Ernie Field

Ernest "Ernie" Field (6 February 1943 – 2 May 2013) was an English Amateur Boxing Association of England amateur middleweight and professional light heavy/cruiserweight boxer and rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s. He played at club level for Stanley Rangers ARLFC, Wakefield Trinity (A-Team) and Bramley, as a , or .

Background Ernie Field was born in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, he initially lived at Bottomboat, near Stanley, later moving to Outwood, and he studied at Stanley Secondary Modern. He died at Snapethorpe Hall Care Home, Wakefield from throat cancer (Oropharyngeal cancer) having developed Dementia. Outside boxing he worked initially as a Motor mechanic, then as a Fitter for the National Coal Board at Lofthouse Colliery (Wakefield), Bouncer, Paviour (Paver), and general construction worker.

Boxing career

Amateur Ernie Field trained at the Robin Hood & Thorpe Amateur Boxing Club (ABC), he was the National Coal Board British Middleweight Champion, he fought internationally for the Amateur Boxing Association of England; including against Hungary with a points victory over Hungarian amateur middleweight champion Tibor Borda (born circa-1939), of Bonyhádi Spartacus, at King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester on Monday 11 November 1963, and fought overseas; including a tournament in Castrop-Rauxel, West Germany.

Professional Ernie Field's professional fighting weight varied from , i.e. Light heavyweight to , i.e. Cruiserweight, managed by Tommy Miller, Ernie Field's first professional boxing bout took place against Louis Samuels on Monday 7 March 1966, he built-up an initial record of six wins (4 knockouts), five defeats by points, and one draw by March 1967, including; a points victory over Tony Moore on the undercard of the Muhammad Ali versus Henry Cooper bout for the Heavyweight Championship of the World in front of a crowd of 46,000 at Arsenal Stadium, Highbury on Saturday 21 May 1966, and a second-round technical knockout of future British and British Commonwealth light-heavyweight Champion Eddie Avoth at Wyvern Sporting Club (Midland Hotel), Manchester on Monday 30 January 1967, despite initially being a Middleweight, Ernie Field was scheduled to compete with Ray Ako for the vacant Central (England) Area light heavyweight title at Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool on Tuesday 17 September 1968, however Ernie Field was forced to withdraw before the bout, and was replaced by Shaun Dolan, Ray Ako beat Shaun Dolan with a third-round knockout.

Amateur boxing record (incomplete)

Win

PTS 3 11 November 1963

Professional boxing record

Loss

Cruiserweight RTD 2 of 8 13 May 1968

Loss

Heavyweight TKO 7 of 8 9 April 1968

Loss

Cruiserweight PTS 10 18 March 1968

Loss

Cruiserweight |PTS 8 13 February 1968

Loss

Heavyweight PTS 8 15 January 1968

Loss

Cruiserweight PTS 8 7 May 1967

Loss

Cruiserweight PTS 10 27 April 1967

Win

Cruiserweight PTS 8 29 March 1967

Draw

Cruiserweight PTS 8 7 March 1967

Win

Cruiserweight TKO 2 of 8 30 January 1967

Loss

Cruiserweight PTS 8 29 November 1966

Loss

Cruiserweight PTS 8 25 October 1966

Win

Light heavyweight KO 6 of 8 10 October 1966

Loss

Light heavyweight PTS 8 19 September 1966

Loss

Light heavyweight PTS 6 6 September 1966

Win

Light heavyweight PTS 6 21 May 1966

Loss

Light heavyweight PTS 6 25 April 1966

Win

Light heavyweight TKO 5 of 6 22 March 1966

Win

Light heavyweight TKO 4 of 6 7 March 1966

Genealogical information Ernie Field was the son of Harry Field, and Florence 'Flo'/'Florrie' "Queenie" (née Smith), and the older brother of Richard Field, and Douglas Edward "Tiny" Field.

Funeral Ernie Field's funeral took place at Wakefield Crematorium, Crigglestone at 1pm on Monday 20 May 2013, and was attended by family and friends, including; rugby league footballers Dave Sampson (who read the eulogy), Dean Sampson, Avis Sampson (wife of Malcolm Sampson), and Melvin Castle (husband of Denise Castle), and boxers Alan Richardson, Keith Tate, Steve Butler, and White Rose Boxing Club trainer John Hall, the funeral's entrance music was The Beatles' In My Life, and the exit music was Glen Campbell's version of Green Day's Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).