BoxRec

Any advance on 20 - Ted (Kid) Lewis and Jack Britton.

I have unearthed 63 professional contests fought between two Londoners, Mike Sweeney and Danny Cripps, between 1906 and 1921. Sweeney had 94 contests in total and Cripps 73. Just to prove they weren't figments of my imagination I can reproduce a photo of them shaking hands after a contest at the Westover Ice Rink, Bournemouth in 1914. If I knew how to add it to this post then I would do. Anyone help ?

They weren't top liners, but they were a very popular addition to fight bills in and around London for very many years

prewarboxing wrote:I have unearthed 63 professional contests fought between two Londoners, Mike Sweeney and Danny Cripps, between 1906 and 1921. Sweeney had 94 contests in total and Cripps 73. Just to prove they weren't figments of my imagination I can reproduce a photo of them shaking hands after a contest at the Westover Ice Rink, Bournemouth in 1914. If I knew how to add it to this post then I would do. Anyone help ?

They weren't top liners, but they were a very popular addition to fight bills in and around London for very many years

Staggering! They must have been pretty good mates. I wonder if they were 'gee' fights.

To add the photo you'd need to upload it somewhere (e.g. to the prewarboxing.co.uk server), then enter [img]imageurlhere[/img] to make it appear in your message board post.

I can add the photo if you email it to me. I'd be interested to see it.

Alex

prewarboxing wrote:I have unearthed 63 professional contests fought between two Londoners, Mike Sweeney and Danny Cripps, between 1906 and 1921. Sweeney had 94 contests in total and Cripps 73. Just to prove they weren't figments of my imagination I can reproduce a photo of them shaking hands after a contest at the Westover Ice Rink, Bournemouth in 1914. If I knew how to add it to this post then I would do. Anyone help ?

They weren't top liners, but they were a very popular addition to fight bills in and around London for very many years

I'd love to see some more evidence of their fights, as it sounds amazing. BoxRec only lists one.

1912-11-20 Mike Sweeney
Bedminster Arcade Hall, Bristol, Avon, United Kingdom L PTS 10 10x3

I will post the record for Mike Sweeney shortly - give me an hour. When you say you live in Sunny Darlo, would that be Darlington by any chance ? If so I live about 12 miles away from you.

prewarboxing wrote:I will post the record for Mike Sweeney shortly - give me an hour. When you say you live in Sunny Darlo, would that be Darlington by any chance ? If so I live about 12 miles away from you.

Yes mate, where do you live?

Photo courtesy of Miles Templeton (prewarboxing.co.uk):

Here is the Mike Sweeney record. The knockouts were all genuine KO. I do not use the American method of all inside distance = KO.


Boxing record compiled by Miles Templeton - 2011 www.prewarboxing.co.uk
This record is based on results reported in 'Boxing', Mirror of Life and Sporting Life plus a number of other bouts from local newspapers.
More bouts will be added to this record as they become available

This record can be published provided that I am credited as the source

Mike Sweeney(Islington)
94 contests - won 18 lost 43 drew 31
Feb 14 1905 George Watkins(Deptford) LP Islington Pentonville Road Baths 3
(9 stone novice competition 1st series)
Mar 9 1905 Fred Dudley(St Luke's) LP Shoreditch Goodwin Gymnasium 3
(9 stone novice competition 1st series)
Feb 19 1906 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Islington Pentonville Road Baths 6
Apr 10 1906 H Couchman(Marylebone) WP Soho Walsingham Club 3
(9 stone novice competition 1st series)
Apr 10 1906 Joe Bland(St James) LP Soho Walsingham Club 3
(9 stone novice competition 2nd series)
Oct 24 1906 J Wilson(Hampstead) LP Soho Walsingham Club 3
(9st 6lbs 'American' competition for £30- 1st bout)
Nov 7 1906 F Abrams(Finchley) WP Soho Walsingham Club 3
(9st 6lbs 'American' competition for £30- 2nd bout)
Nov 14 1906 W Harris(Lisson Grove) LP Soho Walsingham Club 3
(9st 6lbs 'American' competition for £30- 3rd bout)
Dec 19 1906 C Williams(Notting Hill) LP Soho Walsingham Club 3
(9st 6lbs 'American' competition for £30- 4th bout)
Feb 13 1907 Bob Fowler(Hoxton) KO2 Soho Walsingham Club 3
(9 stone novice competition 1st series)
Feb 13 1907 Harry Green(Paddington) LP Soho Walsingham Club 3
(9 stone novice competition 2nd series)
Jan 11 1909 Danny Cripps(Islington) WP Covent Garden National Sporting Club 6
Apr 24 1909 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Hoxton Brittania Theatre 10
May 29 1909 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Charing Cross Arena 10
Dec 1909 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Holborn Middlesex Music Hall 10
Jan 1910 Bob Davies(Bloomsbury) DR Holborn Middlesex Music Hall 6
Mar 12 1910 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Whitechapel Wonderland 10
Apr 9 1910 Danny Cripps(Islington) LKO6 Whitechapel Wonderland 10
Jun 25 1910 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Southwark The Ring 10
Aug 6 1910 Jim Perry(Mile End) LP Whitechapel Wonderland 6
Aug 13 1910 Tibby Shields(Marylebone) WP Southwark The Ring 6
Sep 12 1910 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Hammersmith Palace 6
Oct 20 1910 Fred Reed(Drury Lane) WP Southwark The Ring 6
Nov 28 1910 Charlie Fox(Somers Town) LKO2 Covent Garden National Sporting Club 6
Dec 5 1910 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Holborn Empire 6
Dec 8 1910 Tom Smith(Blackfriars) LP Southwark The Ring 6
Dec 24 1910 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Islington Collins Music Hall 6
Dec 31 1910 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Poplar Hippodrome 10
Jan 11 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Kensington Olympia 6
Jan 14 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Poplar Hippodrome 6
Jan 25 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Kensington Olympia 6
Feb 6 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) WP Holborn Empire 6
Feb 11 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Islington Collins Music Hall 6
Feb 18 1911 Harry Abrahams(Hackney) WP Islington Collins Music Hall 10
Mar 8 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Chepstow Skating Rink 10
Mar 13 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Southwark The Ring 8
Mar 23 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Exeter Baths 10
Apr 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) rnk Aberdeen
Oct 20 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) LKO7 Southampton Coliseum 15
Oct 21 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Clerkenwell Sadler's Wells 6
Dec 19 1911 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Bloomsbury International AC 6
Jan 1 1912 Jack Roberts(Drury Lane) DR Southwark The Ring 6
Jan 31 1912 Danny Cripps(Islington) WP Tunbridge Wells Great Hall 10
Feb 12 1912 George Smith(Borough) KO1 Southwark The Ring 6
Feb 19 1912 Danny Cripps(Islington) LKO4 London Cromwell Hall 6
Feb 22 1912 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP London Netherlands AC 6
Sep 7 1912 Danny Cripps(Islington) WP Ipswich Empress Rink 10
Sep 21 1912 Danny Cripps(Islington) LKO13 Ipswich Empress Rink 15
Nov 10 1912 Danny Cripps(Islington) ND Bloomsbury International AC 3
Nov 13 1912 Danny Cripps(Islington) WP Bedminster
Nov 25 1912 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Bristol 15
Dec 9 1912 Danny Cripps(Islington) LKO10 Acton Baths
Jan 1913 Danny Cripps(Islington) WP Plumstead Baths 6
Jan 12 1913 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Bloomsbury International AC 4
Jan 22 1913 Danny Cripps(Islington) WP Canterbury Skating Rink 10
Feb 1913 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Plumstead Baths 6
May 5 1913 Danny Cripps(Islington) WP Kettering 15
May 26 1913 Spud Murphy(Camberwell) DR Southwark The Ring
Dec 14 1913 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Bloomsbury International AC 6
Dec 18 1913 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Southwark The Ring 6
Jan 5 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Islington Excelsior AC 4
Jan 18 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Bloomsbury International AC 10
Jan 30 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Manchester
Mar 2 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Islington Excelsior AC 6
Mar 15 1914 Bob Yewman(Bethnal Green) DR Islington Excelsior AC 6
Mar 30 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Bedford Skating Rink
Apr 1 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Richmond - London 10
Apr 25 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) LKO8 Sydenham Crystal Palace 10
May 14 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Manor Park 6
Jun 8 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Covent Garden National Sporting Club 6
Jul 4 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR New Barnet
Jul 7 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Kensington Olympia 10
Jul 21 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Bath 10
Jul 23 1914 Danny Cripps(Islington) LP Manor Park 10
Dec 10 1914 Patsy Kelly(Bermondsey) WP Southwark The Ring 6
Dec 21 1914 Jerry Ewing(Old Ford) LP Southwark The Ring 6
Feb 18 1915 Tom Wingrove(Hoxton) LP Southwark The Ring 6
Mar 29 1915 Jack Cleary(Bermondsey) LP Southwark The Ring 6
May 24 1915 George Hardy(Lambeth) L Southwark The Ring 6
Jul 12 1915 Jimmy Taylor(Stepney) LKO1 Southwark The Ring 6
Sep 27 1915 Mike Burton(Islington) WP Southwark The Ring 6
Nov 25 1915 Patsy Kelly(Bermondsey) LKO3 Southwark The Ring 6
Apr 3 1916 Mike Burton(Islington) LP Hoxton Pitfield Street Baths 6
Jun 12 1916 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Southwark The Ring 6
Jul 16 1917 Danny Cripps(Islington) LKO5 Southwark The Ring
Aug 1918 Danny Cripps(Islington) WP Blackheath Drill Hall 10
Sep 25 1918 Pte. Cole(Canada) LP Covent Garden National Sporting Club 3
Inter-Allied Featherweight competition 2nd series
Dec 1918 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Islington 6
Dec 10 1918 Danny Cripps(Islington) LKO9 Finsbury Central AC (Radical Club) 10
Feb 25 1919 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Reading Corn Exchange 10
Apr 12 1919 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Brighton Drill Hall 6
May 22 1919 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Oxford Town Hall 10
Aug 14 1919 Danny Cripps(Islington) LKO9 Herne Bay Grand Pier Pavilion 10
Mar 7 1921 Danny Cripps(Islington) DR Tottenham United Services Club 6

KeithMoonHangover (great name by the way, I tickle the skins a bit myself).

I live in Richmond. You will note from my moniker that I am a historian of pre war boxing in Britain. I don't follow the game these days. My interest is between 1890 and about 1985.

Maybe we could chew the cud over a pint some time.

Miles

prewarboxing wrote:KeithMoonHangover (great name by the way, I tickle the skins a bit myself).

I live in Richmond. You will note from my moniker that I am a historian of pre war boxing in Britain. I don't follow the game these days. My interest is between 1890 and about 1985.

Maybe we could chew the cud over a pint some time.

Miles

Defo mate. I'll be drinking tomato juice, cozz my liver is goosed. :(

I love the old stuff as well. Ted (Kid) Lewis is the best british fighter ever IMHO. I used to know someone who was Johnny Basham's best friend, he said he was a great fella.

Stanley Ketchel is fav fighter of all time, but I do like the modern stuff as well.

Why '85?

Dunno exactly. I followed the sport closely until about '85 and got pissed off with all the macho staring, the tassles, the bad-mouthing, the lack of respect for your opponent etc etc. It has got worse since then. I still like to see the sport live occasionally. I went to the second last show at the Dolphin in Darlo back in '03 but missed the last one, all hell let loose, heard it was bad.

I reckon Sweeney and Cripps were 'gee' most of the time. Too many of their bouts ended by clean KO, which is suspicious.

They all occurred on regular promotions so they cannot be discounted.

Sticking to our neck of the woods. Alf Paolozzi (North Shields) v Charlie Proctor (Bedlington) fought each other 16 times between 1925 and 1933. Bill Slosh(Byker, Newcastle) v Soldier Hails(Shieldfield, Newcastle), fought 23 times between 1931 and 1934.

My liver is just about surviving so I'll stick to the usual, a pint of Black Sheep.

Regarding Bruce Foxton, I used to live in Guildford and Bruce was a regular in my local. Every time he came in we'd pump the jukebox with old Jam songs. He was out the door quicker than Paul Weller.

He got his own back though. Once I was at a party and I opened the door to a room and saw Foxton on his own with about twelve nice chicks. I thought this is the place for me and sat down with them. Foxton departed after about 35 seconds and the twelfth girl had gone by about the third minute, leaving me sitting on me tod like a prat. Great days.

prewarboxing wrote:Dunno exactly. I followed the sport closely until about '85 and got pissed off with all the macho staring, the tassles, the bad-mouthing, the lack of respect for your opponent etc etc. It has got worse since then. I still like to see the sport live occasionally. I went to the second last show at the Dolphin in Darlo back in '03 but missed the last one, all hell let loose, heard it was bad.

I reckon Sweeney and Cripps were 'gee' most of the time. Too many of their bouts ended by clean KO, which is suspicious.

They all occurred on regular promotions so they cannot be discounted.

Sticking to our neck of the woods. Alf Paolozzi (North Shields) v Charlie Proctor (Bedlington) fought each other 16 times between 1925 and 1933. Bill Slosh(Byker, Newcastle) v Soldier Hails(Shieldfield, Newcastle), fought 23 times between 1931 and 1934.

My liver is just about surviving so I'll stick to the usual, a pint of Black Sheep.

Regarding Bruce Foxton, I used to live in Guildford and Bruce was a regular in my local. Every time he came in we'd pump the jukebox with old Jam songs. He was out the door quicker than Paul Weller.

He got his own back though. Once I was at a party and I opened the door to a room and saw Foxton on his own with about twelve nice chicks. I thought this is the place for me and sat down with them. Foxton departed after about 35 seconds and the twelfth girl had gone by about the third minute, leaving me sitting on me tod like a prat. Great days.

Good story. We'll have to have a pint in 22's or somewhere.

Re Ted (Kid) Lewis best british fighter
In his one and only fight in Wales he was reported as the Anglo-American.

basham wrote:Re Ted (Kid) Lewis best british fighter
In his one and only fight in Wales he was reported as the Anglo-American.

Nice name Basham. Any relation?

No Relation.
Use the surname of my hometown's greatest boxer.
Do you the know the meaning of "Peerless". Cheers.

basham wrote:No Relation.
Use the surname of my hometown's greatest boxer.
Do you the know the meaning of "Peerless". Cheers.

Peerless = He has no Peers. He is without Peers. In other words no-one is of the same class or standard. He is the best !

Jim Driscoll deserved this accolade

basham wrote:No Relation.
Use the surname of my hometown's greatest boxer.
Do you the know the meaning of "Peerless". Cheers.

You may have read above. I used to know a gentleman who was Basham's best friend for most of his life and said he was a really canny lad.

Is his best friend mentioned by Alan Roderick in his book Johnny! The Story Of The Happy Warrior.
Basham and Jerry Shea were the best of friends even though Sheas' last fight was against Johnny.

Shea who was also a Newportonian and a fine runner and excellent swimmer his reported as saying
after being K.O.ed. in 1st. rd. by Ted (Kid)Lewis "It Is The Fortune Of Boxing".
Somewhat Different to what was said by T.K.L. after he was K.O.ed. in 1st. for second time.

basham wrote:Is his best friend mentioned by Alan Roderick in his book Johnny! The Story Of The Happy Warrior.
Basham and Jerry Shea were the best of friends even though Sheas' last fight was against Johnny.

Shea who was also a Newportonian and a fine runner and excellent swimmer his reported as saying
after being K.O.ed. in 1st. rd. by Ted (Kid)Lewis "It Is The Fortune Of Boxing".
Somewhat Different to what was said by T.K.L. after he was K.O.ed. in 1st. for second time.

Shea was also capped by Wales in both Rugby Union and Rugby League.

Alex wrote:

prewarboxing wrote:I have unearthed 63 professional contests fought between two Londoners, Mike Sweeney and Danny Cripps, between 1906 and 1921. Sweeney had 94 contests in total and Cripps 73. Just to prove they weren't figments of my imagination I can reproduce a photo of them shaking hands after a contest at the Westover Ice Rink, Bournemouth in 1914. If I knew how to add it to this post then I would do. Anyone help ?

They weren't top liners, but they were a very popular addition to fight bills in and around London for very many years

Staggering! They must have been pretty good mates. I wonder if they were 'gee' fights.

To add the photo you'd need to upload it somewhere (e.g. to the prewarboxing.co.uk server), then enter [img]imageurlhere[/img] to make it appear in your message board post.

I can add the photo if you email it to me. I'd be interested to see it.

Alex

Hi
I would also very much like to see the photo as Danny Cripps was my great grandfather.

It's a pity that my father died in November last year (2011), I would of loved for him to have seen the photo, can I give you a big thank you for posting the photo.

From what i can recollect off hand,Reggie Strickland fought a few different opponents quite a few times.

Hi All Thanks for the photo and all the info Danny Cripps was my great grandfather and I was told that he was a boxer , but its just great to have a photo.

Cheers Des

Great to see a picture of my great-great-grandfather, Danny Cripps. Thanks

Sam Langford and Harry Wills had a fair few.

I believe Wills and Langford fought atleast 18 times. (one source I saw says 25 times.)Langford and Jeannette fought at least 14 times. Langford and McVey 15 times. Different sources have different totals for this as well.