Represented Great Britain at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games

Winner of 5 National Titles

Amateur career fights 132 –lost 13

Undefeated British Welterweight Champion 1973/74/75

Undefeated European Welterweight Champion 1974/75

Undisputed World Welterweight Champion 1975/6

Inducted into the WBC Hall of fame 2005 Cadiz Spain (only British boxer to have this honour)

Stats: 51 contests         Lost 5         won 45       37 KO’s

John had a glittering career and soon started winning titles from the age of 13. It all began when he boxed for Repton ABC in London’s  East end . His tremendous 4th round victory to win the British title at the Albert Hall in June 1973 was a testament to just how good he was going to be. A win in Paris in May 1974 saw him take the European title off Roger Menetrey of France, stopping him in 8 rounds to claim a great away win at the Roland Garros Tennis Stadium.

John H‘s European titles made him number one challenger for the World Welterweight title. He went to Mexico City to fight the holder and legendary Champion Jose “Angel” Napoles from Cuba – who lived in Mexico City.  The contest was at the monumental Plaza De Toros Bullring in front of 30,000 + people. After getting put down in the first round John H come back to gain an outstanding victory by stopping the champion in the 6th round and becoming the undisputed Welterweight Champion of the World and rated as one of the greatest victories by any Briton abroad.

Since hanging up his gloves John has become a leading speaker on the after dinner circuit. He has also returned to one of his greatest loves and become a professional singer and entertainer. He has worked all over the country and many parts of the world doing his show and has shard the stage with such greats as Tony Christie, John Miles, Johnny Mathis, Don Felder and Rick Wakeman. To John’s credit – he has recorded one of Perry Como’s songs for a film called “Fathers of Girls” (2009) staring acting legend Ray Winstone, which makes John H Stracey the only boxer ever to record a song for a major film.

John has a great respect for bio diversity and the environment. He strongly believes in animal rights and indeed publically led the British Olympic team on a walk out of the Bullring in Mexico City in 1968 during a bullfight.  He is now a proud ambassador for just4theplanet.

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