Howard Winstone won the British featherweight title from Terry Spinks in 1961, Terry Spinks' will was broken in the 10th by an array of ferocious body shots at Wembley Pool. Spinks was a fine fighter, he had won the Olympic Gold medal in the flyweight division at the 1956 Melbourne games in Australia at age of 18. Winstone defended the British crown six times. After winning the European title in 1963, he successfully defended that title seven times over the next three years.
Howard Winstone won the world featherweight title by stopping Mitsunori Seki of Japan in the 9th round at the Royal Albert Hall in Ken's London in 1968. Referee Roland Dakin, the only ring official under British rules, stopped the contest because of a bad cut over Seki's right eye. Winstone had been in command of the fight until the end, Seki had fought ferociously in the 7th and 8th rounds to try and get back into the fight and had prevented Winstone from setting the pace. Winstone came out fast in the 9th and rammed a solid jab on Seki's injured eye. When he saw blood he immediately pressed his attack and landed another succession of jabs on the eye followed by a vicious right cross. Dakin stepped in and ordered Seki to his corner and the fight was stopped.
"Slapsy" Maxie Rosenbloom was a light heavyweight in the 1920s and 30s, and he's quite legendary in the world of boxing. He was called "Slapsy" because of his open-gloved style of boxing, where he used open hands to hit opponents, rather than closed fists. Journalist Damon Runyon nicknamed him "Slapsy Maxie" due to this unusual, slapping technique. Rosenbloom once said of his unique style of fighting, "I didn’t want to hurt nobody, just smack ‘em around and let ‘em know who’s boss." Famous boxing trainer Cus D'Amato was heavily influenced by the boxing style of "Slapsy" Maxie Rosenbloom, particularly in the development of the Peek-a-boo style, which D'Amato then refined and modified. Rosenbloom's extensive use of movement, a tight high guard, and constant evasive action inspired D'Amato to create a more aggressive, counter-punching variation of the defensive style. It's a shame that there's no fight footage of Rosenbloom, rumor has it that there are private collectors out there somewhere that have a few cannisters of film of Rosenbloom fights, I sure wish we could get a peek. Don't let his nickname fool you, Rosenbloom was made of galvanized steel, he was one of the most durable fighters in boxing history, in 299 fights, he heard the final bell 297 times. His resume is ridiculous,It's a who's who of greats from that era. The names he fought are mind boggling. Although he didn't punch hard, he was a different kind of monster. Maxie Rosenbloom was no joke. He was an all-time great fighter. He was known as a technical and defensive boxer with great stamina who fought by disrupting his opponents rhythm while keeping them at bay with his slappy, stick-and-move style. He fought a lot of the great boxers of his time and did not fear or duck anyone. Reportedly, Rosenbloom wanted to fight Joe Louis and often called him out, but several members of Louis’ camp felt it would be bad for his image even if he won because of Rosenbloom’s awkward spoiling style. It can also be mentioned that Maxie never drew the color line and fought many black fighters of his era. He was successful after boxing, owning several nightclubs and having a successful Hollywood career, often playing roles involving punch-drunk boxers. He also did a live travelling show with Max Baer. He was a playboy, often enjoying the company of women, he had many celebrity friends, and was also a friend of the mob, the famous LA gangster Mickey Cohen was known to frequent his nightclubs in the 40s. Rosenbloom was known as a “clown prince” of boxing for his antics in and out of the ring. He hated training and although he didn’t drink he would stay out late dancing and partying, and often blew all his money on gambling. As far as his resume is concerned, the fighters he beat, and the Hall of Famers he beat, some of them more than once, it's ridiculous:
Mickey Walker (HOF)
Jimmy Slattery x3 (HOF)
Tiger Jack Fox (HOF)
Lou Nova
James Braddock (HOF)
Ted Kid Lewis (HOF)
Tiger Flowers (HOF)
John Henry Lewis x3 (HOF)
Ace Hudkins
Dave Shade X2 (HOF)
King Levinsky
Like I said, Slapsy Maxie Rosenbloom is a legend in boxing, he was one of the most prolific fighters in boxing history, his resume win or lose is probably the deepest in boxing history. The guy was no joke. There was a thread on boxing forum 24, where the big boys of boxing knowledge go to play, and it breaks down his resume in detail. It's batsh.. insane.
By the way, boxing forum 24 puts this place to absolute shame, there must be a thousand members there from all over the world, boxing is a lot more popular than people think. There's a special section on boxing forum 24 called "The Lounge" over there where you can go and talk about anything on this planet, from politics to sports to porn to anything, it doesn't matter. That place is rocking, 24/7, there's always something going on over there. Fights break out constantly in the lounge and the mods just break them up. They fight, it gets broken up, things go back to normal, rinse and repeat. It's action packed.
Back to Maxie Rosenbloom, great shot of Rosenbloom slipping Walker's attack and landing a left hand counter, Rosenbloom was a defensive genius, and the second shot is Rosenbloom landing a left jab against Walker.
Maxie Rosenbloom on the cover of Ring magazine in 1930. I actually own the type 1 original photo of the image from this cover, it's one of the best photos in my collection, check out the cauliflower ear.
Maxie Rosenbloom lands a left hand on Larry Johnson. Well, judging by this photo, it certainly looks like Rosenbloom could hit pretty hard when he wanted to.
This is one of my favorite photos of Maxie Rosenbloom, climbing through the ropes with that deadpan look in his eye. Almost 300 fights. He was from the planet Krypton.
The extraordinarily tough former welterweight and middleweight champion Carmen Basilio, who fought two brutal bouts with Sugar Ray Robinson, winning his middleweight title and then losing it to him, was born in 1927, in Canastota, about 25 miles east of Syracuse, and was one of 10 children.
His Italian immigrant onion farmer father was “a fight nut,” he recalled, who bought his sons boxing gloves. Basilio boxed in the Marine Corps during World War II, then made his pro debut in 1948.
They called him the "Upstate Onion Farmer" and he became a champion with an unrelenting attack, willing to take punishment as well as dish it out. Hard as nails.
His nephew, Billy Backus, was also world welterweight champion in 1970 and 1971.
In the most brutal confrontation of their rivalry and arguably the greatest greatest single fight in history, Muhammad Ali retained the world heavyweight title in 1975 when Joe Frazier's manager, Eddie Futch, surrendered from the corner moments before the bell was to ring for the 15th round at the Amanita Coliseum in Manila, Philippines.
Frazier, dominating the middle rounds with the fury of his youth, had been battered by the champion throughout the three rounds prior to Futch's merciful decision.
“I stopped it,” Futch explained, “because Joe was starting to get hit with too many clean shots. He couldn't see out of his right eye. He couldn't see the left hands coming.”
“My guy sucked it up,” said Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee. “When he looked completely out of gas, he put on another gas tank. I thought we were in front. My guy was hitting him better shots.”
“Joe had two bad rounds in a row,” Futch said “Even with three minutes to go, he was going downhill. And that opened up the possibility in that situation that he could've been seriously hurt.”
Wearing dark glasses to hide his puffed eyes, especially his right eye, Frazier agreed with Futch.
“I didn't want to be stopped, I wanted to go on,” Frazier said, “but I'd never go against Eddie.”
"I saw a lot of things in prison that aren't clean or nice to talk about. I was seventeen years old. I didn't consider myself dangerous but I was surrounded by killers, rapists, child molesters, skinheads, mafia types, so I was in a dangerous situation. I saw a guy stabbed to death with a makeshift ice pick in an argument over a pack of cigarettes. You see rapes. You don't go in the shower with no clothes on. You take a shower wearing your shorts because, no matter how tough you are, it's not enough if you're up against four or five people. That HBO show Oz is like cartoons compared to what I saw in prison."
- Bernard Hopkins
Bernard ""The Executioner" Hopkins, one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the history of boxing, started out his life heading towards absolute disaster. At 17, he was sentenced to prison for armed robbery, which resulted in a sentence of 18 years, he served 56 months of that sentence. While incarcerated, guards told him he’d be back once released, that he’d never change. Hopkins refused. He picked up boxing in prison, sharpened his discipline, and when he walked out, he never looked back. He went from inmate to middleweight king, defending his title 20 straight times.
Years later, he shocked the sport again. At 49 years old, Hopkins won a world title to become the oldest world champion in boxing history.
Hopkins proved boxing is more than a sport. It’s a way to rebuild, to reinvent, to change your life forever.
Swedish boxer Anthony Yigit suffered a grotesque, cricket ball-sized swelling to his left eye during his 2018 fight against Ivan Baranchyk, which was eventually stopped by the ringside doctor in the seventh round due to the extreme injury. The fight marked Yigit's first professional defeat, and though he sustained the injury in the second round, he continued to fight until the seventh, showing incredible resilience.
Ron Lyle vs Earnie Shavers Sep 13, 1975 was one of the greatest slugfest in boxing history, two brutal punchers collided like two freight trains that night.
Two heavyweight rivals going to war always creates a level of excitement that’s hard to replicate in any other division in the sport of boxing. Take a couple of big, physical fighters, both with great heart, determination, and one-punch knockout power and fans feel the hairs stand up on the back of their neck, or cutis anserina, anticipating such a match-up. The 1975 clash between Ron Lyle and Earnie Shavers covered all these criteria, from the lead-in to the fight right up to the brutal ending in round six.
Even though no title was being fought for in the Denver Coliseum, the promoters and organizers putting on the bout knew action was guaranteed as Denverite Lyle hosted Alabama’s big-punching Shavers. Lyle had thirty wins, while Shavers needed one more win to hit fifty. Ron had only lost against the best, while Shavers had lost of to some fighters lower on the boxing talent ladder. But Earnie was a serious puncher who common-opponent Muhammad Ali described later as the most concussive hitter he ever faced. Lyle had lost his last two (though one loss was to greatest-heavyweight-ever Ali) and needed a big performance when the two met head on. Rallied by a capacity crowd, expecting to be thrilled from the first bell to last, the chance that the winner would be declared after a 15-round decision was thin. This proved true, and the contest did not disappoint.
In the opening round Lyle circled away from Shavers’s big right hand, using the entire ring to keep the big man working. Shavers stalked, looking to trap Lyle and throw his vaunted power shots, but “The Black Destroyer” wasn’t cutting the ring off effectively. Lyle lay on the ropes in the middle of the round and allowed Shavers to tee off, which would become a common feature of the fight. That wasn’t of course an advisable strategy for the Denver boxer, who would have be better off throwing the jab to create distance and working on tying Earnie up when the pair got close. The crowd rose in anticipation as Lyle pinned Shavers against the ropes and worked furiously to the head and particularly the body as the round closed.
Lyle took to the front foot briefly in round two, but quickly thought better of it as the pair continued to gauge each other while watching the considerable power the other man possessed. Ron’s nifty head movement evaded some chilling Shavers left hooks and a looping right hand. Soon after, Lyle stretched against the ropes for too long and allowed Shavers to size him up twice with the left hook before Shavers finally connected flush and sent Lyle’s head spinning and his frozen frame to the canvas for a count. Luckily for Lyle, the knockdown occurred right at the end of the round; and even though Shavers raced across the ring to try and finish the job, he was unable to do so as the bell rang. Lyle later said that instead of his body falling to the canvas, it felt like the canvas came to him.
At the beginning of the third Lyle tried to bluff Shavers into thinking he was not hurt and came roaring out of the corner throwing wild right hands. Shavers accepted the bait willingly and pushed Lyle to the ropes, preferring to pummel his opponent with left hooks and right hands to head and body. Lyle needed every ounce of his trademark resiliency to negotiate a passage through the rest of the contest, let alone the rest of the round. Ron again insisted on spending time languishing on the ropes, trying to counterpunch. He had success but his defense was never strong enough to sustain such a strategy without getting hit with significant leather.
By round five Lyle’s body shots, together with Shavers’s work rate, were starting to have a draining effect on the Alabama slugger’s gas tank. Shavers was standing still for long enough to allow Lyle’s right hand to find a home more frequently. Lyle sensed his man had come out wearily in the sixth and started nailing him with right hands. Earnie’s reserves were depleting fast; Lyle increased the volume and Shavers suddenly appeared helpless on the ropes. The final two blows were unnecessary and it is doubtful today that a referee would’ve allowed Earnie to take the finishing shots while showing no defensive posture whatsoever. Shavers rolled around on the canvas and tried desperately to haul his hulking frame up, but he was counted out, much to the delight of Lyle’s fervent Denver following.
Jerry Quarry, "The Bellflower Bomber", 1970s heavyweight warrior. Jerry Quarry had an explosive, aggressive boxing style, known for his toughness, durability, quick hands, and devastating left hook. He was also a skilled counter-puncher and had a remarkable ability to generate excitement in fights, unafraid to go "toe-to-toe" with the era's best heavyweights despite being smaller than many of his opponents. Quarry had an action-Fighter" mentality, he was a true fighter's fighter who never shied away from a challenge.
This is one of the great boxing photos right here, Georges Carpentier, "The Orchid Man", signing autographs for the US troops that have just liberated Paris France from the Nazis. It gets me emotional looking at this photo, I'm a big WWII buff, and I know what the French people went through under Nazi occupation for years, the story of Jean Moulin and the French resistance is a truly heartbreaking yet humbling story, the French people were incredibly brave.
"Fearless" Freddie Mills, light heavyweight champion from 1948 to 1950, he was called "Fearless" for a reason. Freddie Mills was more than just a ferocious fighter—he was an enigma wrapped in charisma, grit, and controversy. A relentless warrior in the ring, Mills embodied the spirit of an old-school brawler with an iron will and an insatiable hunger for victory. From humble beginnings in Bournemouth, where he toughened himself in backyard scraps with his older brother, to the electric atmosphere of packed stadiums, Mills’ journey was one of perseverance, resilience, and raw determination. His rise to prominence wasn’t a smooth ascent but rather a battle-hardened odyssey through knockout triumphs, punishing defeats, and gutsy rematches that defined his career.
What set Mills apart was his fearless approach—his windmilling punches, relentless aggression, and an unshakable willingness to take on heavier, more experienced foes. He wasn't just a brawler, though; his underrated boxing IQ allowed him to adapt and evolve, employing a shoulder-roll defense long before Floyd Mayweather Jr. made it fashionable. His early record may not have screamed ‘future legend,’ but his sheer tenacity ensured that he always found a way to turn setbacks into stepping stones. Even the brutal demands of World War II, where he served as an RAF corporal, couldn't dampen his fighting spirit. Instead, they hardened him, and by the time he took on British legend Jock McAvoy in 1940, Mills had transformed into a serious contender.
Mills' personal life was as colorful as his boxing career. His romantic entanglements, including an affair that led to marriage, added layers to his already compelling story. Yet, amidst the chaos of personal relationships and extramarital escapades, he remained a fighter first. His defining moment came in 1942 when he dismantled the battle-worn Len Harvey to claim the British and Commonwealth light heavyweight titles, a fight that symbolized the shift of an era. The image of Mills knocking Harvey clean out of the ropes before embracing him encapsulated the raw sportsmanship of a bygone era. There were no over-the-top entrances, no blaring music, no trash talk—just two warriors trading blows in the purest expression of boxing.
Time and time again, Mills defied expectations, taking on larger opponents and proving that heart and grit could overcome any size disadvantage. Whether it was overpowering 6'4” Al Robinson or standing toe-to-toe with the much heavier Jack London, Mills never backed down. He fought like a man possessed, earning the respect of fans who admired his do-or-die mentality. His legacy, however, is clouded by the mystery surrounding his death, a lingering question mark that continues to spark debate. But strip away the speculation, and what remains is an indomitable fighter whose name is etched in the annals of British boxing history.
FEARLESS FREDDIE
By Paul Zanon
“He fought like a Tiger. He just tore into anyone. People loved that.” - Harry Carpenter
Murder or suicide? These are often the first questions people mention when Freddie Mills comes up in conversation. However, there was a great deal more to the man than simply a shady backstory and a fantastic wardrobe.
Born on 26 June 1919 to Thomas James Mills a scrapyard merchant and initially bred in Bournemouth, Mills was the youngest of four children. After leaving school at 14 years of age he turned his hand to gardening, then had a go as a milkman’s assistant. However, something far more adrenaline fuelled attracted young Fredrick.
Older brother Charlie was a key inspiration to Freddie. As a young child he looked up to him and it wasn’t long before he donned the gloves himself, taking part in impromptu sparring session with Charlie at the back of the garden.
From garden sheds to boxing booths, young Freddie relished the opportunity to engage in a tear-up and bag a few shillings for his trouble and by 16 years of age he kicked off his professional boxing career in explosive form. On 26 February 1936 at Westover Ice Rink, Mills knocked out fellow debutant and Dorset resident Jim Riley in the first round. The teenage super welterweight soon picked up the moniker of ‘The Bournemouth Bombshell,’ with his windmilling style, willing to tackle the most fearsome fighters at the drop of a hat. What many fail to remember is that he also had a great boxing brain and was on occasions a defensive genius, fighting behind his left shoulder long before Floyd Mayweather Jr was boasting the technique. The combination of brains, power and raw grit would pay dividends down the line.
Despite disposing of his next two opponents in sharp fashion, in his next three outings, Mills suffered a stoppage defeat to Eddie Gill, followed by two draws with Stan Nelson and George Hesketh. His record after three months read 3-2-1, which was hardly attention grabbing. However, an innate fire burned in his stomach to impress the onlooker and impress he did. In his next fight he fought Jack Scott…….twice on the same night. After knocking Scott out in the first round, the crowd were not happy with the result, so, they went at it again later shortly after, with Mills repeating the first round stoppage.
After a 13 fight winning streak, Mills hit a few speed bumps. In his next eight fights he won three, lost three and drew two, albeit against albeit against experienced fighters who added to his learning curve. Incidentally, he set the record straight with all but one fighter from these losses and draws within the next three months.
As Britain officially threw its hit into the battlefield on 1 September 1939 after Hitler invaded Poland, Mills, eager to serve king and country in World War II joined the RAF in January 1940 and soon progressed to corporal physical training instructor. The 20-year-old, now a fully-fledged middleweight boasted a record of 44-9-6. Despite the losses and draws, Mills was a big attraction with his all-action style and when veteran Lancashire legend Jock McAvoy was lined up on 8 August 1940, all eyes were on the younger man.
After 12 rounds Mills walked away from the ‘The Stadium’ in Liverpool with a solid points victory over McAvoy, elevating his profile in boxing circles and his popularity with the ladies. Having previously been managed by Bob Turner, in 1941 he switched to Ted Broadribb and shortly after started having an affair with his daughter Chrissie McCorkindale, who was already married to Don McCorkindale. Mills and Chrissie eventually married in 1948 and stayed together until Mills’ death, albeit he was known to have had affairs during that period. Incredibly, Mills remained good friends with Don and treated Chrissie and Don’s son, also called Don, as his own.
Back to the boxing. Mills won 10 out of his next 12 contests before locking horns again with McAvoy. This time more was at stake. Serving now as a sergeant in the RAF, on 23 February 1942 Mills and McAvoy fight acted as a final eliminator for the British light heavyweight title. Unfortunately, despite the predicted barnburner at the Royal Albert Hall, McAvoy injured his back in the opening session and Mills was declared winner due to the retirement of his fistic foe. The victory did however propel Mills into his first big fight of note and the Dorset born destroyer didn’t fail to deliver a peak performance.
On 20 June 1942 at Tottenham FC’s football ground, Mills challenged Len Harvey for his British and Commonwealth light heavyweight titles in front of 30,000 fans. Fearless Freddie entered the ring at a rapid pace, no music or dilly dallying and with his dark robe simply initialled in large letters, ‘F M.’ Len, the champion followed moments later, walking quickly through the crowds in similar fashion and the moment he stepped through the ropes, shook Mills’ hands. The good old days when the focus was actually on the fighters and the fight. Not the sponsorship name, not the music track and certainly not the trash talking.
Harvey was without a doubt past his best and hadn’t fought in three years, but certainly didn’t come to make up the numbers. Unfortunately, for the Cornwall native, a combination of inactivity and father time paid its price as Mills steamrolled him from the opening chime, before knocking him clean out of the ropes in the opening minute of the second round. The first person to hug him as he clambered back into the ring was Mills. Harvey retired after this fight with an incredible record of 122-14-10. His story can be read here https://www.britishvintageboxing.com/post/len-harvey-move-on-up
In Mills’ next two fights he took on 6ft 4 ½ inch Yorkshireman Al Robinson, who weighed 217lbs. Mills weighed in between 170-175lbs most of his career, even though most of his opponents were much heavier and taller than his 5ft 10 ½ inch frame and Robinson was no different. In the first encounter Robinson retired and in the second he was knocked out in front of his home crowd in Leeds in under four minutes.
On 15 September 1944, Mills fought Jack London at the Kings Hall, Manchester who outweighed him by 43 lbs. They had fought three years prior over 10 rounds, with Mills clinching a points victory, but on this night, the heavier and more experienced London took victory over a 15 round points decision.
Jack London wins on points 1944
Five months later Mills stopped Scotland’s Ken Shaw in seven rounds, once again giving away over 30lbs in weight. A few months later he was sent to Burma and India with the army, but after 15 months he was demobilised in March 1946 and returned to the UK. Thankfully in Mills’ next fight, only one pound separated him and his opponent, which is a good thing as the world light heavyweight title was on the line.
Despite his father passing away in April 1946, on 14 May in front of 11,000 fans at the Harringay Arena, Freddie Mills challenged Gus Lesnevich for world honours. In the second round it looked like certain defeat for Mills after getting knocked down, then rising to his feet and getting hit with 13 unanswered punches. Inevitably, he went down again for a third time shortly after. These days that would have been game over. However, tenacious Mills rallied back, winning the fight from rounds 3-10 using his boxing skills. By the tenth session, in addition to a broken nose Lesnevich’s face was a bloody, swollen mess. Mills made the mistake of going for the kill in this round instead of cashing in on a certain points victory and was himself caught with a barrage similar to that in the second stanza. Moments after rising, Lesnevich clubbed him with an almighty right hand and the referee stopped the contest. The Ring Magazine commented: “Lesnevich floored Mills twice in the second round and twice again the 10th, before the referee stopped the fight. In between these two rough rounds, Freddie did extremely well. "This (was) one of the greatest fights in the history of British boxing."
Astonishingly, and perhaps stupidly, Mills was back in the ring at the same venue only three weeks later against heavyweight slugger, Bruce Woodcock. Bearing in mind the pounding Mills took in his previous fight and the short distance of time elapsed, that was pure madness and should never have gone ahead, especially against someone with Woodcock’s arsenal. Either way, despite hitting the canvas in the fourth round, Mills lasted the distance of a one sided pounding.
Two fights later, yet again Mills was the victim of bad matchmaking, sharing the ring with heavyweight, Joe Baksi. The New York slugger had shared the ring with good company, including lasting the distance with Jersey Joe Walcott, beating Lee Savold twice and would go on to stop Woodcock in seven rounds shortly after his encounter with Mills. The Dorset destroyer tried his best but in the end couldn’t come out for the sixth round.
Joe Baksi and Freddie Mills post fight 1946
In other news around this time, Mills opened a Chinese restaurant which he co-owned with Chinese actor Andy Ho in the heart of Central London at 143 Charring Cross Road. He had also invested in various residential and commercial properties, not all of which paid dividends.
Four fights after Baksi, on 8 September 1947 Mills fought Pol Goffaux for the European light heavyweight title, forcing the Belgian to retire in the fourth round. Then, despite many saying Mills was washed up, 26 months after first challenging Lesnevich for his world title, the Bournemouth born boxer challenged the American once again for his title, but this time in front of a much bigger crowd at White City Stadium, West London.
On 26 July 1948 Lesnevich came out expecting to annihilate underdog Mills, but it was in fact him who was on the receiving end of the beating, narrowly making it through the first round after hitting the deck twice and once again displaying lacerations over both eyes. The Sydney Morning Herald wrote, ‘Blood streamed from cuts over both of Lesnevich's eyes from the 1st round and he was twice down for counts of nine, one of which he took resting on one knee.’ Controlling the fight behind a skilful and dominating performance, Mills became the first world light heavyweight champion in 45 years from Britain and incredibly, he achieved this feat in his 98th fight.
Freddie Mills wins the world light-heavyweight title
On 2 June 1949 at White City Stadium, Mills fought old foe Bruce Woodcock for the British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight titles. Giving away 20lbs to the natural heavyweight, Mills put up a brave fight, hitting the canvas in the first, fourth, eight and tenth rounds, before being knocked out in the twelfth.
Mills’ last fight was on 24 January 1950 at the Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, when he put his world light heavyweight crown on the line against Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli, better known as Joey Maxim. In addition to losing his title in the tenth round, Mills also lost most of the top row of his teeth against a very tough fighter who would continue to mix it with the very best in the coming years.
Fredrick Percival Mills fought 101 contests, with 77 victories (55 KO’s), 18 losses, six draws and retired at the age of 30. He became British, Commonwealth, European and World light heavyweight champion and was unphased by the height, weight or pedigree in front of him. He remains one of Britain’s most loved crowd pleasers.
Very shortly after retirement Mills was granted his manager’s license by the British Boxing Board of Control, then became a promoter and even started training fighters for a short time. He also released his autobiography entitled, ‘Twenty Years.’
Mills was a natural showman in front of the camera, with or without gloves and post retirement embraced a number of acting roles, including starring in a couple of ‘Carry On’ films and hosting the music show Six-Five. He also converted his Chinese restaurant into a nightclub in the early 60’s, at a time several gangs were roaming Central London, including the Richardsons and the Krays. The latter, who also hailed from boxing heritage, idolised Mills because of his achievements in the ring, however, such associations cast doubt as to whether this led his eventual demise and possible murder.
Around the time ‘Freddie Mills Nite Spot’ emerged, someone stole his world title belt from his car. Once the robber found out who it belonged to and no doubt who he was associated with, the strap was returned a few days later along with a note of apology for the theft.
Unfortunately the nightclub started going into financial ruin and its reputation had also been tarnished by allegations of the hostesses also being prostitutes. Rumour has it that Mills wanted the club to originally be a venue for families to get together and share good food and drink around a table, but instead he was forced to turn a blind eye to prostitution. Despite wanting to sell the business and step aside, he wasn’t given the portal of opportunity by whoever and for whatever reasons.
Around the corner from the club was Goslett Yard and on a number of occasions Mills would drive round there to catch 40 winks and recharge his batteries for the evening. This occasion turned out to be his last nap. He was found by a doorman shortly before midnight on 24 July 1965 sitting on his own in his pristine silver-grey Citroen DS19 sports car with a bullet through his right eye and a small calibre rifle resting next to his legs. He was officially pronounced dead on 25 July, aged 46.
The funeral was held at St Giles church, Camberwell and was widely attended. His pallbearers included Henry Cooper, Jack Solomons and Bruce Forsyth, who also read the eulogy.
With very little to substantiate, the verdict was ruled as suicide, which Mills’ family never accepted. The rifle had apparently been sourced from a friend at the fairground and apparently didn’t even function properly. The coroners report also said that Mills eyes were wide open at the time of being shot, which was not in keeping with suicide attempts as the person usually closes their eyes. The coroner believed he was looking at the gun, but someone else pulled the trigger. Theory two is that as he was sleeping someone came over to the opposite car window and shot him, then placed the rifle in the car. At the scene, an ambulance took his dead body away before police had arrived, which was strange as he was obviously dead and his body was part of the murder scene.
Suicide, Gang involvement and debt to crime syndicates are all in the melting pot of theories surrounding the death of Freddie Mills to this very day. However, one thing is for sure – Freddie Mills boxing credentials will always remain clearly intact. In the ring, he did himself proud.
Freddie Mills and world light heavyweight champion Gus Lesnevich fought two savage wars, the first one in 1946 was a knockdown-dragout that resulted in Lesnevich TKO'ing Mills, but Lesnevich paid a heavy price, Mills busted his left eye up something awful. But Lesnevich wasa good, rugged fighter, he was light heavyweight champion for seven years, although his title reign was interrupted by his service in the military which undoubtedly prolonged his reign. This is Lesnevich after his first fight with Freddie Mills.
Man I would love to own the type 1 original photo of that image of Gus Lesnevich. Boxing has been called "The hardest game" for good reason. The evidence on Gus Lesnevich's face is all the proof we need of that fact.
In 1948, Freddie Mills got another shot at the world light heavyweight title this time he made it count, he floored Lesnevich twice en route to a decision win and the light heavyweight crown.
This is one of my all-time favorite boxing photos, a bloody Freddie Mills throwing a punch at Joey Maxim, Mills looks like such a savage in this photo.
Freddie Mills vs Len Harvey in 1942 was Mills in his prime at his absolute best. Freddie Mills ended the career of the great Len Harvey that day, taking the British and Commonwealth light heavyweight titles in two dramatic rounds. Mills just came out and blitzed Harvey, unleashing a hellish attack and knocking Harvey clear through the ropes and out of the ring. I've seen the footage of this fight and it was brutal. Mills at his best was an absolute animal.
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Howard Winstone lands a body shot on Saldivar during one of their three fights.
Howard Winstone won the British featherweight title from Terry Spinks in 1961, Terry Spinks' will was broken in the 10th by an array of ferocious body shots at Wembley Pool. Spinks was a fine fighter, he had won the Olympic Gold medal in the flyweight division at the 1956 Melbourne games in Australia at age of 18. Winstone defended the British crown six times. After winning the European title in 1963, he successfully defended that title seven times over the next three years.
Howard Winstone won the world featherweight title by stopping Mitsunori Seki of Japan in the 9th round at the Royal Albert Hall in Ken's London in 1968. Referee Roland Dakin, the only ring official under British rules, stopped the contest because of a bad cut over Seki's right eye. Winstone had been in command of the fight until the end, Seki had fought ferociously in the 7th and 8th rounds to try and get back into the fight and had prevented Winstone from setting the pace. Winstone came out fast in the 9th and rammed a solid jab on Seki's injured eye. When he saw blood he immediately pressed his attack and landed another succession of jabs on the eye followed by a vicious right cross. Dakin stepped in and ordered Seki to his corner and the fight was stopped.
Great image from Howard Winstone vs Derry Treanor, Winstone stopped Treanor in the 14th round to defend his British featherweight title.
Great shots of Winstone with some fans in Mexico City.
Howard Winstone (left) rolling a beer barrel at Merthyr Tydfil Brewery in South Wales, Winstone was employed there when he wasn't boxing.
Howard Winstone with his belts.
Howard Winstone fight pose, this is one of my favorite images of Winstone, I would love to own the type 1 original copy of it.
Howard Winstone had a movie made about his life, the 2010 film "Risen."
A scene from the film "Risen."
The Howard Winstone statue in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales.
Great book about Howard Winstone.
Gotta love these.
The great "Welsh Wizard", Howard Winstone. Beautiful boxing.
"Slapsy" Maxie Rosenbloom was a light heavyweight in the 1920s and 30s, and he's quite legendary in the world of boxing. He was called "Slapsy" because of his open-gloved style of boxing, where he used open hands to hit opponents, rather than closed fists. Journalist Damon Runyon nicknamed him "Slapsy Maxie" due to this unusual, slapping technique. Rosenbloom once said of his unique style of fighting, "I didn’t want to hurt nobody, just smack ‘em around and let ‘em know who’s boss." Famous boxing trainer Cus D'Amato was heavily influenced by the boxing style of "Slapsy" Maxie Rosenbloom, particularly in the development of the Peek-a-boo style, which D'Amato then refined and modified. Rosenbloom's extensive use of movement, a tight high guard, and constant evasive action inspired D'Amato to create a more aggressive, counter-punching variation of the defensive style. It's a shame that there's no fight footage of Rosenbloom, rumor has it that there are private collectors out there somewhere that have a few cannisters of film of Rosenbloom fights, I sure wish we could get a peek. Don't let his nickname fool you, Rosenbloom was made of galvanized steel, he was one of the most durable fighters in boxing history, in 299 fights, he heard the final bell 297 times. His resume is ridiculous,It's a who's who of greats from that era. The names he fought are mind boggling. Although he didn't punch hard, he was a different kind of monster. Maxie Rosenbloom was no joke. He was an all-time great fighter. He was known as a technical and defensive boxer with great stamina who fought by disrupting his opponents rhythm while keeping them at bay with his slappy, stick-and-move style. He fought a lot of the great boxers of his time and did not fear or duck anyone. Reportedly, Rosenbloom wanted to fight Joe Louis and often called him out, but several members of Louis’ camp felt it would be bad for his image even if he won because of Rosenbloom’s awkward spoiling style. It can also be mentioned that Maxie never drew the color line and fought many black fighters of his era. He was successful after boxing, owning several nightclubs and having a successful Hollywood career, often playing roles involving punch-drunk boxers. He also did a live travelling show with Max Baer. He was a playboy, often enjoying the company of women, he had many celebrity friends, and was also a friend of the mob, the famous LA gangster Mickey Cohen was known to frequent his nightclubs in the 40s. Rosenbloom was known as a “clown prince” of boxing for his antics in and out of the ring. He hated training and although he didn’t drink he would stay out late dancing and partying, and often blew all his money on gambling. As far as his resume is concerned, the fighters he beat, and the Hall of Famers he beat, some of them more than once, it's ridiculous:
Mickey Walker (HOF)
Jimmy Slattery x3 (HOF)
Tiger Jack Fox (HOF)
Lou Nova
James Braddock (HOF)
Ted Kid Lewis (HOF)
Tiger Flowers (HOF)
John Henry Lewis x3 (HOF)
Ace Hudkins
Dave Shade X2 (HOF)
King Levinsky
Like I said, Slapsy Maxie Rosenbloom is a legend in boxing, he was one of the most prolific fighters in boxing history, his resume win or lose is probably the deepest in boxing history. The guy was no joke. There was a thread on boxing forum 24, where the big boys of boxing knowledge go to play, and it breaks down his resume in detail. It's batsh.. insane.
By the way, boxing forum 24 puts this place to absolute shame, there must be a thousand members there from all over the world, boxing is a lot more popular than people think. There's a special section on boxing forum 24 called "The Lounge" over there where you can go and talk about anything on this planet, from politics to sports to porn to anything, it doesn't matter. That place is rocking, 24/7, there's always something going on over there. Fights break out constantly in the lounge and the mods just break them up. They fight, it gets broken up, things go back to normal, rinse and repeat. It's action packed.
Back to Maxie Rosenbloom, great shot of Rosenbloom slipping Walker's attack and landing a left hand counter, Rosenbloom was a defensive genius, and the second shot is Rosenbloom landing a left jab against Walker.
Slapsy Maxie Rosenbloom's nightclub in Hollywood California. The place was a popular hangout for celebrities and mobsters.
Maxie Rosenbloom on the cover of Ring magazine in 1930. I actually own the type 1 original photo of the image from this cover, it's one of the best photos in my collection, check out the cauliflower ear.
Rosenbloom training in his prime.
Maxie Rosenbloom lands a left hand on Larry Johnson. Well, judging by this photo, it certainly looks like Rosenbloom could hit pretty hard when he wanted to.
Rosenbloom with his arm raised after defeating Jimmy Slattery for the light heavyweight title in 1930.
This is one of my favorite photos of Maxie Rosenbloom, climbing through the ropes with that deadpan look in his eye. Almost 300 fights. He was from the planet Krypton.
The great "Slapsy" Maxie Rosenbloom.
The extraordinarily tough former welterweight and middleweight champion Carmen Basilio, who fought two brutal bouts with Sugar Ray Robinson, winning his middleweight title and then losing it to him, was born in 1927, in Canastota, about 25 miles east of Syracuse, and was one of 10 children.
His Italian immigrant onion farmer father was “a fight nut,” he recalled, who bought his sons boxing gloves. Basilio boxed in the Marine Corps during World War II, then made his pro debut in 1948.
They called him the "Upstate Onion Farmer" and he became a champion with an unrelenting attack, willing to take punishment as well as dish it out. Hard as nails.
His nephew, Billy Backus, was also world welterweight champion in 1970 and 1971.
In the most brutal confrontation of their rivalry and arguably the greatest greatest single fight in history, Muhammad Ali retained the world heavyweight title in 1975 when Joe Frazier's manager, Eddie Futch, surrendered from the corner moments before the bell was to ring for the 15th round at the Amanita Coliseum in Manila, Philippines.
Frazier, dominating the middle rounds with the fury of his youth, had been battered by the champion throughout the three rounds prior to Futch's merciful decision.
“I stopped it,” Futch explained, “because Joe was starting to get hit with too many clean shots. He couldn't see out of his right eye. He couldn't see the left hands coming.”
“My guy sucked it up,” said Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee. “When he looked completely out of gas, he put on another gas tank. I thought we were in front. My guy was hitting him better shots.”
“Joe had two bad rounds in a row,” Futch said “Even with three minutes to go, he was going downhill. And that opened up the possibility in that situation that he could've been seriously hurt.”
Wearing dark glasses to hide his puffed eyes, especially his right eye, Frazier agreed with Futch.
“I didn't want to be stopped, I wanted to go on,” Frazier said, “but I'd never go against Eddie.”
"I saw a lot of things in prison that aren't clean or nice to talk about. I was seventeen years old. I didn't consider myself dangerous but I was surrounded by killers, rapists, child molesters, skinheads, mafia types, so I was in a dangerous situation. I saw a guy stabbed to death with a makeshift ice pick in an argument over a pack of cigarettes. You see rapes. You don't go in the shower with no clothes on. You take a shower wearing your shorts because, no matter how tough you are, it's not enough if you're up against four or five people. That HBO show Oz is like cartoons compared to what I saw in prison."
- Bernard Hopkins
Bernard ""The Executioner" Hopkins, one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the history of boxing, started out his life heading towards absolute disaster. At 17, he was sentenced to prison for armed robbery, which resulted in a sentence of 18 years, he served 56 months of that sentence. While incarcerated, guards told him he’d be back once released, that he’d never change. Hopkins refused. He picked up boxing in prison, sharpened his discipline, and when he walked out, he never looked back. He went from inmate to middleweight king, defending his title 20 straight times.
Years later, he shocked the sport again. At 49 years old, Hopkins won a world title to become the oldest world champion in boxing history.
Hopkins proved boxing is more than a sport. It’s a way to rebuild, to reinvent, to change your life forever.
Swedish boxer Anthony Yigit suffered a grotesque, cricket ball-sized swelling to his left eye during his 2018 fight against Ivan Baranchyk, which was eventually stopped by the ringside doctor in the seventh round due to the extreme injury. The fight marked Yigit's first professional defeat, and though he sustained the injury in the second round, he continued to fight until the seventh, showing incredible resilience.
Ron Lyle vs Earnie Shavers Sep 13, 1975 was one of the greatest slugfest in boxing history, two brutal punchers collided like two freight trains that night.
Two heavyweight rivals going to war always creates a level of excitement that’s hard to replicate in any other division in the sport of boxing. Take a couple of big, physical fighters, both with great heart, determination, and one-punch knockout power and fans feel the hairs stand up on the back of their neck, or cutis anserina, anticipating such a match-up. The 1975 clash between Ron Lyle and Earnie Shavers covered all these criteria, from the lead-in to the fight right up to the brutal ending in round six.
Even though no title was being fought for in the Denver Coliseum, the promoters and organizers putting on the bout knew action was guaranteed as Denverite Lyle hosted Alabama’s big-punching Shavers. Lyle had thirty wins, while Shavers needed one more win to hit fifty. Ron had only lost against the best, while Shavers had lost of to some fighters lower on the boxing talent ladder. But Earnie was a serious puncher who common-opponent Muhammad Ali described later as the most concussive hitter he ever faced. Lyle had lost his last two (though one loss was to greatest-heavyweight-ever Ali) and needed a big performance when the two met head on. Rallied by a capacity crowd, expecting to be thrilled from the first bell to last, the chance that the winner would be declared after a 15-round decision was thin. This proved true, and the contest did not disappoint.
In the opening round Lyle circled away from Shavers’s big right hand, using the entire ring to keep the big man working. Shavers stalked, looking to trap Lyle and throw his vaunted power shots, but “The Black Destroyer” wasn’t cutting the ring off effectively. Lyle lay on the ropes in the middle of the round and allowed Shavers to tee off, which would become a common feature of the fight. That wasn’t of course an advisable strategy for the Denver boxer, who would have be better off throwing the jab to create distance and working on tying Earnie up when the pair got close. The crowd rose in anticipation as Lyle pinned Shavers against the ropes and worked furiously to the head and particularly the body as the round closed.
Lyle took to the front foot briefly in round two, but quickly thought better of it as the pair continued to gauge each other while watching the considerable power the other man possessed. Ron’s nifty head movement evaded some chilling Shavers left hooks and a looping right hand. Soon after, Lyle stretched against the ropes for too long and allowed Shavers to size him up twice with the left hook before Shavers finally connected flush and sent Lyle’s head spinning and his frozen frame to the canvas for a count. Luckily for Lyle, the knockdown occurred right at the end of the round; and even though Shavers raced across the ring to try and finish the job, he was unable to do so as the bell rang. Lyle later said that instead of his body falling to the canvas, it felt like the canvas came to him.
At the beginning of the third Lyle tried to bluff Shavers into thinking he was not hurt and came roaring out of the corner throwing wild right hands. Shavers accepted the bait willingly and pushed Lyle to the ropes, preferring to pummel his opponent with left hooks and right hands to head and body. Lyle needed every ounce of his trademark resiliency to negotiate a passage through the rest of the contest, let alone the rest of the round. Ron again insisted on spending time languishing on the ropes, trying to counterpunch. He had success but his defense was never strong enough to sustain such a strategy without getting hit with significant leather.
By round five Lyle’s body shots, together with Shavers’s work rate, were starting to have a draining effect on the Alabama slugger’s gas tank. Shavers was standing still for long enough to allow Lyle’s right hand to find a home more frequently. Lyle sensed his man had come out wearily in the sixth and started nailing him with right hands. Earnie’s reserves were depleting fast; Lyle increased the volume and Shavers suddenly appeared helpless on the ropes. The final two blows were unnecessary and it is doubtful today that a referee would’ve allowed Earnie to take the finishing shots while showing no defensive posture whatsoever. Shavers rolled around on the canvas and tried desperately to haul his hulking frame up, but he was counted out, much to the delight of Lyle’s fervent Denver following.
Jerry Quarry, "The Bellflower Bomber", 1970s heavyweight warrior. Jerry Quarry had an explosive, aggressive boxing style, known for his toughness, durability, quick hands, and devastating left hook. He was also a skilled counter-puncher and had a remarkable ability to generate excitement in fights, unafraid to go "toe-to-toe" with the era's best heavyweights despite being smaller than many of his opponents. Quarry had an action-Fighter" mentality, he was a true fighter's fighter who never shied away from a challenge.
This is one of the great boxing photos right here, Georges Carpentier, "The Orchid Man", signing autographs for the US troops that have just liberated Paris France from the Nazis. It gets me emotional looking at this photo, I'm a big WWII buff, and I know what the French people went through under Nazi occupation for years, the story of Jean Moulin and the French resistance is a truly heartbreaking yet humbling story, the French people were incredibly brave.
"Fearless" Freddie Mills, light heavyweight champion from 1948 to 1950, he was called "Fearless" for a reason. Freddie Mills was more than just a ferocious fighter—he was an enigma wrapped in charisma, grit, and controversy. A relentless warrior in the ring, Mills embodied the spirit of an old-school brawler with an iron will and an insatiable hunger for victory. From humble beginnings in Bournemouth, where he toughened himself in backyard scraps with his older brother, to the electric atmosphere of packed stadiums, Mills’ journey was one of perseverance, resilience, and raw determination. His rise to prominence wasn’t a smooth ascent but rather a battle-hardened odyssey through knockout triumphs, punishing defeats, and gutsy rematches that defined his career.
What set Mills apart was his fearless approach—his windmilling punches, relentless aggression, and an unshakable willingness to take on heavier, more experienced foes. He wasn't just a brawler, though; his underrated boxing IQ allowed him to adapt and evolve, employing a shoulder-roll defense long before Floyd Mayweather Jr. made it fashionable. His early record may not have screamed ‘future legend,’ but his sheer tenacity ensured that he always found a way to turn setbacks into stepping stones. Even the brutal demands of World War II, where he served as an RAF corporal, couldn't dampen his fighting spirit. Instead, they hardened him, and by the time he took on British legend Jock McAvoy in 1940, Mills had transformed into a serious contender.
Mills' personal life was as colorful as his boxing career. His romantic entanglements, including an affair that led to marriage, added layers to his already compelling story. Yet, amidst the chaos of personal relationships and extramarital escapades, he remained a fighter first. His defining moment came in 1942 when he dismantled the battle-worn Len Harvey to claim the British and Commonwealth light heavyweight titles, a fight that symbolized the shift of an era. The image of Mills knocking Harvey clean out of the ropes before embracing him encapsulated the raw sportsmanship of a bygone era. There were no over-the-top entrances, no blaring music, no trash talk—just two warriors trading blows in the purest expression of boxing.
Time and time again, Mills defied expectations, taking on larger opponents and proving that heart and grit could overcome any size disadvantage. Whether it was overpowering 6'4” Al Robinson or standing toe-to-toe with the much heavier Jack London, Mills never backed down. He fought like a man possessed, earning the respect of fans who admired his do-or-die mentality. His legacy, however, is clouded by the mystery surrounding his death, a lingering question mark that continues to spark debate. But strip away the speculation, and what remains is an indomitable fighter whose name is etched in the annals of British boxing history.
FEARLESS FREDDIE
By Paul Zanon
“He fought like a Tiger. He just tore into anyone. People loved that.” - Harry Carpenter
Murder or suicide? These are often the first questions people mention when Freddie Mills comes up in conversation. However, there was a great deal more to the man than simply a shady backstory and a fantastic wardrobe.
Born on 26 June 1919 to Thomas James Mills a scrapyard merchant and initially bred in Bournemouth, Mills was the youngest of four children. After leaving school at 14 years of age he turned his hand to gardening, then had a go as a milkman’s assistant. However, something far more adrenaline fuelled attracted young Fredrick.
Older brother Charlie was a key inspiration to Freddie. As a young child he looked up to him and it wasn’t long before he donned the gloves himself, taking part in impromptu sparring session with Charlie at the back of the garden.
From garden sheds to boxing booths, young Freddie relished the opportunity to engage in a tear-up and bag a few shillings for his trouble and by 16 years of age he kicked off his professional boxing career in explosive form. On 26 February 1936 at Westover Ice Rink, Mills knocked out fellow debutant and Dorset resident Jim Riley in the first round. The teenage super welterweight soon picked up the moniker of ‘The Bournemouth Bombshell,’ with his windmilling style, willing to tackle the most fearsome fighters at the drop of a hat. What many fail to remember is that he also had a great boxing brain and was on occasions a defensive genius, fighting behind his left shoulder long before Floyd Mayweather Jr was boasting the technique. The combination of brains, power and raw grit would pay dividends down the line.
Despite disposing of his next two opponents in sharp fashion, in his next three outings, Mills suffered a stoppage defeat to Eddie Gill, followed by two draws with Stan Nelson and George Hesketh. His record after three months read 3-2-1, which was hardly attention grabbing. However, an innate fire burned in his stomach to impress the onlooker and impress he did. In his next fight he fought Jack Scott…….twice on the same night. After knocking Scott out in the first round, the crowd were not happy with the result, so, they went at it again later shortly after, with Mills repeating the first round stoppage.
After a 13 fight winning streak, Mills hit a few speed bumps. In his next eight fights he won three, lost three and drew two, albeit against albeit against experienced fighters who added to his learning curve. Incidentally, he set the record straight with all but one fighter from these losses and draws within the next three months.
As Britain officially threw its hit into the battlefield on 1 September 1939 after Hitler invaded Poland, Mills, eager to serve king and country in World War II joined the RAF in January 1940 and soon progressed to corporal physical training instructor. The 20-year-old, now a fully-fledged middleweight boasted a record of 44-9-6. Despite the losses and draws, Mills was a big attraction with his all-action style and when veteran Lancashire legend Jock McAvoy was lined up on 8 August 1940, all eyes were on the younger man.
After 12 rounds Mills walked away from the ‘The Stadium’ in Liverpool with a solid points victory over McAvoy, elevating his profile in boxing circles and his popularity with the ladies. Having previously been managed by Bob Turner, in 1941 he switched to Ted Broadribb and shortly after started having an affair with his daughter Chrissie McCorkindale, who was already married to Don McCorkindale. Mills and Chrissie eventually married in 1948 and stayed together until Mills’ death, albeit he was known to have had affairs during that period. Incredibly, Mills remained good friends with Don and treated Chrissie and Don’s son, also called Don, as his own.
Back to the boxing. Mills won 10 out of his next 12 contests before locking horns again with McAvoy. This time more was at stake. Serving now as a sergeant in the RAF, on 23 February 1942 Mills and McAvoy fight acted as a final eliminator for the British light heavyweight title. Unfortunately, despite the predicted barnburner at the Royal Albert Hall, McAvoy injured his back in the opening session and Mills was declared winner due to the retirement of his fistic foe. The victory did however propel Mills into his first big fight of note and the Dorset born destroyer didn’t fail to deliver a peak performance.
On 20 June 1942 at Tottenham FC’s football ground, Mills challenged Len Harvey for his British and Commonwealth light heavyweight titles in front of 30,000 fans. Fearless Freddie entered the ring at a rapid pace, no music or dilly dallying and with his dark robe simply initialled in large letters, ‘F M.’ Len, the champion followed moments later, walking quickly through the crowds in similar fashion and the moment he stepped through the ropes, shook Mills’ hands. The good old days when the focus was actually on the fighters and the fight. Not the sponsorship name, not the music track and certainly not the trash talking.
Harvey was without a doubt past his best and hadn’t fought in three years, but certainly didn’t come to make up the numbers. Unfortunately, for the Cornwall native, a combination of inactivity and father time paid its price as Mills steamrolled him from the opening chime, before knocking him clean out of the ropes in the opening minute of the second round. The first person to hug him as he clambered back into the ring was Mills. Harvey retired after this fight with an incredible record of 122-14-10. His story can be read here https://www.britishvintageboxing.com/post/len-harvey-move-on-up
In Mills’ next two fights he took on 6ft 4 ½ inch Yorkshireman Al Robinson, who weighed 217lbs. Mills weighed in between 170-175lbs most of his career, even though most of his opponents were much heavier and taller than his 5ft 10 ½ inch frame and Robinson was no different. In the first encounter Robinson retired and in the second he was knocked out in front of his home crowd in Leeds in under four minutes.
On 15 September 1944, Mills fought Jack London at the Kings Hall, Manchester who outweighed him by 43 lbs. They had fought three years prior over 10 rounds, with Mills clinching a points victory, but on this night, the heavier and more experienced London took victory over a 15 round points decision.
Jack London wins on points 1944
Five months later Mills stopped Scotland’s Ken Shaw in seven rounds, once again giving away over 30lbs in weight. A few months later he was sent to Burma and India with the army, but after 15 months he was demobilised in March 1946 and returned to the UK. Thankfully in Mills’ next fight, only one pound separated him and his opponent, which is a good thing as the world light heavyweight title was on the line.
Despite his father passing away in April 1946, on 14 May in front of 11,000 fans at the Harringay Arena, Freddie Mills challenged Gus Lesnevich for world honours. In the second round it looked like certain defeat for Mills after getting knocked down, then rising to his feet and getting hit with 13 unanswered punches. Inevitably, he went down again for a third time shortly after. These days that would have been game over. However, tenacious Mills rallied back, winning the fight from rounds 3-10 using his boxing skills. By the tenth session, in addition to a broken nose Lesnevich’s face was a bloody, swollen mess. Mills made the mistake of going for the kill in this round instead of cashing in on a certain points victory and was himself caught with a barrage similar to that in the second stanza. Moments after rising, Lesnevich clubbed him with an almighty right hand and the referee stopped the contest. The Ring Magazine commented: “Lesnevich floored Mills twice in the second round and twice again the 10th, before the referee stopped the fight. In between these two rough rounds, Freddie did extremely well. "This (was) one of the greatest fights in the history of British boxing."
Astonishingly, and perhaps stupidly, Mills was back in the ring at the same venue only three weeks later against heavyweight slugger, Bruce Woodcock. Bearing in mind the pounding Mills took in his previous fight and the short distance of time elapsed, that was pure madness and should never have gone ahead, especially against someone with Woodcock’s arsenal. Either way, despite hitting the canvas in the fourth round, Mills lasted the distance of a one sided pounding.
Two fights later, yet again Mills was the victim of bad matchmaking, sharing the ring with heavyweight, Joe Baksi. The New York slugger had shared the ring with good company, including lasting the distance with Jersey Joe Walcott, beating Lee Savold twice and would go on to stop Woodcock in seven rounds shortly after his encounter with Mills. The Dorset destroyer tried his best but in the end couldn’t come out for the sixth round.
Joe Baksi and Freddie Mills post fight 1946
In other news around this time, Mills opened a Chinese restaurant which he co-owned with Chinese actor Andy Ho in the heart of Central London at 143 Charring Cross Road. He had also invested in various residential and commercial properties, not all of which paid dividends.
Four fights after Baksi, on 8 September 1947 Mills fought Pol Goffaux for the European light heavyweight title, forcing the Belgian to retire in the fourth round. Then, despite many saying Mills was washed up, 26 months after first challenging Lesnevich for his world title, the Bournemouth born boxer challenged the American once again for his title, but this time in front of a much bigger crowd at White City Stadium, West London.
On 26 July 1948 Lesnevich came out expecting to annihilate underdog Mills, but it was in fact him who was on the receiving end of the beating, narrowly making it through the first round after hitting the deck twice and once again displaying lacerations over both eyes. The Sydney Morning Herald wrote, ‘Blood streamed from cuts over both of Lesnevich's eyes from the 1st round and he was twice down for counts of nine, one of which he took resting on one knee.’ Controlling the fight behind a skilful and dominating performance, Mills became the first world light heavyweight champion in 45 years from Britain and incredibly, he achieved this feat in his 98th fight.
Freddie Mills wins the world light-heavyweight title
On 2 June 1949 at White City Stadium, Mills fought old foe Bruce Woodcock for the British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight titles. Giving away 20lbs to the natural heavyweight, Mills put up a brave fight, hitting the canvas in the first, fourth, eight and tenth rounds, before being knocked out in the twelfth.
Mills’ last fight was on 24 January 1950 at the Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, when he put his world light heavyweight crown on the line against Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli, better known as Joey Maxim. In addition to losing his title in the tenth round, Mills also lost most of the top row of his teeth against a very tough fighter who would continue to mix it with the very best in the coming years.
Fredrick Percival Mills fought 101 contests, with 77 victories (55 KO’s), 18 losses, six draws and retired at the age of 30. He became British, Commonwealth, European and World light heavyweight champion and was unphased by the height, weight or pedigree in front of him. He remains one of Britain’s most loved crowd pleasers.
Very shortly after retirement Mills was granted his manager’s license by the British Boxing Board of Control, then became a promoter and even started training fighters for a short time. He also released his autobiography entitled, ‘Twenty Years.’
Mills was a natural showman in front of the camera, with or without gloves and post retirement embraced a number of acting roles, including starring in a couple of ‘Carry On’ films and hosting the music show Six-Five. He also converted his Chinese restaurant into a nightclub in the early 60’s, at a time several gangs were roaming Central London, including the Richardsons and the Krays. The latter, who also hailed from boxing heritage, idolised Mills because of his achievements in the ring, however, such associations cast doubt as to whether this led his eventual demise and possible murder.
Around the time ‘Freddie Mills Nite Spot’ emerged, someone stole his world title belt from his car. Once the robber found out who it belonged to and no doubt who he was associated with, the strap was returned a few days later along with a note of apology for the theft.
Unfortunately the nightclub started going into financial ruin and its reputation had also been tarnished by allegations of the hostesses also being prostitutes. Rumour has it that Mills wanted the club to originally be a venue for families to get together and share good food and drink around a table, but instead he was forced to turn a blind eye to prostitution. Despite wanting to sell the business and step aside, he wasn’t given the portal of opportunity by whoever and for whatever reasons.
Around the corner from the club was Goslett Yard and on a number of occasions Mills would drive round there to catch 40 winks and recharge his batteries for the evening. This occasion turned out to be his last nap. He was found by a doorman shortly before midnight on 24 July 1965 sitting on his own in his pristine silver-grey Citroen DS19 sports car with a bullet through his right eye and a small calibre rifle resting next to his legs. He was officially pronounced dead on 25 July, aged 46.
The funeral was held at St Giles church, Camberwell and was widely attended. His pallbearers included Henry Cooper, Jack Solomons and Bruce Forsyth, who also read the eulogy.
With very little to substantiate, the verdict was ruled as suicide, which Mills’ family never accepted. The rifle had apparently been sourced from a friend at the fairground and apparently didn’t even function properly. The coroners report also said that Mills eyes were wide open at the time of being shot, which was not in keeping with suicide attempts as the person usually closes their eyes. The coroner believed he was looking at the gun, but someone else pulled the trigger. Theory two is that as he was sleeping someone came over to the opposite car window and shot him, then placed the rifle in the car. At the scene, an ambulance took his dead body away before police had arrived, which was strange as he was obviously dead and his body was part of the murder scene.
Suicide, Gang involvement and debt to crime syndicates are all in the melting pot of theories surrounding the death of Freddie Mills to this very day. However, one thing is for sure – Freddie Mills boxing credentials will always remain clearly intact. In the ring, he did himself proud.
Freddie Mills and world light heavyweight champion Gus Lesnevich fought two savage wars, the first one in 1946 was a knockdown-dragout that resulted in Lesnevich TKO'ing Mills, but Lesnevich paid a heavy price, Mills busted his left eye up something awful. But Lesnevich wasa good, rugged fighter, he was light heavyweight champion for seven years, although his title reign was interrupted by his service in the military which undoubtedly prolonged his reign. This is Lesnevich after his first fight with Freddie Mills.
Man I would love to own the type 1 original photo of that image of Gus Lesnevich. Boxing has been called "The hardest game" for good reason. The evidence on Gus Lesnevich's face is all the proof we need of that fact.
In 1948, Freddie Mills got another shot at the world light heavyweight title this time he made it count, he floored Lesnevich twice en route to a decision win and the light heavyweight crown.
This is one of my all-time favorite boxing photos, a bloody Freddie Mills throwing a punch at Joey Maxim, Mills looks like such a savage in this photo.
Freddie Mills vs Len Harvey in 1942 was Mills in his prime at his absolute best. Freddie Mills ended the career of the great Len Harvey that day, taking the British and Commonwealth light heavyweight titles in two dramatic rounds. Mills just came out and blitzed Harvey, unleashing a hellish attack and knocking Harvey clear through the ropes and out of the ring. I've seen the footage of this fight and it was brutal. Mills at his best was an absolute animal.