Roland Todd

Roland Todd (9 or 14 January 1900^[1] — 22 May 1969 (aged 69)) born in Marylebone London was an English professional middle/light heavyweight boxer of the 1910s and '20s, who won the National Sporting Club (NSC) (subsequently known as the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC)) British middleweight title, British Empire middleweight title, and European Boxing Union (EBU) middleweight title, his professional fighting weight varied from 157 lb (71 kg; 11 st 3 lb), i.e. middleweight to 169 lb (76.7 kg; 12 st 1.0 lb), i.e. light heavyweight, After boxing he worked on the railways until his retirement in 1965. On 18 May 1969 he was knocked down by a car close to his home in Bentley, Doncaster; he never regained consciousness, and died in Doncaster Royal Infirmary on 22 May 1969.

Boxing career

Professional

Roland Todd had a number of professional fights before this date that had not been recorded. Roland Todd's first professional boxing bout was a points draw with Ted Bristowe at Holborn Stadium, London on 26 April 1917, this was followed by fights including; eleven wins, one defeat, then a points defeat by Eddie Shevlin (USA) at London on 18 December 1918, Roland Todd fought Eddie Shevlin in the USA but not London. Six wins, one defeat, then a knockout victory over Harry (Rocky) Knight (Barbados) at The Ring, Southwark, London on 14 June 1919, nine wins, then a knockout victory over Louis Verger (France) at The Ring, Southwark, London on 8 July 1920, four wins, then a technical knockout victory over Eugene Jany (France) at The Ring, Southwark, London on 10 January 1921, two wins, then a knockout victory over Leone Jacovacci (Belgian Congo or French Congo/Italy) at Fulham Baths, Fulham, London on 23 February 1921, seventeen wins, then a retirement victory over Frank Burns (Australia) at Liverpool Stadium on 28 August 1922, two wins, then a points defeat by Ted "Kid" Lewis for the British middleweight title, British Empire middleweight title, and European Boxing Union (EBU) middleweight title at Holland Park Rink, Kensington, London on 20 November 1922, a points victory over Ted "Kid" Lewis for the British middleweight title, British Empire middleweight title, and European Boxing Union (EBU) middleweight title at Royal Albert Hall, London on 15 February 1923, a points victory over Augie Ratner (USA) at Holland Park Rink, Kensington, London on 4 June 1923, Todd then travelled to the United States, with a points defeat by Tommy Loughran at Madison Square Garden, New York on 10 December 1923, American newspaper's stated worst decision ever handed down by the judges at Madison Square Gardens Todd easy winner Todd won five rounds Loughran won two rounds three rounds draw. A points defeat by Jock Malone at Mechanics Building, Boston on 18 January 1924, a points win over Allentown Joe Gans at Armory, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on 31 January 1924, a knockout victory over Jock Malone at Cincinnati on 9 February 1924, a knockout defeat by Jock Malone at Kenwood Armory, Minneapolis on 28 March 1924, Todd then travelled home to England, one win, then a points defeat by Bruno Frattini Roland waa robbed by a bent referee. (Italy) defending the European Boxing Union (EBU) middleweight title at Palazzo Dello Sport, Milan, Italy on 30 November 1924, one defeat, then a draw with Francis Charles (France) at Cirque de Paris, France on 5 May 1925, a technical knockout victory over Charlie Ring (Australia) at The Ring, Southwark, London on 7 September 1925, Todd then travelled back to the United States, with a points defeat by Dave Shade at Madison Square Garden, New York on 1 January 1926, the crowd bood at the decision a points defeat by Harry Greb at Coliseum, Toronto, Canada on 11 January 1926, a points defeat by Jimmy Slattery at Mechanics Building, Boston on 16 January 1926, Todd was stripped of the British Middleweight Title on 20 January 1926 for his "refusal to accept justifiable challenges during the past three years.", a points victory over Billy Vidabeck at Jersey City, New Jersey on 16 February 1926, a points defeat by Frankie Campbell at Oakland Auditorium, Oakland, California on 31 March 1926, a draw with Frankie Denny at Oakland Auditorium, Oakland, California on 7 April 1926, a technical knockout defeat by Allentown Joe Gans at Armory, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on 13 December 1926, Todd then travelled back home to England, with a knockout victory over Frank Burns (Australia) at Victoria Baths, Nottingham on 13 December 1926, a technical knockout victory over Armando De Carolis (Italy) at Premierland, Whitechapel, London on 2 January 1927, a points defeat by Frank Moody for the British middleweight title, and British Empire middleweight title, at Royal Albert Hall, London on 16 February 1927, one win, one draw, then a points victory over Gerard Debarbieux (Belgium) at Festival Concert Rooms, York on 23 January 1928, one defeat, then a points defeat by Eugene Alonzo (Martinique) at Westfalenhalle, Dortmund on 11 March 1928, a points defeat by Maxie Rosenbloom (USA) newspapers stated Rosenbloom should have been disqualified in every round Roland made him look a positive fool at Premierland, Whitechapel, London on 17 June 1928, a knockout defeat by Ted Sandwina (USA) at Premierland, Whitechapel, London on 1 July 1928, a technical knockout defeat by Michele Bonaglia (Italy) at Motovelodromo, Turin, Italy on 14 July 1928, a knockout defeat by Edgar Normann (Norway) at Sportshallen, Oslo, Norway on 19 November 1928, Roland Todd's final professional boxing bout was a technical knockout defeat by Ted Sandwina (USA) at Liverpool Stadium, on 28 February 1929.^[2] Rolands last fight should have never been Sandwina was two stone heavier nine years younger and a far longer reach also Roland was far past his best. Roland has excess of one hundred and sixty fights, never retiring in any fight and never disqualified for a foul, in his fight with the world champion Harry Greb, The contract stated that Roland had to weigh in at three pounds above middle weight limi, also the referee was not aloud to give a decision, this protected Harry Grebs title and Roland could not possibly win the title. This was edited by Major Eddie Todd, Rolands son.

Genealogical information

Roland Todd was the seventh child of Roland Crompton Todd and Elizabeth Todd (née Taylor), their first six children had died at birth, Todd's great-great-grandfather was John "Jack" Musters the squire of Annesley Hall and Colwick Hall in Nottinghamshire and was a prominent boxer in the early 18th century.^[3]

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Roland Todd from BoxRec
• Image - Roland Todd
• Article - The forgotten story of… the Brits who took on the great Harry Greb