By Miles Templeton
REGULAR readers will know that I like to recall the ring careers of some of the lesser-known British champions from days gone by. This week it is the turn of Dave Crowley of Clerkenwell.
Back in the 1970s Dave was still a very well-known ex-boxer, a regular at London Ex-Boxers Association, a bit part actor in major films starring the likes of Tony Curtis and Errol Flynn, and a much-loved and popular character with some tales to tell.
Dave turned pro at 18 back in 1929. His father was killed during the latter stages of the Great War and Dave needed to bring money into the family home. Like so many others he started out in six-rounders in the small halls of London, boxing at the bottom of the bill. Just another kid amongst thousands, boxing for peanuts. But Dave stood out, and within two years, having lost only four of his 47 contests, he had graduated to 15-round contests at the top of the bill.
He won the Southern Area bantamweight title in 1932 and first boxed for the British featherweight title in 1934, losing out to Nel Tarleton on points at Wembley in what BN called “a superb battle of brains.” He drifted along during 1935 and early 1936, winning most of his contests, before deciding that the United States was the place for him. Waiting around for another crack at the British title was not for Dave, why not just go straight for the world title?
In 1936 the world featherweight championship was a hotch-potch of confusion, with the New York State Athletic Commission recognising Mike Belloise as the champion, and the National Boxing Association supporting Petey Sarron. Multiple champions at the same weight are not just a modern invention, it was ever thus.
When Crowley arrived in the States, he was an unknown over there. Both Benny Sharkey, from Newcastle, and Dick Corbett, from Bethnal Green, were rated in the world top ten by The Ring, but with no place even for the British champion, Tarleton, Dave Crowley was a nobody. He had to fight to establish himself, and he had to win. That April he beat a journeyman, Al Gilette, at the Star Casino in New York and this earned him an early chance with Belloise in a 10-rounder at Long Island.
Quite how Crowley managed to pick up this chance, against the champion, is a mystery but he was certainly not expected to win. Under the headline “How Dave Crowley Made the Grade” BN reported that “Crowley made a good impression with the fans with his skilful boxing and willingness to carry the fight to the new title-holder. Right from the start he took the play away from Belloise.” The two men drew, and with Crowley now installed at number seven in the ratings, a rematch for the title was a natural, and just three months later Dave was counted out in the ninth, claiming that he had been fouled, after putting up a tremendous performance against Belloise at Madison Square Garden.
After returning to these shores Dave beat both George Odwell and Harry Mizler in British lightweight title eliminators before convincingly beating Jimmy Walsh at Anfield football ground to win the British title. His reign was a short one as he had the misfortune to come up against Eric Boon, one of the best of all British champions at this weight. They fought twice, with Crowley being knocked out both times.
When war broke out in 1939 it was, perhaps, the perfect time for Crowley to retire, but he fought on until 1946, taking part in 57 more contests and winning the Southern Area lightweight title along the way. Dave died in 1974 and Eric Boon, paying tribute, said that “Dave was one of the greatest characters in the fight game.” LEBA paid its own tribute by using an image of Dave on their ties and blazers.
