Charlie Webster

Charlie Webster was the second youngest of 15 children of former professional boxer Harry Webster. Charlie was one of four siblings who went on to become boxers, and followed Tom, Bill, and Fred into the sport. Fred was the most successful of the four, and won successive ABA titles at three different weights, a feat next achieved 65-years later by Joe Calzaghe.

Charlie started boxing as a featherweight, first competing in the ABA Championships at that weight as a 17-year-old in 1934. In 1936 he fought as a lightweight, and reached the semi-final before losing to the eventual champion Freddie Simpson. Webster was a reserve for the Berlin Olympics that year and also fought in the match between Great Britain and the USA at Wembley, where he beat a tough opponent in Austin McCann. Also in 1936, Webster fought in two matches between Britain and Germany.

Webster eventually won his only ABA title, at welterweight, in 1938 when he stopped George Spears in the third round. Six months after winning the title, Webster turned professional. He kicked off his pro career with a decision over Pat Haley, a seasoned professional with 128 fights behind him. Between then and 1948, Webster had 17 fights with an 11-5-1 record. In the 1960s he ran the Admiral Napier pub in Kentish Town with his wife Rose.