Frank Parks

Frank Parks joined the Polytechnic Boxing Club in 1892, aged 17, and remained with the club, albeit as an associate member later in life, for 52 years. He won five ABA heavyweight titles between 1899-1906. Beaten by Geoff Townsend in his début final in 1898, he captured his first title the following year. Having regained the title in 1901, Parks made it three wins in 1902. He lost the title after a controversial decision against Edward Mann in 1903 and, in the 1904 Championship, was knocked out for the first time in his competitive career, in the final, by A. H. Horner. Nevertheless, Parks came back to win the title on two more occasions, in 1905 and 1906. By then, he had been captain and honorary secretary of the Polytechnic team, and was serving as an ABA judge. He later became a life president of the Association. After his fifth ABA title, he quit competitive boxing, but came out of retirement to compete in the Olympic Games on “home soil” in 1908. After beating Bert Brewer, Parks lost his semi-final against Sid Evans after a split decision, only decided by the referee, but Parks did win a bronze medal. Parks was one of five British boxers who travelled to the United States to fight their counterparts at Madison Square Garden in 1911, in a contest billed as being for the “World Championship”. An excellent cyclist, Parks was also a member of the Polytechnic cycling section. He died in 1945 as a result of a motor accident outside his Hampstead home.