Llew Edwards
| Llew Edwards | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Llewellyn Edwards |
| Rated at | Featherweight |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Born |
22 October 1894 Porth, Wales |
| Died | 1965 |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 61 |
| Wins | 48 |
| Wins by KO | 26 |
| Losses | 10 |
| Draws | 3 |
Llewellyn "Llew" Edwards (22 October 1894 – 1965) was a Welsh boxer who fought professionally between 1913 and 1922. He is most notable for winning both the British and the British Empire featherweight boxing titles in 1915.
Boxing career
Born in Porth in the Rhondda Valley in 1884, Edwards began his boxing career in Wales, but by 1914 he was travelling to Liverpool to face opponents. In early 1915 Edwards fought at Covent Garden in London to challenge for the vacant British Empire Featherweight title, left vacant by Ted "Kid" Lewis. Edwards beat Young Joe Brooks, which then allowed him to face Owen Moran in the title decider on 31 May 1915 at the National Sporting Club. Edwards won the fight to become British champion after Moran was disqualified in the tenth round for repeatedly punching low.[1] Having got married earlier in June, Edwards sailed for Australia in July, where had eleven fights arranged with guaranteed earnings of £2,500.[2] He successfully defended his Empire title in December when he faced Jimmy Hill at the Sydney Stadium in Australia.[3] The match was stopped after thirteen rounds, when Hill's corner threw in the towel after their fighter was knocked down for the eighth time during the bout. The title was released in 1916, with Edwards out of the country and no longer fighting at featherweight.[4]
Edwards spent the majority of his boxing career in Australia, but also fought in the United States and returned to the United Kingdom to fight towards the end of his professional career. He beat Australian lightweight champion Herb McCoy in a non-title fight in June 1916, but the two met again in November with the title at stake, Edwards winning on points.[5][6] He successfully defended the title against McCoy in February 1917, and after relinquishing the title regained it in January 1920 with a second round knockout of Frank Brogan. Edwards spent so much time boxing in Australia, he was sometimes misrepresented as an Australian, as was reported in the Milwaukee Sentinel in 1920 when he faced Jack Lawler.
See also
References
- ↑ "New Feather-Weight Boxing Champion: Llew Edwards Receives the Verdict". Dundee Courier. 1 June 1915. Retrieved 16 January 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Boxer's Lucrative Engagement". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 28 June 1915. Retrieved 16 January 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Empire Boxing Championship: Decisive Victory of Llew Edwards". Birmingham Mail. 20 December 1915. Retrieved 16 January 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Sporting Notions". Daily Herald. 4 November 1916. Retrieved 16 January 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Llew Edwards". Sheffield Independent. 8 June 1916. Retrieved 16 January 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "At the Stadium...". Western Daily Press. 14 November 1916. Retrieved 16 January 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).