User talk:2604:3D09:781:DA00:B473:BDBC:7736:F5D0



Sydney was born in a state in India that probably doesn't exist anymore he ducked through the ropes for the first time at the tender age of seven years. The young pugilist won the interscholastic championship at that age, and was hooked. He trained like the champion he was later to become right from the beginning. Entering every available competition and by 1943 was the flyweight champion of India he held this rain for three consecutive years with wins 1944 and 1945. He then went on to hold the bantamweight title for 1946 and 1947. in 1947 he won the golden gloves tournament in Karachi.

At the age of 27 especially after beating the Japanese champion Toshihito Ishimaru he was known throughout Asia as pound for pound the best amateur fighter in the subcontinent. dubbed by sportswriters as the “killer Greve” and the KO KID.

Often referred to in the press as the most destructive fighting machine on the continent, Sydney's lightning fast fists and his patented payoff punch were the crowd pleasers. Described as having herculean shoulders and an unmatched ring sense made him a formidable opponent no matter who he faced.

I quote “there was a time during the Second World War then I boxed against American GI's sometimes two or three fights a night. I would fight men in a higher weight class, the bigger they are the harder they fall” end quote.

For all of his prows Sydney was very affable outside the ring and in, one headline read “the killer refused to kill tonight” instead of punishing his already beaten opponent Sydney asked for the fight to be stopped.

When being interviewed by the press during one Olympic appearance Sidney said “ if you're going to write about me will you also add something about my teammates”

When asked if he ever considered becoming pro Sydney answered “ yes back in 1947 an American trainer approached me and ask to represent my interests in the US but my parents wouldn't allow it”

In a highly publicized boat Sidney faced a more experienced Stoker Dunn, a match that everyone was predicting Sydney to take a beating in. in the second Dunn trying to confuse Sidney by switching from his natural right to a southpaw and back, Sidney swiftly delivered his panted haymaker, it was described by one announcers like this ” you cannot divert the course of a swiftly flowing river or the small Pebble"

In 1948 he won the Pakistan flyweight championship and was selected to represent his country in the London Olympics that same year, although representing his team while Sydney failed to make it to the medal rounds, nevertheless he was invited back to represent Pakistan at the Helsinki Olympic games in 1952 where he demolished the Argentine champion A. Leyes in the second round. Advancing to the next heat against the Frenchman that Sidney couldn't remember the name as he recalls “ I hammered that Frenchman and put him down in every single round and I still lost the fight, that was the first time I've ever had tears in my eyes in the ring I was devastated”

One would think that would be the end off the open invitation to the prestige Olympic Games, wrong, it was once again asked to attend and represent his country in the Melbourne Olympics but instead he uprooted his family and moved to England where he had a few more fights before hanging up his gloves.

With an outstanding record of over 500 documented fights and 80% of them by knockouts and with  many fights finishing within the first 10 seconds of the first round, yes that's right 500 documented fights, probably the longest record of any amateur boxer in the world. When asked about his accomplishments he said he is most proud of never hitting the canvas.

In 1973 immigrated to Calgary AB Canada. on August 5th 2015 he celebrated 64 years marriage to his wife Adrianna and there five children and many grandkids and great kids. Sidney passed away peacefully and December 7th 2015 at 90 years of age.