Looking on Boxrec and its saying that his debut was 1926 he was born in 1913. Is this a mistake? If not is this a common thing for the period? have you ever seen a younger debut?
It was common in those days in Wales to fight "Professionally" at ages down to 10 years. If you recieved some kind of payment, sometimes just a bite to eat, you were considered as professsional. It you had a fight at a boxing booth and recieved a very slight amount of money for staying three rounds you were a pro.
Check out Nipper Pat Daly, turned pro just before his 10th birthday and was retired by the age of 18 after 120 pro bouts.
Farr is a hard as nails fighting man. He grew up fighting guys in pits that were dug into the ground.
:think and yet I think he failed his medical to serve during the war, even though after the war he returned to the ring!!! I have his book somewhere and I remember not being entirely satisfied with his explanation on that subject. although regarding everything else he clearly was a fascinating character and tough as old boots.
Who would have he been fighting adults or other young lads? I tried to find out but obviously his opponents do not have much data on there. I saw some others when I looked into it. I have always found the older stats fascinating. looking into it does seem quite common. I found Baby Arizmendi fighting 25 year olds at the age of 15. and 20 year olds at the age of 14 both of whom going on to have decent careers. There is also supposed to be suspicions that he was as much as 4 years younger than what he had claimed. Arizmendis record is quite frankly insane.
