Reggie Meen

Reginald "Reggie" Meen (20 November 1907 – 1984) was a British boxer, who won the British heavyweight title in 1931.

Reggie Meen
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
NationalityBritish
Born(1907-11-20)20 November 1907
Warwickshire, England
Died1984 (aged 76)
Boxing record
Total fights102
Wins57
Wins by KO48
Losses42
Draws3

Career

Reggie Meen was born in Warwickshire in 1907 and grew up in Desborough in Northamptonshire, where he was originally a bootmaker by profession.[1][2] Meen's boxing career began in August 1927, and after mixed results initially went on to win eight consecutive fights between 1928 and 1929. He fought Primo Carnera at the Royal Albert Hall in front of a crowd of 10,000 in December 1930, losing in two rounds.[2] After another period of mixed results he hit another winning streak in 1931, including a victory against French champion Maurice Griselle, leading to a fight for the vacant BBBofC heavyweight title against Charley Smith in November, which he won on points despite a cut over his left eye sustained in the second round.[3][4][5]

His next fight was a challenge for the EBU heavyweight title against Hein Müller in January 1932, which he lost by a fourth-round knockout.[6] He fought Australian champion George Cook in March in an eliminator for a British Empire championship fight, losing on points.[7] Meen was due to have his first fight outside England in May 1932, but after travelling to Egypt to fight Salah El Din, the two were unable to agree terms and he returned home.[8]

Meen held the British title until July 1932, when he was beaten by Jack Petersen by a second-round knockout. In September 1932 he indicated that he was considering retirement from boxing, after defeat to Don McCorkindale, but returned two months later with a win over Bob Carvill.[9] Meen fought Larry Gains in February 1933, losing after being disqualified for holding.[10] He fought Petersen again in February 1934 in front of 10,000 people at the Granby Halls and again lost in two rounds, although Meen's supporters suspected a low blow had ended the fight, leading to fighting at ringside, and spectators smashed windows to get more air.[11]

In October 1934 he suffered a broken arm during a crash in which his car overturned, requiring a second operation in December to remove splinters of bone, and it was ten months before he returned to boxing, although he took up all-in wrestling, winning his first contest in March 1935.[12][13][14]

In September 1935 he suffered head injuries and concussion after slipping while walking through Covent Garden, and caused concern when he went missing from his home; He was found by police in Leyton, unable to recall the events of the past two days.[15][16] He recovered sufficiently to resume wrestling the following week.[17] Meen returned to boxing and continued to fight until 1938, his final fight a defeat to Tony Arpino, also continuing to wrestle into the late 1930s.[18][19]

In the late 1930s Meen turned to promotion, including a bill at the Melton Carnival.[20]

During World War II Meen served in the Royal Navy, and in 1945 was stationed in Malta.[21]

Meen married Winifred Ada Littlewood at Oadby Parish Church on 13 April 1936.[22] In October 1952 they emigrated to Canada.[23]

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References
  1. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  2. "Reggie Meen in Derby". Derby Daily Telegraph. British Newspaper Archive. 19 December 1930. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  3. "British Title Fight: Smith and Meen Weigh In At Leicester". Lincolnshire Echo. British Newspaper Archive. 16 November 1931. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  4. "Reggie Meen the New Champion". Dundee Courier. British Newspaper Archive. 17 November 1931. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  5. "Reggie Meen Talks of His 'Big Chance'". Derby Daily Telegraph. British Newspaper Archive. 17 November 1931. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  6. "Reggie Meen Beaten: German Wins in Four Rounds". Dundee Courier. British Newspaper Archive. 5 January 1932. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  7. "George Cook Wins on Points: Reggie Meen Beaten at Leicester". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 2 March 1932. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  8. "Reggie Meen to Fight In Cairo". Dundee Courier. British Newspaper Archive. 5 April 1932. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  9. "News item". Western Daily Press. British Newspaper Archive. 28 September 1932. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  10. "Reggie Meen Disqualified: Persistent Holding Spoils the Bout". Gloucestershire Echo. British Newspaper Archive. 14 February 1933. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  11. "Petersen Smashing His Way Back". Edinburgh Evening News. British Newspaper Archive. 13 February 1934. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  12. "Meen Injured: Former British Champion in Hospital". Derby Daily Telegraph. British Newspaper Archive. 22 October 1934. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  13. "Reggie Meen's Operation". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. British Newspaper Archive. 11 December 1934. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  14. "Reggie Meen". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 5 March 1935. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  15. "Reggie Meen Leaves Home After Injury in Street Fall". Derby Daily Telegraph. British Newspaper Archive. 30 September 1935. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  16. "Reggie Meen Found in London". Evening Telegraph. British Newspaper Archive. 1 October 1935. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  17. "Reggie Meen Makes Quick Recovery". Dundee Courier. British Newspaper Archive. 2 October 1935. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  18. "Wrestling". Derby Daily Telrgraph. British Newspaper Archive. 17 June 1938. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  19. "Meen's Success". Derby Daily Telrgraph. British Newspaper Archive. 6 November 1937. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  20. "Melton Carnival Queen Reigns in the Rain!". Grantham Journal. British Newspaper Archive. 22 July 1939. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  21. "This 'Double' Was Won Only Once". Gloucester Citizen. British Newspaper Archive. 8 November 1945. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  22. "Reggie Meen Married". Gloucestershire Echo. British Newspaper Archive. 13 April 1936. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  23. "News Item". Dundee Courier. British Newspaper Archive. 1 October 1952. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
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