George 'Digger' Stanley (28 February 1876 – 7 March 1919) was an English boxer who was British and European bantamweight boxing champion.

Early life Stanley was a gypsy, and was born in a caravan at Kingston-upon-Thames. He could not read or write, but developed into a clever boxer. His early boxing career was spent fighting in fairground booths.

Professional career He began boxing professionally in 1899. In November 1903 he won the vacant British bantamweight title and in December of the same year he won the British flyweight title, but the titles were not recognised by the British Boxing Board of Control until 1909.

In October 1910 he fought Joe Bowker for the British and European bantamweight titles. He scored an eighth-round knockout to secure the titles. Stanley was also recognised by the National Sporting Club as the holder of the World bantamweight title, although he was not recognised as such in America.

In December 1910 he defended his British title against Johnny Condon, winning on points. In September 1911 he defended it again, against Ike Bradley, again winning on points.

In April and June 1912, he defended his European title twice against the Frenchman, Charles Ledoux. He won the first fight in Covent Garden on points, but lost the second fight in Dieppe, being knocked out in the seventh round.

In October 1912, he successfully defended his British title against Alex Lafferty, winning on points.

In June 1913, he lost his British title to Bill Beynon, on points, but four months later he beat Benyon on points to regain it. However, in his next defence, in April 1914, he lost the British title to Curley Walker on a disqualification in the thirteenth.

He continued to box but had only ten more fights, losing eight of them and winning two.

He had his last fight in February 1919, losing to Mike Blake, and died a month later, in poverty.

Lonsdale belt In 1909, the National Sporting Club began awarding a Lonsdale Belt to the British champion at each weight. The belts were made from 22 carat gold and enamel. Digger Stanley was awarded the first bantamweight belt and was allowed to retain it after successfully defending his British title.

Professional boxing record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes115Loss73–21–8 George KiltsDQ6 (20)13 Jul 1918114Loss73–20–8 George KiltsDQ9 (15)22 Jun 1918113Loss73–19–8 Walter Young RossDQ6 (15)22 Apr 1918112Win73–18–8 Johnny HughesPTS2023 Mar 1918111Win72–18–8 Bill BeynonKO5 (15)25 Feb 1918110Loss71–18–8 Tommy NoblePTS2018 Feb 1918109Loss71–17–8 Walter Young RossPTS1528 Jan 1918108Win71–16–8 Tommy NoblePTS2023 Oct 1916107Loss70–16–8 Joe FoxDQ10 (20)9 Oct 1916106Win70–15–8 Sid WhatleyKO3 (20)18 Sep 1916105Loss69–15–8 Young Joe BrooksPTS1513 Mar 1916104Loss69–14–8 Joe SymondsDQ13 (15)17 Dec 1915103Loss69–13–8 Tommy HarrisonDQ4 (15)11 Nov 1915102Win69–12–8 Joe FoxPTS1516 Sep 1915101Draw68–12–8 Jimmy BarryPTS1529 Mar 1915100Win68–12–7 Pedlar PalmerRTD4 (10)19 Nov 191499Loss67–12–7 Curley WalkerDQ15 (20)20 Apr 191498Win67–11–7 Bill BeynonPTS2027 Oct 191397Loss66–11–7 Bill BeynonPTS202 Jun 191396Win66–10–7 Alex LaffertyPTS2021 Oct 191295Win65–10–7 Oswald StapletonKO9 (10)30 Aug 191294Loss64–10–7 Charles LedouxKO7 (20)23 Jun 191293Win64–9–7 Charles LedouxPTS2022 Apr 191292Loss63–9–7 Jean PoesyPTS1526 Feb 191291Win63–8–7 Oswald StapletonKO6 (10)11 Dec 191190Win62–8–7 Ike Young BradleyPTS2014 Sep 191189Draw61–8–7 Tommy O'TooleNWS68 Feb 191188Draw61–8–7 Frankie BurnsNWS1027 Jan 191187Win61–8–7 Johnny CondonPTS205 Dec 191086Win60–8–7 Joe BowkerKO8 (20)17 Oct 191085Draw59–8–7 Young PiercePTS2014 Feb 191084Win59–8–6 Dick GoldingKO3 (10)27 Dec 190983Win58–8–6 Oswald StapletonKO5 (6)3 Nov 190982Win57–8–6 Alf MitchellPTS614 Jun 190981Draw56–8–6 Jimmy WalshPTS1524 May 190980Win56–8–5 Bill JordanPTS1022 Mar 190979Draw55–8–5 Wally MorganPTS619 Nov 190878Win55–8–4 Sam KellarPTS2019 Oct 190877Win54–8–4 Young SullivanPTS64 Apr 190876Win53–8–4 Ike Young BradleyPTS1530 Mar 190875Win52–8–4 Driver William HimphenPTS67 Mar 190874Win51–8–4 Wally MorganPTS622 Feb 190873Win50–8–4 Wally MorganPTS630 Nov 190772Win49–8–4 Young LilleyPTS628 Nov 190771Loss48–8–4 Bob KendrickDQ9 (20)12 Sep 190770Loss48–7–4 Al DelmontDQ12 (20)6 Jun 190769Win48–6–4 Ike Young BradleyPTS2013 Dec 190668Win47–6–4 Harry Young SloughKO18 (20)21 May 190667Win46–6–4 Billy HughesRTD16 (20)10 Feb 190666Win45–6–4 Ike Young BradleyPTS2020 Jan 190665Draw44–6–4 Darkey HaleyPTS618 Dec 190564Loss44–6–3 Jimmy WalshPTS1520 Oct 190563Loss44–5–3 George MoorePTS61 Jul 190562Win44–4–3 Darkey HaleyPTS624 Jun 190561Win43–4–3 Louis D'OrRTD7 (10)17 Apr 190560Win42–4–3 Alf SmithKO4 (4)25 Mar 190559Win41–4–3 Lew BransonKO4 (6)27 Feb 190558Loss40–4–3 Owen MoranPTS2023 Jan 19055740–3–3 Jack JohnsonND416 Jan 190556Win40–3–3 Syd WilmottKO4 (20)19 Nov 190455Win39–3–3 Harry McDermottKO19 (20)17 Oct 190454Win38–3–3 Harry McDermottKO6 (20)11 Jul 190453Draw37–3–3 Jimmy WalshPTS156 Jun 190452Win37–3–2 Jimmy WalshPTS1518 Apr 19045136–3–2 Alf ButlerND321 Dec 190350Win36–3–2 Jack WalkerPTS1514 Dec 190349Win35–3–2 Owen MoranPTS159 Nov 190348Win34–3–2 George DixonPTS612 Oct 190347Loss33–3–2 George DixonPTS61 Aug 190346Win33–2–2 Jim WilliamsPTS611 Jul 190345Loss32–2–2 Pedlar PalmerPTS1211 May 190344Win32–1–2 Jack GuyonPTS1028 Mar 190343Win31–1–2 Jim KenrickPTS614 Mar 190342Win30–1–2 Jack WalkerPTS122 Mar 190341Win29–1–2 Jack GuyonPTS621 Feb 190340Win28–1–2 Jim DenhartPTS614 Feb 190339Draw27–1–2 Jack GuyonPTS67 Feb 190338Win27–1–1 Dave MorbinPTS617 Jan 190337Win26–1–1 Tom RippingtonPTS612 Jan 19033625–1–1 Bob GarwoodND31 Dec 19023525–1–1 Tom BowkerND315 Nov 190234Win25–1–1 Jack GuyonPTS1010 Nov 19023324–1–1 Tom BowkerND320 Oct 190232Win24–1–1 Harry Young SloughKO5 (8)13 Oct 19023123–1–1 William KingND36 Oct 190230Win23–1–1 Jack FitzpatrickPTS622 Sep 190229Win22–1–1 Tom KingPTS620 Sep 190228Win21–1–1 George CollinsPTS613 Sep 190227Win20–1–1 Tom KingPTS66 Sep 190226Win19–1–1 Cockney CohenPTS630 Aug 190225Loss18–1–1 Pedlar PalmerPTS1016 Jun 190224Win18–0–1 Jack FitzpatrickPTS824 May 190223Win17–0–1 Jack FitzpatrickPTS617 May 190222Win16–0–1 Dick GoldingPTS1012 May 190221Win15–0–1 Tibby WatsonPTS65 May 190220Win14–0–1 Jack ChristianPTS63 May 190219Win13–0–1 Tibby WatsonPTS1014 Apr 19021812–0–1 Frank ConnorNC310 Apr 19021712–0–1 Sid ClarkeNC33 Apr 190216Win12–0–1 Jim KenrickPTS629 Mar 190215Win11–0–1 Tibby WatsonPTS622 Mar 190214Win10–0–1 Ginger AtkinsonPTS615 Mar 190213Win9–0–1 Jim DenhartPTS63 Mar 190212Win8–0–1 George DunnyPTS1017 Feb 190211Win7–0–1 Jim DenhartPTS61 Feb 190210Draw6–0–1 Frank MorcombePTS1223 Jan 190296–0 Jim DenhartND418 Dec 190186–0 Jem BurdenND412 Dec 19017Win6–0 Owen MoranPTS2017 Jun 19016Win5–0 Jack NormanPTS61 Apr 19015Win4–0 Charlie WardRTD5 (10)13 Dec 189943–0 Frank JenkinsND412 Dec 18993Win3–0J NewlandsPTS410 Jul 18992Win2–0J NewlandsPTS412 Jun 18991Win1–0Johnny FordPTS1025 Mar 1899

See also List of British bantamweight boxing champions

References

External links