BoxRec

Can anybody help please? My father, recently deceased, always told of a fight he had while in the RAF as Natonal Serviceman, he boxed against a soldier who later became a professional fighter and we believe a champion. All we know is that it would have been between 1945 and 1948 so the championship would have been later than this. The boxer came from Birmingham and was known as Bernie or Brian. Scant info I know but I would be pleased to hear of anyone who may fit this profile. He may well have had a bout in a boxing pub called 'The Merry Fiddlers' in Dagenham, possibly in the fifties. Thanks for reading this, I know it is a tall order.

Patsy wrote:Can anybody help please? My father, recently deceased, always told of a fight he had while in the RAF as Natonal Serviceman, he boxed against a soldier who later became a professional fighter and we believe a champion. All we know is that it would have been between 1945 and 1948 so the championship would have been later than this. The boxer came from Birmingham and was known as Bernie or Brian. Scant info I know but I would be pleased to hear of anyone who may fit this profile. He may well have had a bout in a boxing pub called 'The Merry Fiddlers' in Dagenham, possibly in the fifties. Thanks for reading this, I know it is a tall order.

What weight was your dad fighting at?

Thanks for your prompt response. Unfortunately I don't know the weight for sure. He is unlikely to have been a heavy weight; perhaps around 11-12 stone.

Patsy wrote:Can anybody help please? My father, recently deceased, always told of a fight he had while in the RAF as Natonal Serviceman, he boxed against a soldier who later became a professional fighter and we believe a champion. All we know is that it would have been between 1945 and 1948 so the championship would have been later than this. The boxer came from Birmingham and was known as Bernie or Brian. Scant info I know but I would be pleased to hear of anyone who may fit this profile. He may well have had a bout in a boxing pub called 'The Merry Fiddlers' in Dagenham, possibly in the fifties. Thanks for reading this, I know it is a tall order.

Whats your Dads name Pasty x

Dad's name was Jim Baker known as lofty, but he wasn't a boxer. He was in the RAF as a conscript and the fight was set up to allay street fighting between army and airforce. On the day of the fight the sergeant pti who should have been boxing had a broken leg so Dad was 'volunteered. He said he was knocked all over the ring and lost but he was never on the canvas. It was a few years later when he discovered who had been in the ring with.

i have pm'd you patsy with a site tht may be able to assist, the guy isa boxing historian and specialisizes in pre-war boxing. Worth a try...if no else comes up with anything...

Thankyou

Bernie Newcombe fits the bill. Fought at welterweight and had several bouts in Dagenham during the 50s. He is the 54th ranked (out of 2808) U.K. welterweight of all time according to BoxRec. It says his residence in Dagenham, so I'm not sure if he moved there later from Birmingham or if it's a different guy.

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer


There is also Brian Anders at light heavyweight. He fought from 49-56. Wasn't from Birmingham and didn't fight in Dagenham though.

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

there is a pub at the top of the heathway in dagenham called the fiddlers, it has always been a big boxing area, and the rumor has it that alot of gypsies use to fight local hard men for money in that pub in the 50's and 60's, local boxing hero kevin mitchell comes from the same part of dagenham and according to my grandad kevins grandad organised alot of these fights, they think his name was errol or known as titchy mitch, hope this helps.