Tom Cowler
Name: Tom Cowler
Alias: Cumberland Giant
Birth Name: Tom Cowler
Hometown: Whitehaven, Cumbria, United Kingdom
Birthplace: Hensingham, Cumbria, United Kingdom
Died: 1951-02-20 (Age:58)
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 188cm
Reach: 199cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Photo #2, Photo #3, Photo #4
- Born Main Street, Hensingham, Cumberland County, England.
- Cowler was "discovered" by Jim Corbett.
It was in Whitehaven on September 8th 1910 Tom would meet Mr Frank Bradley from 'The Mirror of Life' also a London Referee and Fight organiser.
The Whitehaven News reported: Cumberland Sports Club Boxing- Event 7 was a six round contest between Heavyweights, Viz Tom Cowler, of Hensingham and Hugh Quinn of Whitehaven. Cowler, who is 6ft 2 ins tall and 14 stone in weight knocked out his opponent almost with the first punch,
Tom returned to Whitehaven in the Summer of 1912 as reported in the Whitehaven News. Tom was home visiting and relaxing for his up and coming fight against Mexborough's British Champion and Lonsdale Belt winner William "Iron" Hague. Will Kaye accompanied and was searching for six people to face Tom in three two-minute rounds in a specially constructed outside arena somewhere in Whitehaven. No one took up the offer.
The Cowler/Hague battle was well covered in the Mex local papers August 1912; Hague was a sporting hero and a real favourite. Tom took plenty of supporters, but they were drowned out by the 3000 Hague followers. The Fight was an epic one-sided affair at the Mexborough Stadium.. Tom supremely fit and confident carried Hague throughout and as described by the Mexborough and Swinton Times
In the eighth round Cowler did his opponent a kindness by setting the matter out of hand. He sent "Iron" out with a body blow, followed by a glancing blow to the chin and Hague once the pride of the sporting fraternity of the north lay, helpless and inert, with the big clever youngster who had beaten him standing quietly by. There could be no doubt that Cowler won handsomely and fought cleanly and well with a judgment and knowledge of ring craft beyond his years. He must have been in good hands to come on so well in a short time.
'Boxing News' March 1914
The proposed match with Tom Cowler and Arthur Pelkey.
The latter being KO the promoters called the affair off. Tommy Burns was asked to take the place of Pelkey, but refused.
The March 28, 1914 Tacoma Daily News (Tacoma, WA, USA) reported that Cowler had been sentenced to a year in New Westminster prison, for participating in a strike riot, and charged with assaulting a police officer. He had thought that by pleading guilty he would get a suspended sentence, not actual prison time.
- Jan 7, 1915. James J. Corbett and Tom Cowler sign a contract guaranteeing Corbett 50% of Cowler's future wages for the former world champion to act as Cowler's manager. A tour of Australia is planned. Cowler is often described in contemporary chronicles as being over six feet three inches tall, but a photo of him standing beside James Corbett would seem to indicate this was journalistic exaggeration, as he may have been only a shade taller than Corbett, who was at best six feet one.
- A photo taken in 1916 shows Cowler standing shoulder to shoulder with the 5 foot seven and a half inch tall Jack Dillon. He does not appear to be eight inches taller than Dillon.
- Promoter/Manager Jimmy Johnston "The Boy Bandit" nicknamed Tom "The Concrete Crusher".
External Link
CBZ page