Peter Kane
Encyclopedia
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.
, where he was to have many of his fights. The fight was stopped in the fifth.
He went on to record a string of forty-one consecutive wins, before challenging Benny Lynch
for the World flyweight title, at the age of nineteen. The fight, in October 1937, was staged at Shawfield Park, Glasgow
in front of a crowd of over 40,000, and was one of the finest flyweight battles of all time. Lynch retained his title by knocking Kane out in the thirteenth round.
Kane had a re-match with Lynch in March 1938, and fought a draw over fifteen rounds in Liverpool. Lynch could not make the flyweight limit and had to pay a forfeit. In his next fight, against Jackie Jurich
, Lynch was again overweight despite winning the fight and forfeited his World flyweight title. The British Boxing Board of Control
declared the title vacant.
He was now World flyweight champion, but he was finding it increasingly difficult to get down to the flyweight limit. In 1939, Kane announced that he was going to fight as a bantamweight in future, and at the end of that year, the National Boxing Association, of America stripped him of his title. He continued to be recognised as World flyweight champion by the International Boxing Union
, in Europe.
Kane continued to fight recording a string of victories with only the occasional defeat, but most of his fights were at bantamweight.. Although he was the World flyweight champion, the British and Commonwealth titles were held by the Scotsman, Jackie Paterson
. In June 1943, a fight was arranged at Hampden Park
, Glasgow, with all three titles at stake. Kane managed to make the flyweight limit for the fight but was knocked out in the first round. The fight lasted only a minute.
In September 1947, he fought the Frenchman, Theo Medina for the European bantamweight title. The fight was at Belle Vue
, Manchester
, and Kane won on points to become European bantamweight champion.
In December 1947, he defended the title against Belgian, Joe Cornelis, at Belle Vue, and again won on points.
In February 1948, he defended his European title against Italian, Guido Ferracin, at Belle Vue, and this time, lost on points.
He had a re-match with Ferracin, in July 1948, at Belle Vue again. This time Kane was forced to retire in round five.
He had only two more fights, losing on points to Stan Rowan, and knocking out a boxer called Johnny Conn, who was making his debut, in April 1951.
, always considering himself a Warringtonian, even though he lived most of his life in nearby Pewfall, near St. Helens in Lancashire.
Heywood, Greater Manchester
Heywood is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the south bank of the River Roch and is east of Bury, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north of the city of Manchester. The town of Middleton lies to the south, whilst to the north is the...
, on February 28, 1918, but grew up in the town of Golborne
Golborne
Golborne is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England.It lies south-southeast of Wigan, northeast of Warrington and to the west of the city of Manchester. It has a population of 23,119....
, Lancashire, after his family moved there before his first birthday.
Boxing style
He was a two-fisted fighter, renowned for his punching power. Fifty-three of his eighty-eight wins were by knockout.Professional career
He made his professional debut in December 1934, at the age of sixteen. He fought and beat Joe Jacobs in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, where he was to have many of his fights. The fight was stopped in the fifth.
He went on to record a string of forty-one consecutive wins, before challenging Benny Lynch
Benny Lynch
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...
for the World flyweight title, at the age of nineteen. The fight, in October 1937, was staged at Shawfield Park, 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 front of a crowd of over 40,000, and was one of the finest flyweight battles of all time. Lynch retained his title by knocking Kane out in the thirteenth round.
Kane had a re-match with Lynch in March 1938, and fought a draw over fifteen rounds in Liverpool. Lynch could not make the flyweight limit and had to pay a forfeit. In his next fight, against 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 :...
, Lynch was again overweight despite winning the fight and forfeited his World flyweight title. The British Boxing Board of Control
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
declared the title vacant.
World title
The American, Jurich and Kane were regarded as the chief contenders for the vacant World flyweight title, and a fight was arranged between them in September 1938, in Liverpool. Kane won on points after putting Jurich down five times during the fight.He was now World flyweight champion, but he was finding it increasingly difficult to get down to the flyweight limit. In 1939, Kane announced that he was going to fight as a bantamweight in future, and at the end of that year, the National Boxing Association, of America stripped him of his title. He continued to be recognised as World flyweight champion by the International Boxing Union
International Boxing Union
The International Boxing Union was created June 1911 in Paris, France. It was an attempt to create a unified international governing body for professional boxing...
, in Europe.
Kane continued to fight recording a string of victories with only the occasional defeat, but most of his fights were at bantamweight.. Although he was the World flyweight champion, the British and Commonwealth titles were held by the Scotsman, Jackie Paterson
Jackie Paterson
Jackie Paterson was a Scottish boxer who was world flyweight boxing champion. He was also British champion at flyweight and bantamweight.-Early life:...
. In June 1943, a fight was arranged at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
, Glasgow, with all three titles at stake. Kane managed to make the flyweight limit for the fight but was knocked out in the first round. The fight lasted only a minute.
Subsequent career
Kane continued to fight but concentrated on the bantamweight division from now on, again winning most of his fights.In September 1947, he fought the Frenchman, Theo Medina for the European bantamweight title. The fight was at Belle Vue
Belle Vue, Manchester
Belle Vue is an area of Gorton, in the city of Manchester, England. It lies in the eastern part of the city, close to its boundary with Tameside, and is bordered by the Hope Valley Line on the east and the Glossop Line on the west...
, 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...
, and Kane won on points to become European bantamweight champion.
In December 1947, he defended the title against Belgian, Joe Cornelis, at Belle Vue, and again won on points.
In February 1948, he defended his European title against Italian, Guido Ferracin, at Belle Vue, and this time, lost on points.
He had a re-match with Ferracin, in July 1948, at Belle Vue again. This time Kane was forced to retire in round five.
He had only two more fights, losing on points to Stan Rowan, and knocking out a boxer called Johnny Conn, who was making his debut, in April 1951.
Retirement
He worked throughout his career as a blacksmith in the village of Lowton, which neighbours Golborne. Throughout his adult life and boxing career, he lived in Liverpool Road, Pewfall, between Haydock and Ashton. He died on July 23, 1991. Ironically, he disliked WiganWigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
, always considering himself a Warringtonian, even though he lived most of his life in nearby Pewfall, near St. Helens in Lancashire.
External links
- My Most Thrilling Fights and Lessons I Learned (1937) Peter Kane article.