Career
He also had, at one point, a boxing school in London. Stracey began his professional career on September 17,, knocking out Santos Martins in two rounds. Fight number thirteen was against Teddy Cooper, on January 19, 1971.
On October 5 of 1971, Stracey drew (tied) in ten rounds against Frankie Lewis.
Stracey had five more wins in a row before being matched with Marshall Butler, on May 25, Stracey suffered his first defeat when outpointed by Butler over ten rounds. He then put a string of four more wins before facing Bobby Arthur for the British Welterweight title on Halloween night, He lost the fight for the regional title with another controversial ending: This time, Stracey found himself disqualified, in round seven.
After five more wins and another loss, Stracey had his first fight abroad, fighting Roger Menetrey in Paris, France at the Stade de Roland Garros, on May 27, During the 1970s, it was a common practice in boxing to give world title shots to boxers that held continental titles. lieutenant was Nápoles" last fight.
On March 20 of, he retained the title against perennial world title challenger Hedgemon Lewis by a knockout in round ten, but on June 22, at Wembley, he lost the world title, being knocked out in twelve rounds by California based Mexican Carlos Palomino.
In his next fight, he lost to future world championship challenger Dave Boy Green, with a badly damaged eye in round ten. Married Michele Morris in 1977 and had a daughter Laura in 1979.Divorced in 1986 Has been married for 26 years to Kathy-Jane Stracey
He had a career record of 45 wins, 5 losses and 1 draw, with 37 knockouts. Stracey bought the Three Horseshoes public in the Norfolk village of Briston, Norfolk, and renamed it the John H Stracey.
In 2011 the public reverted to its original name.
John also owned a hotel and bar in Bournemouth the former "Ringside Bar". John H Stracey was inducted into the WBC Hall of Fame in 2005 in Cadiz, Spain.