The Guv'nor


Book Description

THIS IS THE CLASSIC BOOK THAT STARTED AN ENTIRE GENRE – THE STORY OF THE MOST ICONIC HARDMAN OF THEM ALL. Lenny McLean was one of the deadliest bareknuckle fighters Britain has ever seen. He had dear, powerful friends, but he also had terrible enemies. So much so that he had two bullet wounds in his back – each from a different attack. He was also stabbed repeatedly – always from behind. But Lenny was also a warm, big-hearted grizzly bear of a man, whose main weakness was an overwhelming desire to put the welfare of his mates ahead of his own well-being. In his extraordinary autobiography, he tells of how the mafia flew him to New York to take on their greatest bareknuckle boxer in a multi-million pound illicit bout. The Mafia’s man lasted less than three minutes. When the IRA fronted up a London gang in a money-laundering scam, Lenny was brought in to intimidate the terrorists. The IRA, not surprisingly, backed off. . . His most serious trial came when he was accused of murder. Fighting to prove his innocence against a minimum sentence of twenty-five years, Lenny never gave up – and went on to be found not guilty. This is a tale of one man’s triumph against almost insurmountable odds, in a battle that Len fought every day for himself, and to ‘put steam on the table’ for his wife and kids.




The New Guv'nor


Book Description

"He's the toughest street fighter alive." Freddie Foreman Picture a man, he’s tall, not excessively so, yet as wide as he is high. This man is a spitting and growling street brawler; a tank full of ready to blow, muscle-fuelled aggression. Imagine, if you will, the comic book style Bulldog of Great British stamp. Well, there you have him! The prototypical face taken from the terraces of an ’80s football fan’s rolled-up newspaper cosh; a poster-boy of malevolence left over from Thatcher’s post-punk Britain. Stormin’ Norman’s his name and when this storm is erupting, he’s like a force-nine gale fused with a hurricane. In his heyday, Norman saw off a plethora of gangland minders, and with his own style of hands-on education, taught Glasgow’s prolific hitman, Billy McPhee, the laws of the Guv’nor’s land. He’s the Godfather of Aylesbury, former British Bare-Knuckle Champion, and undefeated European Boxing Federation ‘Guv’nor’. The loveable lunatic with the heart of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Yes, this my accidental friends, is the new Guv’nor. He is the man who rebuked many a heathen, but was also everyone’s friend, and for all the right reasons. So, settle in with your favourite tipple, and let us regale you with a lifetime of fronting the doors, righting wrongs, and brutal bare-knuckle tear-ups.




The Guv'nor and Me


Book Description

Don't cross The Neck. As the right-hand man to 'The Guv’nor' himself, Lenny McLean, John 'The Neck' Houchin is a living legend and is now telling his story for the first time. John trained daily with Lenny in the gym to achieve his huge bulk and neck, all 23 inches of it, required to frighten the hell out of troublemakers. As the enforcers for the Krays and the Richardsons, they worked together regularly over many years 'sorting out' whatever needed sorting. These are the mean streets of London back when swift justice as well as fearless loyalty were the order of the day. A new insider take from one of the most notorious characters of the time, this book is full of chippy dialogue, gangster banter, the biggest brawls, old school honour codes and pithy reflection on the changing times – from the hard men to the high life.




My Dad the Guvnor


Book Description

Lenny McLean, better known as The Guv'nor, was a legendary and sometimes terrifying figure: a bare-knuckle fighter, bouncer and, in later life, an actor. He was a formidable force in the East End and across London, but behind his towering demeanor was a loving father who provided a safe haven for his children. For his only daughter, Kelly, his status brought with it a reputation both to live up to, and sometimes escape. Kelly experienced the old East End way of life, often lived just outside the law, first-hand and equally the uncertainty that came with her father's mood swings and the "black dog" that followed him around, despite their close bond. The connection between father and daughter became even more apparent as Kelly began to battle her own mental health issues that, as a mom to two young children, would threaten to destroy her life. In this incredibly frank and poignant memoir, Kelly McLean provides a unique insight into life growing up as the daughter of one of the last old-school fighters, featuring many previously untold stories. This is the story of East End life from a woman who has seen it, lived it, and sometimes been plagued by it.




Me, Governor?


Book Description

And so, a new chapter in the life of Richard J. Codey, an undertaker's son born and bred in the Garden State, began on the night of August 12, 2004--he knew from that point his life would never be the same . . . and it hasn't been. His memoir is a breezy, humorous, perceptive, and candid chronicle of local and state government from a man who lived among political movers and shakers for more than three decades. Codey became governor of New Jersey, succeeding James McGreevey, who resigned following a homosexual affair--a shattering scandal and set of circumstances that were bizarre, even for the home state of the Sopranos. At once a political autobiography, filled with lively, incisive anecdotes that record how Codey restored respectability and set a record for good politics and good government in a state so often tarnished, this is also the story about a man and his family.




Married to the Guv'nor


Book Description

When his autobiography The Guv'nor was published, it turned bareknuckle champion Lenny McLean into an unlikely cult hero. His widow here takes up the pen on his behalf, to reveal more colourful incidents - Lenny's winning match against the Mafia's best boxer, and his acting career.




Wild Thing


Book Description

Everybody in the unlicensed fight game knows that only one man has the honour of being titled 'Guv'nor' - and that man is Lew 'Wild Thing' Yates. Yates began boxing at the age of six, and as an adult he was ruthless in pursuit of his dream of becoming world heavyweight champion. But when his licence was revoked following an assault on a referee, he turned to unlicensed boxing. By day, Yates pounded punchbags and the streets in an effort to reach the peak of physical fitness as he prepared for his epic battle with Roy 'Pretty Boy' Shaw. At night, he pounded gangsters and drug dealers foolish enough to take him on in the nightclubs where he worked. Wild Thing documents how Yates rose to the top of his bloody profession. When it comes to his fighting ability, he doesn't need to boast, brag or exaggerate. With Lew Yates, what you see is what you hope you're never going to get. This is his remarkable story.




Unlicensed


Book Description

UNLICENSED WHO''S THE GUV''NOR The True story behind the phenomenon of Unlicensed Boxing The Men - The Fights - The History... True and astonishing accounts of how London''s gangsters took control of the UK boxing scene and created a billion-dollar worldwide industry. TEN REASONS TO BUY THE BOOK. 1. All the Guv''nor fights explained. 2. The truth about the ''fixed gloves'' in the 1st Roy Shaw vs Lenny McLean fight. 3. How unlicensed boxing began. (The Mafia connection for the Ron Stander fight) 4. The Guv''nor title explained. 5. The men who almost fought for the title, John Bindon, Dave Courtney, Billy Isaac, Mark Potter, Paul Sykes. 6. Norman Buckland and the truth about Roy Shaw handing down the belt, plus Buckland''s fights for the title. 7. Welsh Phill Davies vs Decca Heggie, why the fight never happened. 8. Why Mike Tyson''s former opponent decided to have an easy night. 9. The men outside of boxing, my experiences with Roy Shaw, Lenny McLean, Alex Steene, Joe Pyle 10. My views on who was the best and worst Guvnor. GET READY FOR WORLD WAR 3 THE DISTINGUISHED title of the meanest, roughest, toughest, hardest, most brutal - not to say dirtiest - fighter in Britain will be awarded to one of two gentlemen tonight. The runner up will very likely be on his way to the infirmary, an oxygen tent, the crematorium, or at least the title role in sleeping beauty. Colin Dunne - The Sun newspaper (Sept. 11th, 1978) write-up by the Sun newspaper''s boxing columnist on the day of the third epic battle between Roy Shaw and Lenny McLean. UNLICENSED - Who''s the Guv''nor Setting the record straight on five decades of the most notorious title in boxing. From its humble beginnings in London''s underworld to the associations of the world''s leading boxing promoters. The dark and dangerous world of illicit boxing has created legends and myths, bestselling books, documentaries and Hollywood movies... Now! Hear about it from the men behind the scenes.... ROY SHAW & LENNY MCLEAN had three epic battles that set London alight. They fought to be The GUVNOR. To hold the most Notorious position in the fighting world. - The most dangerous man on the planet... Three fights that have gone down in history and created legends and cemented the Guv''nor title as royalty! This book is about that title, it''s how it began, and the fighting breed who lost blood fighting for it. UNLICENSED - Who''s the Guv''nor As boxing promoters go, Joey Pyle is the best, he is a silver-tongued, charismatic, dangerous f**ker. He has the ability to hold everyone at arm''s length, and you''re only in Joey''s company if invited. He''s a good friend but a bad enemy. WARNING! This book can seriously alter your views on the boxing world! Copyright © 2020 Joseph Arnie Pyle Gary Dennis ★★★★★ Can''t put the book down mate, absolute classic best book in a lotta years Rob B ★★★★★ Fantastic Read - No other book can compare on the Unlicensed Game Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 September 2020 Loved this book, a lot of nostalgia, stories from the heart of the scene. Especially liked the write-up on Alex Steene. Jacko the Monkey ★★★★★ Very Interesting book Verified Purchase if you are interested in the unlicensed boxing scene and the famous names involved this is the book for you Ivor Batey ★★★★★ The truth at last about the Guv''nor. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 September 2020 At last a book that tells the truth behind Unlicensed Boxing. Written by the man who knows better than anyone about the truth. So well written and I couldn''t put it down. This is a book I guarantee you won''t regret buying. J.A.Dunsmore ★★★★★ Great Read! Rev




Governor Richard Ogilvie


Book Description

In his second year in office, the Illinois Constitutional Convention produced the first new state charter in one hundred years. Ogilvie effected penal reform and was instrumental in upgrading the state's highway system. And in 1970 he established the machinery necessary to make Illinois a leader among states in the war on pollution.




The Mumper


Book Description

Seven drinking buddies decide to buy a racehorse and embark on the journey of a lifetime in the book that inspired the film Outside Bet. It's 1985 - Thatcher is in power, Sade is on the radio and the print workers have gone on strike. A motley rabble of seven firm friends: Thimble, Gudger, O'Sh, Fred the Shoe, Dave, Alfie and Bax meet every Sunday in their favourite South London boozer for banter of the highest order and a lot of taking the mick. Then, out of the blue, one of their number receives some news which knocks him and his merry band for six. Reeling from this shock and confused about how to deal with it, the boys meet and rally in standard fashion, in the Dutchman with a few light ales and an aim to set the world to rights. One day an unknown character approaches the crew and asks them a most intriguing question...'Does anyone here want to buy a racehorse?!' From that simple but surreal question unfolds the story of seven likely lads who embark on a unique journey in the name of their mate, and what happens when they just decide to go the whole bifta.