Charlie Magri
Former Boxer
Charlie Magri (born July 20, 1956 in Tunis, Tunisia) is a former English flyweight boxer. He grew up in Stepney, London and during his professional career held the British, European and WBC world flyweight titles.
As an amateur he boxed for Arbour Youth (a local youth club), and gained the following ABA titles:
- ABA Youth Champion (Class A) - 1972
- ABA Youth Champion (Class B) - 1973
- ABA Light-flyweight Champion (48kg) - 1974
- ABA Flyweight Champion (51kg) - 1975
- ABA Flyweight Champion (51kg) - 1976
- ABA Flyweight Champion (51kg) - 1977
Professional career
Magri was 5 ft 3 in tall and had an exciting, aggressive style, being a two-handed puncher who did not care much for defence. He was managed by Terry Lawless.
He had his first professional fight in October 1977, at the age of twenty-one. He knocked out Neil McLaughlin in the second round at the
Royal Albert Hall.
In only his third fight he gained the vacant British flyweight title after his fight with Dave Smith was stopped in the seventh round.
In his twelfth fight, in May 1979, having won the previous eleven, he won on points against
Franco Udella to take the European flyweight title. He won on points over twelve rounds at the
Empire Pool,
Wembley.
In December 1979, he defended his European title against Manuel Carrasco, of
Spain, winning on points. In June 1980, he defended it again, this time against Giovanni Camputaro of Italy, winning on a technical knockout in the third.
In February 1981, he defended his European title against Spaniard, Enrique Rodriguez Cal, knocking him out in the second round. In September he fought a re-match with Cal in
Aviles,
Spain, and again knocked him out in the second.
In March 1983, he fought
Eleoncio Mercedes, of the
Dominican Republic, for the
WBC world flyweight title. The fight was at the Empire Pool, Wembley and Magri won the title when the fight was stopped in the seventh on cuts.
In September 1983, he defended his world title against
Frank Cedeno, of the
Philippines. The fight was at the Empire Pool, and Magri lost his title when the referee stopped the fight in the sixth, after Magri had been put down three times.
In his next fight, in August 1984, Magri fought for the vacant European flyweight title that he had previously relinquished. He fought Italian,
Franco Cherchi in
Cagliari, Italy. Magri won in the first round when a clash of heads left the Italian so badly cut that the referee had to stop the fight.
In his next fight, in February 1985, he fought for the WBC world flyweight title again. Since Magri had lost it, it had changed hands several times and was now held by
Sot Chitalada of
Thailand. The fight was held at the
Alexandra Palace, London and Chitalada won on a technical knockout at the start of the fifth, after Magri’s corner retired him.
In October 1985, Magri fought a re-match against
Franco Cherchi, in
Alessandria, Italy, winning by a knockout in the second round.
In May 1986, Magri had his last fight, defending his European title against
Duke McKenzie of
Croydon. Magri had relinquished his British flyweight title in August 1981, and McKenzie was now the holder. The fight was stopped in the fifth round when Magri was knocked down and his manager, Terry Lawless threw in the towel when Magri beat the count.
Magri was the manager for super-featherweight boxer,
Dean Pithie he ran the Victoria Public house in the East end of London for a number of years, now is attending dinners and boxing events