Swindon councillors settle their differences in the boxing ring

“Dangerous” Dale Heenan and Bazil “Slugger” Solomon managed a round and a half at Meca on Saturday night.

Promoter Richard Loveday of Tank Productions said it was the first time he was aware of politicians taking to the ring to settle their differences. The night aimed to raise thousands of pounds for mayor Kevin Parry’s chosen charities Swindon's Cancer and Leukaemia Movement and the Swindon and Wiltshire Deaf Children’s Society.

READ MORE: Ex Adver man Matt Davies analyses Swindon councillors' boxing showdown

Heenan, the 39-year-old Covingham councillor, won on a technical knock-out. After Coun Solomon’s mouthguard got stuck, he struggled to breathe and was forced to withdraw.

Dale Heenan arrives to take on Bazil "Slugger" Solomon Picture: DAVE COX

As Dale Heenan was declared the winner and had his arm held high, mayor Kevin Parry joked of Coun Solomon: “He said he was going to bring the fight to the Conservatives. Not being political, but he failed. He couldn’t knock the skin off a rice pudding.”

Both councillors proved good sports. Despite losing on the technicality, Coun Solomon said after the fight: “I landed a few hits and he landed a few.”

On paper the pair were relatively evenly matched. Both a similar height, weight and build, only 10 years separates them and five inches in their respective reaches.

A shirtless Heenan wipes away a bead of sweat Picture: DAVE COX

As a boy growing up in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Coun Solomon was a talented young boxer. But when he moved from school to university his father told him he “didn’t want to get his face bashed in”.

Coun Heenan had less experience – just six weeks of boxing training. But the Conservative councillor, who leads the council’s efforts to regenerate the town centre, had put in the work. He was trained by former World Boxing Council silver middleweight belt winner Kelly Morgan at Scrappers Gym in West Swindon.

A powerful punch Picture: DAVE COX

He told the Adver: “Standing in front of 60 other people giving a speech is very different to standing in front of 600 in just your shorts.”

The Conservative had one key advantage over his Labour opponent: a healthy heart. Last year, Coun Solomon had an operation on his heart – a fact he failed to tell the fight night paramedics.

The fight had been trailed by promoter Richard Lovejoy as the first boxing match involving two serving councillors of opposing tribes. He said: “It’s very unique. It’s never been done in the country.”

And the night itself was the brainchild of mayor Kevin Parry, a boxer in his youth and an avid fan of the sport.

The sparring politicians Picture: DAVE COX

When the mayor said he planned to put on a fundraising fight night, Coun Heenan joked about taking part. “Bazil and I have some history politically, so I suggested we go three rounds,” he said.

That political history goes back to April this year, when Coun Heenan accused then Eldene, Liden and Park South ward councillor hopeful Bazil of copying the wording in a Facebook post by the Conservative urging residents to vote for him. Mr Solomon denied lifting Coun Heenan’s words: “We talk the same language, we use the same sort of words.”

Fact file: how they matched

Dale Heenan

Party: Conservative

Ward: Covingham & Dorcan

Age: 39

Height: 5ft 8.5ins

Weight: light heavyweight

Reach: 30ins

Stance: Orthodox

Nickname: "Dangerous" Dale Heenan

Bazil Solomon

Party: Labour & Cooperative

Ward: Liden, Eldene & Park South

Age: 49

Height: 5ft 9ins

Weight: light heavyweight

Reach: 25.5ins

Stance: Orthodox

Nickname: "Bad Boy" Bazil, "The Slugger" Solomon