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National ABA title 1950
63rd ABA National Championships
1949 - 1950
Year: 21 April 1950
Venue: Wembley Arena, London
Peter Brander 57kg (Slough Centre ABC) wins his last ABA title. Following his successes of 1945, 1946, 1948. Brander was also an Olympian in 1948 (London, England), Commonwealth Bronze medal in 1950 (Auckland, New Zealand), and a member of the 1949 European Championship team (Oslo, Norway).
Ron Lantham 60kg (Hickleton Main ABC) and Terry Ratcliffe 69kg (Royal Air Force) become Commonwealth Champions in Auckland (New Zealand).
KG | Weight | Champion | Finalist | Result |
51 |
Fly |
Albert Jones (Kynoch BC) |
A.Moore (LMS Rovers ABC) |
|
54 |
Bantam |
Ken Lawrence (Southampton ABC) |
Walter Taylor (LMS Rovers ABC) |
|
57 |
Feather |
Peter Brander (Slough Centre ABC) |
Percy Lewis (Royal Air Force) |
|
60 |
Light |
Ron Latham (Hickleton Main ABC) |
Freddie King (Robert Browning ABC) |
|
69 |
Welter |
Terry Ratcliffe (Royal Air Force) |
A.Light (Winchester ABC) |
|
75 |
Middle |
P.Longo (Army) |
Terry Gooding (GKB & N ABC) |
|
81 |
Light Heavy |
Peter Messervy (Royal Navy) |
Albert Gall (Brixton Ivy Leaf ABC) |
|
91 |
Heavyweight |
P.Toch (Army) |
C.Carver (Steel, Peech & Tozer ABC) |
|
64th ABA National Championships
1950 - 1951
Year: 20 April 1951
Venue: Wembley Arena, London
Jim Travers 57kg (Lansdowne BC) beats Percy Lewis 57kg (Royal Air Force) when the contest was stopped in the first round with both boxers having cuts to their eyes. Travers was ahead on points and was declared the winner. This rule was introduced in 1934. Lewis did win the title in 1952. Lewis, and Tommy Nicholls 54kg (Royal Air Force), John Maloney 69kg (Dagenham ABC) all represented England at the 1951 European Championship (Milan, Italy).
KG | Weight | Champion | Finalist | Result |
51 |
Fly |
Gerald John (Slough Centre ABC) |
S. Hawyes (Jarrow Community ABC) |
DIS(3) |
54 |
Bantam |
Tommy Nicholls (Royal Air Force) |
T. Icke (Bournebrook ABC) |
|
57 |
Feather |
Jim Travers (Lansdowne BC) |
Percy Lewis (Royal Air Force) |
Contest stopped (RSC1) |
60 |
Light |
Ron Hinson (West Ham ABC) |
C. Harrison (Steel, Peech & Tozer ABC) |
DIS(3) |
64 |
Light Welter |
W. Connor (Lowe House ABC) |
T. Budge (Empire Swansea BC) |
|
67 |
Welter |
Johnny Maloney (Dagenham ABC) |
A. Baird (Army) |
RSC(2) |
71 |
Light Middle |
Alf Lay (Battersea ABC) |
D. Roberts (Army) |
RSC(1) |
75 |
Middle |
Eric Ludham (Army) |
G. Wilson (Market District ABC) |
RSC(2) |
81 |
Light Heavy |
George Walker (Thomas Refinery ABC) |
R. Crookes (Army) |
RSC(1) |
91 |
Heavyweight |
Albert Halsey (Kyrle Hall ABC) |
J. Crickman (Stepney Institute ABC) |
|
65th ABA National Championships
1951 - 1952
Year: 25 April 1952
Venue: Wembley Arena, London
Tommy Nicholls 54kg (Sankeys ABC) wins his second of (4) titles (1951, 1952, 1955, 1956). All (10) ABA titles winners become 'Olympians' and travel to the 1952 Games (Helsinki, Finland). However no medals were won. It was also the first National ABA title for the famous Henry Cooper 81kg (Eltham & District ABC).
KG | Weight | Champion | Finalist | Result |
51 |
Fly |
Dai Downer (Roath Youth BC) |
Gerald John (Slough Centre ABC) |
|
54 |
Bantam |
Tommy Nicholls (Sankeys ABC) |
C. Salter (Ormiston ABC) |
RSC(1) |
57 |
Feather |
Percy Lewis (Royal Air Force) |
Steve Trainer (Hulme Lads ABC) |
|
60 |
Light |
Freddie Reardon (Downham Community ABC) |
A. Wallace (Royal Air Force) |
|
64 |
Light Welter |
Peter Waterman (Caius ABC) |
Cy Harrison (Steel, Peech & Tozer ABC) |
|
67 |
Welter |
Johnny Maloney (Royal Air Force) |
Les Morgan (Rotax ABC) |
|
71 |
Light Middle |
Bernard Foster (Mitchell & Butlers ABC) |
Bruce Wells (Royal Air Force) |
|
75 |
Middle |
Terry Gooding (Army) |
K. Phillips (Warley ABC) |
|
81 |
Light Heavy |
Henry Cooper (Eltham & District ABC) |
J. McLean (Burntisland ABC) |
|
91 |
Heavyweight |
Eddie Hearn (Battersea ABC) |
D. Rowe (Royal Air Force) |
|
66th ABA National Championships
1952 - 1953
Year: 24 April 1953
Venue: Wembley Arena, London
Bruce Wells 71kg (Royal Air Force) wins his first title, going onto win again 1954. Wells also become European Champion in 1953 (Warsaw, Poland). Adding a further European Gold in 1955 (Berlin, Germany) and a Bronze Commonwealth Medal in 1954.
Percy Lewis 57kg (Oxford YMCA ABC), Dennis Hinson 60kg (Army) and Henry Cooper 81kg (Army) attend the 1953 European Championships (Berlin, Germany). Ron Barton 75kg (Royal Air Force) returned with a Bronze medal.
KG | Weight | Champion | Finalist | Result |
51 |
Fly |
R. Currie (Dalmarnock BC) |
F. Jones (Royal Air Force) |
|
54 |
Bantam |
J. Smillie (Fauldhouse Miners ABC) |
G. Heaynes (Army) |
|
57 |
Feather |
Percy Lewis (Oxford YMCA ABC) |
A. Sillett (Army) |
|
60 |
Light |
Dennis Hinson (Army) |
H. Duffin (Earlsfield ABC) |
|
64 |
Light Welter |
D. Hughes (Cardiff Gas BC) |
T. Molloy (Army) |
|
67 |
Welter |
Les Morgan (Rotax ABC) |
Frank Hope (St. Teresas ABC) |
|
71 |
Light Middle |
Bruce Wells (Royal Air Force) |
Roy Francis (Brixton Ivy Leaf ABC) |
|
75 |
Middle |
Ron Barton (Royal Air Force) |
Terry Gooding (Cardiff Gas BC) |
|
81 |
Light Heavy |
Henry Cooper (Army) |
Anthony Madigan (Fulham ABC) |
|
91 |
Heavyweight |
Joe Erskine (Army) |
Albert Halsey (Mitchell & Butlers ABC) |
|
67th ABA National Championships
1953 - 1954
Year: 23 April 1954
Venue: Wembley Arena, London
Anthony Madigan 81kg (Fulham ABC) was actually an Australian winning a Commonwealth Silver in 1954 (Vancouver, Canada), then becoming Commonwealth Champion in 1958 (Cardiff, Wales) and again in 1962 (Perth, Australia). He won a Bronze Olympic Medal in 1960 (Rome, Italy) losing to one 'Mr Cassius Clay'.
Nicky Gargano 67kg (Army), George Whelan 60kg (Army), Brian Harper 91kg (Royal Air Force) all become Commonwealth Champions in 1954 (Vancouver, Canada). Dave Charnley 57kg (Fitzroy Lodge ABC) won a Bronze medal.
KG | Weight | Champion | Finalist | Result |
51 |
Fly |
R. Currie (Dalmarnock ABC) |
Albert Jones (Wilmot Breedon ABC) |
RSC(3) |
54 |
Bantam |
J. Smillie (Fauldhouse Miners ABC) |
D. Glanville (Stowe ABC) |
|
57 |
Feather |
Dave Charnley (Fitzroy Lodge ABC) |
Richard McTaggart (Royal Air Force) |
RSC(1) |
60 |
Light |
George Whelan (Army) |
F. McQuillan (Dundee BC) |
|
64 |
Light Welter |
G. Martin (Army) |
G. Hodgson (Joe Waltons ABC) |
|
67 |
Welter |
Nicky Gargano (Army) |
Peter Jones (Sankeys ABC) |
|
71 |
Light Middle |
Bruce Wells (Royal Air Force) |
A. Keogh (Lucas ABC) |
|
75 |
Middle |
K. Phillips (Royal Air Force) |
E. Lennon (St. Pancras ABC) |
|
81 |
Light Heavy |
Anthony Madigan (Fulham ABC) |
Eddie Woollard (Army) |
|
91 |
Heavyweight |
Brian Harper (Royal Air Force) |
Trevor Snell (Roath Youth BC) |
|
68th ABA National Championships
1954 - 1955
Year: 29 April 1955
Venue: Wembley Arena, London
Steve Coffey 60kg (Manco ABC) won both the Irish and English ABA National title in 1955. Tommy Nicholls 57kg (Sankeys ABC) and Nicky Gargano 67kg (Army) both become European Champions in 1955 (Berlin, Germany). The team also included Derek Lloyd 51kg (Army), Bernard Foster 71kg (Mitchell & Butlers ABC), Frank Hope 75kg (St. Teresas ABC) and David Rent 81kg (Maple Leaf ABC).
KG | Weight | Champion | Finalist | Result |
51 |
Fly |
Derek Lloyd (Army) |
K. Langford (Slough Centre ABC) |
|
54 |
Bantam |
G. Dormer (Army) |
K. Williams (John Wrights ABC) |
|
57 |
Feather |
Tommy Nicholls (Sankeys ABC) |
J. Swan (LMS Rovers ABC) |
|
60 |
Light |
Steve Coffey (Manco ABC) |
B. Jones (Raleigh ABC) |
|
64 |
Light Welter |
F. McQuillan (Dundee BC) |
G. Martin (Army) |
RSC(3) |
67 |
Welter |
Nicky Gargano (Army) |
Peter Jones (Sankeys ABC) |
|
71 |
Light Middle |
Bernard Foster (Mitchell & Butlers ABC) |
Ron Garnett (Earlsfield ABC) |
RSC(3) |
75 |
Middle |
Frank Hope (St. Teresas ABC) |
R. Perren (Earlsfield ABC) |
DIS(3) |
81 |
Light Heavy |
David Rent (Maple Leaf ABC) |
E. Wollard (Eton Manor ABC) |
|
91 |
Heavyweight |
D. Rowe (Glamorgan Police BC) |
P. James (Royal Navy) |
|
69th ABA National Championships
1955 - 1956
Year: 27 April 1956
Venue: Wembley Arena, London
Terry Spinks 51kg (West Ham ABC) and Richard McTaggart 60kg (Royal Air Force) become Olympic Champions in 1956 (Melbourne, Australia). Nicky Gargano 67kg (Convent Gardens ABC) secures an Olympic Bronze medal. Ron Redrup 75kg (West Ham ABC), Owen O'Reilly 54kg (Royal Air Force) and John McCormack 71kg (NB Loco ABC) become Olympians.
KG | Weight | Champion | Finalist | Result |
51 |
Fly |
Terry Spinks (West Ham ABC) |
P. Walsh (Royal Northern ABC) |
|
54 |
Bantam |
Owen Reilly (Royal Air Force) |
Don Weller (Battersea ABC) |
|
57 |
Feather |
Tommy Nicholls (Sankeys ABC) |
A. Devlin (Port of London Authority ABC) |
|
60 |
Light |
Richard McTaggart (Royal Air Force) |
Eddie Kane (Lochead BC) |
|
64 |
Light Welter |
Dave Stone (Battersea ABC) |
T. McGunness (Army) |
RSC(3) |
67 |
Welter |
Nicky Gargano (Convent Gardens ABC) |
Terry Gill (Army) |
|
71 |
Light Middle |
John McCormack (NB Loco ABC) |
Johnny Cunningham (Royal Air Force) |
|
75 |
Middle |
Ron Redrup (West Ham ABC) |
Bernard Foster (Mitchell & Butlers ABC) |
|
81 |
Light Heavy |
D. Mooney (Lanark Welfare BC) |
J. Cole (Port of London Authority ABC) |
|
91 |
Heavyweight |
David Rent (Maple Leaf ABC) |
Dave Thomas (Polytechnic ABC) |
|
70th ABA National Championships
1956 - 1957
Year: 26 April 1957
Venue: Wembley Arena, London
Derek Lloyd 51kg (New Buxton ABC), Dave Stone 64kg (Army), Ron Warnes 67kg (Army), Johnny Cunningham 71kg (Royal Air Force), Tom Green 81kg (Hull Boys ABC) and Dave Thomas 91kg (Polytechnic ABC) all represented England at the 1957 European Championships (Prague, Czechoslovakia). No medals were won.
KG | Weight | Champion | Finalist | Result |
51 |
Fly |
R. Davies (Army) |
Derek Lloyd (New Buxton ABC) |
|
54 |
Bantam |
J. Morrissey (Lanark Welfare BC) |
D. Caulfield (Royal Air Force) |
|
57 |
Feather |
M. Collins (Melingriffith ABC) |
A. Day (Army) |
|
60 |
Light |
J. Kidd (Royal Air Force) |
W. Barber (Rugby ABC) |
RSC(3) |
64 |
Light Welter |
Dave Stone (Army) |
R. Warner (Hanwell ABC) |
RSC(2) |
67 |
Welter |
Ron Warnes (Army) |
T. Johnson (Scarborough YMCA ABC) |
|
71 |
Light Middle |
Johnny Cunningham (Royal Air Force) |
Jackie Wood (Cannock St. Luke ABC) |
|
75 |
Middle |
P. Burke (Sankeys ABC) |
L. Barrow (Royal Air Force) |
|
81 |
Light Heavy |
Tom Green (Hull Boys ABC) |
A. Peacock (Army) |
|
91 |
Heavyweight |
Dave Thomas (Polytechnic ABC) |
Neville Walker (Nottingham School of Boxing ABC) |
RSC(1) |
71st ABA National Championships
1957 - 1958
Year: 25 April 1958
Venue: Wembley Arena, London
Richard McTaggart 60kg (Royal Air Force) wins the second of his (5) National ABA titles (1956, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1965). He was Olympic Champion in 1956 (Melbourne, Australia), Olympic Bronze Medallist in 1960 (Rome, Italy), Commonwealth Champion in 1958 (Cardiff, Wales), European Champion in 1961 (Belgrade, Yugoslavia), Silver Medalist in the 1962 Commonwealth Games (Perth, Australia). He also won (7) Scottish ABA titles.
Stuart Pearson 71kg (Plant Works ABC) and Dave Thomas 91kg (Polytechnic ABC) both win Commonwealth Silver Medals in 1958 (Cardiff, Wales). Joe Leeming 81kg (Army) was also in the team.
KG | Weight | Champion | Finalist | Result |
51 |
Fly |
Jackie Brown (Leith Victoria BC) |
G. John (Royal Air Force) |
|
54 |
Bantam |
Howard Winstone (Dowlais BC) |
F. Owen (Dennistoun BC) |
|
57 |
Feather |
Malcolm Collins (Mellingriffith ABC) |
Roy Beaman (Royal Air Force) |
|
60 |
Light |
Richard McTaggart (Royal Air Force) |
Johnny Cooke (Maple Leaf ABC) |
|
64 |
Light Welter |
Robert Kane (St. Mungos ABC) |
D. Higgins (Army) |
|
67 |
Welter |
Brian Nancuris (Army) |
H. Coster (West Ham ABC) |
|
71 |
Light Middle |
Stuart Pearson (Plant Works ABC) |
Ray Griffiths (Hanwell ABC) |
|
75 |
Middle |
P. Hill (Fitzroy Lodge ABC) |
E. Lee (Royal Air Force) |
|
81 |
Light Heavy |
Joe Leeming (Army) |
R. Shaw (Battersea ABC) |
|
91 |
Heavyweight |
Dave Thomas (Polytechnic ABC) |
Ron Davies (Raven ABC) |
|
72nd ABA National Championships
1958 - 1959
Year: 24 April 1959
Venue: Empire Pool and Sports Arena
Dave Thomas 91kg (Polytechnic ABC) wins a Silver Medal at the 1959 European Championships (Lucerne, Switzerland). Harry Scott 75kg (Maple Leaf ABC) also wins a Bronze Medal. Mick Gushlow 51kg (Royal Air Force), Don Weller 54kg (Army), Paul Warwick 60kg (Army), Jimmy McGrail 67kg (Royal Air Force), Stuart Pearson 71kg (Plant Works ABC) and Johnny Ould 81kg (Fisher ABC) formed the remainder of the team.
KG | Weight | Champion | Finalist | Result |
51 |
Fly |
Mick Gushlow (Royal Air Force) |
Albert Jones (Wilmot Breedon ABC) |
|
54 |
Bantam |
Don Weller (Army) |
Francis Morgan (St Teresas ABC) |
|
57 |
Feather |
George Judge (NB Loco ABC) |
Ken Field (Army) |
|
60 |
Light |
Paul Warwick (Army) |
Johnny Cooke (Maple Leaf ABC) |
|
64 |
Light Welter |
Robert Kane (St Mungos ABC) |
Danny O'Brien (Army) |
|
67 |
Welter |
Jimmy McGrail (Royal Air Force) |
Robert Keddie (Scottish National BC) |
|
71 |
Light Middle |
Stuart Pearson (Plant Works ABC) |
Brian Lester (Royal Air Force) |
RSC(3) |
75 |
Middle |
Fred Elderfield (Army) |
Harry Scott (Maple Leaf ABC) |
|
81 |
Light Heavy |
Johnny Ould (Fisher ABC) |
Rae Dryden (Royal Navy) |
|
91 |
Heavyweight |
Dave Thomas (Polytechnic ABC) |
Len James (Patchway ABC) |
|


