Early career Stracey began his professional career on 17 September 1969, knocking out Santos Martins in two rounds. Stracey won his first twelve fights, eleven by knockout, but against obscure opposition. Fight number thirteen was against Teddy Cooper, on 19 January 1971. Cooper was not a big name in boxing either, but this fight ended in controversy when Stracey won by a fifth round disqualification. On 5 October 1971 Stracey drew (tied) in ten rounds against Frankie Lewis. Stracey produced five more wins before being matched with Marshall Butler, on 25 May 1972, at the
Royal Albert Hall, suffering his first defeat after being outpointed by Butler over eight rounds. He then put a string of four more wins together, before facing
Bobby Arthur for the British welterweight title, on 31 October, at the Royal Albert Hall. He lost the fight with another controversial ending: This time, Stracey found himself disqualified in round seven. Stracey then won five more bouts in a row. In February 1973, Stracey traveled to the United States, where he fought Danny McAloon on the undercard of the first
Ali vs. Bugner fight, at the
Las Vegas Convention Center, on 14 February. Stracey won the bout via unanimous decision. He then met Bobby Arthur in a rematch on 5 June, this time winning the British title with a fourth-round knockout.
Stracey vs. Menetrey On 27 May 1974, Stracey got his chance at the European welterweight title, fighting
Roger Menetrey at the
Stade de Roland Garros, in
Paris, France. Stracey won via eighth-round knockout.
Stracey vs. Nápoles During the 1970s, it was a common practice to give world title shots to boxers who held continental titles. For example, the OPBF (Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation) champion would be given priority over other challengers for world title fights. Stracey was no exception, and, after winning five more fights in a row (including a win over
Ernie Lopez), he received his first world title shot: challenging
WBC welterweight champion
José Nápoles, in Nápoles' home-town of
Mexico City, Mexico, on 6 December 1975. Stracey was sent down in round one, but he recuperated to close Nápoles' eye and have referee
Octavio Meyran stop the fight in the sixth round, Stracey winning the world championship by a technical knockout. but on 22 June, at
Wembley, he lost the world title, being knocked out in twelve rounds by
California-based Mexican
Carlos Palomino. Stracey retired as a winner when he knocked out George Warusfel in nine rounds in
Islington on 23 May 1978. ==Outside the ring==