Bandsman Jack Blake boxer

Bandsman Jack Blake boxer
bouts
18
won
9
lost
8
draw
0
Status
inactive
Division
middleweight
Debut
1913-03-15
Height
5′ 9½″/177cm
Reach
-
Age
78
Born
1883-01-01
Death
1961-10-01
Nationality
United Kingdom

John Blake (1890 – 2 September 1960), better known as Bandsman Jack Blake, was a British boxer who became British middleweight champion in 1916.Born in Tower Street, Great Yarmouth, in 1890, John Blake was the son of a fisherman. He attended the Nelson School in Yarmouth and joined the 2nd Norfolk Regiment of the British Army at the age of fourteen, serving in several overseas countries, leading to his 'Bandsman' title which stuck throughout his career.His boxing career began in the army; He was entered into a boxing contest without his knowledge while serving in Gibraltar. Initial success led to his pursuing it further and by 1912 he was army champion of India.He left the army and turned professional in 1912, and remained unbeaten in the first two years of his professional career, including victories over the Dixie Kid, Jack Harrison, and Young Johnny Johnson. Georges Carpentier, writing for the People's Journal in January 1914, was highly complimentary of Blake, describing him as a "most promising man", and having "the right stuff in him...the right temperament".In March 1914, despite being very much a middleweight, he fought for the British heavyweight title against Bombardier Billy Wells; Wells won with a fourth-round knockout, inflicting the first defeat of Blake's career. In April 1914 he fought American Joe Borrell in a fight billed as being for the 160 lbs world title; Borrell knocked Blake down as he was returning to his corner after the bell at the end the fourth round, and with Blake unable to continue the referee declared it a no contest.In August 1914, after the outbreak of World War I, Blake put both his boxing career and his forthcoming marriage on hold and rejoined the 2nd Norfolk Regiment. He was wounded in action in September 1914 and returned to England, where he was treated at the Royal Herbert Hospital in Blackheath.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1921-01-26 Roland Todd WWWWWW Fulham LOST
KO
1920-02-05 Bert Day LWLLLL Holborn Stadium, Holborn LOST
KO
1918-04-08 Gunner Eddie Feathers DWLWWW The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark LOST
Technical knockout
1918-04-01 Barney Tooley WDLWWD Hoxton Baths, Hoxton LOST
Corner retirement
1918-01-28 Pat O'Keeffe WWWWLW National Sporting Club, Covent Garden LOST
KO
1917-12-06 Sid Burns LWDLWL Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool LOST
KO
1916-05-22 Pat O'Keeffe WWWWWW National Sporting Club, Covent Garden WIN
Points
1915-05-10 Pat O'Keeffe WWWWWW The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark LOST
KO
1915-03-11 Harry Reeve WWWWWW The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark WIN
Points
1914-05-21 Nicol Simpson DDWLWL Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool WIN
Corner retirement
1914-04-20 Joe Borrell LWLWWW The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark NC
No Contest
1914-03-03 Bombardier Billy Wells WWWLWW London Palladium, West End LOST
KO
1914-01-01 Dixie Kid WWWLWW The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark WIN
Points
1913-12-26 Tom Clifford LLLDW Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool WIN
Technical knockout
1913-10-30 Gus Gunner Rawles WWWWDW Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool WIN
Technical knockout
1913-09-27 Harry Reeve DWLLWD The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark WIN
1913-07-12 Arthur Harman LDWLWL The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark WIN
KO
1913-03-15 Young Johnny Johnson WLLLLW The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark WIN
Points