Freddy Welsh (?) – Ynysangharad Road, Pontypridd Born in Pontypridd and christened Frederick Hall Thomas, he was nicknamed the "Welsh Wizard". The son of a successful businessman, Freddie suffered frequent illnesses as a child and was sent to California for his health. Here he took up boxing as a result of a suggestion from his physical fitness instructor. He became so good at the sport that he decided to make a living out of it and he turned professional in 1905. He took the name Freddie Welsh to prevent his mother from learning of his new career. The surname 'Welsh' was taken in honour of his nationality. In 1909, Welsh was awarded the first Lonsdale Belt, in recognition of his winning the European lightweight boxing title. In 1914, he won the World Lightweight title on a points decision against Ritchie in London. He retained the title until May 1917, when he was knocked out at the Manhattan Athletic Club by Benny Leonard. During the First World War Freddie served as a lieutenant and helped disabled veterans at the Walter Reed Hospital. He was discharged a Captain and returned to the ring in December, 1920. He retired from boxing after a defeat by Archie Walker in 1922, but retired as a wealthy man. He bought a health farm and a gymnasium but fell on hard times and died penniless in New York http://www.rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.u...ontent.hcst?lang=en&textonly=&dDocName=021583
The boxer Freddie Welsh (1886-1927) was born Frederick Hall Thomas at The Bridge Inn, Pontypridd. At the age of 16 he left home in search of a new life in Canada and North America. It was in Philadelphia that he fought his first bout in December 1905, fighting under the name Freddie Welsh. After a period in Australia, Welsh returned to Wales where he began to make his mark as a boxer. He became lightweight champion of Wales in 1907 and by the summer of 1914, Welsh had been crowned lightweight champion of the world, a title which he held until 1917. He died in poverty in New York in 1927. http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/small/item/GTJ69050/ http://www.johnnyowen.com/freddie_welsh.html
Freddie Welsh was a great exponent of defensive boxing. Always remaining calm in the ring, he was an extremely elusive opponent which was particularly frustrating for fighters who didn't have his skills but relied upon power and aggression. He welcomed the opportunity to fight a brawler, fully confident that he would be able to outmanoeuvre him - and not averse to trying a few tricks of his own ! Welsh was a clever counterpuncher who believed in feinting and shifting his body to draw his opponent out of position. The Early Days Unlike other great Welsh boxers of his era who were born into poverty and took to boxing as a means of survival, Frederick Hall Thomas did not need to box. His father was a successful businessman who provided the family with a comfortable living. However, Freddie was frequently ill as a child with signs of consumption so his parents hired a physical fitness expert to help build up his frail body. Much to his parents surprise Freddie's fitness expert advised him to take up boxing reasoning that it was the best sport to improve his lungs; more surprising was the way young Freddie took to the sport. Freddie grew into a headstrong and determined young man who announced to his mother that, at the age of sixteen, he was going to America to seek his fortune. After a few lean years in America where Freddie lived the life of a hobo, jumping trains and just eking out enough to live on, he finally made the decision to literally fight for his living. Not wanting his mother to know that he was boxing Freddie decided to take the name Freddie Cymro (Cymro is Welsh for 'Welshman') however his wife suggested that the pronunciation may confuse the American public and that Freddie Welsh would be just as appropriate and more readily accepted. Upon turning professional Freddie quickly established himself, mainly on the East Coast, as a boxer of rare quality. After a series of wins Freddie returned to his homeland after receiving news that his mother was seriously ill. First Pro Fight His first fight in England came at the National Sporting Club where his American boxing exploits had gone before him. A clear six round win against Seaman Hayes was the result. Having displayed his great range of skills during his first fight at the N.S.C. the members wanted to see more of this talented fighter and a contest against Young Josephs was to be Freddie's next challenge. The first 3 rounds were fought toe to toe until in the fourth Freddie began to get on top of his 10lb heavier opponent. For the rest of the fight Freddie was just too smart for his game opponent, putting Josephs down in the 13th and 14th rounds before being declared the winner at the end of the 15th on a points decision. Later that year, at the St Mary Hill Fair, Freddie fought a six round exhibition with fellow Welsh boxing great, Peerless Jim Driscoll. It truly was an exhibition - of all the finest skills of the noble art. The two men were good friends at this time and the exhibition aroused a lot of speculation amongst each other's fans as to who would emerge the victor in a real fight.. Two fights in one night Freddie Welsh was a very shrewd man both inside and outside the ring. He would add to his purses by staging side bets on himself, as well as being capable of always negotiating the best financial deal for his fights. One particularly bizarre arrangement he undertook was to fight two men on the same night but would only receive a purse if he stopped both men - confidence in his own ability indeed ! First up was Gunner Hart who claimed to be welterweight champion of the Navy. After an extremely one sided bout the referee stopped the contest in the fifth round with Hart having put up a game fight but being no match for the talented Welshman. Next was Arthur Ellis, holder of the English lightweight title. Again the fight only lasted five rounds, with Ellis having visited the canvas four times during the course of the bout. British Title Welsh later returned to America whereupon after another impressive list of victories he met with his first defeat at the hands of Packy McFarland in a controversial home town decision. More victories followed including a fine win over 15 rounds against featherweight great, Abe Attell. Being in great demand on both sides of the Atlantic, Freddie went back to the U.K. in 1909 to fight Johnny Summers for the British lightweight title which he won after 20 rounds. Butt ref ! Peerless Jim beaten Again, he became involved in a controversial fight when he was matched against the other great Welsh fighter of the day, Peerless Jim Driscoll. Although they were friends, the pre-fight reports in newspapers and comments amongst fans were so intense, such was the excitement everywhere in the build up to the fight, that by the time of the actual bout the friendship was no more. What should have been a feast of skill was ruined by Freddie's insistence of holding and employing rough house tactics to prevent Driscoll boxing in his usual exemplary style. At every opportunity Welsh fouled Driscoll until in the 10th round Driscoll snapped, unable to continue to put up with the dirty fight Freddie was employing. Driscoll blatantly head-butted Welsh full in the face leaving the referee no alternative but to disqualify him. In his very next bout Freddie lost his British title to the very capable fighter, Matt Wells on points over 20 rounds. A decision he was to later reverse. World Title Freddie Welsh was given his chance of becoming World Champion when in 1914 he was matched with the current champion, Willie Ritchie. The fight took place in London. In a compelling fight, over 20 rounds, Welsh boxed at his brilliant best to take the decision and was crowned World Lightweight Champion. Era of no-decisions Returning to America Welsh took absolutely no chance of losing his title when he decided to fight for large purses but only in no-decision bouts. This meant the only way he could possibly lose his title was by knockout. It proved to be a lucrative way of cashing in on his status; though not exactly sporting it was a fairly common practice at the time and was certainly a shrewd move. Freddie had fought, and beaten, all of the top lightweights on his way to the title; he avoided no-one, so why not cash in after all those years of hard work? However, the seemingly impossible happened when in 1917 he fought Benny Leonard - for the third time. By now Freddie was 31 years old and conceding 10 years to his opponent, who defeated him in 9 rounds to claim the world title. It is said that Welsh's manager had gambled on his fighter winning this bout using Freddie's entire purse to do so ! Retirement After the Great War Freddie Welsh went on to participate in more contests during 1920 - 1922, before bringing the curtain down on his illustrious career following a 10 round defeat by Archie Walker. Retiring as a wealthy man Freddie bought a health farm and ran a gymnasium. Sadly, he lost it all in the Great Depression and died penniless. http://www.johnnyowen.com/freddie_welsh.html
His Fight Record DATE OPPONENT RESULT 1905 Young Williams W KO 6 25/01/1906 Johnny Kelly ND 6 08/02/1906 Eddie Fay W TKO 5 22/02/1906 Tommy Feltz ND 6 08/03/1906 Tommy Love ND 6 24/03/1906 Kid Stinger ND 6 28/03/1906 Eddie Lenny ND 10 31/03/1906 Johnny Dohan ND 6 11/04/1906 Billy Maharg ND 10 14/04/1906 Frank Carsey ND 6 19/04/1906 Jimmy Devine ND 6 21/04/1906 Tommy Love ND 6 23/04/1906 Matty Baldwin ND 6 03/05/1906 Billy Willis ND 6 10/05/1906 Tim Callahan ND 6 12/05/1906 Jack Reardon ND 6 19/05/1906 Kid Gleason ND 6 08/06/1906 Mike Laughlin W KO 2 15/06/1906 Frank Carsey ND 6 29/06/1906 Billy Glover ND 6 13/07/1906 Young Erne ND 6 27/07/1906 Hock Keys W KO 17 31/08/1906 Jimmy Dunn ND 6 12/11/1906 Jimmy Dunn D 20 23/11/1906 Willie Moody ND 6 12/12/1906 Kid Gleason ND 6 18/02/1907 Seaman Hayes W 6 25/03/1907 Young Josephs W 15 17/04/1907 Evan Evans W KO 1 17/04/1907 Charley Weber W KO 2 17/04/1907 Gomer Morgan W KO 3 20/05/1907 Johnnie Owens W KO 8 Welsh Lightweight Title 18/07/1907 Sid Russell W KO 6 06/08/1907 Young Lilly W KO 12 15/08/1907 Dick Lee W 15 Exhibition Jim Driscoll Ex 6 07/09/1907 Seaman Hayes W KO 5 16/09/1907 Joe White W TKO 16 03/10/1907 Gunner Hart W TKO 5 03/10/1907 Arthur Ellis W TKO 5 02/11/1907 Johnny Thompson W 6 21/11/1907 Boxer Kelly ND 6 02/12/1907 Willie Fitzgerald ND 6 11/12/1907 Dave Deshler ND 10 25/12/1907 Eddie Carter ND 6 02/01/1908 Rosario Locke ND 6 17/01/1908 Maurice Sayers W 10 31/01/1908 Charlie Neary D 10 21/02/1908 Packy McFarland L 10 30/05/1908 Phil Brock W 25 04/07/1908 Packy McFarland D 25 14/08/1908 Johnny Murphy W 25 15/09/1908 Frank Carsey W KO 4 09/10/1908 Harry Trendall W KO 6 25/11/1908 Abe Attell W 15 02/02/1909 George Memsic ND 20 20/02/1909 Young Erne W 20 05/03/1909 Ray Bronson W KO 13 16/03/1909 Young Donahue D 10 07/05/1909 Johnny Frayne ND 10 21/05/1909 Jack Goodman ND 10 25/05/1909 Phil Brock W 12 12/07/1909 Young Joseph W 11 23/08/1909 Henri Piet W 12 06/09/1909 Joe Fletcher W 12 08/11/1909 Johnny Summers W PTS 20 British Lightweight Title 25/04/1910 Jack Daniels W KO 7 30/05/1910 Packey McFarland D 20 21/07/1910 Joe Heathcote W TKO 6 11/11/1910 Dick Bailey W TKO 9 20/12/1910 Jim Driscoll W Disq. 10 British Lightweight Title 27/02/1911 Matt Wells L PTS 20 British Lightweight Title 12/04/1911 Pal Moore ND 10 23/06/1911 Matty Baldwin W PTS 20 08/03/1912 Young O'Brien Ex 4 22/05/1912 Jimmy Duffy ND 10 13/06/1912 Grover Hayes ND 10 05/08/1912 Grover Hayes ND 12 16/08/1912 Phil Knight ND 12 24/10/1912 Jack Langdon W PTS 15 11/11/1912 Matt Wells W PTS 20 British Lightweight Title 16/12/1912 Hugh Mehegan W PTS 20 British Lightweight Title 10/02/1913 Paul Brevieres W TKO 3 28/02/1913 Young Nipper W PTS 20 03/03/1913 Raymond Vittet W TKO 10 06/03/1913 Eddie Beattie W PTS 20 28/04/1913 Al Ketchell ND 10 16/05/1913 Jack Redmond ND 12 23/05/1913 Kid Scaler W 15 31/05/1913 Billy Farrell W KO 5 12/06/1913 Ray Campbell W PTS 15 19/07/1913 Young O'Brien W PTS 15 22/07/1913 Martin Murphy W KO 3 08/10/1913 Dick Hyland W 12 13/10/1913 Leo Kossick W 12 30/10/1913 Milburn Saylor W 9 25/11/1913 Phil Bloom ND 10 05/12/1913 Arthur Ellis W KO 5 01/01/1914 Johnny Dundee ND 10 06/01/1914 Frank Whitney W 10 10/01/1914 Sam Robideau ND 6 15/01/1914 Mickey Sheridan W 10 26/01/1914 Earl Fisher ND 10 29/01/1914 Leo Kelly ND 8 26/02/1914 Jimmy Duffy ND 8 17/03/1914 Joe Rivers W 20 28/04/1914 Leach Cross W 20 26/05/1914 Joe Mandot W 10 07/07/1914 Willie Ritchie W 20 World Lightweight Title 7/10/1914 Matty Baldwin W 12 02/11/1914 Adolph Wolgast W TKO 8 09/11/1914 Charley White ND 10 19/11/1914 Jimmy Duffy ND 10 24/11/1914 Fred Yelle W 12 26/11/1914 Young Brown ND 10 02/12/1914 Joe Shugrue ND 10 26/01/1915 Willie Beecher ND 10 01/02/1915 Johnny Griffiths ND 12 09/02/1915 Joe Shugrue ND 10 15/02/1915 Jimmy Anderson ND 6 25/02/1915 Charley White ND 10 11/03/1915 Willie Ritchie ND 10 17/03/1915 Hal Stewart ND 10 24/03/1915 Patsy Drouillard ND 8 27/03/1915 Johnny Lustig ND 10 09/04/1915 Billy Wagner ND 10 20/04/1915 Red Watson ND 10 24/05/1915 Frankie Fleming ND 10 18/06/1915 Johnny Lustig ND 10 03/07/1915 Charley White ND 10 15/11/1915 Johnny O'Leary ND 12 09/12/1915 Benny Palmer ND 8 13/12/1915 Jimmy Murphy ND 6 01/01/1916 Frank Whitney ND 10 17/01/1916 Eddie McAndrews ND 6 25/01/1916 Johnny Griffiths ND 12 04/03/1916 Adolph Wolgast ND 10 21/03/1916 Phil Bloom ND 10 24/03/1916 Frank Whitney W TKO 6 31/03/1916 Benny Leonard ND 10 07/04/1916 Richie Mitchell ND 10 24/04/1916 Ever Hammer ND 10 03/05/1916 Frankie Maguire ND 6 08/06/1916 Tommy Lowe W 10 04/07/1916 Adolph Wolgast W 11 28/07/1916 Benny Leonard ND 10 04/09/1916 Charley White W 20 22/09/1916 Harry Anderson W 4 27/10/1916 Mike Ward W 4 28/10/1916 Ben Allen W 10 03/11/1916 Frankie Maguire ND 10 20/11/1916 Buck Fleming ND 6 24/11/1916 Eddie Wallace ND 10 16/01/1917 Richie Mitchell ND 10 17/04/1917 Oscar Nelson ND 12 20/04/1917 Rocky Kansas ND 10 24/04/1917 Chick Simler ND 10 01/05/1917 Johnny Kilbane ND 10 28/05/1917 Benny Leonard L TKO 9 World Lightweight Title 28/12/1920 Willie Green W TKO 4 03/05/1921 Young Willie Jackson W KO 8 18/08/1921 Bert Flores W PTS 10 22/08/1921 Clonie Tait Draw 10 15/04/1922 Archie Walker L PTS 10 http://www.johnnyowen.com/freddie_welsh.html
