Born in Wolverhampton in 1964, Wilson had a successful career as an amateur, winning two ABA titles and representing the UK at the 1984 Summer Olympics, where he reached the quarter-finals.
[1][2] Wilson started his professional career in February 1985, working with trainer Jimmy Tibbs and promoter Frank Warren,[1] with a fourth round stoppage of Blaine Logsdon at the Royal Albert Hall.
He won all nine of his fights in 1985 and 1986 including a sixth round stoppage of Simon Harris, whose jaw was broken by Wilson.
His first fight of 1987 was a final eliminator for the British light heavyweight title against Keith Bristol, which resulted in Wilson stopping him in the first round.
McCarthy believed he had won and left the ring, but bizarrely referee Adrian Morgan insisted that the fight should continue.