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Terry Marsh was born on February 7, 1958, in Basildon, Essex, England. He was an outstanding boxer as proved by the fact that he is the only English boxer ever to retire as the undefeated World Champion.
Marsh was a fireman prior to turning professional as a boxer and would have returned to the profession if it were not for the medical reason for his retirement.
He held an undefeated career record of 26(10)-0-1 and was the IBF World Light-Welterweight champion for 4 months in 1987 (Undefeated is also the name of his autobiography). He won the IBF title from American Joe Manley on the 4th March 1987 and defended it against Japanese fighter Akio Kameda on July 1, 1987.
Marsh had to make the tough decision to retire in December 1987 after he was diagnosed with epilepsy. It was at this point that his life changed in a number of ways. In 1989 his manager Frank Warren was shot in London and Marsh was tried for his attempted murder. He was subsequently acquitted.
Marsh was celebrated in Pitsea, Essex in the late 80s with the Terry Marsh Leisure Centre named in his honour. However, subsequent squabbles between local councillors have seen this renamed the Eversley Leisure Centre, although the plaque bearing his image remains.
Since then, Marsh has attempted to enter the world of politics, first for the Labour Party. However, when Labour announced they would have a female only short-list for Basildon, he stood for the Liberal Democrats at the 1997 British General Election but was unsuccessful.
Marsh was forced to remove himself from politics soon after, as he was charged with fraud and deception for allegedly having fraudulently claimed two student grants after going back to university at the end of his boxing career. He was later cleared of the offence.
He has since written and published his autobiography 'Undefeated'.
Despite the colourful nature of his life after boxing Terry Marsh deserves to be remembered as one of the finest boxers Britain has produced.
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