William "Gipsy" Daniels (9 February 1903 – June 1967), was a Welsh Light-heavyweight boxing champion of Britain who, in an eighteen-year career, took in 141 contests, including eight fights in New York City, and notably knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of a 1928 encounter.

There is some confusion as to Daniels' actual name and place of birth. Though a definitive answer was given in Tony Lee's 2009 publication which printed a copy of his birth certificate. Daniels was born in Llanelli on 9 February 1903 as William Daniel to David John Daniel and Francis Ann Roberts.Lee (2009) pg. 162 His father was a successful rugby player who represented Llanelli and Wales.Jenkins, John M. Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players, Bridge Books; Wrexham (1991) pg.34

Boxing career Daniels began his career boxing in contests in his home area of South Wales, and as an eighteen-year-old he fought under the name "Young Daniel" as a middleweight. By the end of 1920 he was boxing in Kent, and managed to win a couple of fights against similarly inexperienced opposition. On 24 February 1921, Daniels fought his first veteran boxer when he was carded to face Belgian Rene DeVos at The Ring in Blackfriars, London. DeVos already had 58 bouts under his belt, 37 of them wins, including a defeat over Daniels' fellow countryman Frank Moody. Daniels lost the 20 round fight on points.

By the end of 1921, Daniels had amassed a fighting record of eleven wins, six losses and two draws. In March 1922 he won a heavyweight competition at Blackfriars, and in October of that year he was fighting at the Pioneer Sporting Club in New York. It was around this time that Daniels was introduced to James J. Johnston, a local boxing promoter. Johnston decided that Daniels needed a gimmick to sell himself to the public, and decided that he looked "like a gypsy". Johnston took Daniels to a Woolworths five-and-ten-cent store and dressed him in cheap bandanna headscarves and hooped earrings. Johnston dubbed him 'Gypsey Daniels', though the most commonly used spelling of his nickname was 'Gipsy'.Gypsey Daniels Daniels fought eight times in New York, including two contests at Madison Square Garden, before returning to Great Britain.Joe Calzaghe wants to beat Roy Jones Jr to continue Welsh success in New York Telegraph.co.uk

Daniels continued fighting in Wales and England, but in September 1925 he travelled to mainland Europe for the first time in his career, to face Swedish boxer Harry Persson at the Cirkus in Stockholm. Although Daniels lost the bout on points, on his return to Britain he began his most successful period of boxing, remaining undefeated for the next 18 fights. After a win over Frank Moody in April 1927 which earned him the Welsh Light Heavyweight belt, Daniels faced Tom Berry for the British Light-Heavyweight Championship Belt.Lee (2009) p.169 Daniels won the 20 round bout on points, but he faced a dilemma as to whether to defend the title as the National Sporting Club (NSC), who controlled boxing in Great Britain, offered far lower purses than outside promoters. Daniels chose to fight for a non-NSC affiliated promoter to maximise his income, giving up his newly acquired title.Lee (2009) pp.170-171

In January 1928, Daniels lost a bout to German, Max Schmeling followed by a defeat to Len Johnson, but in a rematch with Schmeling on 25 February he knocked out the German in the first round. Daniels career continued without the success of his earlier years, losing twice to Walter Neusel in Germany, but beating and drawing with Jack London before London became British and Commonwealth Champion.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes166Win103–47–15 Alf RobinsonPTS8May 12, 1938 165Win102–47–15 Dick PowerPTS10Mar 8, 1938 164Win101–47–15 Jeff WilsonPTS12Nov 3, 1937 163Draw100–47–15 Jim McKenziePTS10Oct 7, 1937 162Win100–47–14 Fred RowlandsPTS12Jul 29, 1937 161Loss99–47–14 George BennettDQ3 (10)Feb 8, 1937 160Win99–46–14 Frank BorringtonKO5 (10)Jan 25, 1937 159Win98–46–14 Jim YoungTKO7 (10)Dec 3, 1936 158Loss97–46–14 Al ConquestPTS10Dec 3, 1934 157Win97–45–14 Teddy PhillipsPTS12Jun 11, 1934 156Loss96–45–14 George BennettPTS12Mar 26, 1934 155Win96–44–14 Tony ArpinoKO8 (12)Mar 19, 1934 154Draw95–44–14 Frank BorringtonPTS12Mar 5, 1934 153Win95–44–13 Joe EdwardsPTS10Dec 26, 1933 152Win94–44–13 Reggie MeenPTS10Nov 27, 1933 151Draw93–44–13 Frank BorringtonPTS12Nov 13, 1933 150Draw93–44–12 Jack LondonPTS12Jul 31, 1933 149Win93–44–11 Jack LondonPTS12Jul 17, 1933 148Win92–44–11 Jeff WilsonTKO4 (12)Jun 26, 1933 147Loss91–44–11 Harry CrossleyPTS12May 14, 1933 146Win91–43–11 Frank BorringtonKO13 (15)Apr 15, 1933 145Win90–43–11 Jack LondonRTD7 (12)Apr 10, 1933 144Win89–43–11 Jack StrongbowTKO7 (12)Feb 20, 1933 143Loss88–43–11 Salvatore RuggirelloTKO11 (15)Jan 26, 1933 142Win88–42–11 Ted GaterTKO14 (15)Jan 2, 1933 141Loss87–42–11 Walter NeuselPTS10Nov 26, 1932 140Win87–41–11 Bernard CookPTS15Nov 5, 1932 139Loss86–41–11 Del FontainePTS15Oct 15, 1932 138Win86–40–11 Rene MorrisPTS10Aug 13, 1932 137Win85–40–11 Guardsman George GaterPTS12Apr 11, 1932 136Loss84–40–11 Harry CrossleyPTS15Feb 29, 1932 135Loss84–39–11 Pierre CharlesPTS10Jan 30, 1932 134Loss84–38–11 Don McCorkindalePTS12Oct 19, 1931 133Win84–37–11 Lode WuestenraedtKO9 (15)Sep 3, 1931 132Loss83–37–11 Walter NeuselPTS10Jul 31, 1931 131Loss83–36–11 Ernst PistullaPTS10Jun 5, 1931 130Draw83–35–11 Jack StanleyPTS15Mar 30, 1931 129Win83–35–10 Jack HumbeeckPTS15Mar 16, 1931 128Win82–35–10 Don ShortlandPTS15Feb 9, 1931 127Loss81–35–10 Theo SasPTS15Feb 2, 1931 126Win81–34–10 Bob CarvillTKO13 (15)Jan 19, 1931 125Loss80–34–10 Bob CarvillDQ3 (15)Jan 5, 1931 124Win80–33–10 Jack StanleyPTS15Oct 27, 1930 123Win79–33–10 Joe MullingsKO6 (15)Oct 19, 1930 122Win78–33–10 Farrier BerwickKO7 (15)Sep 29, 1930 121Loss77–33–10 Frank MoodyPTS15Aug 4, 1930 120Loss77–32–10 Reggie MeenPTS15Jul 21, 1930 119Loss77–31–10 Harry CrossleyPTS15Apr 15, 1930 118Win77–30–10 Farrier BerwickKO7 (15)Apr 5, 1930 117Win76–30–10 Reggie MeenRTD9 (15)Mar 25, 1930 116Win75–30–10 Billy AdairPTS15Feb 25, 1930 115Loss74–30–10 Louis GuillaumeDQ4 (15)Jan 20, 1930 114Loss74–29–10 Helmut HartkoppPTS8Dec 7, 1929 113Loss74–28–10 Michele BonagliaKO8 (?)Oct 12, 1929 112Loss74–27–10 Maurice GrisellePTS12Sep 24, 1929 111Loss74–26–10 Harry CrossleyPTS15Aug 26, 1929 110Loss74–25–10 Hein MüllerPTS10Apr 12, 1929 109Loss74–24–10 Franz DienerPTS10Mar 8, 1929 108Loss74–23–10 Jimmy MendesPTS15Jan 21, 1929 107Win74–22–10 Jack StanleyPTS15Aug 11, 1928 106Win73–22–10 Hein DomgörgenKO2 (10)Apr 22, 1928 105Win72–22–10 Hans BreitensträterKO2 (10)Mar 31, 1928 104Win71–22–10 Max SchmelingKO1 (10)Feb 25, 1928 103Loss70–22–10 Len JohnsonPTS15Jan 23, 1928 102Loss70–21–10 Max SchmelingPTS10Dec 2, 1927 101Win70–20–10 Emile MorelleKO2 (15)Nov 21, 1927 100Win69–20–10 Arthur VermautKO5 (15)Nov 7, 1927 99Loss68–20–10 Frank FowlerPTS15Sep 8, 1927 98Win68–19–10 Tom BerryPTS20Apr 25, 1927 97Win67–19–10 Frank MoodyPTS20Apr 11, 1927 96Win66–19–10 Alfred BakerKO12 (15)Mar 21, 1927 95Draw65–19–10 Pierre CharlesPTS15Feb 7, 1927 94Draw65–19–9 Pierre CharlesPTS15Dec 20, 1926 93Win65–19–8 Fernand DeLargePTS10Dec 9, 1926 92Win64–19–8 Fernand DeLargePTS15Nov 2, 1926 91Win63–19–8 Constant BarrickPTS10Oct 5, 1926 90Win62–19–8 Paul Samson KörnerTKO6 (12)Sep 19, 1926 89Draw61–19–8 Jack StanleyPTS15Sep 6, 1926 88Win61–19–7 Marine Bill TrinderKO6 (15)Aug 15, 1926 87Win60–19–7 Raoul PaillauxKO2 (15)Jul 19, 1926 86Win59–19–7 Marcel NillesPTS10Jun 9, 1926 85Win58–19–7 Francois CharlesPTS10Apr 1, 1926 84Win57–19–7 Jim SlaterKO3 (15)Mar 1, 1926 83Win56–19–7 Marine Bill TrinderPTS15Dec 19, 1925 82Win55–19–7 Charlie ChetwyndPTS10Dec 14, 1925 81Win54–19–7 Leon RandolPTS20Nov 16, 1925 80Loss53–19–7 Harry PerssonPTS15Sep 24, 1925 79Loss53–18–7 Phil ScottPTS15Aug 29, 1925 78Draw53–17–7 Soldier JonesPTS15Jul 25, 1925 77Win53–17–6 Leon RandolPTS15Jul 16, 1925 76Win52–17–6 Harry ReeveKO3 (15)Jul 11, 1925 75Win51–17–6 Arthur TownleyPTS15May 28, 1925 74Win50–17–6 Sergeant Sid PapeRTD7 (15)May 25, 1925 73Win49–17–6 Jean LeroiPTS15May 9, 1925 72Win48–17–6 Frank FowlerPTS15Apr 27, 1925 71Draw47–17–6 Dave MagillPTS15Apr 14, 1925 70Loss47–17–5 Jack StanleyPTS15Mar 21, 1925 69Win47–16–5 Dave MagillPTS15Feb 22, 1925 68Win46–16–5 Frank FowlerPTS15Jan 25, 1925 67Loss45–16–5 Frank FowlerPTS15Dec 26, 1924 66Win45–15–5 George HetheringtonPTS15Nov 22, 1924 65Win44–15–5 Joe MullingsPTS15Nov 14, 1924 64Win43–15–5 Phil ScottPTS15Oct 27, 1924 63Win42–15–5 Kid MoosePTS15Oct 9, 1924 62Win41–15–5 Corporal Billy NashTKO3 (15)Aug 4, 1924 61Win40–15–5 Harry GoldTKO10 (15)Jun 14, 1924 60Win39–15–5 Stanley GlenPTS15May 31, 1924 59Loss38–15–5 Tom BerryPTS15Mar 6, 1924 58Loss38–14–5 Phil ScottPTS15Dec 31, 1923 57Loss38–13–5 Tom BerryPTS15Dec 17, 1923 56Win38–12–5 Guardsman Charlie PenwillKO4 (15)Dec 10, 1923 55Win37–12–5 Guardsman Charlie PenwillPTS10Oct 1, 1923 54Win36–12–5 Albert 'Kid' LloydPTS20Sep 3, 1923 53Win35–12–5 Fred DaviesPTS20Jul 21, 1923 52Win34–12–5 Arthur TownleyTKO7 (15)Jul 12, 1923 51Loss33–12–5 Frank MoodyPTS15Jul 3, 1923 50Win33–11–5 Billy CookRTD7 (10)Apr 28, 1923 49Win32–11–5 Wolf LarsenPTS10Mar 6, 1923 48Win31–11–5 Fred ClarkeTKO4 (6)Feb 21, 1923 47Loss30–11–5 Charley McKennaPTS12Jan 29, 1923 46Win30–10–5 Charley McKennaPTS10Dec 19, 1922 45Win29–10–5 Wally StrippTKO4 (10)Dec 5, 1922 44Win28–10–5 Stewart BellPTS4Nov 27, 1922 43Win27–10–5 Jack DouglasPTS8Nov 21, 1922 42Loss26–10–5 Dave MagillPTS20Sep 18, 1922 41Loss26–9–5 Jerry SheaPTS20Aug 28, 1922 40Win26–8–5 Johnny BeePTS15Jul 13, 1922 39Win25–8–5 Harry DrakePTS15Jun 10, 1922 38Draw24–8–5 Pierre NicolasPTS15May 13, 1922 37Loss24–8–4 Douglas WarnerTKO14 (15)Apr 8, 1922 36Win24–7–4 Trevor LlewellynPTS15Apr 1, 1922 35Win23–7–4 Ernie MillsonPTS20Mar 23, 1922 34Win22–7–4 Albert RogersPTS10Mar 9, 1922 33Win21–7–4 Douglas WarnerPTS10Mar 2, 1922 32Win20–7–4 Tom NorrisKO3 (15)Feb 18, 1922 31Win19–7–4 Harry AshdownKO1 (6)Feb 16, 1922 30Win18–7–4 Tom PlantPTS6Feb 9, 1922 29Win17–7–4 Len CollettTKO2 (15)Jan 30, 1922 28Loss16–7–4 Guardsman George WestTKO8 (15)Dec 19, 1921 27Win16–6–4 Jack HartPTS15Dec 6, 1921 26Loss15–6–4 Douglas WarnerPTS6Nov 17, 1921 25Win15–5–4 Guardsman George WestPTS15Nov 3, 1921 24Loss14–5–4 Fred NewberryPTS15Oct 14, 1921 23Win14–4–4 Mose DaviesKO12 (15)Sep 12, 1921 22Win13–4–4 Charlie KempPTS15Sep 1, 1921 21Loss12–4–4 Ted MooreRTD9 (15)Aug 19, 1921 20Win12–3–4 Private Billy CattellTKO5 (15)Jun 30, 1921 19Loss11–3–4 Gunner Eddie FeathersPTS15Apr 5, 1921 18Win11–2–4 Ivor PowellTKO5 (15)Apr 2, 1921 17Loss10–2–4 Rene De VosPTS20Feb 24, 1921 16Win10–1–4 Joe DavisPTS10Nov 20, 1920 15Win9–1–4 Harry FranksPTS15Nov 15, 1920 14Win8–1–4 Bill JohnsonKO3 (10)Oct 30, 1920 13Win7–1–4 Pat SmithPTS10Oct 23, 1920 12Win6–1–4 Fred SmithPTS10Oct 16, 1920 11Loss5–1–4 Jack DaviesPTS10Oct 7, 1920 10Draw5–0–4 Jim DaviesPTS15Sep 25, 1920 9Draw5–0–3 Harry HigginsPTS15Aug 28, 1920 8Win5–0–2 Evan LlewellynPTS8Apr 17, 1920 7Win4–0–2 Bryn JenkinsPTS15Apr 3, 1920 6Win3–0–2 Jack TerrettRTD7 (10)Feb 28, 1920 5Win2–0–2 Young W. AmesburyKO2 (15)Jan 31, 1920 4Draw1–0–2 Jack HigginsPTS10Jan 24, 1920 3Win1–0–1 Dai JonesPTS10Aug 30, 1919 20–0–1 Jack JonesND4Aug 25, 1919 1Draw0–0–1 Frank EvansPTS15Jul 12, 1919

See also List of British light-heavyweight boxing champions

Bibliography

References

External links