"Boxers" video star speaks out - Cornelius Carr's tale of 'more publicity from starring in Morrissey video than winning British title' - Teesside Live


Excerpt:

A world champion boxer from Teesside says starring in one of Morrissey's music videos earned him "more publicity than winning the British title".

Grangetowner John 'Cornelius' Carr featured in the indie star's video for his hit single Boxers in 1995, after Morrissey came to see one of his top fights.

Morrissey was a big fan of the boxer's and after the cameo, the WBF super middleweight champion remembers getting asked for his autograph in the street - but it was by Smiths, not sports, fans.

"I fought James Cook at Bethnal Green in London," John told Teesside Live.

"Morrissey was ring-side, but I didn't know he was there.

"I won the British [BBC Super Middleweight] title.

"One of his people came up to me afterwards and said 'do you know Morrissey?'

"I said 'what, out of The Smiths?'

"He said 'yes, he'd like to have a photo with you'."

Morrissey went to meet John at the post-fight party and was "pleasant, very nice" says John.

"A few weeks later they contacted us.

"Morrissey had a big interest in boxing, unbeknown to me."

The Manchester singer predicted John would go far on an episode of Jools Holland in 1992.

When asked who his favourite boxer was, Morrissey replied: "Cornelius Carr, have you heard of him? I think you will do."

"I couldn't believe it," says John.

Morrissey visited John again at Battersea running track during a training session to talk through his ideas.

In the video, filmed at London's York Hall where John won the British title a few months previously, he takes on an actor in the ring - and wins.

"The actor was really nervous because he was going to be fighting me," John recalls, "we did it all in a day."

John is a Super Middleweight Champion
Boxers was released to promote Morrissey's solo tour of the same name and reached number 23 in the UK Singles Chart.

"It's a good song, but it didn't do that well," says John.

"He wouldn't go on Top of the Pops at the time."

John says the appearance was a "great experience" and did help to boost his profile.

"I got more publicity from that than winning the British title.

"I was walking down Oxford Street and someone said 'can I have your autograph? I've seen you in the Morrissey video'."

A twenty-foot picture of John's face was also the backdrop for Morrissey's entire tour, as he discovered afterwards.
At the time, John admits, he wasn't the biggest fan of the young snake-hipped singer's music.

"As I've got older and the years have gone on, some of his songs are really catchy," he says.

"He has a massive cult following, people love him.

"It was great to be asked, it was a good experience.

"He's nice, a genuine guy."

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I have blabbed on before here that I met Morrissey at a Carr fight at the Point in Ireland in 95'. I found him ringside and ask him to sign a "Interlude" single. Remember that song, anyone?
 
Morrissey was introduced to the school of hard knocks by his lover at the time (Morrissey would probably call him brother). As I recall, Jake was an ex-boxer.
A young Jake Walters = Trouble
 
If Moz really can't get a record deal, and his musical career is over, I think he'd make a great ringman. Who wouldn't love to see him in the corner, sponging down his fighter, giving them a pep talk and maybe a gentle slap of encouragement on the cheeks?
Sneaking knuckledusters into his glove and a quick slug of refreshing beer.

images
 
I have blabbed on before here that I met Morrissey at a Carr fight at the Point in Ireland in 95'. I found him ringside and ask him to sign a "Interlude" single. Remember that song, anyone?
Hi. I think that fight was within days of Moz saying on Jools Holland that Carr was gonna be well known due to his successes. Was it the Carr vs Steve Collins fight on Nov 25th 1995? Carr only lost 1 fight in 24 professional bouts. Moz was on Jools on Nov 12th.

What was Moz like when you asked him for the autograph?
 
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A nice and interesting read this, thank you for sharing.
 
Hi. I think that fight was within days of Moz saying on Jools Holland that Carr was gonna be well known due to his successes. Was it the Carr vs Steve Collins fight on Nov 25th 1995? Carr only lost 1 fight in 24 professional bouts. Moz was on Jools on Nov 12th.

What was Moz like when you asked him for the autograph?
Morrissey was very gracious as always. I am not sure he could even make it out it was me. It was very dark. When I spotted Morrissey, he was several rows back from the front. Opposite of camera side.
 
Does anyone know if Moz is still a fan of the gentle art of fisticuffs? Unless I've missed it, he only seemed to be into boxing (or at least, mention it in interviews), for this brief period of maybe 1 year, which seemed slightly odd. Was it just a brief passion?
I assume he still is.
He used to make a lot of references to soccer and he hasn't made one in a lot of years... But my guess is that he still likes it too.
(Munich air disaster is the last one I remember, besides from the death of Maradona).
 
I assume he still is.
He used to make a lot of references to soccer and he hasn't made one in a lot of years... But my guess is that he still likes it too.
(Munich air disaster is the last one I remember, besides from the death of Maradona).
Soccer?
 

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