Land of Hope and Glory
is the Windrush-generation story of Maurice Hope, a Caribbean immigrant whose fascinating journey took him from abject poverty to boxing world champion and receiving an MBE from the Queen.
The former WBC light-middleweight titlist was born in rural Antigua in 1951. Surprisingly, he was an extremely sensitive child who cried for the flimsiest reasons. When he arrived in east London, aged nine, his elder brother Lex was waiting to introduce him to the noble art at the famous Repton Boxing Club. Reluctant but too scared to defy Lex, Maurice agreed. It led to a glittering career, first as an Olympian then as a world champion pro. Maurice then coached the Antigua boxing team for years. Invites to Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister followed, before a trip to Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE for services to the sport.
Hope's story is punctuated by spectacular highs and crushing lows, but amid it all his warmth, humour and resilience shine through.