Leonard Austen Harvey (11 July 1907 – 28 November 1976) was a British boxer. A great defensive boxer, he boxed at every weight division available at the time, from flyweight to heavyweight. He became the light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion of the British Empire, and was recognised as world light-heavyweight champion in Britain from 1939 to 1942. Harvey was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the class of 2008.
Early career
British middleweight champion Born in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall, Len Harvey started out as a flyweight at 12. By the time he was 18 he was ready to fight for the British welterweight title. He was held to a draw though by Harry Mason on 29 April 1926. His next British title shot came 2 years later on 16 May 1929. This time at middleweight against Alex Ireland. Harvey knocked out his opponent in the seventh round to become British champion. He made six defences between 1929 and 1933. He also fought Marcel Thil of France for the world middleweight championship. He lost on points in a close decision. (Thil was stripped by the NBA for failing to make a title defence by August 15, 1933, but he remained the IBU champion).
British light heavyweight and heavyweight champion On 10 April 1933, he defended his title against Jock McAvoy. This ended in defeat for Harvey but two months later he was in the ring again challenging Eddie Phillips and won on points to become British Light Heavyweight champion. On 30 November that year he beat the then unbeaten Jack Petersen to become the British Heavyweight champion. He then went on to beat Canada's Larry Gains to become British Empire champion, but lost both titles in a rematch with Petersen being stopped in the 12th round on cuts. Harvey then went on to fight for the world title on 9 November 1936, but was beaten on points by John Henry Lewis. He then regained the British Heavyweight title by disqualification against old foe Eddie Phillips. In 1936, he starred in the film, Excuse My Glove. In 1938 John Henry Lewis retired after developing eye problems, Harvey was then matched with another old foe Jock McAvoy for British recognition of the world championship at Harringay Arena. This time he won on points on 10 July 1939.
Later career and death During the Second World War Harvey joined the Royal Air Force. He was seen in the eyes of the public as a national sporting idol and was given an officer rank. During this time he was persuaded to defend his titles against Freddie Mills on 20 June 1942. Harvey was a veteran of over a hundred bouts and was 35 years old. He was knocked out in two rounds, only the second time he was stopped and the first by K.O. He retired after this bout. He had an official record of 146 fights, 122 wins, 10 draws and 14 defeats: he claimed to have had 418 fights, but they probably included booth fights. His four fights with Jock McAvoy were legendary; he won three and lost one. He later died in Plymouth on 28 November 1976 of a heart attack relaxing at his home and commenting to his wife he was feeling ill. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateAgeLocationNotes146Loss Freddie MillsKO2 (15), Jun 20, 1942145Win122–13–10 Jock McAvoyPTS15Jul 10, 1939144Win121–13–10 Larry GainsTKO13 (15)Mar 16, 1939143Win120–13–10 Eddie PhillipsDQ4 (15)Dec 1, 1938142Win119–13–10 Jock McAvoyPTS15Apr 7, 1938141Win118–13–10 Manuel Kid AbrewTKO14 (15), Feb 15, 1937140Loss117–13–10 John Henry LewisPTS15Nov 9, 1936139Loss117–12–10 Jack PetersenPTS15Jan 29, 1936138Win117–11–10 Eddie PhillipsPTS15Oct 26, 1935137Win116–11–10 Marcel LauriotPTS10Apr 29, 1935136Draw115–11–10 Walter NeuselPTS12Nov 26, 1934135Loss115–11–9 Jack PetersenTKO12 (15)Jun 4, 1934134Win115–10–9 Jimmy TaranteDQ5 (12)Apr 12, 1934133Win114–10–9 Larry GainsPTS15Feb 8, 1934132Win113–10–9 Jack PetersenPTS15Nov 30, 1933131Win112–10–9 Carmelo CandelKO5 (12)Oct 16, 1933130Win111–10–9 Eddie PhillipsPTS15Jun 12, 1933129Loss110–10–9 Jock McAvoyPTS15Apr 10, 1933128Draw110–9–9 Eddie PhillipsPTS12Mar 13, 1933127Win110–9–8 Jack CaseyPTS15Dec 12, 1932126Win109–9–8 Glen MoodyTKO6 (10)Dec 2, 1932125Win108–9–8 Seaman Albert HarveyPTS10Nov 21, 1932124Win107–9–8 Theo SasTKO1 (15), Nov 14, 1932123Loss106–9–8 Marcel ThilPTS15Jul 4, 1932122Win106–8–8 Len JohnsonPTS15May 11, 1932121Win105–8–8 Jock McAvoyPTS15Mar 21, 1932120Win104–8–8 Jack CaseyPTS15Feb 8, 1932119Win103–8–8 George SlackPTS15Jan 17, 1932118Win102–8–8 Fred ShawKO3 (15)Nov 30, 1931117Win101–8–8 Jerry DaleyKO3 (15)Jul 1, 1931116Win100–8–8 Jack HoodPTS15Jun 22, 1931115Win99–8–8 Rene De VosKO1 (15)Jun 1, 1931114Loss98–8–8 Ben JebyUD12Mar 20, 1931113Loss98–7–8 Vince DundeeSD12Feb 13, 1931112Loss98–6–8 Vince DundeeUD12Jan 9, 1931111Win98–5–8 George SlackPTS12Dec 14, 1930110Win97–5–8 Dave ShadePTS15Sep 29, 1930109Win96–5–8 Henri VandevyvereKO1 (10)Jul 6, 1930108Win95–5–8 Charlie McDonaldKO2 (10)Jun 15, 1930107Win94–5–8 Steve McCallRTD9 (15)May 22, 1930106Win93–5–8 Frans StevensKO3 (15)Mar 4, 1930105Draw92–5–8 Jack HoodPTS15Dec 18, 1929104Win92–5–7 Jack HoodPTS15Oct 21, 1929103Win91–5–7 Alex IrelandKO7 (15)May 16, 1929102Win90–5–7 Frank MoodyTKO6 (10)Feb 21, 1929101Win89–5–7 Amedee DubusKO1 (10)Dec 17, 1928100Win88–5–7 Leo FrickKO2 (10)Dec 3, 192899Win87–5–7 Johnny SullivanRTD6 (15)Oct 29, 192898Win86–5–7 Auguste LengagneKO9 (15)Oct 1, 192897Win85–5–7 Guardsman George WestDQ4 (10)Sep 2, 192896Win84–5–7 Emile EgrelPTS15Jul 30, 192895Win83–5–7 Auguste LengagneKO10 (15)Apr 24, 192894Win82–5–7 Jean ForrKO7 (10)Mar 5, 192893Win81–5–7 Kid NitramDQ14 (20)Jan 19, 192892Win80–5–7 Marcel ThilPTS15Dec 12, 192791Win79–5–7 Emile EgrelPTS15Nov 29, 192790Win78–5–7 Jack EtienneTKO13 (15)Oct 31, 192789Win77–5–7 Piet BrandPTS14 (15)Oct 16, 192788Win76–5–7 Primo UbaldoKO2 (10)Sep 22, 192787Win75–5–7 Billy FarmerKO2 (10)Sep 1, 192786Win74–5–7 Charles ScreveKO2 (15)Aug 11, 192785Win73–5–7 Emile EgrelTKO13 (15)Jul 7, 192784Win72–5–7 Piet BrandDQ6 (15)Jun 5, 192783Win71–5–7 Joe RolfeTKO10 (15)Apr 25, 192782Win70–5–7 Joe BloomfieldDQ11 (15)Apr 4, 192781Win69–5–7 Maurice PrunierPTS15Mar 14, 192780Loss68–5–7 Len JohnsonPTS20Jan 13, 192779Win68–4–7 Andy NewtonTKO8 (15)Dec 13, 192678Win67–4–7 Nol SteenhorstPTS15Nov 22, 192677Draw66–4–7 'Hamilton' Johnny BrownPTS20Sep 13, 192676Win66–4–6 Nol SteenhorstTKO15 (15)Jul 4, 192675Win65–4–6 Billy MattickKO7 (15)Jun 14, 192674Draw64–4–6 Harry MasonPTS20Apr 29, 192673Win64–4–5 Harry BentonKO3 (15)Apr 1, 192672Loss63–4–5 Johnny SullivanPTS20Mar 1, 192671Win63–3–5 Billy BirdKO8 (15)Feb 2, 192670Draw62–3–5 Alf ManciniPTS20Jan 4, 192669Win62–3–4 Edouard BaudryPTS15Nov 19, 192568Win61–3–4 Henri DupontRTD2 (15)Oct 29, 192567Win60–3–4 Glyn DaviesKO2 (15)Sep 26, 192566Win59–3–4 Bill HandleyRTD8 (15)Sep 2, 192565Win58–3–4 Harry KentKO2 (10)Aug 22, 192564Win57–3–4 Jos LeukemansPTS15Jul 20, 192563Win56–3–4 Terry 'Young' DonlanTKO2 (15)Jul 2, 192562Win55–3–4 Fred BullionsKO10 (15)Jun 22, 192561Win54–3–4 Pietro BianchiKO6 (15)Jun 13, 192560Win53–3–4 Jos LeukemansPTS15May 14, 192559Win52–3–4 Karel van 't VeldtPTS15Apr 30, 192558Win51–3–4 Johnny ThomasKO1 (15)Apr 18, 192557Win50–3–4 Walter MaloneyKO1 (10)Mar 30, 192556Win49–3–4 Laurie GuardKO5 (12)Feb 19, 192555Win48–3–4 Harry KentKO4 (15)Jan 26, 192554Win47–3–4 Seaman Jerry HarrodKO5 (10)Jan 1, 192553Win46–3–4 Sid CannonsPTS12Dec 8, 192452Win45–3–4 Albert 'Young' DandoTKO4 (12)Oct 20, 192451Draw44–3–4 Albert 'Young' DandoPTS15Oct 4, 192450Win44–3–3 Bert SaundersPTS12Sep 20, 192449Win43–3–3 Tim RowleyKO2 (10)Sep 1, 192448Win42–3–3 Billy StreetsPTS12 (15)Aug 11, 192447Win41–3–3 Albert HicksPTS15Jul 17, 192446Win40–3–3 Wal JordanKO1 (10)Jul 3, 192445Win39–3–3 Young Freddie WelshPTS15Jun 19, 192444Win38–3–3 Ernie JarvisPTS15Jun 2, 192443Win37–3–3 Young ClancyPTS15May 17, 192442Win36–3–3 Billy Will DaviesPTS15Apr 24, 192441Win35–3–3 Bill RileyPTS15Apr 12, 192440Win34–3–3 Matt GeorgeTKO3 (20)Mar 10, 192439Win33–3–3 Billy Pop HumphriesPTS20Feb 11, 192438Draw32–3–3 Bill RileyPTS15Nov 30, 192337Win32–3–2 Billy Pop HumphriesPTS15Oct 22, 192336Win31–3–2 Kid SocksPTS15Sep 21, 192335Win30–3–2 Harry 'Young' JinksPTS6Jul 28, 192334Win29–3–2 Nip WilliamsPTS8Jul 13, 192333Win28–3–2 Fred BicknellRTD3 (8)Jun 22, 192332Draw27–3–2 Young CallicotPTS8Apr 27, 192331Win27–3–1 Bill LewisRTD5 (8)Jan 2, 192330Win26–3–1 Jack PalmerRTD5 (8)Nov 17, 192229Win25–3–1 Young CallicotPTS10Sep 29, 192228Loss24–3–1 Kid KellyPTS10Jul 14, 192227Loss24–2–1 Young CallicotPTS8Jun 30, 192226Win24–1–1 Harry 'Young' JinksKO3 (?)Jun 2, 192225Win23–1–1 Teddy GilbertPTS6May 5, 192224Win22–1–1 Billy WilliamsKO3 (6)Mar 31, 192223Win21–1–1 Johnny CotterRTD3 (6)Mar 17, 192222Win20–1–1 Young O'NeillTKO2 (6)Feb 3, 192221Win19–1–1 Johnny CotterPTS6Dec 27, 192120Win18–1–1 Johnny CotterPTS6Nov 25, 192119Win17–1–1 Young CallicotPTS6Sep 9, 192118Win16–1–1 Harry 'Young' JinksPTS6Jun 24, 192117Win15–1–1 Young RichardsKO1 (6)Jun 17, 192116Win14–1–1 Harry 'Young' JinksPTS6May 6, 192115Win13–1–1 Harry 'Young' JinksPTS8Apr 15, 192114Win12–1–1 Harry 'Young' JinksPTS6Mar 18, 192113Win11–1–1 Harry 'Young' JinksPTS?Feb 25, 192112Win10–1–1 Harry 'Young' JinksPTS6Feb 4, 192111Win9–1–1 Teddy GilbertPTS6Dec 27, 192010Draw8–1–1 Young BallPTS6Sep 17, 19209Win8–1 Young MacRTD1 (6)Aug 6, 19208Win7–1 Kid RobertsPTS6Jul 30, 19207Win6–1 Stanley's NipperPTS6Jun 4, 19206Win5–1 Young ChipsRTD4 (6)Apr 30, 19205Win4–1 Stanley's NipperPTS6Apr 9, 19204Win3–1 Young FernPTS?Mar 19, 19203Win2–1 Young EdwardsTKO4 (?)Jan 30, 19202Loss1–1 Young FernPTS6Jan 16, 19201Win1–0 Young KingPTS6Jan 2, 1920
See also List of British heavyweight boxing champions List of British light-heavyweight boxing champions List of British middleweight boxing champions
References
Further reading Arnold, Peter History of Boxing Hugman, Barry J. (ed.) The British Boxing Board of Control Year Book 2007 Mullan, Harry The World Encyclopedia of Boxing
External links
Article.