Mutley: I could have achieved much more

Young Mutley…welter king

FORMER British welter champ Young Mutley solved the riddle of one of the game’s more “out there” ring names succinctly.

“They called my dad Mutley because he laughed like Muttley the dog,” he explained matter-of-factly. “I decided to call myself Young Mutley.”

For those who did not spend their childhood in the 1970s, Muttley – two t’s – was the canine companion of a scheming individual named Dick Dastardly in hit cartoon series Wacky Races.

The ring name may have been comical, but West Bromwich’s Mutley was a serious handful in the ring.

The now 46-year-old – born Lee Woodley - mixed in very good class. He was, in his pomp, an accomplished counter-puncher with a sting in either fist.

He took the British title with split decision victory over Michael Jennings at Nottingham Arena on January 28, 2006, and lost it to Commonwealth champ Kevin Anderson five months later.

The Scot was down in the second round of that Aston Villa Leisure Centre battle, but prevailed in the 10th. The contest was a see-saw classic, with Anderson – almost “out” from a left hook - finally taking control as the champ’s tank began to empty.

After that setback, Mutley shed weight and attempted to take the British and European light-welter belts. With both on the line, Colin Lynes stopped him in eight at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on July 20, 2007.

From there, Mutley, who now lives in Great Barr, continued to face the best. A 2011 bid to claim the WBO inter-continental crown ended in a 12 rounds points loss to Frankie Gavin.

Mutley also twice chanced his arm in Prizefighter tournaments, bowing out each time at the semi-final stage: Lynes outpointed him in 2009 after the Black Country boxer had outpointed Barrie Jones.

Tyrone Nurse prevailed by unanimous decision in 2012. That Wolverhampton Civic Hall contest was Mutley’s last.

Mutley today with dad Glenroy

He bowed out of the game with 30 wins and seven losses. “I fell out of love with it and the politics,” he explained.

Only three opponents prevented Mutley from hearing the final bell in a near 13 year career – Anderson, Lynes and French light-welter Mihaita Mutu who scored a third round KO at Nottingham in 2009.

He fought abroad only once, outpointing Arek Malek over six in Milan.

“I’m doing good,” Lee – to use his real name -  assured me. “I should’ve earned more money, but I done OK, I invested. The kids keep me young and on my toes.

“I could’ve done more. I never trained properly and was always messing about. Today, I’d apply myself more, but then I really didn’t have anyone to guide me.

“Stamina – I was always holding back. It was a mental thing.”

In ring retirement, Lee is doing well. He works as a scaffolder and has two sons, aged 12 and 18.

The man looks a good decade younger than his years.

Lee has lived a life, that’s for sure. As a promising young amateur with Wednesbury ABC, he captured a national NABC title, stopping big punching Darren Dyer in the final.

Plans for amateur senior glory were scuppered when he strayed from the sport’s discipline. Lee ran with gangs, fractured laws and ended up taking a holiday at Her Majesty’s pleasure.

“Prison was the best think that could’ve happened, really,” he said. “It made me realise I had to concentrate on my boxing.”

That he did. As a pro, Sammy Smith was stopped in the first – a win that earned Lee the English light-welter title. Gavin Down was despatched in the sixth for the WBF intercontinental belt and Oscar Hall outpointed in a defence.

When the British title beckoned, Lee grasped the opportunity with both hands.

“I’d watched Michael Jennings and knew I could beat him,” Lee said. “The result was fair. That was the best night of my career. The best I fought, the best I felt in the ring was against John Marshall (stopped in five in 2003).

“The fight with Anderson, we both threw left hooks and went to the ropes. I should’ve taken a knee.”

Even Lee’s staunchest supporters would agree he looked a shadow of himself in the Lynes title fight.

“I was weight drained,” he said, “dead at the weight, it was like I was in slow motion.

“That wasn’t my worst night, my worst night was against Mutu. I’d overdone the caffeine the night before, couldn’t sleep and walked into the ring with a headache. It was dangerous, really.”

Lee does not attend shows and is no fan of the modern game.

Like so many ex boxers, he believes he underachieved and lacked real application.

Nevertheless, Young Mutley gained a Lonsdale Belt. Not many West Midlands boxers can make that boast.