Pedlar Palmer, born Thomas Palmer, (1876 – 13 February 1949) was an English boxer who held the world bantamweight championship from 1895 to 1899.

Life Palmer was born in Canning Town, London on 19 November 1876. His father was a bare-knuckle champion of Essex, and rumour had it that his mother could take on and beat any woman in London's East End. As a boxer, Palmer soon gained the nickname "Box o' Tricks", reflecting his showmanship - he and his brother had taken part in a stage act as children and Palmer utilised some of the things he had learned on stage in the boxing ring.McKay, Jason, (2009), Box O’ Tricks – The Pedlar Palmer Story

In 1893, Palmer won bouts advertised as the "World 100lb" title against Walter Croot and Mike Small, and became World Bantamweight Champion in 1895 when he beat Billy Plimmer of Birmingham on a 14th round foul. He boxed a draw with the World Featherweight Champion George Dixon in New York in 1896. He kept his bantamweight title through five defences against Johnny Murphy, Ernie Stanton. Dave Sullivan, Billy Plimmer, and Billy Rochford.

Palmer met Irish-born American boxer Dave Sullivan in London on 18 October 1897 in what was billed as a World 116 pound Title Match. It would be Sullivan's first loss according to most sources."Birthday of Dave Sullivan", The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, pg. 13, 10 May 1919 Sullivan failed to receive the twenty round points decision, but established himself as the primary contender for the World Featherweight Title.

Loss of World Bantamweight Title to Terry McGovern Palmer lost his title in Tuckahoe, New York in September 1899. He was knocked out in the first round by Terrible Terry McGovern - Palmer claimed that he had been blinded by the lights. Having held the Championship for four years, Palmer was still only 22 years old.

Loss of the British Bantamweight Title In November 1900 Palmer lost the British bantamweight title to Harry Ware, and although he won two out of three fights with George Dixon and beat Digger Stanley, another world champion, he was twice beaten in British featherweight title fights by Ben Jordan and Joe Bowker.

Jordan successfully defended the English Featherweight Title on 12 December 1904 against Palmer in an important bout at the National Sporting Club in London in a fifteen-round points decision.

Palmer was a heavy drinker. In April 1907 he killed Robert Croat on a train to Epsom races, for which crime he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. On his release he boxed again, but never enjoyed his earlier levels of success. For the last 20 years of his life he was a bookmaker in Brighton, where he died on 13 February 1949, aged 72.Boxing News Annual 1950, War Facts Press, p. 9 He is buried on the western edge of Brighton; the gravestone no longer stands.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes70Loss51–15–4 Jim DriscollTKO4 (10)Mar 10, 1919 69Loss51–14–4 Digger StanleyRTD4 (10)Nov 19, 1914 68Loss51–13–4 Jim LloydRTD4 (10)Aug 1, 1912 67Win51–12–4 Sam RussellDQ3 (10)Jul 25, 1912 66Win50–12–4 George MooreRTD7 (10)Mar 25, 1912 65Win49–12–4 George MooreDQ5 (10)Mar 2, 1912 64Win48–12–4 Alec LambertPTS6Jan 24, 1912 63Win47–12–4 Darkey HaleyPTS6Jan 6, 1912 62Loss46–12–4 Darkey HaleyKO10 (15)Dec 7, 1906 61Win46–11–4 Cockney CohenDQ4 (20)May 28, 1906 60Win45–11–4 Driver William HimphenPTS6Apr 28, 1906 59Draw44–11–4 Cockney CohenPTS15Mar 26, 1906 58Loss44–11–3 Charlie LampeyPTS15Feb 28, 1906 57Loss44–10–3 Cockney CohenKO6 (20)Nov 13, 1905 56Win44–9–3 Cockney CohenPTS15Sep 25, 1905 55Win43–9–3 Bob WhiteKO6 (15)Aug 5, 1905 54Win42–9–3 George MoorePTS6Jun 17, 1905 53Draw41–9–3 George MoorePTS15May 29, 1905 52Loss41–9–2 Joe BowkerTKO12 (15)Mar 20, 1905 51Loss41–8–2 Ben JordanPTS15Dec 12, 1904 50Win41–7–2 Young JosephPTS15Oct 17, 1904 49Win40–7–2 WJ (Watty) AustinPTS20Aug 8, 1904 48Draw39–7–2 WJ (Watty) AustinPTS20Jul 4, 1904 47Win39–7–1 Dan HymanRTD9 (20)May 23, 1904 46Loss38–7–1 Harry AlexanderDQ4 (15)Mar 25, 1904 45Win38–6–1 Harry AlexanderKO4 (15)Mar 14, 1904 44Loss37–6–1 George DixonPTS20Nov 9, 1904 43Win37–5–1 Jim WilliamsPTS20Oct 23, 1903 42Win36–5–1 Spike RobsonPTS20Sep 14, 1903 41Win35–5–1 George DixonPTS8Jun 27, 1903 40Win34–5–1 Digger StanleyPTS12May 11, 1903 39Win33–5–1 Fred DelaneyPTS6Apr 2, 1903 38Win32–5–1 Harry WarePTS12Feb 16, 1903 37Loss31–5–1 Will CurleyKO8 (15)Dec 15, 1902 36Win31–4–1 Jim WilliamsPTS20Oct 23, 1902 35Win30–4–1 George DixonPTS15Sep 8, 1902 34Win29–4–1 Digger StanleyPTS10Jun 16, 1902 33Loss28–4–1 Jim WilliamsKO2 (15)Jan 27, 1902 32Loss28–3–1 Harry HarrisPTS15Mar 18, 1901 31Loss28–2–1 Harry WarePTS20Nov 12, 1900 30Win28–1–1 Harry WarePTS15May 28, 1900 29Loss27–1–1 Terry McGovernKO1 (20)Sep 12, 1899 28Win27–0–1 Billy RotchfordDQ3 (20)Apr 17, 1899 27Win26–0–1 Billy PlimmerTKO17 (20)Dec 12, 1898 26Win25–0–1 Dave SullivanPTS20Oct 18, 1897 25Win24–0–1 Ernie StantonTKO14 (20)Jan 25, 1897 24Win23–0–1 Johnny MurphyPTS20Oct 12, 1896 23Win22–0–1 Ted WillisRTD4 (10)Apr 13, 1896 22Win21–0–1 Ted WillisKO2 (6)Mar 31, 1896 21Draw20–0–1 George DixonPTS6Jan 30, 1896 20Win20–0 Billy PlimmerDQ14 (20)Nov 25, 1895 19Win19–0 Ginger WaltersKO7 (8)Oct 27, 1894 18Win18–0 Ernie StantonPTS20Oct 15, 1894 17Win17–0 Bill MortimerTKO5 (20)Jun 25, 1894 16Win16–0 Young EdwardsTKO2 (3)Apr 16, 1894 15Win15–0 Ted WoodPTS6Feb 19, 1894 14Win14–0 Albert GouldPTS6Dec 11, 1892 13Win13–0 Albert GouldTKO2 (6)Dec 4, 1892 12Win12–0 Mike SmallPTS6May 29, 1892 11Win11–0 Walter CrootKO17 (20)May 1, 1892 10Win10–0 George WoodPTS?Sep 1, 1892 9Win9–0 Dick EdwardsPTS?Aug 1, 1892 8Win8–0 Ted SoundersPTS?Jul 1, 1892 7Win7–0 Will MorsePTS?Jun 1, 1892 6Win6–0 Ginger WrightPTS?May 1, 1892 5Win5–0 Tom ShanePTS?Apr 1, 1892 4Win4–0 Ernie StantonPTS3Mar 1, 1892 3Win3–0 Arthur WiggPTS?Feb 1, 1892 2Win2–0 San SwamburgPTS?Jan 1, 1892 1Win1–0 WC BondPTS11Jan 1, 1891

References

Further reading Jason McKay, 2009, Box O’ Tricks – The Pedlar Palmer Story

External links

Transcript of an 1899 newspaper article about the Palmer vs McGovern fight