Nipper Pat Daly, real name Patrick Clifford Daley (17 February 1913 – 25 September 1988), was a British boxer who fought professionally between 1923 and 1931. He made his professional debut at the age of nine or 10, achieved widespread fame in his mid teens as British boxing's 'Wonderboy', then retired from pro boxing at age 17.
Renowned sportswriter Frank Butler named Daly 'the best young prospect we ever had'. He is believed to be the youngest boxer ever to make The Ring magazine's top-ten world ratings, and it is thought that he was also the youngest-ever professional boxer. Daly was the grandfather of actress, model and singer Eileen Daly.
Early life
Born in Abercrave, Wales, he moved to Marylebone, London at the age of five, then moved again with his family to the Canadian mining town of Wayne, Alberta in 1920. Within two years the family returned to Marylebone, and shortly afterwards he started to take boxing lessons at the Marylebone Road gym of 'Professor' Andrew Newton, one of Britain's leading trainers of the day, who coached and managed Daly for most of his career.
Professional career
Early pro debut
Daly's natural aptitude for the sport, combined with Professor Newton's coaching, saw his boxing skill develop at an astonishing rate; so much so that he was entered into his first professional fight at the age of just nine or 10. During the next few years he amassed a long string of victories, fighting at small venues in and around London, often conceding age, height and weight to opponents.
In June 1927, though aged only 14, Daly served as a sparring partner to the reigning world middleweight champion Mickey Walker, who was in London preparing for a world-title defence against Scotland's Tommy Milligan. Walker and his manager, Jack 'Doc' Kearns, were said to be astounded by the young boxer's talent.
Daly fought his first 15-round contest in October 1927 (still aged just 14), and boxed often over that distance throughout the remainder of his career. By the end of 1927, Britain's boxing trade paper Boxing (forerunner to Boxing News) was tipping him as a likely future world champion.
Top flyweight contender at age 15
During 1928 he fought 25 times, defeating many of Britain's leading flyweights, plus the reigning flyweight champion of Italy, Giovanni Sili. A points win over top British flyweight title contender (and future British flyweight champion) Bert Kirby, put Daly in line for a shot at the title, then held by Leith's Johnny Hill. But by late 1928 Daly had outgrown the flyweight class and did not get a title shot. By early 1929 he had moved up to bantamweight.
World ranked at age 16
1929 proved to be Daly's busiest year as a boxer: he had 33 contests, of which he won 29, lost 3 (all inside the distance) and drew 1. Among his fights were victories over some of Europe's best bantamweight and featherweight boxers, including the reigning Belgian bantamweight champion (and future European bantamweight champion) Petit Biquet, recently dethroned British bantamweight champion Alf "Kid" Pattenden, future British bantamweight champion Dick Corbett, former Olympian and ABA bantamweight champion Jack Garland, and German flyweight and bantamweight champion Karl Schulze. There were widespread calls within the press for Daly to be allowed to fight for the British bantamweight title, then held by Teddy Baldock, but a recently introduced BBB of C regulation (later altered) prevented boxers aged under 21 from contesting British titles.
In its September 1929 issue, The Ring magazine ranked Nipper Pat Daly at number 10 in the world at bantamweight (ratings for the month of July) – he was then aged just 16. Shortly afterwards, the veteran boxing impresario Tom O'Rourke offered to bring him to the USA for a series of fights, with the aim of entering him in a world title fight against the newly crowned world featherweight champion Battling Battalino. But Daly's manager, who had signed him under a strict contract, refused to let him go to the States.
On 9 October 1929, he fought the reigning British featherweight champion, Johnny Cuthbert, over 12 three-minute rounds, but suffered weight-making trouble in the run-up to the fight. According to newspaper reports, Daly outboxed the champion and was leading on points when knocked out in the eighth round.
Retirement from boxing at age 17
By early 1930, Daly had moved into the lightweight division, and in March that year, in an article headed 'England's future champions', the Daily Express picked him as the country's most likely future world boxing champion.
On 20 April 1930, he fought future British featherweight champion and world-title challenger Seaman Tommy Watson, but again had weight-making difficulty in the run-up to the fight. Despite outboxing Watson for much of the contest, Daly was stopped in the 11th round, after being knocked down several times. He suffered concussion as a result of the fight and was unable to walk properly for several weeks. On 5 June 1930, he was hastily entered into a contest with Trealaw's Nobby Baker while still suffering from concussion and was stopped in the 13th round.
After a four-month break from boxing, Daly tried to make a comeback. He had nine further contests: winning seven, losing one and drawing one. But the caliber of these opponents was far beneath the class of the men he had met previously, and press reports were unanimous in the assertion that his form had deteriorated markedly. It was widely held that, under his manager's direction, he had paid the price for having too many contests at too high a level, at too young an age. Realising, as he put it, that he would 'never be a world champion now' he decided to retire from boxing. He had his last fight on 27 January 1931 – exactly three weeks before his 18th birthday.
Boxing style
Daly was renowned for his hard, fast, accurate left jab, his quick, clever footwork, punching variety, ring intelligence and all-round boxing skill, coupled with a mastery of in-fighting as well as long-range boxing. He had an attacking style that entertained the crowds, but he tempered this with exceptional defensive skills. As a growing teenager predominantly fighting full-grown men he was not noted as a knockout puncher.
Later years
After retiring, Daly stayed involved with boxing and for much of his life served as a trainer during his spare time. In the late 1940s and early 1950s he ran a gym at New North Road in Shoreditch, from where he trained amateur boxers and also managed and trained a few professionals.
In the 1980s, he retired to Hastings, East Sussex, where he died on 25 September 1988.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes119Win99–11–8 Harry JenkinsRTD4 (12)Jan 27, 1931 118Win98–11–8 Tom HandleyPTS12Jan 6, 1931 117Win97–11–8 Andre BeghinTKO4 (12)Dec 28, 1930 116Win96–11–8 Albert RyallTKO4 (12)Dec 23, 1930 115Win95–11–8 Johnny AllenTKO4 (12)Dec 7, 1930 114Win94–11–8 Dave DanaharTKO9 (12)Dec 2, 1930 113Win93–11–8 Jimmy LawsKO3 (12)Nov 23, 1930 112Draw92–11–8 Fred GreenPTS12Nov 18, 1930 111Loss92–11–7 Tom BanksPTS6Oct 28, 1930 110Loss92–10–7 Nobby BakerTKO13 (15)Jun 5, 1930 109Loss92–9–7 Tommy WatsonTKO11 (15)Apr 20, 1930 108Win92–8–7 Albert BaudaertPTS8Apr 3, 1930 107Win91–8–7 Len GeorgePTS8Apr 1, 1930 106Win90–8–7 Auguste GydePTS15Mar 26, 1930 105Win89–8–7 Jack SheppardTKO12 (15)Mar 21, 1930 104Win88–8–7 Jim BrileyTKO6 (15)Mar 9, 1930 103Win87–8–7 Charlie MackPTS15Mar 2, 1930 102Win86–8–7 Jack SheppardPTS15Feb 21, 1930 101Draw85–8–7 Charlie MackPTS15Jan 27, 1930 100Win85–8–6 Jack WrightDQ6 (15)Jan 19, 1930 99Win84–8–6 Jim BrileyPTS15Nov 24, 1929 98Win83–8–6 Johnny EdmundsKO2 (15)Nov 17, 1929 97Win82–8–6 Ted CullenDQ4 (15)Nov 11, 1929 96Win81–8–6 Harry Kid BerryPTS15Nov 6, 1929 95Loss80–8–6 Jim AshleyTKO3 (15)Oct 31, 1929 94Win80–7–6 Jack MillardTKO8 (15)Oct 23, 1929 93Loss79–7–6 Johnny CuthbertKO8 (12)Oct 9, 1929 92Win79–6–6 Arques TrevesKO2 (15)Oct 3, 1929 91Win78–6–6 Billy CainRTD7 (15)Sep 15, 1929 90Win77–6–6 Lew PinkusPTS15Sep 8, 1929 89Win76–6–6 Con LewisRTD7 (10)Sep 1, 1929 88Win75–6–6 Karl SchulzeKO5 (10)Aug 23, 1929 87Win74–6–6 Jack GarlandPTS12Aug 11, 1929 86Win73–6–6 Tommy RoseKO3 (15)Aug 5, 1929 85Win72–6–6 Alf PattendenPTS15Jul 7, 1929 84Win71–6–6 Jack GarlandPTS8Jun 21, 1929 83Draw70–6–6 Jim CrawfordPTS15Jun 13, 1929 82Loss70–6–5 Douglas ParkerKO1 (15)Jun 8, 1929 81Win70–5–5 Jim CrawfordPTS15May 23, 1929 80Win69–5–5 Joe GreenwoodTKO8 (15)May 18, 1929 79Win68–5–5 Kid SocksPTS15May 12, 1929 78Win67–5–5 Dick CorbettPTS10May 2, 1929 77Win66–5–5 Packey McFarlandPTS15Apr 12, 1929 76Win65–5–5 Arthur Young AdkinsPTS15Apr 8, 1929 75Win64–5–5 Nicolas Petit BiquetPTS10Mar 21, 1929 74Win63–5–5 Tommy BrownTKO12 (15)Mar 9, 1929 73Win62–5–5 Archie WoodbineTKO5 (15)Mar 1, 1929 72Win61–5–5 Billy BoulgerPTS15Feb 24, 1929 71Win60–5–5 Jimmy RowbothamPTS12Feb 17, 1929 70Win59–5–5 Billy SmithPTS15Jan 26, 1929 69Win58–5–5 Jimmy RowbothamPTS15Jan 14, 1929 68Win57–5–5 Arthur BoddingtonPTS10Jan 9, 1929 67Win56–5–5 Willi MetznerDQ2 (6)Jan 7, 1929 66Win55–5–5 Tiny SmithPTS15Dec 22, 1928 65Win54–5–5 Bert KirbyPTS12Dec 17, 1928 64Win53–5–5 Young Dick McManusPTS15Dec 11, 1928 63Win52–5–5 George GarrardPTS8Dec 6, 1928 62Win51–5–5 Johnny Young MurtonDQ5 (15)Nov 26, 1928 61Win50–5–5 Frank KestrellTKO12 (15)Nov 8, 1928 60Win49–5–5 Jack ConnellTKO9 (15)Nov 4, 1928 59Win48–5–5 Billy YatesTKO7 (15)Oct 21, 1928 58Win47–5–5 Ludwig MinowPTS6Sep 30, 1928 57Loss46–5–5 Dod OldfieldPTS15Jun 21, 1928 56Win46–4–5 Kid RichPTS15Jun 7, 1928 55Win45–4–5 Giovanni SiliPTS10May 18, 1928 54Loss44–4–5 Young SikiRTD4 (15)Apr 29, 1928 53Draw44–3–5 Lud AbellaPTS15Apr 1, 1928 52Win44–3–4 Jimmy LindsayPTS15Mar 28, 1928 51Win43–3–4 Tommy BrownPTS12Mar 19, 1928 50Win42–3–4 Lud AbellaPTS15Mar 15, 1928 4941–3–4 Mark LesnickNC11 (15)Mar 11, 1928 48Win41–3–4 Johnny (Young) SummersPTS15Mar 5, 1928 47Win40–3–4 Harry YatesPTS10Feb 19, 1928 46Win39–3–4 Kid RichPTS12Feb 5, 1928 45Win38–3–4 Fred BromleyPTS12Jan 29, 1928 44Win37–3–4 Kid RichPTS12Jan 16, 1928 43Win36–3–4 Johnny (Young) SummersPTS12Jan 6, 1928 42Win35–3–4 Walter (Boy) SharpeTKO6 (10)Jan 2, 1928 41Win34–3–4 Jimmy ThorntonDQ6 (15)Dec 29, 1927 40Win33–3–4 Ginger JohnsonPTS10Dec 19, 1927 39Win32–3–4 Alf Young ThornhillPTS15Nov 28, 1927 38Win31–3–4 Tom FitzsimmonsPTS10Nov 21, 1927 37Win30–3–4 Dickie InklesPTS15Nov 10, 1927 36Win29–3–4 Jack EllisPTS15Oct 31, 1927 35Win28–3–4 Jack GloverPTS15Oct 17, 1927 34Draw27–3–4 Jack EllisPTS15Oct 3, 1927 33Win27–3–3 Alf GudgePTS10Jul 21, 1927 32Win26–3–3 Tom Tank FowlerPTS10Jul 10, 1927 31Win25–3–3 Charlie RowbothamTKO5 (10)Jul 3, 1927 30Win24–3–3 Johnny SilverPTS10Jun 16, 1927 29Win23–3–3 Taff SharpeKO4 (6)May 2, 1927 28Win22–3–3 Taff SharpeRTD3 (8)Feb 2, 1927 27Win21–3–3 George BrownPTS8Dec 2, 1926 26Win20–3–3 Johnny (Young) SummersPTS6Nov 8, 1926 25Loss19–3–3 Moe MizlerTKO5 (10)Apr 15, 1926 24Loss19–2–3 Boyce DearyDQ8 (10)Feb 15, 1926 23Win19–1–3 George BrownPTS6Feb 14, 1926 22Draw18–1–3 Teddy TompkinsPTS10Jan 25, 1926 21Win18–1–2 Johnny QuillPTS10Jan 10, 1926 20Win17–1–2 Sid RaiteriPTS6Jan 1, 1926 19Win16–1–2 Teddy TompkinsPTS6Dec 17, 1925 18Win15–1–2 Charlie MackPTS6Nov 18, 1925 17Draw14–1–2 Jim HockingPTS6Nov 4, 1925 16Win14–1–1 Charlie MackPTS6Nov 2, 1925 15Win13–1–1 Charlie MackPTS10Nov 1, 1925 14Win12–1–1 Johnny (Young) SummersPTS8Oct 4, 1925 13Win11–1–1 Jim HockingPTS6Sep 3, 1925 12Win10–1–1 Charlie MackPTS6Aug 3, 1925 11Loss9–1–1 Billy BoulgerPTS6Jul 30, 1925 10Win9–0–1 Young KingKO1 (6)Jul 11, 1925 9Win8–0–1 Young DearyPTS6Mar 1, 1925 8Win7–0–1 Young BrooksPTS6Nov 30, 1924 7Win6–0–1 Johnny (Young) SummersPTS6Oct 6, 1924 6Win5–0–1 Johnny (Young) SummersPTS6Oct 5, 1924 5Win4–0–1 Johnny (Young) SummersPTS6Oct 5, 1924 4Win3–0–1 Young SmockPTS6Sep 1, 1924 3Draw2–0–1 Ernest MorrisPTS3Aug 4, 1924 2Win2–0 John BrentPTS6Jan 1, 1924 1Win1–0 George BrownPTS4Jan 1, 1923
Notes
References
External links Nipper Pat Daly website