BoxRec

Have there been many cases of fighters following their fathers and grandfathers into the professional ring? Any examples of all three generations being successful?

wasent there three generations of London's ?

Sir Stanley Matthews, one of Britain's finest ever footballers (or soccer players if you are American) had a son who became Wimbledon Boy's Tennis Champion in 1962. Stanley's father was a top of the bill boxer in the Midlands before the First World War. His name was Jack Matthews (Hanley).

Whilst this does not meet your question exactly it is, nonetheless, an interesting example of a grandson, father and grandfather excelling at three different sports, one of them being boxing.

Incidentally Jack Matthews fought throughout his career with a marvellous waxed moustache. He fought one of the greatest ever contests at the old National Sporting Club in Covent Garden.

prewarboxing wrote:Sir Stanley Matthews, one of Britain's finest ever footballers (or soccer players if you are American) had a son who became Wimbledon Boy's Tennis Champion in 1962. Stanley's father was a top of the bill boxer in the Midlands before the First World War. His name was Jack Matthews (Hanley).

Whilst this does not meet your question exactly it is, nonetheless, an interesting example of a grandson, father and grandfather excelling at three different sports, one of them being boxing.

Incidentally Jack Matthews fought throughout his career with a marvellous waxed moustache. He fought one of the greatest ever contests at the old National Sporting Club in Covent Garden.

That's very interesting thanks for the information. I know Stanley Matthews was very fitness and diet conscious for a player of his era, maybe he picked that up from his old man.

Panzerfaust wrote:wasent there three generations of London's ?

I know there was a father and two sons. Hadn't heard of Brian London's son of Grandfather being a fighter but you never know.

Thinking about this a little more I can think of the Danahar family from Bethnal Green in the East End of London :

Tom, active 1905-19
Albert, 1911-26
Albert, 1919-34
Dave, 1925-32
Arthur, 1934-47 (British Lightweight Champion)
Alf, 1939-55
George, 1953-54
Ken, 1959-62
George, 1979-83

I am not sure of the relationship between them all, but between them they boxed in every decade between the 1900s and the 1980s and were all related to each other in some way

prewarboxing wrote:Thinking about this a little more I can think of the Danahar family from Bethnal Green in the East End of London :

Tom, active 1905-19
Albert, 1911-26
Albert, 1919-34
Dave, 1925-32
Arthur, 1934-47 (British Lightweight Champion)
Alf, 1939-55
George, 1953-54
Ken, 1959-62
George, 1979-83

I am not sure of the relationship between them all, but between them they boxed in every decade between the 1900s and the 1980s and were all related to each other in some way

Great call, Miles.

According to an article by Tom Burke (a pal of Arthur Danahar's):

Albert (1911-1926), Tom (1905-19), Dave (1925-32) and George (?) Danahar were brothers who boxed profesionally.

Albert jnr. (1919-1934), Arthur (1934-47), Alf (1939-55), George (1953-54), Ken (1959-62), plus Dennis Danahar (who only boxed as an amateur) were sons of Albert (1911-1926).

I'm not sure where George (1979-83) fits in, but he must be either a grandson of Albert (1911-1926) or one of the other original Danahar brothers.

Tom Burke also states that Albert Jnr. boxed between 1931 and 1934, but of course he may be wrong.

British and world bantamweight champion Teddy Baldock's father boxed professionally at Wonderland in Whitechapel, and his grandfather, Jack 'Bulldog' Baldock, was a 19th-century bare-knuckle fighter.

Another of Teddy's ancestors, Jack 'Hoppy' Baldock, was also a bare-knuckler, and worked as a second for the likes of Charlie Mitchell, Ted Pritchard and Jem Smith.

Alex wrote:British and world bantamweight champion Teddy Baldock's father boxed professionally at Wonderland in Whitechapel, and his grandfather, Jack 'Bulldog' Baldock, was a 19th-century bare-knuckle fighter.

Another of Teddy's ancestors, Jack 'Hoppy' Baldock, was also a bare-knuckler, and worked as a second for the likes of Charlie Mitchell, Ted Pritchard and Jem Smith.

Good call. I suppose fighters spanning three generations is always quite likely to throw up a bare knuckle fighter.

I wonder if Gypsy John Fury's father ever had a professional bout, wouldn't surprise me.

Panzerfaust wrote:wasent there three generations of London's ?

I have checked this thoroughly and have found a report in the Mirror of Life for Sep 28 1907 for a show at West Hartlepool, which is, of course, where the Londons originated. On a show which took place at the Circus in West Hartlepool on Sep 21 1907 a certain H Harper outpointed J White over six rounds. Harper was the actual surname of the Londons and if Jack senior's father did box then it would be at about this time. I cannot say for sure but I do think that this is the third generation we are looking for. Harper is not the most common name, especially in West Hartlepool !

In an interesting twist on the subject.

Vince McMahon Jr the promoter of wrestling of WWE fame is the the son of Vince McMahon Sr who founded the wrestling organisation now known as the WWE. He was in turn the son of Roderick James "Jess" McMahon who used to be a boxing promoter who often did co-promotions with Tex Rickard at the turn of the last century. He was the promoter of the Willard Johnson matchup in Cuba in 1915.

Thats three generations of promoters though obviously not all related to boxing.

Jack London's son was Brian London (family name Harper).

Brian London's daughter married Dave Garside who challenged Horace Notice for the British Heavyweight title.

I think that's where the question of three generations of Londons comes from ..... though Garside was obviously a son-in-law.

prewarboxing wrote:

Panzerfaust wrote:wasent there three generations of London's ?

I have checked this thoroughly and have found a report in the Mirror of Life for Sep 28 1907 for a show at West Hartlepool, which is, of course, where the Londons originated. On a show which took place at the Circus in West Hartlepool on Sep 21 1907 a certain H Harper outpointed J White over six rounds. Harper was the actual surname of the Londons and if Jack senior's father did box then it would be at about this time. I cannot say for sure but I do think that this is the third generation we are looking for. Harper is not the most common name, especially in West Hartlepool !

Jack London's father was called Tom Harper.