Terry Allen (8 June 1924 – 8 April 1987) was an English flyweight boxer. During his career, he became British, Commonwealth, European and World flyweight champion.

Family Born in Islington, London, Allen's father was a professional boxer. His mother died when he was two, and he was raised by his grandmother. Six of his cousins were also professional boxers.

Amateur career He started boxing when he was nine and won a schoolboy championship. During his amateur career, he won 102 out of 107 contests.

Professional career Managed by Johnny Sharpe, Allen had his first professional fight in September 1942, at the age of eighteen. He beat Jim Thomas on points over six rounds at Caledonian Road Baths, Islington.

He then proceeded to win his first thirty-two fights. In 1942, during the Second World War, he joined the Royal Navy, and while stationed at Alexandria, Egypt, he fought and won fifteen bouts, between May 1944 and December 1945. By late 1945, he was considered chief flyweight contender by Ring magazine.

His first defeat was in May 1946, against Alex Murphy by a knockout, in the sixth round at Harringay Arena. He suffered a second defeat in March 1947, when he was knocked out in the first round by Rinty Monaghan.

In March 1948, Allen beat Dickie O'Sullivan on a disqualification to take the BBBofC South East Area flyweight title. In his next fight he was beaten on points by Jackie Bryce.

In February he beat Monaghan over 8 rounds, and in June 1949 beat Norman Tennant in an eliminator to get a shot in September at Monaghan's British title, with the European, Empire and world titles also at stake. They fought in Monaghan's home town of Belfast, and the result after fifteen rounds was a draw.

Shortly after this fight, Monaghan retired, relinquishing his titles, and in April 1950, Allen fought Honore Pratesi of France for the vacant European and World flyweight titles. The fight was held at Harringay Arena and Allen won on points over fifteen rounds to gain both titles.

In August 1950, he defended his World title against Dado Marino of the United States. The fight was held in Honolulu and Marino won a unanimous points decision to take the title.

In October 1950, Allen lost his European title when he defended it in Nottingham against Jan Sneyers of Belgium. Sneyers won on points, but the British crowd thought that Allen had won, and booed the decision.

In June 1951, Allen fought Vic Herman for the British flyweight title vacated by Rinty Monaghan. The fight was in Leicester and Allen won on points.

In November 1951, Allen had a re-match with Dado Marino for the World flyweight title. The fight was in Honolulu, and Marino won again by a unanimous decision.

In March 1952, he fought against Teddy Gardner for the British, Commonwealth and European flyweight titles. The fight was held in Newcastle upon Tyne, and Gardner won on points to take all three titles. Shortly afterwards Gardner retired leaving the titles vacant.

In October 1952, Allen fought for the vacant British flyweight title, against Eric Marsden. He won the title when the fight was stopped in the sixth after Marsden collapsed.

In October 1953, he had another shot at a World title when he fought Yoshio Shirai, in Tokyo. Unfortunately for Allen, the Japanese won a unanimous decision.

In February 1954, Allen defended his British title against Eric Marsden, who he had beaten previously. He won again, this time on a disqualification in the fifth round.

Allen was knocked out in the second round by the unbeaten Dai Dower in March, and his last fight was an unsuccessful challenge for the vacant European flyweight title. He fought Nazzareno Giannelli, in Milan, Italy, but the Italian won on points.

He was set to defend his British title against Marsden in November, but on 30 September 1954 announced his retirement from boxing.

Retirement Allen had worked as a barrow boy at the beginning of his boxing career, and after retiring, he was able to open his own vegetable business in Islington market.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound(s)DateAgeLocationNotes75Loss Nazzareno GiannelliPTS1510 Sep 195474Loss62–11–1 Dai DowerKO2 (10)23 Mar 195473Win62–10–1 Eric MarsdenDQ5 (15)16 Feb 195472Loss61–10–1 Yoshio ShiraiUD1527 Oct 195371Loss61–9–1 Gaetano AnnaloroPTS1028 Apr 195370Win61–8–1 Eric MarsdenTKO6 (15)21 Oct 195269Win60–8–1 Jimmy PearcePTS1225 Aug 195268Loss59–8–1 Teddy GardnerPTS1517 Mar 195267Loss59–7–1 Maurice SandeyronPTS1029 Jan 195266Loss59–6–1 Dado MarinoUD151 Nov 195165Win59–5–1 Vic HermanPTS1511 Jun 195164Win58–5–1 Henry CarpenterPTS1030 Apr 195163Win57–5–1 Jimmy PearcePTS811 Apr 195162Loss56–5–1 Jean SneyersPTS1530 Oct 195061Loss56–4–1 Dado MarinoUD151 Aug 195060Win56–3–1 Honore PratesiPTS1525 Apr 195059Win55–3–1 Peter FayPTS815 Feb 195058Draw54–3–1 Rinty MonaghanPTS1530 Sep 194957Win54–3 Norman TennantPTS128 Jun 194956Win53–3 Honore PratesiPTS103 May 194955Win52–3 Jackie FosterPTS83 Mar 194954Win51–3 Rinty MonaghanPTS87 Feb 194953Win50–3 Dickie O'SullivanPTS1224 Jan 194952Win49–3 Billy HazelgrovePTS810 Jan 194951Win48–3 Tommy FarrickerPTS814 Dec 194850Win47–3 Charley WilsonPTS84 Nov 194849Loss46–3 Jackie BrycePTS1225 Jun 194848Win46–2 Dickie O'SullivanDQ2 (12)16 Mar 194847Win45–2 Jimmy GillKO4 (8)18 Feb 194846Win44–2 Jackie BrycePTS821 Jan 194845Win43–2 Tommy WhittleTKO3 (8)15 Dec 194744Win42–2 Frank TierneyPTS812 Nov 194743Win41–2 Les JohnsonPTS83 Nov 194742Win40–2 Andy McCullochTKO5 (8)15 Oct 194741Win39–2 Johnny SummersPTS826 Aug 194740Win38–2 Alf HughesPTS87 Jul 194739Win37–2 Pinchie ThompsonPTS817 Jun 194738Loss36–2 Rinty MonaghanTKO1 (10)11 Mar 194737Win36–1 Billy HazelgrovePTS818 Dec 194636Win35–1 Billy DaviesTKO4 (8)4 Dec 194635Win34–1 Frank TierneyPTS830 Oct 194634Win33–1 Les JohnsonPTS813 Aug 194633Loss32–1 Alex MurphyKO6 (6)14 May 194632Win32–0 Abdel HassanKO3 (8)13 Dec 194531Win31–0 Hocine RabahKO1 (8)8 Nov 194530Win30–0 Sayed MustaphaKO2 (8)12 Oct 194529Win29–0 Mustapha EzzattPTS106 Oct 194528Win28–0 Abdel HassanKO6 (8)16 Jul 194527Win27–0 Mustapha EzzattPTS624 May 194526Win26–0 Mustapha EzzattPTS628 Apr 194525Win25–0 Phil MilliganPTS68 Mar 194524Win24–0 Sapper JohnstonePTS63 Mar 194523Win23–0 Hassan Abou SaadaPTS64 Feb 194522Win22–0 Christie KyriscoPTS64 Jan 194521Win21–0 Chehata HafezKO3 (6)23 Dec 194420Win20–0 Hassan RamadinPTS410 Dec 194419Win19–0 Ahmed MarlyKO1 (4)8 Jul 194418Win18–0 Georges ShamarPTS410 May 194417Win17–0 Mickey JonesPTS102 May 194416Win16–0 Roy BallRTD4 (10)21 Apr 194415Win15–0 Tommy BurneyPTS106 Apr 194414Win14–0 Joe JosephsKO4 (10)17 Mar 194413Win13–0 Joe JosephsTKO4 (8)1 Feb 194412Win12–0 Jackie EvansPTS813 Jan 194411Win11–0 Billy HazelgroveRTD9 (10)31 Dec 194310Win10–0 Mickey JonesPTS829 Nov 19439Win9–0 Jack McKenziePTS1019 Nov 19438Win8–0 Roy BallPTS84 Nov 19437Win7–0 Ronnie BishopPTS830 Sep 19436Win6–0 Tommy BurneyPTS89 Sep 19435Win5–0 Les JohnsonPTS610 May 19434Win4–0 George HowellKO1 (6)7 Apr 19433Win3–0 Ron KingstonKO4 (6)19 Mar 19432Win2–0 Douglas ClaxtonTKO4 (6)8 Mar 19431Win1–0 Jim ThomasPTS63 Sep 1942

See also List of flyweight boxing champions List of British flyweight boxing champions

References

External links

Maurice Golesworthy, Encyclopaedia of Boxing (Eighth Edition) (1988), Robert Hale Limited, Terry Allen – CBZ Profile