By Mark Havey: To be famous in boxing it is customary to have exceptional talent in either fighting, training or matchmaking. Writers, commentators and pundits at times share the recognition that boxing brings. I can’t remember a time when a fan of boxing became famous, essentially for being a fan.
Then I encountered a man named Andrew Millwall (Lipton). He wasn’t a ordinary fan. He had the strength of character desired by all, yet possessed by few. This week Andrew sadly lost his year long battle with small cell lung cancer. He was just 53 years old.
So how did he go from a fan of boxing, to a friend of the champions and hearing his own name mentioned on radio and television? Simply through his passion for boxing possibly. Sounds simple yet it is what has set him apart from others. Cancer is a hard and tiring illness to fight. He fought it all the way whilst tirelessly campaigning to bring fans closer to their heroes, uniting the boxing fraternity and raise huge sums of cash for charity.
Andrew started the worldwide weekly boxing prediction league. I don’t know how he did it but it became a sensation around the world. Everyone seemed to be taking part from casual fans to world champions. People were able to engage in friendly debates and even talk with their heroes. It’s hard to say why the league become so big but it was certainly down to Andrew. Everyone loved the man. Internet trolls were always banned leaving the real fans to talk like men.
I never spoke to him in depth about his illness. It would have seemed impertinent to his positive nature. But as he became ill he really stepped up. He could have wallowed, travelled or gone crazy. He decided to surround himself with family, friends and boxing. Boxers took a real liking to him. Men like Tyson Fury showed their softer side by sending a constant supply of signed gloves. These were auctioned off for charity via Andrews facebook page. Some days you could get a Fury Signed glove for £10 and other days it would be £60. It was interesting to watch and on the right day you get a bargain. So not only did Andrew bring fans closer to fighters through his league, he also gave them affordable merchandise whilst helping charity.
His hard work and courage wasn’t going unnoticed. He was awarded the honouree WBC medal from Jose Suleiman himself. Upon his death tributes came in thick and fast from fans and stars alike. I remember waking up every single morning and seeing he had posted some kind of positive message on facebook. It was his morning ritual and a favourite was “one love”. He would often dye his fair in the most outrageous colours. Here was a man that was desperately ill yet working so hard just to make others smile.
A few weeks before Andrew sadly passed, I was sat at home wondering how he had done the things he had? How had he gone from being a boxing fan, to a boxing celebrity. It’s hard to answer. His affection for others even when he is suffering himself undoubtedly plays a part. There isn’t a selfish quality about him. His tenaciously upbeat motivation certainly lured people in. I don’t care how young or healthy you are, you don’t have the drive and energy possessed by boxings number 1 fan. Combine all this with the fact he was a peoples guy, you have a man that changed people’s lives. So many times I would see his facebook posts and remind myself that I shouldn’t complain as much and should smile more. I would like to thank Andrew for that. I would also like to thank his family for sharing him with us for the last year of his life. I know they are mourning and I hope they come to feel immense pride in the legacy created by a ordinary fan that became a star simply because there has never been another like him. That’s how he did it. He is different.
RIP Andrew Millwall 1960-2013.
Comments are closed.