The late Dennie Mancini (1933-2004) was one of the best known figures in the sport and had a role to play in the careers of some of the greatest Commonwealth Champions from the 1960’s onwards including Lotte Mwale and Chisanda Mutti of Zambia,Lionel Rose, Johnny Famechon, Lester Ellis and Paul Ferrari of Australia,Franco Wanyama of Uganda, Lloyd Honeyghan,Billy Hardy and Billy Schwer of England, Gary Jacobs of Scotland and Howard Eastman of Guyana (to name a few).
As well as Britain and the rest of the Commonwealth he also had strong links with Italy, Holland and Germany, playing a substantial role in the career of German idols Henry Maske and Rene Weller.He held licences as a Promoter, Manager, International Agent and Second.In later years he established a reputation as a cornerman and cutsman of the first order, and Nigel Benn credits him as being the motivating force behind his historic and ultimately tragic win over Gerald McClellan in 1995, after surviving a first round knockdown and shellacking.
He became a member of the old Committee after its reconstitution in 1972 firstly as an adviser on behalf of Australia and later as a Director on behalf of the Australian National Boxing Federation, rarely, if ever, missing a meeting and then only as a result of the illness that eventually cost him his life.
He was also a Director of the iconic sportswear company Lonsdale, and their Beak St headquarters was a well known place to drop in for a chat, where you might run into not only a famous boxer, but stars from other sports and showbiz.
A formidable opponent but a steadfast friend Dennie was one of the great characters of the sport in the latter half of the last century and the beginnings of this, and his considerable contribution to the Commonwealth Boxing Council represented only a fraction of what he gave to boxers and boxing.The Directors could not let his passing go unmarked and instituted the ‘Dennie Mancini Trophy’ which is awarded each year to the person deemed to achieved the most in that year to the aims of Commonwealth Boxing.The trophy takes the form of a bronze bust of Dennie sculpted by artist Tanya Petersen of Creative Spiral, herself coincidentally a relative by marriage of former Empire Heavyweight Champion, the great Jack Petersen of Wales.
WINNERS
2006 TSHIFHIWA MUNYAI (SOUTH AFRICA) Commonwealth Bantamweight Champion who came to Britain as an unknown and achieved a World ranking as a result of his success there
2007 BRADLEY PRYCE (WALES) Commonwealth Lightmiddleweight Champion for his achievment of capturing the Commonwealth Title after a number of earlier career setbacks and having made his 4th successful defence in the previous 12 month period
2008 AZUMAH NELSON (GHANA) Former Commonwealth and World Featherweight Champion, and all time great, for the setting up of his charitable organization in Ghana to assist disadvantaged youngsters
2009 AMIR KHAN (ENGLAND) WBA Lightwelterweight Champion and former undefeated Commonwealth Lightweight Champion, for his activity as Commonwealth Champion, for re building his career after a shattering one round defeat last year to capture one of the recognized World Championships and the example he has set to young people in Britain
2010 RICKY BURNS (SCOTLAND) for his against the odds win for the World Championship over the favoured Champion, Roman Martinez in one of the ‘fights of the year 2010’.
2011 JOSEPH AGBEKO (GHANA) for winning, then regaining the IBF World Bantamweight Championship, before controversially losing in circumstances which forced a rematch.
2012 CARL FROCH (England) for his successes in the Supermiddleweight ‘SUPER SIX’ Tournament and for capturing the IBF Title.
2013 JAMIE MCDONNELL (England) Went from Commonwealth to World (IBF) Champion
2014 BILLY JOE SAUNDERS (England) Six successful Commonwealth Middleweight Championship contests in two years.
2015 OVILL MCKENZIE (Jamaica) Two weight Commonwealth Champion at Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight
2016 CARL FRAMPTON Commonwealth Champion to IBF/WBA World Championships
2017 ROBERT MCCRACKEN Commonwealth Middleweight Champion and world title challenger and boxing coach
2018 COLIN MCMILLAN Commonwealth Featherweight Champion and WBO World Champion
2019 JOSH TAYLOR Commonwealth Super-Lightweight Champion, WBC Silver, IBF World Champion & WBA Super Series Champion
2022 BILL SCHWER Commonwealth Lightweight Champion, European Lightweight & IBO Lightweight Champion
2023 CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH Commonwealth Cruiserweight Champion & WBO World Champion
