Dick Power
Encyclopedia
Dick Power was a Welsh
professional heavyweight boxer
. Born in Crumlin in Monmouthshire
, Power became the Welsh heavyweight champion in 1926.
at Lydney
near the Wales/England border. Power took the fight on a points decision
, and followed this with two wins in August, both in his home-town, over Eddie Wolf and Bill Bates. On 12 September, he faced Belgian Pierre Charles at The Ring in Blackfriars. Charles was the more experienced fighter, and would soon become Belgian and European heavyweight champion, but Power took the fight after Charles was forced to retire in the first round. He followed up this win by facing Con O'Kelly
in an October fight in Manchester, losing by knockout in the third. 1925 ended with a challenge for the Welsh heavyweight title, arranged at the Palace Theatre in Crumlin on Boxing Day
. His challenger was Tom Norris
of Clydach Vale
and the match was scheduled for fifteen three minutes rounds. The match only reached the eleventh round when Power was stopped via a technical knockout.
On 18 February 1926, Power travelled to London to face Joop Liet, 'The Singing Dutchman', but Power was heavily beaten losing by knockout in just the second round. Despite the loss on 5 April, Power was given a rematch with Tom Norris in a challenge for Norris' heavyweight title. The bout was contested at the Taff Vale Park in Pontypridd
in front of a record crowd, with a purse of £150 as well as the title for stake. The twenty round contest went the full distance, and Power was declared victor on points decision
making him the new Welsh heavyweight champion.
After taking the title there is an absence of fight information of Power until 1928 when he faced Jack Stanley, British heavyweight title challenger. Stanley was disqualified in the fourth. A week later, on 4 August, Power fought George Christian of Columbus, Ohio
at Pontypridd, beating the American with a clean knockout in the second. His final recorded fight that year was a loss to Charlie Smith at The Ring. The following year he took in two bouts with New Zealander George Modrich; the first ended in defeat for Power via technical knockout in a fight held at Newport, while the rematch at Merthyr Tydfil
was won by Power. Power completed 1929 with a loss to Don Shortland at Liverpool Stadium, before beating Dave Magill, the Irish heavyweight champion in an encounter at Pontypridd, followed by a loss to Jack Stanley and a draw with Marine Bill Trinder.
Power had three recorded matches in 1930, the first was to future Northern Area heavyweight champion Bob Carvill. The two met at the Royal Albert Hall
, which saw Carvill disqualified in the second round. He then lost to both Reggie Meen, by technical knockout, and Jack Pettifer, on a points decision. In 1932 Power was challenged for his Welsh heavyweight belt by Cardiff's Jack Petersen
. The two men met at Greyfriars Hall in Cardiff in a fifteen round bout, but Power's defence was a short one being counted out within 21 seconds of the first round. Petersen went on the become British and European champion and was one of the great Welsh fighters of his time.
Power has two more recorded fights, both six years after his defeat to Petersen. He lost by points to another British champion, Welshman Gipsy Daniels
and a win over South African heavyweight champion Don McCorkindale
.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
professional heavyweight 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...
. Born in Crumlin in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, Power became the Welsh heavyweight champion in 1926.
Boxing career
Although there is little record of Power's amateur career, he is recorded on the 4 July 1925 as fighting professionally against Trevor LlewellynTrevor Llewellyn
Trevor Llewellyn was a Welsh professional heavyweight boxer. Born in Newport in Monmouthshire, Llewellyn became the Welsh heavyweight champion in 1922. A police officer by profession, he often fought under the name PC Trevor Llewellyn.-Personal history:...
at Lydney
Lydney
Lydney is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Gloucestershire. It is located on the west bank of the River Severn, close to the Forest of Dean. The town lies on the A48 road, next to the Lydney Park gardens with its Roman temple in honour of Nodens.-Transport:The Severn Railway...
near the Wales/England border. Power took the fight on a points decision
Points decision
A points decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking unlike normal decisions where there is three judges that agree on which fighter won the match the fight is scored by the...
, and followed this with two wins in August, both in his home-town, over Eddie Wolf and Bill Bates. On 12 September, he faced Belgian Pierre Charles at The Ring in Blackfriars. Charles was the more experienced fighter, and would soon become Belgian and European heavyweight champion, but Power took the fight after Charles was forced to retire in the first round. He followed up this win by facing Con O'Kelly
Con O'Kelly
George Cornelius "Con" O'Kelly was an Irish sport wrestler who competed for Great Britain in the 1908 Summer Olympics.In 1908 he won the gold medal in the freestyle heavyweight class.-External links:*...
in an October fight in Manchester, losing by knockout in the third. 1925 ended with a challenge for the Welsh heavyweight title, arranged at the Palace Theatre in Crumlin on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
. His challenger was Tom Norris
Tom Norris
Tom Norris was a Welsh professional heavyweight boxer. Born in Clydach Vale in the Rhondda, Norris became the Welsh heavyweight champion in 1925.-Boxing career:...
of Clydach Vale
Clydach Vale
Clydach Vale is a village adjoining Tonypandy in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the Rhondda Valley, Wales. It is named for its situation on the Nant Clydach, a tributary of the River Taff.-Integration of villages:...
and the match was scheduled for fifteen three minutes rounds. The match only reached the eleventh round when Power was stopped via a technical knockout.
On 18 February 1926, Power travelled to London to face Joop Liet, 'The Singing Dutchman', but Power was heavily beaten losing by knockout in just the second round. Despite the loss on 5 April, Power was given a rematch with Tom Norris in a challenge for Norris' heavyweight title. The bout was contested at the Taff Vale Park in Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
in front of a record crowd, with a purse of £150 as well as the title for stake. The twenty round contest went the full distance, and Power was declared victor on points decision
Points decision
A points decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking unlike normal decisions where there is three judges that agree on which fighter won the match the fight is scored by the...
making him the new Welsh heavyweight champion.
After taking the title there is an absence of fight information of Power until 1928 when he faced Jack Stanley, British heavyweight title challenger. Stanley was disqualified in the fourth. A week later, on 4 August, Power fought George Christian of Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
at Pontypridd, beating the American with a clean knockout in the second. His final recorded fight that year was a loss to Charlie Smith at The Ring. The following year he took in two bouts with New Zealander George Modrich; the first ended in defeat for Power via technical knockout in a fight held at Newport, while the rematch at Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
was won by Power. Power completed 1929 with a loss to Don Shortland at Liverpool Stadium, before beating Dave Magill, the Irish heavyweight champion in an encounter at Pontypridd, followed by a loss to Jack Stanley and a draw with Marine Bill Trinder.
Power had three recorded matches in 1930, the first was to future Northern Area heavyweight champion Bob Carvill. The two met at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, which saw Carvill disqualified in the second round. He then lost to both Reggie Meen, by technical knockout, and Jack Pettifer, on a points decision. In 1932 Power was challenged for his Welsh heavyweight belt by Cardiff's Jack Petersen
Jack Petersen
Jack Petersen was a Welsh boxer, who held the British heavyweight boxing title on two separate occasions.-Early life and career:...
. The two men met at Greyfriars Hall in Cardiff in a fifteen round bout, but Power's defence was a short one being counted out within 21 seconds of the first round. Petersen went on the become British and European champion and was one of the great Welsh fighters of his time.
Power has two more recorded fights, both six years after his defeat to Petersen. He lost by points to another British champion, Welshman Gipsy Daniels
Gipsy Daniels
William "Gipsy" Daniels , was a Welsh Light-heavyweight boxing champion of Britain who, in an eighteen-year career, took in 141 contests, including eight fights in New York, and notably knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of a 1928 encounter.There is some confusion as to Daniels' actual...
and a win over South African heavyweight champion Don McCorkindale
Don McCorkindale
Donald "Don" Dinnie McCorkindale was a South African boxer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was born in Pretoria and died in Edenvale....
.
External links
- Dick Power boxing profile johnnyowen.com