Boxer Richie Woodhall's auctions get off to knockout start
Richie Woodhall's sale of boxing memorabilia to raise money for cancer charities got off to a knockout start when the first item, glove signed by Mike Tyson, went under the hammer.
The glove, which was bought by a bidder over the internet, fetched £120 at the auction in Shrewsbury. The proceeds went to the Lingen Davies Cancer Relief Fund.
Richie, former world super-middleweight champion, announced in the Shropshire Star last week how he would be auctioning off his collection of rare sporting memorabilia to raise money for cancer charities in memory of his late father Len.
Len, a well-known boxing coach in the Telford area, died in July at the age of 75, after an eight-year battle with cancer.
Richie, who lives in Lightmoor, Telford, handed over a collection of sporting memorabilia during a visit to the Shropshire Star, which will be auctioned off for different cancer charities over the coming months.
Shrewsbury-based Halls auctioneers has kindly agreed to waive its usual commission so that all of the proceeds will go to charity.
Speaking after the auction, the 47-year-old said it was a good start for the fundraising drive.
"I'm pleased with that, that's a good result to kick it off," he said.
"I'm looking to raise as much money as possible for different cancer charities, and that is a good start."
He got former undisputed world heavyweight champion Tyson to sign the glove when he interviewed him at a sportsman's dinner in Birmingham eight years ago.
The Lingen Davies Cancer Relief Fund built the specialist unit at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, where Len was treated.
The charity, which raises money to support NHS cancer services across the county, will put the money towards an appeal to raise money for a £750,000 linear accelerator machine, which will deliver radiotherapy to patients.
Lingen Davies fundraising manager Louise Dawson said: "We are very grateful to Richie for picking our charity. We are a very small charity, and it is very much appreciated that he is supporting us in that way.
Halls' Jeremy Lamond, who was auctioneer for the sale, said he was very pleased with the response.
"It did very well, I'm very pleased for Lingen Davies," he said
Richie's next auction will be in January.
