Tom Cowley

Name: Tom Cowley
Hometown: Thurnscoe Hickleton, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Birthplace: County Durham, United Kingdom
Died: 1977-02-00 (Age:66)
Pro Boxer: Record

Thomas William Cowley was born 14/02/1910 in County Durham, England. Growing up in abject poverty he didn't own a pair of shoes until he signed up for his first job as a Collier at the age of 14. The scarcity of work in County Durham forced him to South Yorkshire, where he settled in Thurnscoe and worked at Hickleton Colliery. His boxing career ran parallel to his primary occupation as a Collier, with the highlight of his career a close contest with former flyweight world champion, Emile "Spider" Pladner over twelve rounds in Sheffield in 1931. He received three days leave from the pit to train for the fight. A Sheffield newspaper report on the fight with Pladner that was published in the 1950's stated that he showed good boxing ability and had the better of the exchanges on the outside but was unable to keep the Spider at bay, with Pladner winning the decision with his masterful infighting. His record on this site is incomplete due to the sketchy nature of boxing record keeping at the time. Many of his fights may have been unlicensed. After retiring from the ring, boxing remained a lifelong passion and he was active in Hickleton Main ABC for many years. He trained future Lonsdale belt winner Billy Thompson as an amateur. Thomas William Cowley died in February 1977 at the age of 67.