boxer.

This is a journey of famous names. John H and Kathy Jane started their anniversary in John Lennon Airport in Liverpool and landed at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris.  Joyeux Anniversaire in La Belle France.