Benny Lynch
Encyclopedia
Benny Lynch was a Scottish
professional boxer
who fought in the flyweight
division. He is considered by some to be one of the finest boxers below the lightweight
division in his era and Ring Magazine has described him as the greatest fighter that Scotland
has ever produced. He was born in the Gorbals
area of Glasgow
and learned his fighting skills in the carnival
booths that were popular in the West of Scotland
during the Great Depression
.
boxing
title on 16 May 1934 with a 15 round decision over Jim Campbell in Glasgow. He then went on to win the British, European and world flyweight titles from Jackie Brown
in an historic bout held in Manchester
on 8 September 1935. The fight attracted enormous support from Glaswegians who travelled en masse to support "our Benny".
There was dispute, on at least on one side of the Atlantic, as to who was the best flyweight boxer in the world. Lynch settled the matter when he out-pointed Filipino
Small Montana
in London in 1936 to established himself as the undisputed world flyweight boxing champion.
From 1932-36, he lost just five fights; two of them were points losses to Jimmy Warnock
a 'southpaw
' from Northern Ireland
, on 2 March 1936 in Belfast
and again on 2 June 1937 in front of a home crowd in Glasgow
.
In 1937 he handed legendary English puncher Peter Kane
his first loss (KO).
By 1938, Lynch's drinking lifestyle meant that he could no longer make the weight for the flyweight division. He lost his world flyweight title to American Jackie Jurich
, when he weighed in at 118.5 lb (53.8 kg), half a pound over the bantamweight
limit. This was made sadder by the fact that, despite his weight problems, Lynch stopped Jurich in the 12th round.
Lynch's boxing career was over by the time he was 25 and he battled with alcoholism for the rest of his life. He died in 1946 from malnutrition, aged 33.
His record for the seven years of his professional career was:
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
in 1998. A film about the life of Benny Lynch, directed by John Mackenzie and starring Robert Carlyle
, was made in 2003.
He was featured on the cover of Scottish rock band Gun
's second album, Gallus
, in 1992.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who fought in the flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
division. He is considered by some to be one of the finest boxers below the lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
division in his era and Ring Magazine has described him as the greatest fighter that Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
has ever produced. He was born in the Gorbals
Gorbals
The Gorbals is an area on the south bank of the River Clyde in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. By the late 19th century, it had become over-populated and adversely affected by local industrialisation. Many people lived here because their jobs provided this home and they could not afford their own...
area of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and learned his fighting skills in the carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
booths that were popular in the West of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
Life and career
Lynch won the Scottish flyweightFlyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
title on 16 May 1934 with a 15 round decision over Jim Campbell in Glasgow. He then went on to win the British, European and world flyweight titles from Jackie Brown
Jackie Brown (boxer)
For the Scottish flyweight boxer called Jackie Brown, see Jackie Brown .Jackie Brown was a flyweight boxer, who was British and European flyweight champion, and was also recognised by the National Boxing Association as the World flyweight champion.-Professional career:He had his first professional...
in an historic bout held in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
on 8 September 1935. The fight attracted enormous support from Glaswegians who travelled en masse to support "our Benny".
There was dispute, on at least on one side of the Atlantic, as to who was the best flyweight boxer in the world. Lynch settled the matter when he out-pointed Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
Small Montana
Small Montana
Benjamin Gan , more commomly known as Small Montana, was a Filipino boxer.Montana, who stood 5 feet and 4 inch tall and never weighed more than 112 pounds, won the Flyweight Championship of the World .-Fighting style:Montana was known for his quick punches, although he was a scrappy and not very...
in London in 1936 to established himself as the undisputed world flyweight boxing champion.
From 1932-36, he lost just five fights; two of them were points losses to Jimmy Warnock
Jimmy Warnock
James "Jimmy" Warnock was a southpaw boxer from the Shankill Road, Belfast, United Kingdom..Jimmy Warnock began his early boxing career at Belfast's Chapel Fields in prize fights organised by Clara Copley...
a 'southpaw
Southpaw (boxing)
Southpaw is a boxing term that designates the stance where the boxer has his right hand and right foot forward, leading with right jabs, and following with a left cross right hook. Southpaw is the normal stance for a left-handed boxer...
' from Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, on 2 March 1936 in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and again on 2 June 1937 in front of a home crowd in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
In 1937 he handed legendary English puncher Peter Kane
Peter Kane
Peter Kane was one of England's greatest flyweight boxers and a world champion in the 1930s. Kane was born in Heywood, Lancashire, on February 28, 1918, but grew up in the town of Golborne, Lancashire, after his family moved there before his first birthday.-Boxing style:He was a two-fisted...
his first loss (KO).
By 1938, Lynch's drinking lifestyle meant that he could no longer make the weight for the flyweight division. He lost his world flyweight title to American Jackie Jurich
Jackie Jurich
Jackie Jurich is a former American professional boxer. He is also known by his nickname "Rose of San Jose."- Profesional career :...
, when he weighed in at 118.5 lb (53.8 kg), half a pound over the bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
limit. This was made sadder by the fact that, despite his weight problems, Lynch stopped Jurich in the 12th round.
Lynch's boxing career was over by the time he was 25 and he battled with alcoholism for the rest of his life. He died in 1946 from malnutrition, aged 33.
His record for the seven years of his professional career was:
- Total Bouts: 102
- Won: 77 (includes 15 knockouts)
- Lost: 10 (one knockout, in his last fight)
- Draw: 15
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
in 1998. A film about the life of Benny Lynch, directed by John Mackenzie and starring Robert Carlyle
Robert Carlyle
Robert Carlyle, OBE is a Scottish film and television actor. He is known for a variety of roles including those in Trainspotting, Hamish Macbeth, The Full Monty, The World Is Not Enough, Angela's Ashes, The 51st State, and 28 Weeks Later...
, was made in 2003.
He was featured on the cover of Scottish rock band Gun
Gun (band)
Gun are a rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, best known for their cover of Cameo's "Word Up!".-Early career:Originally called Blind Allez then for a short time, 'Phobia', GUN were formed in 1987 by Giuliano Gizzi and Cami Morlotti , with Mark Rankin , Alan Thornton and David Aitken...
's second album, Gallus
Gallus (album)
Gallus is the second album from Scottish rock band Gun. The cover shows Benny Lynch, a renowned Scottish boxer from Glasgow. The album peaked at #14 on the UK Albums Chart.-Track listing:# "Steal Your Fire"# "Money to Burn"# "Long Road"...
, in 1992.