Lefty Satan Flynn
Encyclopedia
Lefty 'Satan' Flynn born Selvin Campbell in British Honduras
(present day Belize
) was a professional boxer
. Flynn also known as His Satanic Majesty fought out of Jamaica
becoming Jamaican featherweight and later welterweight champion. After taking the Jamaican titles he moved to Britain in late 1936, continuing to fight there until 1945 later making an unsuccessful attempt at the British Honduras welterweight title in Belize City in 1954.
, Jamaica, and travelled to Great Britain in 1936. With the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Merchant Navy.
His first British fight was against Joe Kerr, a future Scottish Lightweight champion, winning by technical knockout in the second round. He lost to Boyo Rees towards the end of 1936, but then beat Len 'Tiger' Smith in January 1937. In Britain Flynn was unable to challenge for any of the British belts, but was a popular attraction on boxing cards during his time in the country. He fought at The Stadium in Liverpool, Earls Court Arena
and the National Sporting Club
in London and Kelvin Hall
in London. Flynn beat several notable British boxers during his time in the UK, including British champion Ronnie James
, EBU welterweight champion Ernie Roderick and Southern area title holder Arthur Danahar.
In 1946, Flynn left the United Kingdom and travelled back to the Caribbean. On 30 April 1946 he face the Venezuelan welterweight champion, J.J. Fernandez at Port-of-Spain in Trinidad and Tobago. Flynn lost the match on points. Although no record of his interim fights is available, in 1954 Flynn re-appears on the boxing scene in a challenge for the British Honduras welterweight title against Rudolph Bent. Bent won the contest by points, and in a rematch two months later in November Bent beat Flynn again, this time by technical knockout.
British Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
(present day Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
) was a professional 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...
. Flynn also known as His Satanic Majesty fought out of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
becoming Jamaican featherweight and later welterweight champion. After taking the Jamaican titles he moved to Britain in late 1936, continuing to fight there until 1945 later making an unsuccessful attempt at the British Honduras welterweight title in Belize City in 1954.
Personal history
Flynn, born as Selvin Campbell in British Honduras, moved to Jamaica while still an adolescent. He went to school in KingstonKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Jamaica, and travelled to Great Britain in 1936. With the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Merchant Navy.
Boxing career
Flynn's first recorded professional fight, weighing in as a flyweight, was as a nineteen-year-old facing similarly inexperienced fighters in Kingston, Jamaica. After a draw against Kid Walcott, He faced Kid Bailey three times, winning twice and drawing once. There is no official record of another professional encounter until four years later in 1931 when Flynn faced Young Harvey at the Ward Theatre in Jamaica. On 23 April 1932 he faced St Andrew Pup for the Jamaican Lightweight title, though there is no record of this being a vacant title and neither men being the holder. Flynn stopped Pup for the first time in his career, taking the championship crown. Flynn held the title until relinquishing the belt after rising to lightweight and challenging Kid Silver on the 12 November 1932. Flynn failed in his challenge but continued to fight in Jamaica winning the majority of his contest. In early 1936, and now fighting at the next weight level of welterweight, Flynn fought Kid Silver again this time for the Jamaican Welterweight title. Silver was disqualified in the eighth giving Flynn his second Jamaican boxing title. Flynn fought a few more bouts in Jamaica, before travelling to Britain to continue his career.His first British fight was against Joe Kerr, a future Scottish Lightweight champion, winning by technical knockout in the second round. He lost to Boyo Rees towards the end of 1936, but then beat Len 'Tiger' Smith in January 1937. In Britain Flynn was unable to challenge for any of the British belts, but was a popular attraction on boxing cards during his time in the country. He fought at The Stadium in Liverpool, Earls Court Arena
Earls Court Exhibition Centre
The Earls Court Exhibition Centre is an exhibition centre, conference and event venue located in west London, United Kingdom in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea . It is the largest exhibition venue in central London. It is served by two underground stations, Earl's Court and West...
and the National Sporting Club
National Sporting Club
The National Sporting Club was a club founded in London in 1891, which did more to establish the sport of boxing in Great Britain than any other organisation.-Origins:...
in London and Kelvin Hall
Kelvin Hall
The Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, Scotland, is a mixed-use arts and sports venue that opened as an exhibition centre in 1927. It has been a music hall, indoor arena and barrage balloon factory, and is currently home to the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena and from 1987 to 2010, Glasgow's Museum of...
in London. Flynn beat several notable British boxers during his time in the UK, including British champion Ronnie James
Ronnie James
Ronnie James , former British Lightweight boxing champion. Born in Swansea, Wales, James had over 130 professional bouts winning 114 of them, 61 through knockout...
, EBU welterweight champion Ernie Roderick and Southern area title holder Arthur Danahar.
In 1946, Flynn left the United Kingdom and travelled back to the Caribbean. On 30 April 1946 he face the Venezuelan welterweight champion, J.J. Fernandez at Port-of-Spain in Trinidad and Tobago. Flynn lost the match on points. Although no record of his interim fights is available, in 1954 Flynn re-appears on the boxing scene in a challenge for the British Honduras welterweight title against Rudolph Bent. Bent won the contest by points, and in a rematch two months later in November Bent beat Flynn again, this time by technical knockout.