Terry Allen (boxer)

Infobox Boxer
name=Terry Allen


realname=Edward Albert Govier
nickname=
weight=Flyweight
nationality=flagicon|UKBritish
birth_date=June 18 1924
birth_place=
death_date=April 8 1987
death_place=
style=Orthodox
total=75
wins=61
losses=13
draws=1
no contests=0
KO=18|

Terry Allen (born June 8 1924, in Islington, England, died April 8 1987) was an English flyweight boxer of heritage. During his career, he became British, Commonwealth, European and World flyweight champion.

Family

Allen's father was a professional boxer. Allen’s mother died when he was two, and he was raised by his grandmother. Six of his cousins were also professioanl boxers.

Amateur career

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

Professional career

He 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, and while stationed at Alexandria, Egypt, he fought and won fifteen bouts, between May 1944 and December 1945.

His first defeat was in May 1946 against Alex Murphy by a knockout in the sixth round at Harringay Arena.

Title fights

He continued to win the vast majority of his fights, until, in September 1949, he challenged Rinty Monaghan, for his British, Commonwealth, European and World flyweight titles. The fought in Monaghan’s hometown of Belfast, and the result after fifteen rounds was a draw.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

Allen’s 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.

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.

See also

* List of British flyweight boxing champions

* List of flyweight boxing champions

References

*

* Maurice Golesworthy, Encyclopaedia of Boxing (Eighth Edition) (1988), Robert Hale Limited, ISBN 0-7090-3323-0