Punchers from the Past: Charles “Chic” Calderwood

Name: Charles “Chic” Calderwood

Born: 9 January 1937

Died: 12 November 1966 aged 29

Career: 1957 to 1966

Record: 55 fights, Won 44 (29 by KO/TKO), Lost 9 (4 by KO/TKO) drew 1, No Decision 1.

Division:  Light Heavyweight

Stance: Orthodox

Titles:  Scottish Area, British and Commonwealth light heavyweight champion

Major Contests

Scored wins over: Burke Emery, Yolande Pompey, Johnny Halafihi (twice), Willie Pastrano**, Sonny Ray, Von Clay *, Johnny Persol, Alfredo Vogrig,

Lost to: Von Clay*, Henry Hank*, Giulio Rinaldi, Eddie Cotton*, Gustav Scholz *, Freddie Mack, John McCormack, Jose Torres **.

Drew with: Jim Cooper

No Decisions: Piero Del Papa

**Past/ future holder of a version of a world title

* Unsuccessful challenger for a version of a world title

Chic Calderwood’s Story

Calderwood was a very successful amateur boxer compiling a 64-6 record and twice winning bronze medals at the British Championships before turning professional in September 1957. He had four fights in 1957 winning all four by KO/TKO. He continued to be successful in 1958 winning his eleven fights and becoming British Boxing Board Of Control Scottish Area champion in October. He added eight more wins in 1959, some under the name of Jimmy Redmond, knocking out Jack Whittaker in a final eliminator for the British light heavyweight title. In January 1960 he stopped Arthur Howard in the thirteenth round to become the first Scottish boxer to win the British light heavyweight title. In June 1960 he won the vacant Commonwealth title with a stoppage of Johnny Halafihi and in September beat future WBA/WBC champion Willia Pastrano on points and finally in November 1960 American Sonny Ray. Those wins saw him climb into the Ring Magazine light heavyweight ratings at No 2. His 29-0 winning run came to an end in March 1961 when he lost on points to Von Clay. A big setback as just six weeks later Clay lost to Harold Johnson in a challenge for the NBA title. It was not a good year for Calderwood as he was held to a draw by Jim Cooper, the twin brother of heavyweight Henry Cooper, and in his first fight in America was floored and outpointed by Henry Hank. Calderwood had a better start in 1962 knocking out Stan Cullis in defence of his British and Commonwealth belts but again the year ended badly as he was defeated on points by Giulio Rinaldi in Rome in a fight for the vacant European title. The rollercoaster continued in 1963 as he won his first three fights including a revenge points victory over Von Clay and successfully defended the British and Commonwealth titles by outpointing Ron Redrup who had beaten Calderwood in the semi-finals of the British Championships when they were amateurs. Those wins were outweighed by a points loss to American Eddie Cotton in Scotland in June and against Gustav Scholz in Germany. Also in 1963 he was convicted of assaulting a civilian and served a short jail term for which he was stripped off his British and Commonwealth titles. He went 3-0 in 1964 including regaining the British title but the up and down pattern was there again in 1965 as he suffered a shock kayo loss against veteran Freddy Mack, rebounded with a victory over world rated Johnny Persol, who had beaten Eddie Cotton and  Bobo Olson, but then lost on injury to fellow-Scot John McCormack due to a badly gashed right eyebrow. After a couple of wins in 1966 a cut again cost him a fight as he lost on a tenth round stoppage against Argentinian Jose Menno in March. A chance for a high profile win disappeared when his fight with No 4 rated Piero Del Papa in August for the European title was stopped in the sixth round as the canvas was soaked with rainwater.

It was a low point for Calderwood but then circumstances conspired to give Calderwood a dream match against WBA/WBC title holder Jose Torres. The Puerto Rican had won the titles in March 1965 in New York with a stoppage of Wilie Pastrano and defended it by outpointing Wayne Thornton, again in New York, and Eddie Cotton in Las Vegas in the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. Torres badly wanted to defend the title in Puerto Rico and Calderwood’s 44-8-1 record and his win over Persol, who had since beaten former champion Harold Johnson, seemed to fit the bill. They met in San Juan on October 1966 and it was all over in five minutes. Calderwood worked well behind his jab in the first round but in the second a powerful right to the head sent Calderwood down in a heap against the ropes. In his confused state instead of climbing up he started to climb through the ropes almost on to the ring apron. He realised his mistake and began to climb back through the ropes but was counted out.

Calderwood was only 29 and had rebounded from losses in the past and he was aiming to do so again but on 12 November 1966 he was fatally injured in a car crash.

He was very much the standard bearer for Scottish light heavyweights being the first to win the British title, the first to win the Commonwealth title and the first to challenge for a world title.