Harry Preston

Name: Harry Preston
Hometown: Brighton, Sussex, United Kingdom
Birthplace: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
Died: 1936-08-13 (Age:76)
Promoter: Record
Referee: Record

In London he developed a keen interest in boxing and at the age of eighteen, joined the West End Boxing Club. When, in 1884, the Amateur Boxing Association instituted a Bantam Weight competition, he was the first to enter and made it through to the semi-final, only to lose by a narrow margin. One of his most famous associates was Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII and ultimately the Duke of Windsor). He first approached the Prince in 1920 to enquire if he would become patron of the boxing tournament he was planning to hold in Brighton to raise funds for the Royal Sussex County Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The Prince’s brother, the Duke of York (later King George VI), also agreed to be a patron. The match took place at The Dome and Harry himself took part, fighting Tom Ringer, featherweight champion of 1908. Further boxing matches took place at the Dome over the following years and included such famous fighters as Jack Dempsey (world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926).