Lonsdale Belt
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Name: Digger Stanley Career Record: click Alias: George Stanley Nationality: British Birthplace: Norwich, England Hometown: London, United Kingdom Born: 1876-02-28 Died: 1919-03-07 Age at Death: 43 George ‘Digger’ Stanley (28 February 1876, Kingston-upon-Thames, England – 7 March 1919) was an English boxer who was British and European bantamweight boxing champion. early life He was a gypsy, and was born in a caravan at Kingston-upon- Thames]]. He could not read or write, but developed into clever boxer. His early boxing career was spent fighting in fairground booths. Professional career He began boxing professionally in 1899. In November 1903 he won the vacant British bantamweight title and in December of the same year he won the British flyweight title, but the titles were not recognised by the British Boxing Board of Control until 1909. In October 1910, he fought Joe Bowker for the British and European bantamweight titles. He scored an eighth-round knockout to secure the titles. Stanley was also recognised by the National Sporting Club as the holder of the World bantamweight title, although he was not recognised as such in America. In December 1910, he defended his British title against Johnny Condon, winning on points. In September 1911, he defended it again, against Ike Bradley, again winning on points. In April and June 1912, he defended his European title twice against the Frenchman, Charles Ledoux. He won the first fight in Covent Garden on points, but lost the second fight in Dieppe, being knocked out in the seventh round. In October 1912, he successfully defended his British title against Alex Lafferty, winning on points. In June 1913, he lost his British title to Bill Benyon, on points, but four months later he beat Benyon on points to regain it. However, in his next defence, in April 1914, he lost the British title to Curley Walker on a disqualification in the thirteenth. He continued to box but had only ten more fights, losing eight of them and winning two. He had his last fight in February 1919, losing to Mike Blake, and died a month later, in poverty. Lonsdale belt In 1909, the National Sporting Club began awarding a Lonsdale Belt to the British champion at each weight. The belts were made from 22 carat gold and enamel. Digger Stanley was awarded the first bantamweight belt and was allowed to retain it after successfully defending his British title. Digger Stanley The Times 22 October 1912 BOXING. THE BANTAM-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. The feature of the programme at the National Sporting Club last night was the 20-round contest for £400, the Bantam-Weight Championship of Great Britain, and the Lonsdale Championship Challenge Belt between Digger Stanley, of London, the holder of the Lonsdale Belt, and Alec Lafferty, Bantam-Weight Champion of Scotland. The result was a victory on points for Stanley, who thus became the owner of his belt. The Two Men Much interest was felt in the meeting of these clever boxers. Stanley, though not yet 30 years old, is a veteran of the ring ; next to the incomparable Driscoll he ranks as the most finished of English boxers, and even the American critics admit that he is a master of ring-craft. He is not a very hard hitter,'but the " digs," which he employs to break down an opponent's resistance and have given him his by-name, are much more severe than a casual observer would think. Moreover, he is wonderfully clever in getting out of difficulties, has a fine defence, and possesses the armour of trained abdominal muscles which renders a pugilist impervious to body blows. His last Lonsdale belt contest with Ledoux, the fast and hard-hitting French champion proved that he had lost none of his cleverness and little, if any, of his pace. He has not Driscoll's brilliance of execution and absolute accuracy of judging distance and timing his man, but for all that he will always be remembered as an artist in his unostentatious way. Lafferty had not previously appeared at the heady quarters of professional boxing and his form was unknown to most London followers of the game. But, though nearly ten years younger than his formidable antagonist, he has a long string of victories, both in Great Britain and in America, to his credit, and his possession of a punch was guaranteed by the frequency with which the letters K.O. appear in his record. With a reputation for speed and some cleverness he was certain, it was thought, to give the long-experienced and cautious belt; holder a good fight, and not a few of the spectators believed that he might win with a little luck. THE FIGHT. At the start they were laying 6 to 4 on Stanley, who was extremely cautions during the first four rounds. The first half of the contest was virtually a long clinching match, in which the veteran allowed his opponent to do all the hard work of disentanglement. The manoeuvring for the inside position, in which Stanley was almost always successful, was the only interesting. feature of the proceedings. There was not much in it on points ; what there was seemed to be Stanley's, thanks to his straight left. From the 11th round on Lafferty tried to rush the holder of the belt, but was always evaded, generally receiving a " dig " or two before the wrestling began. Twice Stanley delivered the forbidden kidney-blow, on each occasion looking apologetically at the referee. As the contest went on the Scotsman's deficiencies as a boxer became obvious ; he made very little use of his right, signalled at times, and was very mechanical in his methods of attack. In the 15th round Stanley began to attack vigorously, and long before the end it was clear that nothing but a knock-out could prevent him from winning. He was much too wary to give his opponent a chance, and in the end had won by a great number of points. Lafferty, who was very badly seconded, has much to learn. But he should become a first-rate man if ho finds a good teacher who will persuade him to stand correctly. The Times 21 April 1914 DIGGER STANLEY v. CURLEY WALKER. STANLEY DISQUALIFIED. Curley Walker (Bermondsey) beat Digger Stanley (Fulham) for £500 and the Bantam-Weight championship :and Lonsdale Belt, Stanley being disqualified for holding in the 13th round. Stanley fully deserved to lose the fight, for his Methods were open to question. all. through ; he was continually cautioned for holding, and a punch which was, distinctly low dropped Walker for a count of four in the second round. In the sixth round Stanley made more use of his elbow than is approved of by the authorities, and in the last few rounds he was fortunate, or, rather, clever in choosing his moments for holding when the referee could not see him. Walker’s victory was very popular, for his boxing was much cleaner, and he used his left with good effect, particularly in the fifth and sixth rounds. Stanley changed his tactics in the ninth round, swinging right and left to the body continually .Walker weakened visibly, but had picked up again and was when his opponent was disqualified. The chief interest in all Digger Stanley's contests now is to see how long; he continues to hold his own against opponents who are always . younger and generally not much more than half his age. Although there was only a difference of half a pound when the men Weighed in yesterday afternoon, they presented a great contrast when they finally got to work after the tedious preliminary business of bandaging which has become so fashionable nowadays. Stanley for all his 38 years .looked what he is — the seasoned fighter versed in every trick of the ring. While Walker seemed a mere boy beside him —a boy nevertheless with a punch .quite worthy of respect, as Stanley soon found Walker's advantage in age was most apparent in the quickness with which he recovered from the onslaught of his opponent. Had the contest gone the full length it is .probable that Walker's great recuperative powers would have gained him the victory. .