Pedlar Palmer


Pedlar Palmer, born Thomas Palmer, 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.
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. 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. He is buried on the western edge of Brighton; the gravestone no longer stands.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
70Loss51–15–4Jim DriscollTKO4 Mar 10, 1919Hoxton Music Hall, Hoxton, London, England, U.K.
69Loss51–14–4Digger StanleyRTD4 Nov 19, 1914West London Stadium, London, England, U.K.
68Loss51–13–4Jim LloydRTD4 Aug 1, 1912Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, U.K.
67Win51–12–4Sam RussellDQ3 Jul 25, 1912Premierland, Whitechapel, London, England, U.K.
66Win50–12–4George MooreRTD7 Mar 25, 1912National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.
65Win49–12–4George MooreDQ5 Mar 2, 1912Premierland, Whitechapel, London, England, U.K.
64Win48–12–4Alec LambertPTS6Jan 24, 1912Premierland, Whitechapel, London, England, U.K.
63Win47–12–4Darkey HaleyPTS6Jan 6, 1912Premierland, Whitechapel, London, England, U.K.
62Loss46–12–4Darkey HaleyKO10 Dec 7, 1906Pitfield Street Baths, Hoxton, London, England, U.K.
61Win46–11–4Cockney CohenDQ4 May 28, 1906Drill Hall, Plymouth, Devon, England, U.K.
60Win45–11–4Driver William HimphenPTS6Apr 28, 1906Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K.
59Draw44–11–4Cockney CohenPTS15Mar 26, 1906Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K.
58Loss44–11–3Charlie LampeyPTS15Feb 28, 1906Sporting and Dramatic Club, Charing Cross, London, England, U.K.
57Loss44–10–3Cockney CohenKO6 Nov 13, 1905Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K.Cohen claims English 122 lbs title
56Win44–9–3Cockney CohenPTS15Sep 25, 1905Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K.
55Win43–9–3Bob WhiteKO6 Aug 5, 1905The Circus, West Hartlepool, County Durham, England, U.K.
54Win42–9–3George MoorePTS6Jun 17, 1905Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K.
53Draw41–9–3George MoorePTS15May 29, 1905Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K.For vacant NSC British and English featherweight titles
52Loss41–9–2Joe BowkerTKO12 Mar 20, 1905 National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.For vacant NSC British and English featherweight titles
51Loss41–8–2Ben JordanPTS15Dec 12, 1904 National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.For NSC British and English featherweight titles
50Win41–7–2Young JosephPTS15Oct 17, 1904 Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K.
49Win40–7–2WJ AustinPTS20Aug 8, 1904 Camps Bay Pavilion, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
48Draw39–7–2WJ AustinPTS20Jul 4, 1904 Camps Bay Pavilion, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
47Win39–7–1Dan HymanRTD9 May 23, 1904 Wanderers Hall, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
46Loss38–7–1Harry AlexanderDQ4 Mar 25, 1904Britannia Theatre, Hoxton, London, England, U.K.
45Win38–6–1Harry AlexanderKO4 Mar 14, 1904Boulevard Football Ground, Hull, Yorkshire, England, U.K.
44Loss37–6–1George DixonPTS20Nov 9, 1904Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, U.K.Billed world 120lbs title
43Win37–5–1Jim WilliamsPTS20Oct 23, 1903New National Athletic Club, Marylebone, London, England, U.K.
42Win36–5–1Spike RobsonPTS20Sep 14, 1903Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, London, England, U.K.Billed English 124 lbs title;
Not generally recognised as over 2-minute rounds
41Win35–5–1George DixonPTS8Jun 27, 1903Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K.
40Win34–5–1Digger StanleyPTS12May 11, 1903Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K.
39Win33–5–1Fred DelaneyPTS6Apr 2, 1903Barking Public Hall, Barking Road, Canning Town, London, England, U.K.
38Win32–5–1Harry WarePTS12Feb 16, 1903Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K.Billed English 8st 8lbs title
37Loss31–5–1Will CurleyKO8 Dec 15, 1902Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, U.K.
36Win31–4–1Jim WilliamsPTS20Oct 23, 1902The National AC, Marylebone, London, England, U.K.
35Win30–4–1George DixonPTS15Sep 8, 1902New National Athletic Club, Marylebone, London, England, U.K.
34Win29–4–1Digger StanleyPTS10Jun 16, 1902Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K.
33Loss28–4–1Jim WilliamsKO2 Jan 27, 1902National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.For vacant NSC bantamweight title claim
32Loss28–3–1Harry HarrisPTS15Mar 18, 1901National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.For vacant world bantamweight title
31Loss28–2–1Harry WarePTS20Nov 12, 1900National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.Lost NSC bantamweight title
30Win28–1–1Harry WarePTS15May 28, 1900National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.Retained NSC bantamweight title
29Loss27–1–1Terry McGovernKO1 Sep 12, 1899Westchester A.C., Tuckahoe, New York, U.S.Lost world bantamweight title claim;
For vacant world bantamweight title
28Win27–0–1Billy RotchfordDQ3 Apr 17, 1899National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.Retained world bantamweight title claim
27Win26–0–1Billy PlimmerTKO17 Dec 12, 1898National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.Retained world bantamweight title claim;
Won vacant NSC bantamweight title
26Win25–0–1Dave SullivanPTS20Oct 18, 1897National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.Retained world bantamweight title claim
25Win24–0–1Ernie StantonTKO14 Jan 25, 1897National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.Retained world bantamweight title claim
24Win23–0–1Johnny MurphyPTS20Oct 12, 1896National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.Made a world bantamweight title claim
23Win22–0–1Ted WillisRTD4 Apr 13, 1896National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.
22Win21–0–1Ted WillisKO2 Mar 31, 1896Ned Donnelly's Rooms, London, England, U.K.
21Draw20–0–1George DixonPTS6Jan 30, 1896Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
20Win20–0Billy PlimmerDQ14 Nov 25, 1895National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.Won NSC British flyweight and world 112lbs titles
19Win19–0Ginger WaltersKO7 Oct 27, 1894Bermondsey School of Arms, Bermondsey, London, England, U.K.
18Win18–0Ernie StantonPTS20Oct 15, 1894National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.Retained NSC British light flyweight title;
Billed English 108lbs title
17Win17–0Bill MortimerTKO5 Jun 25, 1894National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.Won vacant NSC British light flyweight title;
Won English 106lbs title claim
16Win16–0Young EdwardsTKO2 Apr 16, 1894National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.
15Win15–0Ted WoodPTS6Feb 19, 1894National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.
14Win14–0Albert GouldPTS6Dec 11, 1892National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.
13Win13–0Albert GouldTKO2 Dec 4, 1892National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.
12Win12–0Mike SmallPTS6May 29, 1892National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.
11Win11–0Walter CrootKO17 May 1, 1892National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K.Won
10Win10–0George WoodPTS?Sep 1, 1892United KingdomDate Unknown
9Win9–0Dick EdwardsPTS?Aug 1, 1892United KingdomDate Unknown
8Win8–0Ted SoundersPTS?Jul 1, 1892United KingdomDate Unknown
7Win7–0Will MorsePTS?Jun 1, 1892United KingdomDate Unknown
6Win6–0Ginger WrightPTS?May 1, 1892United KingdomDate Unknown
5Win5–0Tom ShanePTS?Apr 1, 1892United KingdomDate Unknown
4Win4–0Ernie StantonPTS3Mar 1, 1892Plaistow, London, England, U.K.Exact date unknown
3Win3–0Arthur WiggPTS?Feb 1, 1892United KingdomDate Unknown
2Win2–0San SwamburgPTS?Jan 1, 1892United KingdomDate Unknown
1Win1–0WC BondPTS11Jan 1, 1891United KingdomDate Unknown