Wild Thing: The True Story of Britain's One and Only Guvnor
by Lew Yates
Out Now

Roy “Pretty Boy” Shaw, Lenny Mclean, Bartley Gorman and numerous other hopefuls have all tried to claim his title as their own.

But everybody in the fight game knows there can only be one true champion and only one man who can have the honour of being called the Guv’nor.

That man, is Lew “wild thing” Yates. Born in St Helens Lancashire, Lew began boxing at the age of six. He bludgeoned and beat his opponents mercilessly in an effort to fulfil his dream of becoming a world heavyweight champion.It wasn't just opponents who endured his ring rage, referees fell victim too.

For assaulting match officials who were trying to protect his opponents, Lews Boxing licence was revoked. Undeterred, Lew turned to the more sinister, savage and murky world of unlicensed boxing to achieve his dream of being crowned king. Wild thing tells the incredible story of Lew Yates rise to the top of his bloody profession.

By day he pounded punch bags and the streets in an effort to reach the peak of physical fitness as he prepared for his epic battle with Roy “Pretty Boy” Shaw for the title of Guv’nor, king of the unlicensed ring.” At night Lew pounded gangsters and drug dealers who were foolish enough to take him on in the nightclubs where he worked.

Described by hard man Carlton Leach in his book Muscle (Blake 2003) as “simply the best,” Lews no nonsense approach made him many friends such as boxing legend Nigel Benn and enemies such as International drug trafficker Mickey Green.

Lew was shot at and stabbed but still he stood firm. Two of his associates were not so lucky. Both were executed, shot through the head at close range. Their murders remain unsolved, but in “wild thing” Lew names one of the men who pulled the trigger and explains why both men had to die.

Unlike the majority of those in the unlicensed fighters Hall of Fame. The Guv’nor, Lew “wild thing” Yates has never served a day in prison, taken or sold a drug. Unlike others, he doesn't need to boast, brag or exaggerate. With Lew, what you see, is what you hope your never going to get.