Pat Floyd

Pat Floyd was the ABA light-heavweight South-West division champion in 1928 before going on to win the first of four ABA heavyweight titles over a 17-year period between 1929-46. He was the British Empire champion in 1934, when he also represented England at the European Championships, and the following year represented Britain in the Golden Gloves Championship in New York’s Yankee Stadium. It was the greatest moment of his career, as he was awarded the Gold Belt by the referee, former world champion Gene Tunney, after beating Jim Howell, a man who had beaten Joe Louis in his amateur days.

Pat Floyd was very tall at 6-6 (198 cm) and was a good puncher with both hands. After retiring from fighting he became a coach and referee. He maintained the finest fight he refereed was an 8-round non-title fight between Terry Downes and Dick Tiger at the Shoreditch Town Hall in 1957. In 1959 Floyd became the chief publisher of The Times, a position he held until 1976. He was also, in later life, the president of the Bushey Royal British Legion Club.