- Tommy Farr
Infobox_Boxer
name = Tommy Farr
nationality = flagicon|WAL Welsh
realname = Tommy Farr
weight =Heavyweight
birth_date=birth date |1913|03|12|mf=y
birth_place =Clydach Vale ,Rhondda , Wales
death_date=death date and age|1986|03|01|1913|03|12|mf=y
style = Orthodox
total = 126
wins = 81
KO = 24
losses = 30
draws = 13
no contests = 2Thomas George Farr (
12 March 1913 –1 March 1986 ) was one of the most famous British boxers of all time. Nicknamed "the Tonypandy Terror", he became British and Empire heavyweight champion in March 1937. On 30 August 1937 he fought worldheavyweight championJoe Louis at the height of his powers atYankee Stadium ,New York City ; gaining much respect despite losing a points decision over 15 rounds. Louis, arguably one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, had knocked out 8 of his last 9 opponents and proceeded to knock out his next 7, but was unable to do the same to Farr.He retired in 1940, but personal tragedies saw him lose his fortune and he ended up
bankrupt , having to return to the ring at the age of 36 to make a living. Farr later ran apub inBrighton ,Sussex after retiring, and died onSt. David's Day , 1986, aged 71.In February 2007, composer
Mal Pope played the inaugural performance of "The Contender", a musical based on the life of Farr, at theUnited Nations building inNew York . On 24 April 2007 'The Contender' opened atSwansea 's Grand Theatre. The show was directed byMichael Bogdanov , and the spectacular lighting was designed by Tim Routledge. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6396667.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | South West Wales | Boxing musical given UN audience ] ] A theme of the musical is that Farr's lack of success in the USA resulted wholly from his refusal to co-operate with fight-fixing mobsters and bookmakers.References
External links
* http://www.recyclegen.com/Peerless/tommy_farr.htm
* [http://www.johnnyowen.com/Recs/Hvy/tommy.html Fight record]
* http://tjsmithers.googlepages.com/ >The lineage of Thomas George Farr 1913-1986.
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