Val Barker

The name Val Barker is synonymous with the trophy that bears his name, and is presented to the most stylish boxer at each Olympic Games. His name was associated with boxing for more than 50 years, however, and long before the famous trophy was inaugurated. The son of a London solicitor, Barker also became a solicitor, specialising in High Court work. He was also a heavyweight boxer and, as a member of the Belsize Boxing Club, won the 1891 ABA heavyweight title, beating a fellow Belsize boxer, J. Dainty. Barker went on to become secretary and captain of the Belsize club, and also became a boxing referee and judge. Barker officiated at the 1908 and 1920 Olympics and, in the second of those years, refereed the light-heavyweight final between Eddie Eagan of the USA and Norway’s Sverre Sørsdal.

Barker was also a goal umpire in the 1908 Olympic lacrosse final between Great Britain and Canada. Six years earlier he was an umpire when the Canadians (represented by the Toronto club) played the Duke of Argyll’s team at Lord’s in a match watched by 10,000 fans, including King Edward VII.

Barker played lacrosse as a centre for Hampstead and was an ever-present from the club’s inauguration in 1892 until October 1902 when he missed his first match following an accident. As an umpire, he officiated in some important matches like Senior Flags finals, North versus South matches, and, in 1896, the international between England and Ireland at the Crystal Palace.

It was in the world of boxing, however, that Barker became better known and he served as an honorary secretary and president of the ABA, and in 1920 was appointed secretary of the newly formed International Boxing Federation (Fédération Internationale de Boxe Amateur) (FIBA). He held that post until 1933, when he was appointed the first honorary life president of the Federation. That same year, it was announced that, from the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the newly instituted Val Barker Cup, as it was originally called, would be presented to the most scientific (now stylish) boxer at each Games. Some famous boxers to have won the trophy include Britain’s Dick McTaggart, Italy’s Nino Benvenuti, and the Cuban Teófilo Stevenson. A full list of winners can be found here.