Former British and European junior welterweight champion Colin Power died on September 16 from cancer. He was 70 years old.
Powers competed in a terrific era and had a ready-made rival in Clinton McKenzie. They would fight three times, with two of them being named as British Fight of the Year.
Powers, 28-5-1 (20 KOs), turned professional in 1975 and would win the British 140lbs title two years later when, in his 18th outing, he would avenge his only loss to that point by beating Des Morrison in 10 rounds. Both men hit the deck along the way.
In 1978, Powers journeyed to Paris, France, to overpower Jean Baptiste Piedvache in 11 rounds. The victory crowned Powers, from London, the European junior welterweight champion.
Powers would lose the belt in Spain – to Fernando Sanchez – only to bounce back with a successful defense of his British championship against McKenzie, winning a cracking bout on points over 15 rounds, in February 1979.
In September, they would meet for the third time with McKenzie winning his first – and only – fight of the series. Again, it was over 15 rounds. Again, all in attendance stood to applaud at the final bell.
Powers would lose to Sylvester Mittee in his next bout, the effects of several hard fights slowing him slightly. He retired, aged just 27, in 1983 following a loss to Lloyd Christie.
“He fought the hardest fight of his life for the last four years,” his wife Ellen Power wrote on social media following his passing.
“A very rare form of cancer. May god bless him peacefully.”
