John H Stracey tackles Jake LaMotta

John H Stracey will be charged with interviewing fellow ring great Jake LaMotta in Wolverhampton next week - but his first act with the microphone will be to sing!

Legend LaMotta, now 90, will be the star attraction of a sportman's dinner next Wednesday night at the Mount Hotel in Tettenhall.

Posing the questions will be Stracey, a former WBC world welterweight champion in the 1970s, fielded from the audience on the night.

The 61-year-old will first provide muscial entertainment, though, as he has since excelled as a cabaret singer along with public speaking.

LaMotta, who held the world middleweight title in the 1950s, will be on what is expected to be his last tour of the United Kingdom.

His life story garned such interest that it was made into one of the most iconic boxing movies of all time, 'the Raging Bull.'

Named after his ring nickname, it was released in 1980 starring Robert De Niro as LaMotta and directed by Martin Scorsese.

LaMotta, himself, acted in 15 films after retiring, such as 'the Hustler' with Paul Newman, and did stand-up comedy.

In the ring, the New York-born Italian-American boxed 106 times with 80 wins, 30 by stoppage, with 19 defeats and four draws.

Infamously, LaMotta also admitted throwing a fight in 1947 for the Mafia, in order to land his world title shot and win in 1949.

Tickets for the night cost £75, which include a seated three-course meal and meeting the man himself for a photograph.

Discounts are available for those wishing to purchase a whole table for the event, which is sponsored by First 4 Staff in Chapel Ash.

To buy, call event organiser Ken Purchase on 07976 842 383 or go to www.prsevents.co.uk.