Exactly fifty years after his historic victory over the great
Sugar Ray Robinson, a statue of Randy was erected in Warwick town
square. Hundreds of people flocked to the Market Square to witness
the unveiling by British boxing legend the late Sir Henry Cooper.
Sir Henry
was joined by Randy's brother Jackie, and fellow British boxing
legend Alan Minter.
The statue was made possible after five years of fund-raising by
the Randolph Turpin Memorial Fund. Adrian Bush, chairman of the
fund said "People always used to say, 'What have they got for
Randolph?' and there wasn't anything. Now there is something."
The statue at 7ft tall and cast in bronze, was commissioned by
Stoke-on-Trent sculptor Carl Payne. It carries the inscription "In
palace, pub and parlour, the whole of Britain held its breath".
Despite being born in Leamington, Randy and his family lived in
the neighbouring town of Warwick. Both towns lay claim to Randy,
leaving Leamington disappointed that the statue would be erected
in Warwick.