Billy Thompson (boxer)
| Billy Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | The Pocket Adonis |
| Rated at | Lightweight |
| Nationality | British |
| Born |
20 October 1923 New Silksworth, Sunderland, County Durham, England |
| Died | 4 January 2009 (aged 85) Denaby Main, South Yorkshire, England |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 63 |
| Wins | 46 |
| Wins by KO | 21 |
| Losses | 13 |
| Draws | 4 |
Billy Thompson (20 October 1923 – 4 January 2009) was a British boxer who was British lightweight champion between 1947 and 1951, and European champion from 1948 to 1949.
Born in New Silksworth, Sunderland, Thompson lived for most of his life in Thurnscoe, South Yorkshire where he found work as a miner. He boxed out of the Hickleton Main ABC and won a national schoolboy title at the age of 13, the Northern Counties ABA flyweight championship, and the Air Training Corps title, and the ABA lightweight title in 1944 before turning professional.
He made his professional debut in October 1945 after joining Solomon's Gym in London, and won his first 20 fights, all within the space of a year. In September 1946 he met Stan Hawthorne for the vacant Northern Area title at Anfield, the fight also an eliminator for the British title, losing a points decision.
In October 1947, after Ronnie James had vacated, he met Hawthorne again at Anfield for the British title. This time Thompson dominated the fight, knocking Hawthorne down three times in the second round, and the referee stopped the fight in the third round, making Thompson the new British champion. On his return to Thurnscoe he was greeted by a cheering crowd and a street procession from his house to Hickleton Colliery where he gave a speech to the crowd that had gathered. He became known as 'The Pocket Adonis' due to his impressive physique.
In February 1948, Thompson challenged for Roberto Proietti's European title at the Harringay Arena; The fight went the full 15 rounds, with Thompson taking a points decision to become European champion. He defended the title in July against Pierre Montane at White City Stadium, the fight ending in a draw. Three months later he faced Canadian Arthur King for the vacant British Empire title in Manchester, but Thompson retired at the end of the seventh round with a cut above his eye impairing his vision. In January 1949 he made a second defence of his European title against Belgian Joseph Preys, winning on points over 15 rounds. The two met again two months later in a non-title fight, the bout ending in a draw. In May 1949 he defended both his British and European titles against Harry Hughes at Celtic Park, stopping the challenger in the fifth round. In July he made a fourth defence of the European title against Kid Dussart, losing it after being disqualified in the sixth round for hitting low after being warned three times. The disqualification was followed by a £750 fine, which was reduced to £500 on appeal.
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