1946 Fight Record

Date Opponent Venue Result
29/03/1946 George James Regal Cinema, Hull, UK Won - TKO - Round 3
08/04/1946 Bert Gilroy King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, UK Won - TKO - Round 2
17/05/1946 Tami Mauriello Madison Square Garden, New York, USA Lost - TKO - Round 5
04/06/1946 Freddie Mills Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, UK Won - Pts after 12 rounds
29/07/1946 Albert Renet King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, UK - Vacant EBU European Heavyweight Title Won - KO - Round 6
17/08/1946 Gus Lesnevich Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, UK Won - KO - Round 8
15/11/1946 George Martin King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, UK Won - TKO - Round 3
17/12/1946 Nils Andersson Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, UK Won - TKO - Round 3

1946 - Another Big Year

If 1945 was the big year, 1946 proved to be much bigger in many ways.  Bruce had eight fights, more than any year since 1942, and the same number as for the rest of his career.

  

He had his first loss as a professional to Tami Mauriello, in a fight which has major consequences for Bruce’s ambitions for the world title.  But he bounced back and won the other five fights decisively, ending a run for which he was awarded Sportsman of the Year 1946 in the following February.   And it was a bigger year not least because in December, he married his teenage sweetheart and lifelong companion Nora Speight.

As ever, the press were alert to the possibility of a story, and Nora found she was becoming as much an object of attention as her champion sweetheart, as press speculation about a possible wedding began to intensify.



Equally, Bruce was enlisted for his own press opportunities, visiting his old school and making the acquaintance of another older boxing legend.

29th March - Woodcock vs George James (Hull)

Bruce's training routine became intensive for the three weeks before his next scheduled fight, against Welsh champion George James in Hull in March.  On the night before the bout, he went through ten rounds of sparring in the Plough gym against Irish heavyweight Paddy Duffy, Sid Burt from Doncaster and the Manchester heavyweight Cliff Andrews.  Bruce was perfectly fit and confident the morning of the fight and as was his custom drove to Hull in his own car, taking with him his father Sam, his brother Bill and his manager Tom Hurst.


According to press reports, the Regal Cinema on Ferensway in Hull didn’t provide the best equipment for the bout on the 29th of March. Promoter Mr Harry Moody must have had a very difficult night, not least because he heard a rumour that his home in Hessle was going to be burgled while he and his family were at the fight.  So he decided to stay at home in wait for the intruders, and when two men forced an entrance, he had his own fierce fight. One of the intruders needed hospital treatment after being arrested.  

More pertinently, Mr Moody’s plans for the contest went awry when the boxing gloves ordered as usual from the British Boxing Board of Control failed to arrive and replacements had to be found from a local police gymnasium: at 8 oz, they were a size too small for both boxers. This particularly affected James, whose abnormally long hands meant he tried three pairs before forcing his hands in, and couldn’t close his gloves properly, diminishing his punching power. In the event, he didn’t have much chance to demonstrate his skills as the contest was to be quickly concluded - the wrangle over the gloves took 11 minutes, four longer than the fight itself, with both men sat in the ring waiting. Bruce looked the epitome of calm and coolness. 


Also problematic was the size of the ring. According to journalist Norman Hurst, it was too small. Regulation size was 14 feet ‘inside the ropes’ but Hurst estimated the Hull ring to be 13 feet. It meant James couldn’t use the ring work he had promised but Hurst thought it would have made no difference to the outcome of the contest, merely prolonging James’s battering. 


In the event, it was an unequal contest. James had the advantage in height, reach and weight - 13 stone 13 and a half pounds against Bruce’s 13 stone nine pounds - but these proved no benefit. In his first fight as a professional before his home Yorkshire crowd, after a slightly uncertain start, Bruce suddenly kicked into gear and seven minutes later referee Flight-Lieutennant Teddy Waltham stopped the fight in the third round. James was down five times in that round alone, the speed, power and dexterity of Bruce’s punching proving overwhelming. Cool, calculating and confident in style, he dominated James entirely with economy, composure and even elegance, coupled with relentless determination. Some sense of that may be glimpsed in the Pathe News footage that survives of the fight [see links below]. It was only the second time in twelve years that James, a champion in his own right, had lost inside the distance. It also demonstrated once again that Bruce was maturing fast and beginning to seem invincible at the beginning of this year’s programme of four fights within three months. It meant that the chance of meeting Joe Louis was strengthening, as the date of his first American fight, against Tami Mauriello in New York, was confirmed for May.

8th April - Woodcock vs Bert Gilroy (Manchester)

Bruce got a few days break after the James fight. He had an easy Sunday at home, staying in bed until 10.00, having bacon and eggs for breakfast, taking his Irish greyhound for a coursing run. He also got out his toolkit to adjust the carburettor on his Riley 9 car, a symbol of his growing success, to make ready for the drive to Manchester the next day with brother Bill as his passenger. There he would be in action again, this time in the King’s Hall at Belle Vue against an opponent he’d met already in 1944, Bert Gilroy.

The 7,000 strong audience must have wondered if they’d had their money’s worth: the fight was over in four minutes and ten seconds. But it was a hot ticket with speculators selling £1 seats for £1 10 shillings. £4,500 of the proceeds were devoted to local charities.

Gilroy, from Glasgow, was Scottish light-heavyweight champion, weighing in at 17½ lighter than Bruce’s 13 stone 9¼ lb., but unlike the Leicester fight in 1944, this time Bert was outclassed by Bruce’s now dazzling speed, strength and punching power almost from the start. Almost. To some surprise, the opening bell saw him come straight in and score with three nice lefts before Bruce had time to realise the fight had started. This seemed to wake Bruce up, and that was that for Bert. Bruce displayed his own elegant straight lefts to set Gilroy up for the crashing right that put Bert down for the first of three counts of nine and one of eight in the first round. Gilroy was commendably game, rising each time ready to engage but beaten to it by Bruce. The second round began with a little repeat of Bert’s opening flurry, landing a left, but then being battered down for two counts of nine. With the third flooring, referee Jack Hart called a stop just as Bert’s corner threw the towel into the ring after one minute ten seconds of the round. The actual fighting time was only just over three minutes!

The speed of the match barely disturbed Bruce’s rest - he was woken from a light sleep at 9.15 to get to the ring and ten minutes later was back in his dressing room with his feet up, and making ready to drive back to Doncaster to see Nora. As she preferred, she had not been to see the fight. They had both agreed the prospect of Nora watching Bruce might prove too difficult for both of them, but she had listened to it on the radio as usual. However, her mother and father had attended, as well as her young brother, ten-year old Peter who was one of Bruce’s boxing trainees at Elmfield House Youth Club in Doncaster, and one of his keenest fans.

Press speculation about Bruce’s future continued to intensify. His development, not least his muscularity and power, were commented on as reporters looked forward to the scheduled match against British cruiser-weight champion Freddie Mills, touted as the only man in the country who now stood any chance against Bruce. But before that, in a month’s time there was the little matter of a trip to America, Bruce’s first, to meet a different kettle of fish altogether - Tami Mauriello - at Madison Square Gardens. It was increasingly obvious that only the Americans could really give Bruce the challenges he needed, as he continued to develop with each bout, having matured into a full heavyweight without losing any of his speed, timing and nimbleness. He was looking near the top of his game, and the press were predicting a Woodcock triumph.

Unfortunately, they were wrong!

Press Opportunity 1 : Oswin Avenue School

Bruce revisited his old school at Oswin Avenue in Balby, taking with him the treasured Lonsdale belt and showing it to the current pupils as well as signing autographs. 


The pupils were absolutely engrossed and Bruce gave the boys advice about their own boxing, a sport which the school had continued to encourage since Bruce himself had won the Northern Schoolboy Championship at the age of 13.  

A school inspector of physical education had witnessed the young Bruce shadow boxing in the school gym and was so impressed, he advised the headmaster, Mr J. P. Mason to continue the teaching of the sport. It was Mr Mason who welcomed Bruce back on his visit telling his pupils that Bruce was an example of what a boy could accomplish if instead of merely saying "I would like to achieve this", he instead said "I will do it!" 

Bruce gave the boys tips about training and keeping fit, including his regular five to ten miles runs each morning before starting work.

Press Opportunity 2 : "Iron" Hague

Bruce took another opportunity to increase public awareness by meeting the Mexborough champion and fellow British title winner from 1909, ‘Iron’ Hague.  


Bruce knew of Hague’s colourful career  from the era before he himself was born, and Hague himself, now 60, had been keen to size up Bruce having followed his successes closely.  


The two Yorkshire champions, born within eight miles of each other, met in Bruce’s Plough Inn gym, introduced by the Yorkshire Evening News’s reporter Ronald Crowther.  

Hague was a pit boy by trade and won his Lonsdale Belt knocking down ‘Gunner’ Moir with his powerful punch, and like Bruce, he had had his sights on the world title. And having demonstrated his own knock-out punch on the punch bag for a photo opportunity and then stayed on to watch Bruce’s training routine, his verdict was assured: ‘He’s every inch a champion, and he will give Yorkshire the honour that I failed to bring.’

Illustrated News Profile - See full text and descriptions below

Illustrated News Profile Text Transcription

CAN BRITAIN WIN THE HEAVYWEIGHT CROWN ?

For more than sixty years British heavyweight champions have had golden dreams of winning the coveted title of world champion. Tommy Farr made the greatest bid to capture the honour for Britain when he lasted the distance of fifteen rounds to lose to Joe Louis in New York during the August of 1937.

Farr was plucky enough, but he lacked the necessary punch to stop such a formidable fighter as the "Brown Bomber." Yet he proved to American boxing critics that all British heavyweights are not horizontal title-holders.

Now in Bruce Woodcock we have, I feel confident, a young British heavyweight who, with gradual experience in American rings, may at long last be the first British-taught boxer to win that distinction. He has most assets in his favour - youth, physique, strength, skill-and a genuine knock-out punch.

Let me switch back to the first fighter fancied to win the premier crown. He was Charlie Mitchell, a Birmingham man who started his career in the prize ring. Mitchell was a skilful boxer, and possessed a heart much bigger than himself. He made fistic history with his thirty-nine rounds battle with bare fists against John L. Sullivan at Chantilly, France.

Previously Mitchell had fought a wonderful battle against Jack Burke, the "Irish Lad," at the back of the grandstand at the Ascot race meeting in 1881. Mitchell, however, suffered a severe physical handicap. He only scaled 10 st. 10 lb. at his best, and stood no higher than 5 ft. 9 in.

Strictly speaking, the first oficial British heavy-weight championship to be recognized was Gunner James Moir defeated Jack Palmer, the "Pitman's Champion," at the old National Sporting Club.

I remember Moir with his tattooed body, an obstinate chin, and a fairly good punch, proving the Northerner's master. But he only held the title for a few months. A burly Yorkshireman, William "Iron" Hague, knocked Moir cold in the first round.

Hague had been champion for two years when there appeared upon the scene as challenger handsome, fair-haired Bombardier Billy Wells. Wells, the perfect master of scientific boxing, knocked out Hague in six rounds with a smashing right hook to the chin. It was one of the finest punches that i have seen during half a century of fight reporting.

Wells became a public idol. Although he lost two disastrous fights when opposing Georges Carpentier, he nevertheless established a record by successfully defending his title for eight years. He went to America and was knocked out by Al Palzer, which put him out of the running.

The Bombardier met his Waterloo in 1919, when he was beaten by Joe Beckett in five rounds. Beckett could punch his full weight. His speciality was a short left-hook to the jaw. This was successful when confronting British opponents, but when he faced Carpentier he fared no better than Wells and was twice defeated by the Frenchman.

These reverses lowered Beckett's reputation as a fighter. It must, however, be remembered, that Joe was a slow thinker, whereas Carpentier had not only a lightning right but lightning judgment.

Actually Beckett did not lose his title in the ring. He simply decided to retire. This let in Frank Goddard, whom Beckett had previously beaten. "Big Frank" was matched with Jack Curphey, and beat him at the National Sporting Club in 1919.

Seven years later Goddard was compelled to haul down his flag to Phil Scott. The latter, whose real name is Suffling, was a clever boxer, but he proved very disappointing. When he went to America he was beaten by Jack Sharkey in a world eliminator.

Then followed Reggie Meen, who came from Leicester. Meen won the vacant title in a contest with Charlie Smith, but several months later lost it to the fiery Cardiff-born boxer, Jack Petersen.

Petersen, a secondary schoolboy, graduated from the amateur ranks, winning the Amateur Boxing Association's light-heavyweight championship. It was Petersen who revived public interest in heavy- weight fights. He was, indeed, a most colourful fighter, who gave the crowd thrills aplenty. Those of us who witnessed his tremendously exciting battles against Len Harvey, Jock McAvoy and the German, Walter Neusel, will not soon forget them.

Petersen's great weakness was lack of defensive measures. He would flash into the attack with whirling fists, but when " rattled" was inclined to throw caution aside.

Harvey outpointed Petersen for the British heavy-weight title at the Royal Albert Hall before one of the largest fight crowds the famous building has held. The fight was a classic - a duel between two masters.

In a return match Petersen regained his lost crown. He revealed fine punching powers and raised such under one of Harvey's eyes that Len was .unable to continue after the twelfth round.

Illustrated News Profile Text Continued

Eventually Petersen was knocked out by the South African, Ben Foord, at Leicester. Petersen was a great disappointment on that occasion. He seemed to have lost all sense of direction and power of punch. Foord was not an outstanding title-holder. A year later he lost the championship to the Welshman, Tommy Farr. Few who sat at the ringside that night had the faintest thought that the former miner was destined to make world boxing history.

Frankly, the contest between Farr and Foord was just ordinary. Yet it created enthusiasm in America. Mike Jacobs, the "ace" big fight promoter in the United States, quickly contacted Farr's manager, andwith very little discussion a match was made.

I was the only critic in Britain to state in print that Farr would be on his feet at the conclusion of the fifteenth round. And strange to relate, more than one New York columnist considered that Farr should have been awarded the verdict.

Farr was compelled to relinquish the title owing to eye trouble. He had made a name and a fortune, and is I believe, the richest boxer in Britain today. Farr did not boast of a knock-out punch, but no shrewder schemer ever rubbed boxing boots in resin.

This brought Len Harvey back to the heavyweight limelight. He regained the vacant title in a bout with Eddie Phillips in 1938, and after his disastrous affair with Freddie Mills in a light-heavyweight bout, decided to retire from the ring.

Mills was given a chance with Jack London at Manchester. London, however, surprisingly outpointed him. In fact, Mills looked all over a winner for ten rounds and then London began to overtake his opponent to win on points.

Now we have, I believe, a real British "hope" for world honours in Woodcock. He has, so far, done everything asked of him in convincing fashion. Yet it would be a great gamble, I believe, to match him for a world title before he has further experience. He cannot get this in Britain, because we have no heavyweights (except, of course, Mills) capable of withstanding his terrific punches.

Personally, I believe it would be an excellent plan if he could see his way clear to make an American tour, taking on all their big fellows with the exception of Joe Louis and Billy Conn, who are matched to fight a return battle for the world title next June.

Woodcock, I have always maintained, is the best prospect for heavyweight world honours that I have watched. He may yet make the difficult grade.

Bruce Woodcock Statistics

HEIGHT 6ft. 01/2 in.   NECK 17 in.    BICEPS 15 in.    CHEST: Normal .. 43 in. Expanded 47 in.    WAIST 32 in.
THIGH 24 in.    CALF 17 in.

Inlay Text and Image Descriptions of Previous Fighters

Bruce Woodcock, pictured in fighting pose on our cover, is the latest British heavy-weight champion to aspire to higher honours. His eyes are on the coveted world title, like his predecessors in the last sixty years, the story of whose rise, success or failure is described by James Butter, who has been reporting boxing for over half a century

Previous British Hopes Panel (with images)

1882   Charlie Mitchell (Wikipedia, BoxRec)

1906   Gunner Moir (Wikipedia, Boxrec)

1909   "Iron" Hague (Wikipedia, Boxrec)

1911   Bombadier Billy Wells (Wikipedia, Boxrec)

1919   Joe Beckett (Wikipedia, Boxrec)

1923   Frank Goddard (Wikipedia, Boxrec)

1926   Phil Scott (Wikipedia, BoxRec)

1931   Reggie Meen  (Wikipedia, BoxRec)

1932   Jack Petersen  (Wikipedia, Boxrec)

1933   Len Harvey  (Wikipedia, Boxrec)

1936   Ben Foord  (Wikipedia, Boxrec)

1937   Tommy Farr  (Wikipedia, Boxrec)

1944   Jack London  (Wikipedia, Boxrec)

Background and Resources: George James

George James (b 1916) was Welsh heavyweight champion who was active from 1933 to 1949. He fought 60 times as a professional.

George James BoxRec Listing


Video : Pathé News: The Fight   YouTube Version

Description : Regal cinema, Hull. Yorkshire. Various shots as George James tries to find boxing gloves big enough to fit him before his heavyweight fight with Bruce Woodcock. Various shots of the match with boxing experts watching from the side. Several shots of Woodcock's right punches that brought James down. Everyone applauds as Woodcock wins, C/U of him.


Video : Pathé News Training and Follow-up

Description :  Britain's heavyweight boxing Champion Bruce Woodcock working in railway workshop. Various shots of Bruce Woodcock in training - skipping rope, some good shots of his feet. Bruce Woodcock punching punch ball and punch bag. Various shots (library) of boxing fight between Woodcock and George James at Hull - Woodcock won the match. Various shots of Bruce Woodcock at home with his parents and his dog. Good close up shot of Lonsdale belt.

Video : YouTube Version


Pathé News Commentary for "The Fight" film :  WOODCOCK’S THIRD ROUND WIN

Delayed while big-fisted George James found a pair of gloves big enough to hold his outsize hands, the Woodcock - James heavyweight contest got away wall at the Regal Cinema, Hull. From the right hand corner, James got in a spell of attacking in the first round till Woodcock’s 13 stone 9 lbs of muscle warmed up to serious business. A jaw-shaking right rattled James badly and Woodcock's better ring craft began to tell. Sizing up Woodcock from the ringside were Britain's boxing experts taking a look at the young Yorkshireman whose projected American trip aims at a world championship fight with Brown Bomber Joe Louis. In the fateful third round three killing right hooks put James down. He was game but just could not stand up to Woodcock's amazing punching-machine technique.


A two-fisted hammering to head and body and James is down again. Woodcock's rib-cracking punches were too much for the Welsh Champion. Out to prove himself equal to America's best, Woodcock went all out for a quick victory. Pathe News exclusive cover shows the tigerish fighting methods that won Woodcock his British Empire heavyweight crown. Down five times in the 3rd round James never stood a chance. The winning punch was a left-right wallop that spelled curtains for James.


Woodcock did everything expected of him, raising still more hopes that he may prove Britain's best-ever heavyweight white hope of British boxing, here's wishing him many K.O. punches in America.

Background and Resources: Bert Gilroy

Bert Gilroy was a Scottish middleweight and light-heavyweight boxer who was active from 1933 to 1950 and fought 123 times.