Spencer_Oliver_(boxer)

Spencer Oliver (boxer)

Spencer Oliver (boxer)

English boxer

Spencer Oliver (born 27 March 1975) is an English former professional boxer. He was nicknamed "The Omen".

Quick Facts Born, Nationality ...

Oliver won a silver medal for England in the bantamweight division at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada.[1]

Professional career

From 1995 to 1998, Oliver competed as a professional. When he defeated Bulgaria's Martin Krastev in May 1997 he became the European (EBU) super bantamweight champion. He held onto the title for a year, defending it on three occasions with wins over Serge Poilblan, Vincenzo Belcastro and Fabrice Benichou.[2]

Injury

In May 1998 he sought to defend his title again with a bout against Sergey Devakov at Royal Albert Hall in London, which ended with Oliver suffering life-threatening injuries. Two minutes into the 10th round, Oliver was felled by a right hook and was counted out, the first loss of his career.[3] It then became apparent that Spencer was seriously injured, a blood clot had formed in his brain, caused by a blood vessel that had been torn from a blow he received earlier in the fight.[4] Spencer's cutman, Eddie Carter, is credited for saving his life, by instructing the paramedics to sedate the boxer in order to minimise the damage.[5] For fifteen minutes he was treated in the ring by paramedics and supplied with oxygen, before being taken unconscious to Charing Cross Hospital. He was later transferred to a specialist neurology hospital and underwent a successful operation to remove the blood clot.[6]

Later life

Oliver now works as a pundit for Sky Sports and runs a boxing school in Edgware, London. He also hosts a boxing podcast with Jake Wood called Pound for Pound.[7]

References

  1. [1]
    "Pugilist declares gold is for his parents". The Canberra Times. 29 August 1994. p. 27. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  2. [2]
    "Boxing: Champion Thompson looks ahead to Nelson showdown". The Independent. 6 October 1997. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  3. [3]
    Jones, Ken (4 May 1998). "Boxing: Why Oliver's plight is so shocking". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  4. [4]
    "Surgeon's fears for boxer". BBC News. 4 May 1998. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  5. [5]
    "Oliver's good omens". Sky Sports. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  6. [6]
    "Boxing champ 'out of danger'". BBC News. 6 May 1998. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  7. [7]
    "Boxing Training School". boxingschool.co.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
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