Fighters

In July 1965 Freddie Mills, popular former light heavyweight champion of the world, was found shot in an alleyway off London’s Charing Cross Road. Was he murdered and if so by whom? Did he kill himself and if so why should this happily married man whose popularity was immense take his own life? A year later Britain’s second world champion of the era, the middleweight Randolph Turpin who defeated the fabulous Sugar Ray Robinson, was found shot dead in a room above his cafe in Leamington Spa. How did this man who earned thousands during his career come to end his life in a backstreet cafe? Or was he also murdered to prevent him getting the money due to him from his career?
Morton looks at the role of their managers and promoters and the relationship with the Boxing Board of Control. Should many of Mills’ fights and some of Turpin’s have been sanctioned? Is this in part what led to their deaths? Where did their money go? Gambling, women, protection? Is there any possible truth in the persistent rumours that Mills was the so-called Jack the Stripper, killer of prostitutes in Hammersmith?