Hello Everyone.
I found this site by accident and discovered my father's name here (teddy Swain) from Toronto Canada.
I saw that there was no information on him and I was wondering who or how I could fill in the blanks of my dad.
Could someone please advise. Thanking you in advance. Larry Swain.
how can I update my father's information
Re: how can I update my father's information
Hi Larry, sorry cant help fill in any blanks regarding your father but I was too searching internet for info. My Grandfather was Fred Swain from Toronto and when I visited him from my home in England in 1977 I recall him saying he had a brother who was a former pro boxer. Can you fill in a blank for me and confirm if we are talking about same family. Thanks Kev
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robert.snell1
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 1141
- Joined: 16 Oct 2003, 07:56
Re: how can I update my father's information
if you email me i will send you this and others
Fitchburg Sentinel 3 Dec 1945
We've written about Teddy Swain before. Perhaps you remember? He was the young man that we quoted Gym A. C. Matchmaker Eddie Shapiro as saying would be the "future featherweight champion of the world." Well, many things have happened to Swain since then, and while Shapiro claims that he still thinks the young Canadian can reach the heights of fistic featherweight glory, such riff-raff and scallywags as yours truly prefers to wait until after tonight before passing judgment.
For, as we so impudently stated a few moments previous, many things have happened to Teddy. For one thing, he was extended to a decision and couldn't gain a knockout in a Worcester fight, something new for the whip-like, two-handed demon who looked to us and to Fitchburg fight men as if he could gain a string of KOs from here to Hoboken and back again.
Then, in the very ring he will enter tonight, and pitted against the same opponent, young Swain dropped a notch further. He was more than just extended. He was held to a draw. Finally, the other evening in Worcester, it happened. Swain, the "greatest young feather" prospect of a good many days, was knocked out. His first defeat since entering Sam Silverman's circuit of rings and also since vacating the championship of the Canadian army in favor of civilian life.
So, as you can see, we may have been impudent in our statement of fact regarding the little Canuck. But there is no one sitting around the evening dinner table who will state that we are a liar, bounder or whiz at misinterpretation. It is obvious for any person regarded as 1-A mentally by Gen. Hershey's office that (1) a mere decision (2) getting held to a draw and (3) finding yourself knocked out, is not a step toward the crowned head of Sal Bartolo, but rather a descent into the abyss of so many other fighters, almost champions.
For the likes of so many of the pugs who have appeared here, this record in three successive fights would gain nothing but the lowest of billing on the docket of 28 advertised rounds I so prominently displayed throughout the city and area by Neil Abo and his running mate, Shapiro. But because this Swain is something special, and he really is, the place of honor that he occupies on the 12th weekly Gym show is not bad billing.
Thoroughbreds belong with thoroughbreds, just so there is no place in the barrel for the bad apple. And to put Swain into a position lower than a main bout in Fitchburg tonight would be a mistake indeed. But, if you will notice, kind souls, we specifically state tonight. For this evening is the crisis in the career of the boy. After tonight he may still be held in our highest esteem. Or, bringing out the pathos of the occasion, he may not even rate sponge boy in a pug's corner in future weeks. This is IT.
Swain, we do not believe, will be badly beaten this evening. His opponent, a tough customer and a young veteran, Jean Paul Frechette of Lowell, known as The Blond Tiger, is not that good a fighter. But there is every chance with the way things are going that The Tiger may tag Teddy, and the career of another Canadian will go floating back up the St. Lawrence. That is one possibility. Other things may happen. But no matter how much of a Swain fan you may be, it must be admitted that you are not as cocksure about the little featherweight as you were two weeks ago tonight.
On the other hand, this evening can be one of great glory for Teddy. He made his first big hit here and he might start the climb back to his winning ways here. If the latter should be the case, we might say that young Swain has gone over the hump and he might well take a crack at Bartolo yet. Yes, it is
indeed the turning point for the ex-serviceman. For, after Fitchburg, what? We have yet to see him lose. We have the memory of one blazing win and another bristling draw. And not until with our own eyes we see him slumped to the canvas will we allow shipment of the limp form back to Ontario.
This will not be a night in boxing history. In future years, depending on his success in the days to come, Swain may not even remember Fitchburg and Monsieur Frechette. But there is the chance too that the recollections of this place and that name may remain with him the longest day he lives. Tonight is one of crisis for Swain.
Fitchburg Sentinel 3 Dec 1945
We've written about Teddy Swain before. Perhaps you remember? He was the young man that we quoted Gym A. C. Matchmaker Eddie Shapiro as saying would be the "future featherweight champion of the world." Well, many things have happened to Swain since then, and while Shapiro claims that he still thinks the young Canadian can reach the heights of fistic featherweight glory, such riff-raff and scallywags as yours truly prefers to wait until after tonight before passing judgment.
For, as we so impudently stated a few moments previous, many things have happened to Teddy. For one thing, he was extended to a decision and couldn't gain a knockout in a Worcester fight, something new for the whip-like, two-handed demon who looked to us and to Fitchburg fight men as if he could gain a string of KOs from here to Hoboken and back again.
Then, in the very ring he will enter tonight, and pitted against the same opponent, young Swain dropped a notch further. He was more than just extended. He was held to a draw. Finally, the other evening in Worcester, it happened. Swain, the "greatest young feather" prospect of a good many days, was knocked out. His first defeat since entering Sam Silverman's circuit of rings and also since vacating the championship of the Canadian army in favor of civilian life.
So, as you can see, we may have been impudent in our statement of fact regarding the little Canuck. But there is no one sitting around the evening dinner table who will state that we are a liar, bounder or whiz at misinterpretation. It is obvious for any person regarded as 1-A mentally by Gen. Hershey's office that (1) a mere decision (2) getting held to a draw and (3) finding yourself knocked out, is not a step toward the crowned head of Sal Bartolo, but rather a descent into the abyss of so many other fighters, almost champions.
For the likes of so many of the pugs who have appeared here, this record in three successive fights would gain nothing but the lowest of billing on the docket of 28 advertised rounds I so prominently displayed throughout the city and area by Neil Abo and his running mate, Shapiro. But because this Swain is something special, and he really is, the place of honor that he occupies on the 12th weekly Gym show is not bad billing.
Thoroughbreds belong with thoroughbreds, just so there is no place in the barrel for the bad apple. And to put Swain into a position lower than a main bout in Fitchburg tonight would be a mistake indeed. But, if you will notice, kind souls, we specifically state tonight. For this evening is the crisis in the career of the boy. After tonight he may still be held in our highest esteem. Or, bringing out the pathos of the occasion, he may not even rate sponge boy in a pug's corner in future weeks. This is IT.
Swain, we do not believe, will be badly beaten this evening. His opponent, a tough customer and a young veteran, Jean Paul Frechette of Lowell, known as The Blond Tiger, is not that good a fighter. But there is every chance with the way things are going that The Tiger may tag Teddy, and the career of another Canadian will go floating back up the St. Lawrence. That is one possibility. Other things may happen. But no matter how much of a Swain fan you may be, it must be admitted that you are not as cocksure about the little featherweight as you were two weeks ago tonight.
On the other hand, this evening can be one of great glory for Teddy. He made his first big hit here and he might start the climb back to his winning ways here. If the latter should be the case, we might say that young Swain has gone over the hump and he might well take a crack at Bartolo yet. Yes, it is
indeed the turning point for the ex-serviceman. For, after Fitchburg, what? We have yet to see him lose. We have the memory of one blazing win and another bristling draw. And not until with our own eyes we see him slumped to the canvas will we allow shipment of the limp form back to Ontario.
This will not be a night in boxing history. In future years, depending on his success in the days to come, Swain may not even remember Fitchburg and Monsieur Frechette. But there is the chance too that the recollections of this place and that name may remain with him the longest day he lives. Tonight is one of crisis for Swain.
Re: how can I update my father's information
@kev Fred Swain was my grandfather too...I am your cousin.
Re: how can I update my father's information
@kev11 and to answer your question Teddy was a relative of Freds.
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Lorraine Hancock
- Super Middleweight
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 09 Aug 2012, 05:29
Re: how can I update my father's information
Kev11 THANK YOU FOR MESSAGE
Last edited by Lorraine Hancock on 28 Aug 2012, 15:52, edited 1 time in total.
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dajuggernaut
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 441
- Joined: 22 Jul 2006, 22:43
Re: how can I update my father's information
Interesting.