Arthur Suares

Arthur Suares

Name: Arthur Suares
Hometown: Bangalore, India
Birthplace: India
Pro Boxer: Record

Following story on Suares and the photo are from The Bangalore Mirror:

When boxing saved Arthur’s life

Anglo-Indian boxer Arthur Suares was just 14 when he won the coveted ‘Green Howard Cup’ for the South Indian Bantamweight Championship at Chennai. Even before becoming an adult, he turned pro and beat great boxers like lightweight champion of Western India Jack DeSouza. He went on to score amazing wins against American boxer Al Rivers, American welterweight boxer Dixie Kidd, British lightweight champion Seaman Nobby Hall and all-India inter-railway lightweight champion Duncan Chatterton. He even beat Gunboat Jack.

Arthur’s sister Marjorie remembers the match between him and Duncan Chatterton at the Opera Theatre. She says, “Arthur bashed up Duncan in no time. As he went about his job, I could hear Duncan’s wife crying out loud, “Don’t beat my husband.””

During World War II, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and continued his boxing career. He generously donated his prize money to the War Fund. While working with the Middle East Forces in Iraq, Suares knocked out three opponents in one night to become the light heavyweight champion of the Persia, Iraq and Iran Forces. He went on tours to Sri Lanka, Burma, Malaysia and Singapore to box. He turned down a boxing contract in the US and returned home.

Marjorie recalls how his boxing laurels saved his life during an anti-British riot during India’s struggle for Independence. She says, “Arthur was caught in a riot on Cavalry Road. Rioters mistook him for a Britisher and surrounded him.

Suddenly, someone from the crowd shouted, “Hey, this is our Arthur, the all-India boxing champion.” The mob then gave him three cheers, shook hands with him, and released him unharmed. When he came home that day, he told us all how he had a narrow escape with death.”