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Jack London (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Jack London was an English
heavyweight
boxer
. He was British
and Commonwealth
Heavyweight
champion from 1944 to 1945. His son, who fought as Brian London
, also became British
and Commonwealth
Heavyweight
champion from 1958 to 1959.
, County Durham
. He made his professional debut in January, 1931, in West Hartlepool, winning by a knockout in the first round. He took the ring name of Jack London
, after the American author, who also covered fights for American boxing magazines. London was six feet tall and big framed, with a style that some regarded as crude and cumbersome. He fought most of his early fights in his native North East, whilst continuing to work as a lorry driver.
He did not fight in the capital until October 1932, losing at Blackfriars against Jack O’Malley, an Australia
n heavyweight due to an injured hand. In November 1933, he fought Ben Foord, later to become British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion himself. London lost on points over ten rounds at the Crystal Palace
. In December 1933, he also fought the Commonwealth (Empire) champion, Larry Gains, being knocked out by the Canadian
in the second round. In February 1935, he lost another points decision against Ben Foord. In March 1936 London fought the American ex-world-light-heavyweight champion, Tommy Loughran
, losing on points over ten rounds. London next had a points win against another American, Obie Walker, and then went to fight in Berlin
against Hans Schonrath, gaining another points decision.
London’s recent successes against good quality opponents appeared to have put him in line for a title challenge against British heavyweight champion, Tommy Farr
, but Farr seemed reluctant to fight him, perhaps because he was not a draw for crowds. In May 1937 London fought the American, Buddy Baer
, brother of Max Baer, losing on points over ten rounds. Baer was later to fight Joe Louis
twice for the world heavyweight title, losing both fights. When Farr relinquished his heavyweight title, London was ignored and Len Harvey
beat Eddie Phillips to take the vacant British heavyweight title in December 1938.
, being stationed near Blackpool
. London so liked the place that he would later relocate his family there. London continued to fight during the war years but managed only twelve bouts. Len Harvey was still heavyweight champion but decided to challenge for the vacant British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles, beating Jock McAvoy
on points. He then defended his light-heavyweight titles against Freddie Mills
in June 1942 being knocked out in the second round. Harvey promptly retired leaving his heavyweight tiles vacant. London now had his chance.
, in Manchester. Mills conceded about three stones in weight but was still 3-1 favourite. Neither of the two was a stylish boxer, and the two men slugged it out over fifteen rounds with London getting a narrow points decision. Mills was to go on to be world light-heavyweight champion.
London had one more non-title fight which he won by a knockout, before defending his titles against Bruce Woodcock
. The fight was arranged for July 1945 at White Hart Lane
, Tottenham
, London. Woodcock was about two stones lighter than London, but was more nimble and was able to evade many of London’s attacks, building up an early points lead. London started to come back at him with body punches, but in the sixth round Woodcock caught him with a left to put him down. He got up but was put down twice more, finally being counted out.
where he was beaten by Olle Tandberg, then won two fights in South Africa
. In 1947 he was beaten in an eliminator for the British heavyweight title.
He continued to fight in the North East, then in 1949 lost an eliminator for the Commonwealth heavyweight title. His last fight was against American, Aaron Wilson at Earls Court in November 1949. He was knocked out in the first round and realised that it was time to retire in earnest.
for the world heavyweight title in 1959, but died before Brian fought Muhammad Ali
for the same title in 1966.
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...
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...
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 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 Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
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 from 1944 to 1945. His son, who fought as Brian London
Brian London
Brian London, born Brian Sidney Harper, 19 June 1934, in West Hartlepool, is a retired English heavyweight boxer. He was British and Commonwealth Heavyweight champion from 1958 to 1959, and had two world heavyweight title fights...
, also became 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 Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
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 from 1958 to 1959.
Early career
He was born in Stranton, West HartlepoolWest Hartlepool
This article refers to the place; for the Rugby Football Club see West Hartlepool R.F.C.West Hartlepool refers to the western part of the what has since the 1960s been known as the borough of Hartlepool in North East England...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. He made his professional debut in January, 1931, in West Hartlepool, winning by a knockout in the first round. He took the ring name of 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...
, after the American author, who also covered fights for American boxing magazines. London was six feet tall and big framed, with a style that some regarded as crude and cumbersome. He fought most of his early fights in his native North East, whilst continuing to work as a lorry driver.
He did not fight in the capital until October 1932, losing at Blackfriars against Jack O’Malley, an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n heavyweight due to an injured hand. In November 1933, he fought Ben Foord, later to become British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion himself. London lost on points over ten rounds at the Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
. In December 1933, he also fought the Commonwealth (Empire) champion, Larry Gains, being knocked out by the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the second round. In February 1935, he lost another points decision against Ben Foord. In March 1936 London fought the American ex-world-light-heavyweight champion, Tommy Loughran
Tommy Loughran
Thomas Patrick Loughran was the light heavyweight boxing champion of the world.Loughran's effective use of coordinated foot work, sound defense and swift, accurate counter punching is now regarded as a precursor to the techniques practiced in modern boxing...
, losing on points over ten rounds. London next had a points win against another American, Obie Walker, and then went to fight in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
against Hans Schonrath, gaining another points decision.
London’s recent successes against good quality opponents appeared to have put him in line for a title challenge against British heavyweight champion, Tommy Farr
Tommy Farr
Thomas George Farr was one of the most famous Welsh and British boxers of all time. Born in Clydach Vale, Wales and nicknamed "the Tonypandy Terror", he became British and Empire heavyweight champion on 15 March 1937. Prior to 1936, he had boxed in the light heavyweight division in which he was...
, but Farr seemed reluctant to fight him, perhaps because he was not a draw for crowds. In May 1937 London fought the American, Buddy Baer
Buddy Baer
Jacob Henry "Buddy" Baer was an American boxer. In 2003, Baer was chosen for the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time...
, brother of Max Baer, losing on points over ten rounds. Baer was later to fight 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...
twice for the world heavyweight title, losing both fights. When Farr relinquished his heavyweight title, London was ignored and Len Harvey
Len Harvey
Len Harvey was a boxer born in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall. A great tactician and defensive boxer who boxed at every weight division of his day. He began boxing at the very young age of 12 and boxed to he was 36. He was British champion at three weights, middleweight, light-heavy and heavyweight...
beat Eddie Phillips to take the vacant British heavyweight title in December 1938.
War
War interrupted London’s boxing career, and he joined the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, being stationed near Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
. London so liked the place that he would later relocate his family there. London continued to fight during the war years but managed only twelve bouts. Len Harvey was still heavyweight champion but decided to challenge for the vacant British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles, beating Jock McAvoy
Jock McAvoy
Jock McAvoy was a British boxer who fought from 1927 to 1945. He was born Joseph Patrick Bamford in Rochdale, Lancashire. Jo Bamford adopted the name Jock McAvoy so that his mother did not realise he was boxing...
on points. He then defended his light-heavyweight titles against 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 :...
in June 1942 being knocked out in the second round. Harvey promptly retired leaving his heavyweight tiles vacant. London now had his chance.
Heavyweight title
London fought an eliminator for the British heavyweight title in March 1943, against Al Robinson, winning by a knockout in the eighth round. The path was open for a title fight between London and Freddie Mills, for the British and Commonwealth titles. The fight was finally arranged for September 1944 at Belle VueBelle Vue, Manchester
Belle Vue is an area of Gorton, in the city of Manchester, England. It lies in the eastern part of the city, close to its boundary with Tameside, and is bordered by the Hope Valley Line on the east and the Glossop Line on the west...
, in Manchester. Mills conceded about three stones in weight but was still 3-1 favourite. Neither of the two was a stylish boxer, and the two men slugged it out over fifteen rounds with London getting a narrow points decision. Mills was to go on to be world light-heavyweight champion.
London had one more non-title fight which he won by a knockout, before defending his titles against Bruce Woodcock
Bruce Woodcock (boxer)
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...
. The fight was arranged for 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...
, London. Woodcock was about two stones lighter than London, but was more nimble and was able to evade many of London’s attacks, building up an early points lead. London started to come back at him with body punches, but in the sixth round Woodcock caught him with a left to put him down. He got up but was put down twice more, finally being counted out.
Subsequent career
London lost his next fight after losing his titles and briefly retired. However a failed business venture forced him back into the ring. He travelled to StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
where he was beaten by Olle Tandberg, then won two fights in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. In 1947 he was beaten in an eliminator for the British heavyweight title.
He continued to fight in the North East, then in 1949 lost an eliminator for the Commonwealth heavyweight title. His last fight was against American, Aaron Wilson at Earls Court in November 1949. He was knocked out in the first round and realised that it was time to retire in earnest.
Retirement
London tried his hand at wrestling for a while, and then became a nightclub manager. He took a great interest in the boxing careers of his two sons John and Brian, and was proud to see Brian become British and Commonwealth champion as he had been. He saw Brian unsuccessfully fight Floyd PattersonFloyd Patterson
Floyd Patterson was an American heavyweight boxer and former undisputed heavyweight champion. At 21, Patterson became the youngest man to win the world heavyweight title. He was also the first heavyweight boxer to regain the title. He had a record of 55 wins 8 losses and 1 draw, with 40 wins by...
for the world heavyweight title in 1959, but died before Brian fought Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
for the same title in 1966.
Sources
- http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Jack_London
- Ronnie Wharton (2005), Fighting Men of the North, Tempus Publishing Limited, ISBN 0-7524-3551-5