Ronald Rawson

Ronald Rawson Rawson [ [http://www.blacksheepindex.co.uk/GREATWAR%20Ra-Rix.pdf Full birth name] : PDF database at the "BlackSheepIndex" website.] MC & two bars (June 17, 1892 – March 30, 1952) was a British heavyweight professional boxer, who won a gold medal in Boxing at the 1920 Summer Olympics.

Early life

He went to Westminster School in London from 1906 to 1911 and then to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1912. He boxed and won against Oxford in 1913 and 1914. He served as an officer in the First World War from 1914 to 1919, in the Royal Engineers Signal Service. He was awarded the Military Cross and two Bars (i.e. three Military Crosses). [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/sydney/story/0,,374359,00.html Biographical info] : from an article at the Guardian Unlimited website.] He was promoted Lieutenant in 1915 and Captain in 1917.

Amateur Boxing Career

He won the Amateur Boxing Association of Great Britain Heavyweight Title in 1920 and 1921, [http://www.cuabc.org.uk/index.php/about/article/the_strange_and_terrible_history_of_varsity_boxing/ Post-war ABA winner] : Cambridge University Amateur Boxing Club website.] and in 1920 won the Olympic Gold Medal in Antwerp in the heavyweight division (from 1920 to 1936 this was 79.38kg/175lb+), defeating Danish boxer Søren Petersen in the final. [ [http://www.gbrathletics.com/olympic/boxing.htm Rawson defeated Petersen] , boxing heavyweight final, 1920 Olympics: "GBRAthletics.com" statistical website.]

Although he only boxed as an Amateur, he did meet the professional boxer Jack Bloomfield in a "supposed 'exhibition' bout at a charity show at the Brighton Pavilion", where he suffered a knockout defeat in round three.

Olympic results

*1st round bye
*Defeated Samuel Stewart (United States)
*Defeated Xavier Eluère (France)
*Defeated Søren Petersen (Denmark)

References