Terry Allen (boxer)


Terry Allen 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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes
75LossNazzareno GiannelliPTS1510 Sep 1954Palazzo del Ghiaccio, Milan, Lombardia, ItalyFor vacant European flyweight title
74Loss62–11–1Dai DowerKO2 23 Mar 1954Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
73Win62–10–1Eric MarsdenDQ5 16 Feb 1954Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.Retained BBBofC flyweight title;
Mardsen DQ'd for a low blow
72Loss61–10–1Yoshio ShiraiUD1527 Oct 1953Korakuen Baseball Stadium, Tokyo, JapanFor NBA and The Ring flyweight titles
71Loss61–9–1Gaetano AnnaloroPTS1028 Apr 1953Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
70Win61–8–1Eric MarsdenTKO6 21 Oct 1952Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.Won vacant BBBofC flyweight title
69Win60–8–1Jimmy PearcePTS1225 Aug 1952Engineer's Club, West Hartlepool, County Durham, England, U.K.
68Loss59–8–1Teddy GardnerPTS1517 Mar 1952New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, U.K.For European, vacant Commonwealth and BBBofC flyweight titles
67Loss59–7–1Maurice SandeyronPTS1029 Jan 1952Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
66Loss59–6–1Dado MarinoUD151 Nov 1951Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu, HawaiiFor NBA and The Ring flyweight titles
65Win59–5–1Vic HermanPTS1511 Jun 1951Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, London, England, U.K.Won vacant BBBofC flyweight title
64Win58–5–1Henry CarpenterPTS1030 Apr 1951Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
63Win57–5–1Jimmy PearcePTS811 Apr 1951Prince of Wales Baths, Kentish Town, London, England, U.K.
62Loss56–5–1Jean SneyersPTS1530 Oct 1950Ice Rink, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, U.K.Lost European flyweight titles
61Loss56–4–1Dado MarinoUD151 Aug 1950Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu, HawaiiLost NBA and The Ring flyweight titles
60Win56–3–1Honore PratesiPTS1525 Apr 1950Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.Won vacant NBA, European, and The Ring flyweight titles
59Win55–3–1Peter FayPTS815 Feb 1950Prince of Wales Baths, Kentish Town, London, England, U.K.
58Draw54–3–1Rinty MonaghanPTS1530 Sep 1949Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.For NBA, European, Lonsdale, and The Ring flyweight titles
57Win54–3Norman TennantPTS128 Jun 1949Dens Park, Dundee, Scotland, U.K.
56Win53–3Honore PratesiPTS103 May 1949Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
55Win52–3Jackie FosterPTS83 Mar 1949Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London, England, U.K.
54Win51–3Rinty MonaghanPTS87 Feb 1949Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
53Win50–3Dickie O'SullivanPTS1224 Jan 1949Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
52Win49–3Billy HazelgrovePTS810 Jan 1949Manor Place Baths, Walworth, London, England, U.K.
51Win48–3Tommy FarrickerPTS814 Dec 1948Prince of Wales Baths, Kentish Town, London, England, U.K.
50Win47–3Charley WilsonPTS84 Nov 1948Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London, England, U.K.
49Loss46–3Jackie BrycePTS1225 Jun 1948Greyhound Stadium, Coatbridge, Scotland, U.K.
48Win46–2Dickie O'SullivanDQ2 16 Mar 1948Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.Won vacant British flyweight title;
O'Sullivan DQ'd for a low blow
47Win45–2Jimmy GillKO4 18 Feb 1948Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London, England, U.K.
46Win44–2Jackie BrycePTS821 Jan 1948Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London, England, U.K.
45Win43–2Tommy WhittleTKO3 15 Dec 1947Kentish Town, London, England, U.K.
44Win42–2Frank TierneyPTS812 Nov 1947Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London, England, U.K.
43Win41–2Les JohnsonPTS83 Nov 1947Kentish Town, London, England, U.K.
42Win40–2Andy McCullochTKO5 15 Oct 1947Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London, England, U.K.
41Win39–2Johnny SummersPTS826 Aug 1947Wembley Town Hall, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
40Win38–2Alf HughesPTS87 Jul 1947Engineer's Club, West Hartlepool, County Durham, England, U.K.
39Win37–2Pinchie ThompsonPTS817 Jun 1947Drill Hall, Willesden, London, England, U.K.
38Loss36–2Rinty MonaghanTKO1 11 Mar 1947Seymour Hall, Marylebone, London, England, U.K.
37Win36–1Billy HazelgrovePTS818 Dec 1946Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London, England, U.K.
36Win35–1Billy DaviesTKO4 4 Dec 1946Lime Grove Baths, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, U.K.
35Win34–1Frank TierneyPTS830 Oct 1946Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
34Win33–1Les JohnsonPTS813 Aug 1946Wembley Town Hall, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
33Loss32–1Alex MurphyKO6 14 May 1946Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
32Win32–0Abdel HassanKO3 13 Dec 1945Alexandria, Egypt
31Win31–0Hocine RabahKO1 8 Nov 1945Alexandria, Egypt
30Win30–0Sayed MustaphaKO2 12 Oct 1945Alexandria, Egypt
29Win29–0Mustapha EzzattPTS106 Oct 1945Municipal Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt
28Win28–0Abdel HassanKO6 16 Jul 1945Municipal Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt
27Win27–0Mustapha EzzattPTS624 May 1945Alexandria, Egypt
26Win26–0Mustapha EzzattPTS628 Apr 1945Alexandria, Egypt
25Win25–0Phil MilliganPTS68 Mar 1945Alexandria, Egypt
24Win24–0Sapper JohnstonePTS63 Mar 1945Alexandria, Egypt
23Win23–0Hassan Abou SaadaPTS64 Feb 1945Alexandria, Egypt
22Win22–0Christie KyriscoPTS64 Jan 1945Alexandria, Egypt
21Win21–0Chehata HafezKO3 23 Dec 1944Alexandria, Egypt
20Win20–0Hassan RamadinPTS410 Dec 1944Alexandria, Egypt
19Win19–0Ahmed MarlyKO1 8 Jul 1944Alexandria, Egypt
18Win18–0Georges ShamarPTS410 May 1944Alexandria, Egypt
17Win17–0Mickey JonesPTS102 May 1944Victoria Hall, Southend, Essex, England, U.K.
16Win16–0Roy BallRTD4 21 Apr 1944Tower Circus, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, U.K.
15Win15–0Tommy BurneyPTS106 Apr 1944The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, U.K.
14Win14–0Joe JosephsKO4 17 Mar 1944Town Hall, Hornsey, London, England, U.K.
13Win13–0Joe JosephsTKO4 1 Feb 1944Town Hall, Hornsey, London, England, U.K.
12Win12–0Jackie EvansPTS813 Jan 1944The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, U.K.
11Win11–0Billy HazelgroveRTD9 31 Dec 1943Tower Circus, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, U.K.
10Win10–0Mickey JonesPTS829 Nov 1943Pype Hayes, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, U.K.
9Win9–0Jack McKenziePTS1019 Nov 1943Tower Circus, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, U.K.
8Win8–0Roy BallPTS84 Nov 1943The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, U.K.
7Win7–0Ronnie BishopPTS830 Sep 1943The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, U.K.
6Win6–0Tommy BurneyPTS89 Sep 1943The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, U.K.
5Win5–0Les JohnsonPTS610 May 1943Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London, England, U.K.
4Win4–0George HowellKO1 7 Apr 1943Drill Hall, York, Yorkshire, England, U.K.
3Win3–0Ron KingstonKO4 19 Mar 1943Pype Hayes, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, U.K.
2Win2–0Douglas ClaxtonTKO4 8 Mar 1943Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London, England, U.K.
1Win1–0Jim ThomasPTS63 Sep 1942Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London, England, U.K.