Larry Gains boxer

Larry Gains boxer
bouts
145
won
117
lost
22
draw
5
Status
inactive
Division
heavyweight
Debut
1923-06-23
Height
6′ 2½″/189cm
Reach
79″/201cm
Age
81
Born
1901-12-12
Death
1983-07-26
Nationality
Canada

Lawrence Samuel "Larry" Gains (12 December 1900 – 26 July 1983) was a Black Canadian heavyweight boxer who was champion of Canada and the British Empire. One of the top heavyweights of his era, he was denied the opportunity to become World Champion due to the bar on black boxers competing for the title.Gains was born on Sumach Street in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 12 December 1900. He took up boxing at around the age of twenty, after being asked to act as a sparring partner by Charlie Clay, and boxed out of Toronto's Praestamus Club, an organisation for Black boxers.After a successful amateur career, Gains made the decision to go professional, travelling to Britain on a cattle ship and making his professional début in London as "The Toronto Terror" in June 1923. Many of his early fights were in France (where he befriended Morley Callahan and Ernest Hemingway who at the time were working as newspaper reporters) and Germany, where he beat Max Schmeling in 1925. On Feb.28, 1927 he became Canadian Heavyweight Champion when he stopped Horace "Soldier" Jones in 5 rounds at Toronto. He later defended it against two of the biggest names in Canadian boxing at the time, Jack Renault and Charlie Belanger. He settled in Leicester, England in 1930, where many of his fights over the next few years were held. Noted primarily as a slick boxer he KO'd Phil Scott in front of 30,000 spectators at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road ground in 1931, taking the British Empire title, although the colour bar was still in place. The colour bar was lifted in 1932, and he cemented his hold on the title with a victory over white South African Donald McCorkindale at the Royal Albert Hall, the fight ending in an unpopular points decision for Gains, with Gains' trainer Jack Goodwin collapsing and dying during the fight. Gains was the second black fighter to fight at the Royal Albert Hall, as Len Johnson was the first black fighter due to his contest with Adolf Pott being first. He went on to beat Primo Carnera in front of 70,000 people at White City, London in May that year (a British record attendance for a boxing match), despite Carnera having an advantage of 60 pounds in weight and a four inches in height. He lost the British Empire title in 1934 to Len Harvey, and failed to regain it later that year, defeated by Jack Petersen in front of a crowd of 64,000 at White City.Gains was considered one of the top heavyweights of his era, but was denied the opportunity to fight for the British Championship and the World Championship due to the rules against black boxers competing for the titles, instead competing for the 'Coloured Heavyweight Championship of the World', a title that he won in 1928 and 1935. His income from boxing dwindled after 1934 and in 1937 he was declared bankrupt. In December 1938 he defeated Welsh champion George James on points. In 1939, with the advent of World War II, Gains joined the British Army as a physical training instructor. He served as a Sergeant Major in the Pioneer Corps in the Middle East. His last fight was a defeat to Jack London in June 1942, held to raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1942-06-06 Jack London WWWWWL Caird Hall, Dundee LOST
KO
1941-05-28 Jack London WLWWWW New St James Hall, Newcastle LOST
KO
1941-02-19 Sergeant Elemett debut WIN
Technical knockout
1941-01-25 Jack London WWWLWW The Stadium, Liverpool LOST
KO
1940-02-12 George James WLLLWL Aldershot WIN
Points
1939-05-17 Tommy Farr LLLLLW Ninian Park, Cardiff LOST
Technical knockout
1939-03-16 Len Harvey WLLWWW Harringay Arena, Harringay LOST
Technical knockout
1938-12-12 George James WWWWWW Mountain Ash WIN
Points
1938-10-14 Claudio Villar LLLDWL Waverley Market, Edinburgh DRAW
Points
1938-08-23 Harry Staal LLWLWW St.Helier Stadium, St Helier, Jersey WIN
Points
1938-03-10 Pat Marrinan WWWLLL Romford Road Baths, West Ham WIN
Points
1938-02-21 Albert Di Meglio WWWLLW Sheffield WIN
KO
1938-01-17 Bill Wainwright WWWLWW Sheffield WIN
KO
1938-01-09 Presidio Pavesi LWLDLL The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark WIN
KO
1937-12-14 Pinkie Jenkins WWLWLW Swansea WIN
KO
1937-12-09 Jack Pettifer LLLLWL Romford Road Baths, West Ham WIN
KO
1937-11-02 Hans Schoenrath WWWWWW Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
Points
1937-10-04 Charles Rutz WWWWLW NSC ,Earls Court Empress Stadium, Kensington WIN
KO
1937-08-14 Bert Ikin DLLLLL Poole Sports Arena, Poole WIN
KO
1937-07-06 Harry Staal LWWWLL Working Men's Club, Llanelli WIN
Points
1937-04-05 Presidio Pavesi LLWLDL Colston Hall, Bristol WIN
1937-02-25 Alex Bell WWWLLL West Ham Baths, West Ham WIN
Technical knockout
1936-12-06 Presidio Pavesi LLLWLD The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark WIN
KO
1936-11-25 Emil Scholz WLLLDL White City Stadium, Hull WIN
Points
1936-11-19 Eddie Steele WLWWWL Romford Road Baths, West Ham WIN
Points
1936-10-29 Bert Ikin WLLLDL West Ham Baths, West Ham WIN
KO
1936-10-19 Jack London WWWLWW Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington NC
No Contest
1936-08-03 Harry Staal LDLWWW Athletic Ground, Cheltenham WIN
Points
1936-06-15 Emil Scholz LWLWWL Welford Road Stadium, Leicester WIN
Points
1936-04-27 Maurice Strickland WLWLLL Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
Points
1936-03-09 Ben Foord WLWLWW Granby Halls, Leicester LOST
Points
1935-11-25 Ben Foord LWWWWL Granby Halls, Leicester LOST
Points
1935-07-20 Obie Walker LWWWWW Welford Road Stadium, Leicester WIN
Points
1935-04-25 George Slack LWLWWL The Stadium, Liverpool WIN
KO
1935-03-04 Charley Smith LWLDWW Embassy Rink, Birmingham WIN
KO
1935-01-21 Raymond Lepage LLDWDL Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
Corner retirement
1934-09-10 Jack Petersen LWWWWW White City Stadium, White City LOST
Technical knockout
1934-04-16 Vincenz Hower WWWWWW Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
Points
1934-04-09 Casimir Beszterda LWLLWL Olympia, Bradford WIN
KO
1934-03-26 Harry Crossley WWLWWL Leicester WIN
KO
1934-03-05 Ernst Guehring WLLDLL Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
KO
1934-02-08 Len Harvey WDLWWW Royal Albert Hall, Kensington LOST
Points
1933-12-11 Jack London LDLWLW New St James Hall, Newcastle WIN
KO
1933-07-08 Piet Van Gool DLLLLL Windsor Park, Belfast WIN
KO
1933-05-18 George Cook LWWLWL Olympia, Kensington WIN
Points
1933-04-13 Don McCorkindale LWWWLD Royal Albert Hall, Kensington LOST
KO
1933-04-03 Roberto Roberti LLWLLL Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
KO
1933-02-13 Reggie Meen LLLWWL Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
1933-01-09 Paul Hofman LLLWWW Town Hall, Leeds WIN
Corner retirement
1932-12-12 Michel Maurer LWLLWL King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester WIN
KO
1932-12-04 Hermann Jaspers WWWWLL The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark WIN
KO
1932-11-28 Marcel Moret WLWLLW Olympia, Bradford WIN
KO
1932-10-17 Walter Neusel WWWWWW Palais des Sports, Paris LOST
Unanimous decision
1932-09-29 Salvatore Ruggirello LLWLLL Royal Albert Hall, Kensington WIN
Points
1932-05-30 Primo Carnera WWWWWW White City Stadium, White City WIN
Points
1932-03-03 Don McCorkindale WWWWDL Royal Albert Hall, Kensington WIN
Points
1932-01-28 Don McCorkindale DWWWWW Royal Albert Hall, Kensington DRAW
Points
1931-11-30 Maurice Griselle LLLWLW Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
Technical knockout
1931-11-08 Alexander Lutz WDDLWW The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark WIN
Technical knockout
1931-11-02 Soren Petersen WWWWWL New Boulevard Rink, Leicester WIN
KO
1931-09-21 Jack Renault LWWWLW Coliseum, Toronto WIN
Points
1931-07-27 Hans Baumann WDWWWL King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester WIN
KO
1931-06-13 Phil Scott WWWWLL Welford Road Stadium, Leicester WIN
KO
1931-05-12 Piet Van Gool WLWLLL Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
KO
1931-03-10 Charley Smith WWWWWL Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
KO
1931-02-16 Bobby Shields WLLWLW King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester WIN
Technical knockout
1930-12-30 Charley Smith LWWWWW Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
Points
1930-12-15 Paul Hofman LLLWLW New Victoria Hall, Nottingham WIN
Technical knockout
1930-11-25 Johannes van Vliet LLL Granby Halls, Leicester WIN
KO
1930-10-31 Georges Gardebois LWWWD Rheinlandhalle, Cologne WIN
KO
1930-10-23 Jean Delarge WLWLLL Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool WIN
KO
1930-05-18 Roberto Roberti WWWWWL Lucca WIN
Points
1930-04-06 Rudi Wagener WWWLLL Westfalenhalle, Dortmund WIN
Technical knockout
1930-03-25 Hans Schoenrath DWWWWL Rheinlandhalle, Cologne WIN
Points
1930-03-16 Roberto Roberti DWWWWW Palazzo dello Sport (Pad. 3 Fiera), Milan WIN
Points
1930-01-16 Jules Reynders LWLLWL Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool WIN
KO
1929-12-12 Don Shortland WWWWWL Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool WIN
1929-12-08 Giacomo Panfilo WWWLWL Palazzo dello Sport (Pad. 3 Fiera), Milan WIN
Technical knockout
1929-11-02 Harry Crossley DWWLWW Rheinlandhalle, Cologne WIN
Points
1929-10-17 Joe Mullings WLWWLL Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool WIN
KO
1929-06-04 Carl Augustine LLLDWL Amphitheatre Rink, Winnipeg WIN
KO
1929-04-15 George Cook LWWWDL Coliseum, Toronto WIN
Points
1929-03-11 Chuck Wiggins LLLWWW Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo LOST
Points
1929-02-25 Nick Newman WLLLL Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo WIN
KO
1929-01-25 Charley Belanger LWLWLW Coliseum, Toronto WIN
Points
1928-12-20 Seal Harris DLWWWW Cadle Tabernacle, Indianapolis WIN
1928-10-22 Pat McCarthy LLLDLL Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo WIN
Points
1928-08-15 George Godfrey WWWWWL Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto WIN
1928-06-18 Jack Gagnon LWWLWW Braves Field, Boston WIN
Points
1928-06-08 Bill Hartwell WWWLWW Kansas City LOST
Technical knockout
1928-05-29 Tom Kirby WLLWLW Braves Field, Boston WIN
Points
1928-05-18 Sandy Seifert LLWDLD Arena Gardens, Toronto WIN
Technical knockout
1928-04-02 Big Boy Peterson WWLLLW Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo WIN
Points
1928-03-19 Art Weigand WDDWWW Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo WIN
Points
1928-02-20 Pat McCarthy WLLLLD Coliseum, Toronto WIN
Unanimous decision
1928-01-13 Jack Humbeeck LWWLLL Coliseum, Toronto WIN
Points
1927-11-11 Mike McTigue WWLWLL Coliseum, Toronto DRAW
Points
1927-10-03 Joe Lohman LLLWLL Arena Gardens, Toronto WIN
Points
1927-08-19 Martin Burke LWWWWW Arena Gardens, Toronto WIN
Points
1927-08-05 Emilio Solomon DLWLLD Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto WIN
Points
1927-07-28 Martin Burke WLLWWW Madison Square Garden, New York LOST
Points
1927-05-20 Tony Stabenau LWWLLL Arena Gardens, Toronto WIN
Points
1927-04-29 Ray Neuman LLLLLL Arena Gardens, Toronto WIN
Points
1927-03-18 Quintin Romero Rojas WLDLLL Coliseum, Toronto WIN
Points
1927-02-28 Soldier Jones DLLDL Coliseum, Toronto WIN
Technical knockout
1927-01-24 Joe Burke LLLLLL Standard Theatre, Toronto WIN
KO
1926-11-08 George Godfrey WLWLWW Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo LOST
Corner retirement
1926-06-21 Tony Stabenau WWDLWW Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo WIN
Points
1926-05-14 Bud Gorman WDWLWW Arena Gardens, Toronto WIN
Points
1926-04-12 Dixie Kid LWWWLL Arena Gardens, Toronto WIN
KO
1926-02-12 Ernst Roesemann WWLLLW Kaiserdamm Arena WIN
Technical knockout
1926-02-01 Louis Clement WWLWLL Schumann Theater, Frankfurt WIN
KO
1925-12-15 Ludwig Haymann WWWWDW Frankfurt WIN
Points
1925-10-16 Louis Clement LDLLWW Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne WIN
Technical knockout
1925-08-28 Max Schmeling WWDWLD Kristallpalast, Cologne WIN
KO
1925-05-22 Eugene Lallemand debut Stadthalle, Elberfeld WIN
KO
1925-04-03 Ludwig Haymann DWWWWW DRAW
Points
1925-03-20 Rudi Wagener LWWLWW Cologne WIN
1925-02-13 Heinz Marko DWLDLW Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne WIN
KO
1925-01-18 Joe Mehling LWWLWL Schauburgring, Cologne WIN
Points
1924-12-06 George Cook LLWWDD Jahrhunderthalle, Wroclaw LOST
Points
1924-10-31 Harry Persson WWWWWW Cirkus, Stockholm LOST
KO
1924-10-04 Franz Diener WL Hippodrom, Frankfurt WIN
KO
1924-09-14 Herman Sjouwerman LLLLLL Cologne WIN
Technical knockout
1924-08-30 Laurent Mahieu LWLLWL Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne WIN
Technical knockout
1924-08-17 Alf Bright WLLDLL Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne WIN
Points
1924-07-13 Bertus Ahaus LWWLLL Wielerbaan, Rotterdam WIN
Technical knockout
1924-06-05 Giuseppe Spalla WWLWWL Radrennbahn im Stadium, Cologne WIN
Points
1924-05-07 Michael Kompa Stein LWWWDD Alberthalle, Leipzig WIN
Points
1924-04-15 Max Daehling WLLWLL Zentralhallen WIN
Points
1924-04-14 Hans Breitenstraeter WWLWWW Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne LOST
KO
1924-03-21 Tom Ireland LLWLLL Zentralhallen WIN
KO
1924-02-27 Paul Journee LLLLLL Cirque de Paris, Paris WIN
Points
1924-02-13 Marcel Nilles WLLLLL Cirque de Paris, Paris LOST
KO
1924-01-06 Michael Kompa Stein LLLWWW Kristallpalast, Cologne DRAW
Points
1923-12-19 Constant Barrick LWLWWW Palais d'Hiver, Lyon WIN
Points
1923-12-05 Laurent Mahieu WDDWLW Salle Wagram, Paris WIN
KO
1923-10-16 Jack Humbeeck WWWWWD Antwerpen LOST
Points
1923-10-03 Pierre Charles WWWWWL Salle Wagram, Paris WIN
KO
1923-09-05 Quintin Romero Rojas DWWLWW Salle Wagram, Paris LOST
KO
1923-08-25 Laurent Mahieu LLLWLD Stade Anastasie, Paris WIN
KO
1923-08-15 Paul Journee WDLWLL Vélodrome Tivoli, Bourges WIN
Points
1923-08-11 Pierre Aussenac LWWLLW Stade Anastasie, Paris WIN
KO
1923-08-05 Louis Danis LDLLDL Stade Anastasie, Paris WIN
Technical knockout
1923-06-23 Frank Moody WLWWWW The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark LOST
Technical knockout