Historic British boxing venues and inns/pubs

M.E.N arena
l.g arena

these are where the big fights happen now, in england

 

was that a joke?

dont forget the 02 :rofl

 

I have a book that is all about boxing venues in Liverpool. I will dig it out later and see what would be helpful for the site.

 

most fights in england are in leisure centres and townhalls

liverpool oylmpia is historic i believe

 

Not sure if the Olympia is historic (other than for the fact I've fought there ), but Kos's book will know more. I thought though that the Olympia only became a boxing venue relatively recently. The building has been there for years but I dont know if it hosted fights back in the day.

The old Liverpool stadium used to be where the fights were back then, but it's been knocked down now.

Everton Park sports centre has had a few fights but again, I'm not sure how far back it dates.

I'm not sure of real historical venues or 'boxing pubs' round these ways. I did hear though that the Corn Exchange pub once had a gym set up in the basement. It may still have it.

Also, the new Liverpool museum, when it eventually opens, apparently has a floor dedicated to sport. Part of which will be taken up with boxing and John Conteh has already loaned some of his stuff (notably his WBC belt) to the museum. Could be worth a note as somewhere to visit on the site mate.

 

Empire Pool?

 

Liverpool Stadium, great venue every seat a good one. Shoreditch Town Hall, many happy nights spent there. Harringay Arena Wow, all great venues. Better than York Hall was Manor Place Baths. Or Seymour Hall, parking was terrible . I loved the old Belle Vue Machester the British semis was always a good night and Full.

 

Think the Albert Hall deserves a mention, any advert for getting it back into boxing is worth it.

 

I don't know how much help this will be, but some info on Liverpool boxing venues pre-1911:

School of Arms, Devon Street
“Boxing was held there from 1888, if not earlier. The Liverpool Review, 29 September 1888 described it as a venue that rarely failed to attract ‘a large and select audience’. The Review also revealed that over the previous six years ‘the noble art has gradually got a firm hold on certain sections...of young Liverpool’. Promoter Paddy Gill told the reporter that Liverpool had some fine boxers, and ‘at their respective weights are as good as anybody in the world’."

Liverpool Boxing Club
The Liverpool Boxing Club was “Established circa 1889, pre-dating the National Sporting Club in London. Located at 16, Pitt Street (off Paradise Street), the proprietor was Tom Meadows. The venue attracted top regional contests, with Punch Vaughan appearing there on many occasions. Two sides of the auditorium had fixed seating that cost five shillings for members. Cheaper seats costing 2s 6d were located by the entrance to the arena. The usual audience was made up of neatly dressed commercial men. The club also provided full gymnasium facilities during the day; members could pay three pence to watch the sparring and the training. There was also a shop at the entrance that was decked out with sporting prints.”

Malakoff Boxing Club
The Malakoff Boxing Club was “Established (in) 1889. Proprietors were George and William ‘Punch’ Vaughan. Located in Cleveland Square, boxing was held twice weekly, usually Saturday and Monday. The club was described by the Sporting Chronicle (30 April 1895) as a ‘commodious and well-conducted’ club. You needed to be a member or a bona-fide guest to gain entry. (The club) was sometimes referred to as the Provincial Sporting Club.”

Lyceum Theatre
“Certainly in existence in 1888, was also known as the Continental Club, the Continental Chequered Club and the Grand Continental Club. Located at 3A Pembroke Place, the proprietor was Jem Butler, one of the earliest black boxing promoters. (The theatre) attracted top local boxers such as Punch Vaughan, who signed articles of agreement to box Jack McKay (champion of Yorkshire) at the club on 26 November 1896. At one of the earliest promotions at the Lyceum, on 31 December 1888, Jem Mace appeared on a bill that included Alf Mitchell (champion of Wales), Teddy O’Neil, John Smith, Lachie Thompson, Punch Vaughan, George Vaughan, Sol Burns, Albert Pierce and Pooley Mace.”

Adelphi Theatre
“Although the Adelphi opened as a boxing venue in 1902, it had hosted boxing as far back as 1861 when Jem Mace and Nat Langham put on an exhibition of boxing. The programme also included a contest between two black boxers, one of whom was being trained by Mace. Mace at this time had strong associations with Liverpool, refereeing boxing bouts at the Liverpool Olympics as well as becoming an instructor at the Liverpool Gymnasium in 1865. The Adelphi, known locally as the ‘Delly’, changed its name to the Arena prior to its closure in 1911. It developed a strong reputation for hosting top-class contests. Among the most famous was a 20-round catchweight contest between Freddie Welsh, the British and European lightweight champion, and Joe Heathcote of Wigan. Welsh gave away 20Ibs to Heathcote. The fight lasted for six fiercely-contested rounds before Welsh opened up with a left and right to the body followed by two telling left-handers to the head, forcing the referee, Dan Whelligan, to stop the fight. Fittingly, one of the last boxers to appear at the Arena was Ike Bradley, who took on Harry Thomas on 26 January 1911, in a 20-round contest that Thomas won on points.”

International Athletic Club
“The International was probably the largest of all the Liverpool boxing venues prior to the opening of Pudsey Street, holding in the region of 2,000 spectators. It continued to function following the opening of Pudsey Street, but suffered as the new stadium, with its greater capacity and better facilities, was able to attract national and international champion boxers. Ike Bradley, Dom Vario and Johnny Best were among the crowd favourites, while the club usually held top-class boxing twice a week.”

(Excerpts taken from the book Liverpool's Boxing Venues; pages 30-32).

 

This is great kos. Didn't know about half of these :good

 

Cafe Royal, obviously

 

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