30 years ago - the debut of Dennis Andries by James Slater May 6th 2008

Back in May, 1978, on the 16th to be exact, one of Britain's toughest and, to a degree at least, most under appreciated boxers made his professional debut in Newport, Wales. Dennis "The Hackney Rock" Andries was the fighter, and, after dealing with one Ray Pearce in just two rounds, he would go on to become a three-time world champion at light-heavyweight. It was far from an easy path to the top for Dennis, however. Turning pro at age 24, Dennis would go on to lose for the first time only two fights later. All told, Dennis would lose some six times during his first four years as a pro boxer. Somewhat crude and not at all pretty to watch, Andries was a classic case of a fighter who really came into his own at a time when most boxers are past their best. Struggling to capture the British light-heavyweight title in his early years, Dennis gave no indication that he would one day proudly wear a recognised world title around his waist three times. After losing to fighters like Bunny Johnson and Tom Collins, Andries refused to give up in his search for the British title. Eventually, in a fourth fight with Collins (the two men fought five times in all), Andries made it and became British champ. The year was now 1984, and, incredibly, attempts at European and even world glory were awaiting the 30-year-old. After a draw with Alex Blanchard in a crack at European honours, Dennis was given a shot at the WBC 175 pound championship held by American B.J Williamson. What followed at The Picketts Lock Stadium in London on the 30th of April, 1986 was a truly dull affair in terms of watch able action, but after 12 rounds Dennis was the winner via split decision. Some very big fights were soon to be the Londoner's. After a successful first defence against fellow Brit Tony Sibson (TKO 9), Andries came to the attention of the legendary Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns. At the time searching for a way to become the first man in boxing history to win world titles at four different weights, Hearns, who had already reigned as a welterweight and light-middleweight king, challenged the raw and far from polished Andries in his attempt at grabbing the third of his planned four belts. The move proved to be a good one for Tommy. The fight, which took place on March 7, 1987, in Detroit, USA, was one sided from the outset and Andries was to take a lot of punishment. He showed incredible bravery but, despite being the naturally bigger man, never won a round. Out-boxed in the early going, Dennis was in dire straits in round six. He was knocked down on five occasions (only three were official knockdowns) as the fight very quickly turned into a slaughter. How Dennis managed to regain his feet over and over again is a mystery. As is why the referee, Isaac Herrera, and Andries' own corner, permitted him to do so. The action should definitely have been stopped in this round and if it had been no-one would have uttered any complaint. Yet incredibly, somehow the bout was to last another four rounds. The bout was finally stopped in the tenth, ironically a round in which a brief glimpse of hope for the defending champion had surfaced. In this final session, Dennis was wrestled to the canvas and after an unnecessary count the fight was stopped as he stumbled in near exhaustion into a corner. However, just prior to this Andries had seemed to catch Hearns with a left hook to the forehead, forcing Tommy to tumble to the canvas. There was no count but some believed Dennis had scored a legitimate knockdown. Watching on video replay it is hard to tell. In any case, Hearns and his many fans were soon celebrating the capturing of his third yet world title. The future for Dennis Andries looked bleak in the moments afterwards, but his career was still to reach its peak! Shortly after the fight with Hearns, Dennis paid a desperate visit to The Kronk gym and asked Hearns' coach, Emmanuel Steward, to train him how to fight and mould him into a world class boxer. This was one courageous move. After some initial derision from the regulars at Kronk, Dennis earned everyone's respect with his sheer determination and toughness. Dennis went on to engage in the fights he is probably best remembered for. Quite astonishingly, six fights on from the Hearns beating, Dennis was to recapture the WBC belt. Fighting American Tony Willis for the vacant title, Andries won in five rounds. In the first defence of his second reign, Andries, now aged almost 36, singed to fight Australia's Jeff Harding. A truly gruelling trilogy was soon to get underway!  Harding, aged just twenty-four, may have been almost completely unknown going into the bout, but he more than made a name for himself during the superb brawl. A big underdog, Harding took everything Andries could dish out in the early going - including a contentious looking knockdown in round number five - before coming on strong in the final third of the fight to win. Despite being covered in blood due to bad cuts around his right eye, and despite having taken some wicked shots from the rampaging champion, Jeff gutted it out and scored a TKO win over the rapidly tiring Andries in the twelfth and final round. In tears of joy after his triumph, the new "Hitman" had arrived on the world stage. Andries was exhausted, but also keen for a return fight. After making two successful defences, both inside schedule, the new champ signed to give Andries what he so badly wanted. Harding-Andries II was on - only this time the fight would take place in the champ's home country. Dennis would have to make the long haul flight to Oz. Few gave the ageing former king much of a chance at becoming a three-time WBC belt holder. Not only had Dennis been quite badly beaten in fight one with Harding, but this time he had to fight in Australia too. This time, in July of 1990, Dennis was the betting underdog. As with their initial encounter, though, there was to be an upset. Throwing himself at Harding like a man possessed in the middle rounds, Dennis looked for all the world like a man who was going to punch himself out. Instead, and sensationally, the Londoner's tactics actually worked. In round number seven, with Andries throwing everything at him, a huge over-handed, and quite ungainly thrown, blow to the side/top of the head, finally sent Harding to the mat. He was counted out in the act of rising and the old man from London was once again the world champion. Somehow, Dennis even found the energy to perform a victory summersault after the ref had hit ten. Finally, after many years in the wilderness, Dennis was to get at least some of the credit he so clearly deserved. But there would also have to be a third and deciding fight. After two successful retentions by Dennis - one of which was over another Australian in Guy Waters -the rubber-match took place. In yet another country, this one Dennis' own, and with a large supporting crowd in attendance to spur him on, along with live T.V coverage in the U.K, Dennis, now pushing forty years of age, was determined to sort out his rivalry with the Australian warrior once and for all. This third fight was the most gruelling and damaging of the lot. Once again a fierce pace was set right from the get-go and once again it was hard to pick a winner. Despite his age, Andries was supremely fit, as was the much younger former beach bum in Harding. Both men knocked absolute lumps out of one another for the full twelve rounds. At times in the later rounds it looked doubtful that Dennis was going to last. Appearing to have reached the point of real exhaustion, Andries was open-mouthed and bloody lipped. He hung on, however, and somehow made it to the final bell. Excruciatingly for him, though, he hadn't done quite enough. The most bitter and closely scored fight of the trilogy went to the man from Oz via an agonisingly close majority verdict. It could be argued Dennis was never the same fighter again. He soldiered on for a further five years, losing some and winning others, before a TKO loss to Johnny Nelson on the 14th of December, 1996 forced him to retire. In all, Dennis Andries had 65 fights, winning 49 (30KOs), losing 14 and drawing two. "The Hackney Rock" was stopped just four times. There is little doubt, though he may not be as well known as some of his fellow Brits, such as Frank Bruno, Lloyd Honeyghan and, more recently Lennox Lewis, Andries very much deserves to be remembered as fondly as any of them.

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And .. May 8th 2008, 08:30:21 by zzutak Andries actually fought Tom Collins FIVE times ... Ed.: Yes, you've said so, thank you. Just move on with your life now.   And still they write ... May 7th 2008, 20:40:52 by zzutak Ed. responds - Fair point. Anything positive to say? No but I would like to point out that Andries fought Tom Collins five times Oops :) Ed. responds: Thanks again!   'Winning Others' May 6th 2008, 18:54:16 by zzutak 'He soldiered on for a further five years, losing some and winning others' One of these 'others' he won was a victory for the British Cruiserweight Title, quite an achievement for a man of 42, would have thought this was worthy of comment in any article about Andries career ! Ed. responds - Fair point. Anything positive to say?