Bruce Woodcock (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Bruce Woodcock was an English
boxer
. He was the British
and Empire heavyweight
champion 1945-1950, and European heavyweight champion 1946-1949. He had a large fanbase, and his participation in a competition often resulted in sellout crowds. His biggest wins were over Lee Savold
, Gus Lesnevich
, Lee Oma, Freddie Mills
, Johnny Ralph, Jack London
and Bert Gilroy.
In July 1945, at White Hart Lane
, Tottenham
, Woodcock defeated the current champion Jack London
to take the British and Empire heavyweight tiles. Woodcock won by a knockout in round six after having London down three times in that round.
Woodcock won his next 4 bouts, including wins over Al Delaney and Bert Gilroy, before suffering his first loss by TKO at the hands of the vastly more experienced and world rated Tami Mauriello.
He bounced back impressively from this by defeating Freddie Mills
and Gus Lesnevich
either side of winning the European Title from Paul Albert Renet. Woodcock went on to win his next 3 fights, including a successful defence of his European Title before suffering his second loss.
At Harringay
in 1947 Woodcock earned a reputation for bravery when he fought Joe Baksi
. He was floored 3 times in the first round and twice in the second and yet tried to come back before the referee stopped it in the seventh.
Again, Woodcock bounced back in impressive fashion, scoring wins over world rated opponents such as Lee Oma and Lee Savold
, followed by a win over talented Johnny Ralph for the British Empire Title (now known as Commonwealth Title)
On June 2, 1949, Woodcock again beat Freddie Mills
for the vacant British and European and Empire heavyweight titles by a KO
in round 14.
Upon the retirement of World heavyweight champion Joe Louis
, on June 6, 1950, the British promoter Jack Solomons
matched Woodcock with American Lee Savold
(who Woodcock had previously beaten) for the vacant world title at White City
before over 50,000 spectators. This was done under the auspices of the British Boxing Board of Control
and recognised throughout Europe and the Commonwealth but not in the USA. In the event, a 15 round contest, Woodcock's left eye sustained a bad cut, and the fight was stopped in the fourth round.
Woodcock was to fight just once more, on 14 November 1950. In this bout he lost his British and Empire Titles to Jack Gardner
by an 11th round TKO.
Woodcock was known as a skilled and aggressive boxer with a good punch, however his face was vulnerable as the result of reopened cuts sustained through many bouts, and he was small for a heavyweight, putting him at a disadvantage on occasion. Nevertheless, he was a top contender and Britain's best and bravest heavyweight hope in the second half of the nineteen forties.
In December 1946, he married Nora Speight (b 14 July 1922 Doncaster; d. 2 July 2008), with whom he had one son, Bruce, and one daughter, Janet. Although Bruce himself was a well known, well respected boxer, so also was his brother, Billy, who himself fought. The family were renowned for their boxing and wrestling prowess within the Balby region, where they grew up.
He ended his days in retirement after running a pub in his home town of Doncaster.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. He was the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Empire heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
champion 1945-1950, and European heavyweight champion 1946-1949. He had a large fanbase, and his participation in a competition often resulted in sellout crowds. His biggest wins were over Lee Savold
Lee Savold
Lee Savold was a heavyweight boxer who held the British and European version of the World Heavyweight championship between 1950 and 1951 and was a leading contender in the forties and early fifties....
, Gus Lesnevich
Gus Lesnevich
Gustav George Lesnevich was an American boxer. Lesnevich was born and raised in Cliffside Park, New Jersey....
, Lee Oma, Freddie Mills
Freddie Mills
Freddie Mills, was an English boxer, who was the world light heavyweight boxing champion from 1948 to 1950. He was born in Poole, England.- Early life :...
, Johnny Ralph, Jack London
Jack London
John Griffith "Jack" London was an American author, journalist, and social activist. He was a pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction and was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction alone...
and Bert Gilroy.
Biography
Woodcock began his career in 1942, winning all of his first 20 bouts, all by stoppage. This set him up for his first title bout.In July 1945, at White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
, Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
, Woodcock defeated the current champion Jack London
Jack London (boxer)
Jack London was an English heavyweight boxer. He was British and Commonwealth Heavyweight champion from 1944 to 1945...
to take the British and Empire heavyweight tiles. Woodcock won by a knockout in round six after having London down three times in that round.
Woodcock won his next 4 bouts, including wins over Al Delaney and Bert Gilroy, before suffering his first loss by TKO at the hands of the vastly more experienced and world rated Tami Mauriello.
He bounced back impressively from this by defeating Freddie Mills
Freddie Mills
Freddie Mills, was an English boxer, who was the world light heavyweight boxing champion from 1948 to 1950. He was born in Poole, England.- Early life :...
and Gus Lesnevich
Gus Lesnevich
Gustav George Lesnevich was an American boxer. Lesnevich was born and raised in Cliffside Park, New Jersey....
either side of winning the European Title from Paul Albert Renet. Woodcock went on to win his next 3 fights, including a successful defence of his European Title before suffering his second loss.
At Harringay
Harringay
Harringay is a residential area of North London, part of the London Borough of Haringey, United Kingdom. It is centred on the section of Green Lanes running between the northern boundary of Finsbury Park up to the southern boundary of Duckett's Common, not far from Turnpike Lane.-Location:The...
in 1947 Woodcock earned a reputation for bravery when he fought Joe Baksi
Joe Baksi
Joe Baksi was a top heavyweight contender who defeated fighters such as Tami Mauriello, Lee Savold, Lou Nova, and Freddie Mills, while losing decisions to Jersey Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles.-Background:...
. He was floored 3 times in the first round and twice in the second and yet tried to come back before the referee stopped it in the seventh.
Again, Woodcock bounced back in impressive fashion, scoring wins over world rated opponents such as Lee Oma and Lee Savold
Lee Savold
Lee Savold was a heavyweight boxer who held the British and European version of the World Heavyweight championship between 1950 and 1951 and was a leading contender in the forties and early fifties....
, followed by a win over talented Johnny Ralph for the British Empire Title (now known as Commonwealth Title)
On June 2, 1949, Woodcock again beat Freddie Mills
Freddie Mills
Freddie Mills, was an English boxer, who was the world light heavyweight boxing champion from 1948 to 1950. He was born in Poole, England.- Early life :...
for the vacant British and European and Empire heavyweight titles by a KO
Ko
Ko or KO may refer to:* Ko , a Tamil action movie directed by K.V. Anand released in April 2011* Ko , the romanization of the Japanese kana こ and コ* Ko Mountain, the second highest peak in Sikhote-Alin*Ko, Lamphun, Thailand...
in round 14.
Upon the retirement of World heavyweight champion Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, on June 6, 1950, the British promoter Jack Solomons
Jack Solomons
Jack Solomons was a British boxing promoter who has been called "one of the greatest boxing promoters in history."He began promoting boxing in London during the 1930s. His first great success came when he put together a match between Jack London and Bruce Woodcock for the British heavyweight title...
matched Woodcock with American Lee Savold
Lee Savold
Lee Savold was a heavyweight boxer who held the British and European version of the World Heavyweight championship between 1950 and 1951 and was a leading contender in the forties and early fifties....
(who Woodcock had previously beaten) for the vacant world title at White City
White City Stadium
White City Stadium was built in White City, London, for the 1908 Summer Olympics, often seen as the precursor to the modern seater stadium and noted for hosting the finish of the first modern distance marathon. It also hosted speedway and a match at the 1966 World Cup, before the stadium was...
before over 50,000 spectators. This was done under the auspices of the British Boxing Board of Control
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
and recognised throughout Europe and the Commonwealth but not in the USA. In the event, a 15 round contest, Woodcock's left eye sustained a bad cut, and the fight was stopped in the fourth round.
Woodcock was to fight just once more, on 14 November 1950. In this bout he lost his British and Empire Titles to Jack Gardner
Jack Gardner
Jack Gardner may refer to:*Jack Gardner , 1948 ABA Heavyweight Champion*Jack Gardner , college basketball coach*Jack Gardner , general in the United States Army*Jack Gardner , American jazz musician...
by an 11th round TKO.
Woodcock was known as a skilled and aggressive boxer with a good punch, however his face was vulnerable as the result of reopened cuts sustained through many bouts, and he was small for a heavyweight, putting him at a disadvantage on occasion. Nevertheless, he was a top contender and Britain's best and bravest heavyweight hope in the second half of the nineteen forties.
Personal life
Bruce grew up in the Balby area of Doncaster and, in his youth, was known to be a member of the 'Carr Hill' gang, a mixture of girls and boys who grew up together within the area.In December 1946, he married Nora Speight (b 14 July 1922 Doncaster; d. 2 July 2008), with whom he had one son, Bruce, and one daughter, Janet. Although Bruce himself was a well known, well respected boxer, so also was his brother, Billy, who himself fought. The family were renowned for their boxing and wrestling prowess within the Balby region, where they grew up.
He ended his days in retirement after running a pub in his home town of Doncaster.
Sources
- Ronnie Wharton (2005), ‘’Fighting Men of the North’’, Tempus Publishing Limited, ISBN 0-7524-3551-5