JOHN OLIVER
Ex Pro Champion, Coach and Press Secretary

Any Media enquiries please contact John Oliver on Tel:- 0208 441 2110
or email finchleyboxingclub@yahoo.co.uk

Boxing is in the Oliver Family's Blood.

Johnny Oliver is the Uncle and Jim Oliver is the father of Spencer "The Omen" Oliver Ex European Featherweight Champion who now is a regular fight analyst on Sky Sports. Boxing for the Oliver family began in the 1920's with their Father Charlie Oliver. He started boxing from a young age and then eventually followed the fairground booths, taking on all-comers to earn some money. It was their father Charlie who first gave both Johnny and Jim of the Oliver Clan their first taste of boxing by teaching them how to fight. They both joined Finchley Club in the 1960's.

Johnny Oliver had about 90 Amateur bouts sometimes boxing twice a week. In this period Johnny met ABA Champions like Alan Edwards, Peter Henderson , Peter Cragg and Imperial Service Champions like Mick Bowden, Colin O'Bray and London Champ Howard Sharp.

Johnny Oliver ended his amateur career by winning the NW divisional Championship in 1967-68 at Welterweight by fighting four times in one day !

Johnny Oliver then turned pro with George Francis whom he met through Bunny Sterling. He was an outstanding hard as nails Professional Boxer facing allcomers and never dodging anyone. He knocked out the South African Champ Ronnie Van Der Welt in only his second pro fight. This was followed up by later beating an unbeaten Billy Brown from West Ham and Johnny Shepherd from Stepney.

Unfortunately a near fatal accident at work in the 1970's forced Johnny Oliver to retire. Johnny Oliver trained both Spencer "The Omen" Oliver and also his brother Danny Oliver who was a two time NABC Champ and also two time divisional champ as well before turning Pro.

Johnny is now a Club Coach at Finchley and District ABC who with his brother Jim works and gives tirelessly for the sport.

Their recent achievements have been setting up an Annual tournament between Finchley and District ABC and a Las Vegas Select Team. The Annual shows have been so successful that this year the club has staged a show at the "Palace Station Hotel & Casino " Las Vegas, USA which was attended by over 600 people. This years show was a resounding success with a 12 bout show (Result 7-5 to Las Vegas) and over 100 plus people travelling from the UK as part of the entourage.