Belgium middleweight boxing champion Leon Fouquet (left) is welcomed to the Butt's Stadium by Coventry Mayor Alderman George Briggs (centre) for his bout against local hero Randolph Turpin (Right). Turpin went on to win the fight. 23rd June 1947. Randolph Turpin, born in Leamington in 1928 was a British boxer in the 1940s and 1950s as an amateur and for the Royal Navy. In 1951 he became world middleweight champion when he defeated Sugar Ray Robinson, receiving a civic reception to thousands of people on his return to Leamington. His reign lasted 64 days after defeat to Sugar Ray in a rematch. He was found dead in 1966 from two gunshot wounds to head and heart, but the inquest found he had committed suicide, which is disputed today. The prevailing theory is a gangland murder after Turpin exposed corruption in boxing. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.
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