English boxer
This article is about the English boxer. For the basketball coach, see
Rolland Todd .
Roland Todd
Born Roland Griffith Todd
14 January 1900Died 22 May 1969 (aged 69) Nationality English Statistics Weight(s) middle /light heavyweight
Boxing record Total fights 93 Wins 63 (KO 30) Losses 24 (KO 6) Draws 5 No contests 1
Roland Todd (14 January 1900[ 1] — 22 May 1969) born in Marylebone London was an English professional middle /light heavyweight boxer of the 1910s, and 1920s, who won the National Sporting Club (NSC) (subsequently known as the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC)) British middleweight title , British Empire middleweight title , and European Boxing Union (EBU) middleweight title .
His professional fighting weight varied from 157 lb (71 kg; 11 st 3 lb), i.e. middleweight to 169 lb (76.7 kg; 12 st 1.0 lb), i.e. light heavyweight .
During his twelve years long carrier Todd fought some of the all time greatest boxers of his categories like Harry Greb , Tommy Loughran , Maxie Rosenbloom , Jimmy Slattery , Dave Shade .
After boxing he worked on the railways until his retirement in 1965.
After being knocked down by a car on 18 May 1969 close to his home in Bentley , Doncaster , he never regained consciousness, and died in Doncaster Royal Infirmary on 22 May 1969.
Boxing career
Professional
Roland Todd's first professional boxing bout was a points draw with Ted Bristowe at Holborn Stadium , London on 26 April 1917, this was followed by fights including; eleven wins, one defeat, then a points defeat by Eddie Shevlin (USA ) at London on 18 December 1918, six wins, one defeat.
Todd then had a knockout victory over Harry (Rocky) Knight (Barbados ) at The Ring , Southwark , London on 14 June 1919, nine wins, then a knockout victory over Louis Verger (France ) at The Ring , Southwark , London on 8 July 1920, four wins, then a technical knockout victory over Eugene Jany (France ) at The Ring , Southwark , London on 10 January 1921, two wins, then a knockout victory over Leone Jacovacci (Belgian Congo or French Congo /Italy ) at Fulham Baths , Fulham , London on 23 February 1921, seventeen wins, then a retirement victory over Frank Burns (Australia ) at Liverpool Stadium on 28 August 1922.
After two new wins, at Holland Park Rink , Kensington , London on 20 November 1922 he had a first chance for the British middleweight title , British Empire middleweight title , and European Boxing Union (EBU) middleweight title against Ted "Kid" Lewis , a much more experienced boxer, and he lost by decision.
But three months later, in the payback with the same Ted "Kid" Lewis for the British middleweight title , British Empire middleweight title , and European Boxing Union (EBU) middleweight title at Royal Albert Hall , London on 15 February 1923, Todd won by decision and conquered the titles.
After a new points victory over Augie Ratner (USA ) at Holland Park Rink , Kensington , London on 4 June 1923, Todd then travelled to the United States where, at Madison Square Garden , New York on 10 December 1923, he was defeated by decision by Tommy Loughran , unanimously considered one of the all times greatest light heavyweight champions.
Then he lost by decision against Jock Malone at Mechanics Building , Boston on 18 January 1924, a points win over Allentown Joe Gans at Armory , Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on 31 January 1924, a knockout victory over Jock Malone at Cincinnati on 9 February 1924, a knockout defeat by Jock Malone at Kenwood Armory , Minneapolis on 28 March 1924.
Todd then travelled home to England, one win, then a points defeat by Bruno Frattini (Italy ) defending the European Boxing Union (EBU) middleweight title at Palazzo Dello Sport , Milan , Italy on 30 November 1924, one defeat.
Then he recorded a draw with Francis Charles (France ) at Cirque de Paris , France on 5 May 1925, a technical knockout victory over Charlie Ring (Australia ) at The Ring , Southwark , London on 7 September 1925,
Todd then travelled back to the United States where he had a decision defeat by the great Dave Shade at Madison Square Garden , New York on 1 January 1926.
At Coliseum , Toronto , Canada on 11 January 1926, Todd met another all time legend, the great middle weight champion Harry Greb who defeated him by decision.
Then Todd recorded a defeat by the future light heavyweight world champion Jimmy Slattery at Mechanics Building , Boston on 16 January 1926.
Todd was stripped of the British Middleweight Title on 20 January 1926 for his "refusal to accept justifiable challenges during the past three years.", a points victory over Billy Vidabeck at Jersey City, New Jersey on 16 February 1926, a points defeat by Frankie Campbell at Oakland Auditorium , Oakland, California on 31 March 1926, a draw with Frankie Denny at Oakland Auditorium , Oakland, California on 7 April 1926, a technical knockout defeat by Allentown Joe Gans at Armory , Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on 13 December 1926.
Todd then travelled back home to England, with a knockout victory over Frank Burns (Australia ) at Victoria Baths , Nottingham on 13 December 1926, a technical knockout victory over Armando De Carolis (Italy ) at Premierland , Whitechapel , London on 2 January 1927.
Later Todd had a points defeat by Frank Moody for the British middleweight title , and British Empire middleweight title , at Royal Albert Hall , London on 16 February 1927, one win, one draw, then a points victory over Gerard Debarbieux (Belgium ) at Festival Concert Rooms , York on 23 January 1928, one defeat, then a points defeat by Eugene Alonzo (Martinique ) at Westfalenhalle , Dortmund on 11 March 1928.
Then Todd had a points defeat by the hall of famer Maxie Rosenbloom (USA ) at Premierland , Whitechapel , London on 17 June 1928.
Then he recorded a knockout defeat by Ted Sandwina (USA ) at Premierland , Whitechapel , London on 1 July 1928, a technical knockout defeat by Michele Bonaglia (Italy ) at Motovelodromo , Turin , Italy on 14 July 1928, a knockout defeat by Edgar Normann (Norway ) at Sportshallen , Oslo , Norway on 19 November 1928.
Roland Todd's final professional boxing bout was a technical knockout defeat by Ted Sandwina (USA ) at Liverpool Stadium , on 28 February 1929.[ 2]
Roland Todd was the seventh child of Roland Crompton Todd [1] and Elizabeth Todd (née Taylor), their first six children had died at birth, Todd's great-great-grandfather was John "Jack" Musters the squire of Annesley Hall and Colwick Hall in Nottinghamshire and was a prominent boxer in the early 18th century.[ 3]
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