Former British boxer Jimmy Batten has died at the age of 70. The ex-British light-middleweight champion had been contending with brain damage sustained during his boxing career, as well as Parkinson's disease.
Batten rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s. His most notable fight occurred in 1982 when he lost a unanimous decision to Roberto Duran. This performance was significant, as many had anticipated an earlier defeat given that Batten had been stopped by Mario Maldonado in the first round just six months prior. His resilient showing against Duran, however, saw him compete for the entire duration of the bout.
He was part of Terry Lawless's renowned London gym, beginning his boxing journey at the age of six. Contemporaries from the same gym included John H Stracey, Maurice Hope, and Charlie Magri.
Stracey shared his condolences on social media, stating, "So sad to hear about my dear friend Jimmy Batten passing away. My great stablemate and sparring partner of many, many years… God bless you, my friend."
One fan posted, "More sad news. RIP Jimmy Batten. I knew he hadn't been well for a while but such terrible news, aged just 70. A GENUINE British boxing legend."
Batten's final professional bout was in 1983, a loss to Prince Rodney, concluding his career with a record of 40 wins and nine defeats.
Following his retirement from boxing, Batten pursued acting. However, he soon began experiencing symptoms of brain damage and underwent speech therapy. His post-boxing career also included work as a comedian, a doorman, and briefly as a boxing trainer. He also served time in prison following an altercation while working as a doorman.
Reflecting on his career, Batten once said, "Why would I change anything? I loved every minute of it. I'm just sad that I can't do it anymore. There's not many people who can say they were British champion and went the distance with Duran, is there?"