British Boxing History
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Few people today are aware of just how popular and widespread the sport of boxing was in Britain in the first half of the 20th century.
Professional boxing shows were staged with astounding regularity - sometimes a single venue would hold several fight shows per week, and regular boxing could be seen in towns and cities nationwide. There were thousands of active pro fighters in Britain, and many had to fight week in and week out simply to earn a crust.
The nation's leading boxers were feted like film stars, and the sport attracted a following akin to Premier League football today. Back then a British-title win was a glorious achievement and no mere 'stepping-stone', and the British champions themselves were household names.
Naturally, such an environment turned out many great champions, plus others who were great but for various reasons never won titles. Sadly, their names and their accomplishments are all but forgotten today. This section of the site is dedicated to them and to the feats they achieved inside the roped square.
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Boxing articles and fighter profiles
Punches That Shook Me Up (1936) By Nel Tarleton *NEW*
My Most Thrilling Fights... By Peter Kane
The Fighting Warnocks (1936) by Fred Warnock
Jimmy Walsh (Chester) Q&A (1939)
What I've Learned as a Professional by Arthur Danahar
Sparring For a Living by by Bert Ikin
Monuments to Fighters by Fred Tekell
The boxing booth: chat with Professor H. Cullis
The KO That amazed a Regiment By Frank Hough
Sparring with Seaman Tommy Watson By Jim Bird and Billy Charlton
Sparring with Jack Kid Berg By Moe Moss
Sparring with Len Harvey By Laurie Raiteri
Joe Curran (Liverpool) Q&A from 1939
Arthur 'Ginger' Sadd (Norwich) Q&A from 1939
Booth King Matt Moran passes away aged 96
Boxing facts and lists
Boxing records
Old London boxing venues
London boxers
Pro boxers from your area
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