PUGILIST
RECORDS
Pugilist Records was a DIY label. It managed one single. It
issued singles in an THWACK-DJ1 numerical series. John Richard Owens (7
January 1956 – 4 November 1980) was a professional boxer from Wales who fought
under the name Johnny Owen. His fragile appearance earned him many
epithets, including ‘the Bionic Bantam’ and ‘the Merthyr Matchstick’. During his
brief career, he held the Bantamweight Championships of Great Britain and Europe
and became the first ever Welsh holder of the Bantamweight Championship of the
Commonwealth. He challenged champion Lupe Pintor for his version of the World
Bantamweight title in September 1980, losing a torturously difficult contest by
way of twelfth round knockout. Owen never regained consciousness, fell into a
coma and died seven weeks later. A statue commemorating his life and career was
unveiled in Merthyr Tydfil in 2002. Distributed By Pugilist Records.
91
The Rag And Bone Men
The Fight Goes On (Johnny Owen)
PUGILIST
THWACK!
DJ1