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Boxing great partners with The Pugilist rum
Ahead of the boxing world’s biggest contest of the decade on Saturday night, cruiserweight champion and Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson has teamed up with The Pugilist rum.
Former cruiserweight world champion and legendary commentator Johnny Nelson has teamed up with Warwickshire Gin Company to become an ambassador for its rum range, The Pugilist.
He’s a good man to have in your corner.
The longest reigning cruiserweight world champion of all time, Nelson had 59 professional fight between 1986 to 2005, with 29 knock-outs to his name, according to BoxRec. Earlier this year he received an MBE in the first new year’s honours to be awarded by King Charles III for services to boxing and young people, and he continues to work with the prison service helping inmates to learn life management skills.
Nelson chose the Leamington-based distillery to team up with partly due to its connection with local boxer Randolph Turpin – AKA ‘The Leamington Licker’ – after which The Pugilist rum range was named. Turpin went down in boxing history after beating Sugar Ray Robinson in their 1951 world title bout.
“I love boxing, and I love rum, so Pugilist Blended Rum and its history with Randolph Turpin is the perfect collaboration for me,” said Nelson.
“I didn’t drink as a professional, and if I’m honest didn’t really like the taste of alcohol, but you’ll often find me drinking [Pugilist rum] neat, or mixed with ginger ale.”
There are currently three rums in the range, priced at £38 per 70cl bottle: Spice Blended Rum; The Pugilist – Sting Like a Bee – Honey Rum; Pugilist Ghost Edition White Rum. Following the launch of the original Spice Blended Rum in September 2021, the range expanded in 2023.
Made using “the finest Guyanan Rum” in a nod to Turpin’s heritage, The Pugilist rum expressions are complemented by ingredients including nutmeg, cinnamon, all spice, orange peel, honey and vanilla.
Warwickshire Gin Company founder Dave Blick said he hopes Nelson’s endorsement will “help us in our plans to grow the brand in getting it into sporting and boxing venues, and to carry on sharing the wider story of Warwickshire’s Randolph Turpin, extending his legacy beyond the county borders.”
Nelson added that he wanted to help The Pugilist “bring to life the connection to boxing through appearances at gyms in the Warwickshire community, through to promotional campaigns. I’m proud to be an ambassador for the brand.”