Terry Allen (boxer)

Terry Allen (8 June 1924 – 8 April 1987) was an English flyweight boxer. During his career, he became British, Commonwealth, European and World flyweight champion.

Terry Allen
Statistics
Real nameEdward Albert Govier
Weight(s)Flyweight
NationalityBritish
Born(1924-06-18)18 June 1924
Islington, England
Died8 April 1987(1987-04-08) (aged 62)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights75
Wins61
Wins by KO18
Losses13
Draws1
No contests0

Family

Born in Islington, London, Allen's father was a professional boxer. His mother died when he was two, and he was raised by his grandmother. Six of his cousins were also professional boxers.

Amateur career

He started boxing when he was nine and won a schoolboy championship.[1] During his amateur career, he won 102 out of 107 contests.

Professional career

Managed by Johnny Sharpe,[1] Allen had his first professional fight in September 1942, at the age of eighteen. He beat Jim Thomas on points over six rounds at Caledonian Road Baths, Islington.

He then proceeded to win his first thirty-two fights. In 1942, during the Second World War, he joined the Royal Navy,[2] and while stationed at Alexandria, Egypt, he fought and won fifteen bouts, between May 1944 and December 1945. By late 1945, he was considered chief flyweight contender by Ring magazine.[3]

His first defeat was in May 1946, against Alex Murphy by a knockout, in the sixth round at Harringay Arena.[4] He suffered a second defeat in March 1947, when he was knocked out in the first round by Rinty Monaghan.[5]

In March 1948, Allen beat Dickie O'Sullivan on a disqualification to take the BBBofC South East Area flyweight title.[6] In his next fight he was beaten on points by Jackie Bryce.[7]

In February he beat Monaghan over 8 rounds,[8] and in June 1949 beat Norman Tennant in an eliminator to get a shot in September at Monaghan's British title, with the European, Empire and world titles also at stake.[9][10] They fought in Monaghan’s home town of Belfast, and the result after fifteen rounds was a draw.[11]

Shortly after this fight, Monaghan retired, relinquishing his titles, and in April 1950, Allen fought Honore Pratesi of France for the vacant European and World flyweight titles. The fight was held at Harringay Arena and Allen won on points over fifteen rounds to gain both titles.[12][13]

In August 1950, he defended his World title against Dado Marino of the United States. The fight was held in Honolulu and Marino won a unanimous points decision to take the title.[14]

In October 1950, Allen lost his European title when he defended it in Nottingham against Jan Sneyers of Belgium. Sneyers won on points, but the British crowd thought that Allen had won, and booed the decision.[15]

In June 1951, Allen fought Vic Herman for the British flyweight title vacated by Rinty Monaghan. The fight was in Leicester and Allen won on points.[16]

In November 1951, Allen had a re-match with Dado Marino for the World flyweight title. The fight was in Honolulu, and Marino won again by a unanimous decision.[17]

In March 1952, he fought against Teddy Gardner for the British, Commonwealth and European flyweight titles. The fight was held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Gardner won on points to take all three titles.[18] Shortly afterwards Gardner retired leaving the titles vacant.

In October 1952, Allen fought for the vacant British flyweight title, against Eric Marsden. He won the title when the fight was stopped in the sixth after Marsden collapsed.[19]

In October 1953, he had another shot at a World title when he fought Yoshio Shirai, in Tokyo. Unfortunately for Allen, the Japanese won a unanimous decision.[20]

In February 1954, Allen defended his British title against Eric Marsden, who he had beaten previously. He won again, this time on a disqualification in the fifth round.[21]

Allen was knocked out in the second round by the unbeaten Dai Dower in March,[22] and his last fight was an unsuccessful challenge for the vacant European flyweight title. He fought Nazzareno Giannelli, in Milan, Italy, but the Italian won on points.[23]

He was set to defend his British title against Marsden in November,[24] but on 30 September 1954 announced his retirement from boxing.[25]

Retirement

Allen had worked as a barrow boy at the beginning of his boxing career, and after retiring, he was able to open his own vegetable business in Islington market.

gollark: ~np
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See also

References
  1. "New Flyweight". Liverpool Echo. 7 September 1943. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. "Flyweight Return". Liverpool Evening Express. 1 April 1944. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "U.S. Ranks Bruce Woodcock Fifth". Manchester Evening News. 16 August 1945. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Boon Beaten: Claims Foul". Dundee Courier. 15 May 1946. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Monaghan's Hurricane Victory". Northern Whig. 12 March 1947. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "The Fighting O'Sullivans". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 12 March 1948. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Jackie Bryce Turns Tables". Dundee Courier. 26 June 1948. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Allen's Clear Cut Victory Over Monaghan". Belfast News-Letter. 8 February 1949. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Terry Allen Wins Right to Fight Rinty Monaghan". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 9 June 1949. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "Terry Is After Rinty's 4 Titles". Nottingham Evening Post. 6 September 1949. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Rinty Held to Draw". Dundee Courier. 1 October 1949. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. "Allen Is a World Champion". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 26 April 1950. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. "Terry Allen - Lineal Flyweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  14. "Terry Allen Loses World Title On Points". Gloucestershire Echo. 2 August 1950. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. "Terry Allen Loses Another Title". Portsmouth Evening News. 31 October 1950. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. "British Flyweight Title: Allen Beats Herman". Belfast News-Letter. 12 June 1951. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "Terry Allen Outpointed in Honolulu". Portsmouth Evening News. 2 November 1951. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. "Gardner Keeps Title, Wins Two More". Dundee Courier. 18 March 1952. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. "Terry Allen Is Champion". Dundee Courier. 22 October 1952. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. "Terry Allen Outpointed in Tokio Title Fight". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 27 October 1953. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. "Plucky Show by McCarthy, Terry Allen Lucky". Aberdeen Evening Express. 17 February 1954. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. "Dai Dower Not to be Rushed". Aberdeen Evening Express. 24 March 1954. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. "Terry Allen Fails in European Title Bid". Northern Whig. 11 September 1954. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. "Terry Allen". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 28 September 1954. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. "Terry Allen Retires". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 30 September 1954. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
Achievements
Preceded by
Rinty Monaghan		 World flyweight champion
25 April 1950 – 1 August 1950		 Succeeded by
Dado Marino
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