Stuart Hall’s retirement from the ring has brought an outpouring of tributes from far and wide. And rightly so.
The man who brought sporting glory to Darlington had to quit, there was no alternative. But what a career!
British champion from 2010-11, the pinnacle arrived in 2013 when he won the IBF world bantamweight title.
His points victory over South Africa’s Vusi Malinga just days before Christmas made him only the second-ever North-East world champion.
This reporter first clapped eyes on Hall when he fought out a terrific Darlington v Hartlepool derby against Michael Hunter in the 1999 ABA Championship at Redcar, ‘The Hunter’ winning on his way to a second national title.
But Hall would disappear from the ring and ended up enjoying himself in Ibiza. A lot.
Stuey spent around five years there partying – drink, drugs, scrapes, everything
Hall, now very much a loving family man, enjoyed single life with a capital E, if you forgive the pun. He has been remarkably candid over his days on the island but it has been what he has done on these islands with two gloves and an incredible engine which has been THE story.
He became British champion in only his ninth contest, stopping Ian ‘Dapa’ Napa at Peterlee Leisure Centre in 2010, clinching the Lonsdale Belt for keeps after three defences, all stoppage wins.
Hall lost a magnificent unification fight with Jamie McDonnell in Doncaster in 2011 but Hall is a tremendous fighter and there was no keeping Stuey down, winning the Commonwealth title in 2012 before clinching the IBF Inter-continental belt in May 2013 against Sergio Perales before that never-to-be-forgotten triumph over Malinga in Leeds.
HIs maiden defence was over before it began when neighbour Martin Ward’s challenge in March 2014 ended in a draw following a terrible cut at the Metro Radio Arena.
Hall lost next time out against the slick Paul Butler in the same venue. This reporter had Stuey ahead on my scorecard though not the judges.
Thereafter it has been a case of a number of unsuccessful challenges, points defeats to Randy Caballero and Lee Haskins for his old IBF crown and Butler and Gav McDonnell for WBA and WBC Continental straps.
Hall was his customary up-and-at-’em self against Gavin, but the Donny man’s class won him a unanimous points verdict.
However, Hall told the Northern Echo that a serious back problem means his career is over at 38.
“I could still train, I could still box, so I thought I’d be fine.
“I thought I’d better get it checked out before the fight though, so a couple of weeks before, I went to see a specialist and he sent me for a couple of scans.
“They showed I’ve got two discs that are basically crushing my spinal cord.
“The doctor said, ‘You shouldn’t be fighting at all. No fighting, no sparring, nothing’.
“I didn’t even tell my family. I know it was stupid really, but I didn’t want to drop out of that fight.
“I thought my experience would get me through, but it didn’t. So it’s time to admit defeat and have an operation on my spine.
“If I don’t have the surgery, there’s a chance I could end up in a wheelchair. I’ve got a family to think about, I can’t fight on.”
Father Time has beaten Stuey but what a career. Thirty bouts, 21 wins (seven early), two draws and seven defeats (and none by stoppage).
Troy Williamson is making his way up the ladder and may reach the top but Hall will always be Darlington’s first world champ.
“Not bad for a lad from Darlo who just about killed himself partying in Ibiza, is it,” Stu told the Northern Echo’s chief sports writer Scott Wilson. “There was a time when I didn’t even know what day it was, or if I would wake up the next morning.
“Now, I can talk to everyone about how I was the champion of the world.”
You certainly can Stu, thanks for the memories.
Words: Roy Kelly Main picture: Lawrence Lustig/ Matchroom
