Thomas Thomas (boxer)

Thomas Thomas (April 8 1880 – August 13 1911), was a Welsh boxer, the first British middleweight boxing champion.

Early Years

He was born at Glynarthen, Cardiganshire but moved to Carncelyn Farm, Penygraig, in the Rhondda Valley of South Wales at an early age.

Learning the noble art

He began boxing in a sideshow, touring with Freddie Welsh and Jim Driscoll. After winning the local Rhondda valley heavyweight "championship", he won a National Sporting Club middleweight competition in London. Eventually, in May 1906, he fought the Irish champion Pat O'Keefe to become the first national British middleweight champion. In 1909, he fought Charlie Wilson to become the first holder of a Lonsdale Belt at his weight.

Early demise

He began to suffer from rheumatism, and died from its effects in 1911 in London, where he was preparing for a world title fight with the American Billy Papke.

Although his boxing record is not very well documented he is believed to have won 41 of his 44 fights.

ources

* [http://wbo.llgc.org.uk/en/s-THOM-THO-1880.html Welsh Biography Online]
* "Sport" edited by Gareth Williams. Published by Parthian Books (2007)