Colin Powers

Colin Powers was a British professional boxer who held the British light welterweight title between 1977 and 1979 and captured the European light welterweight championship in 1978. A hard-hitting Londoner with a 28-5-1 record and 20 knockouts across 34 professional contests, he was a familiar figure on the British domestic scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Born in Paddington, London, on February 2, 1956, Powers turned professional in June 1975 with a win over Kevin Quinn. His first title opportunity came in September 1976 for the vacant BBBofC Southern Area super lightweight crown against Des Morrison, who stopped him in the fifth round. The defeat did not derail him. Powers then went unbeaten for a year, defeating Joey Singleton, Clinton McKenzie and Efisio Pinna, building the record that earned him another shot at Morrison, this time for the vacant British light welterweight title at York Hall in October 1977.

That night became the signature of his career. Powers floored Morrison three times and stopped him in the tenth round to become British champion, completing a rematch revenge that British boxing historians still cite as his greatest moment. He defended the British title against Chris Walker in February 1978. In June that year, at the Palais des Sports in Paris, he challenged Jean-Baptiste Piedvache for the European title and stopped the Frenchman in the eleventh round to become European champion, briefly holding both domestic and continental crowns in the same weight class.

Three months later he lost the European title when Fernando Sanchez stopped him in the tenth. After relinquishing the British belt to chase higher honors, Powers regained it from Clinton McKenzie on points in February 1979, then lost it back to McKenzie in a rematch that September. In January 1980 he fought Sylvester Mittee in a British title eliminator and was stopped in the seventh. He continued boxing until 1983, when he lost his final bout to Lloyd Christie.

Fellow fighters remembered him as an unassuming but powerful puncher whose skill and strength belied a lean frame. Powers died of cancer on September 16, 2026, at the age of 70. Tributes from Global Boxing News, London Boxing History and others followed as the death was reported widely on September 18, many pointing back to the York Hall night against Morrison and the Paris win over Piedvache as the twin peaks of a short but memorable championship run.