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Leonard Austen Harvey (11 July 1907 – 28 November 1976) was a British boxer. A great defensive boxer, he boxed at every weight division available at the time, from flyweight to heavyweight. He became the light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion of the British Empire, and was recognised as world light-heavyweight champion in Britain from 1939 to 1942.

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Len Harvey
Statistics
Real name	Leonard Austen Harvey
Weight(s)	Flyweight Bantamweight Featherweight Lightweight Welterweight Middleweight Light Heavyweight Heavyweight
Height	6 ft (183 cm)
Reach	73+1⁄2 in (187 cm)
Nationality	British
Born	(1907-07-11)11 July 1907 Stoke Climsland, Kernow/Cornwall
Died	28 November 1976(1976-11-28) (aged 69)
Boxing record
Total fights	140
Wins	122
Wins by KO	57
Losses	14
Draws	10

Early career

British middleweight champion

Born in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall, Len Harvey started out as a flyweight at 12. By the time he was 18 he was ready to fight for the British welterweight title. He was held to a draw though by Harry Mason on 29 April 1926. His next British title shot came 2 years later on 16 May 1929. This time at middleweight against Alex Ireland. Harvey knocked out his opponent in the seventh round to become British champion. He made six defences between 1929 and 1933. He also fought Marcel Thil of France for the world middleweight championship. He lost on points in a close decision. (Thil was stripped by the NBA for failing to make a title defence by August 15, 1933, but he remained the IBU champion).

British light heavyweight and heavyweight champion

On 10 April 1933, he defended his title against Jock McAvoy. This ended in defeat for Harvey but two months later he was in the ring again challenging Eddie Phillips and won on points to become British Light Heavyweight champion. On 30 November that year he beat the then unbeaten Jack Petersen to become the British Heavyweight champion. He then went on to beat Canada's Larry Gains to become British Empire champion, but lost both titles in a rematch with Petersen being stopped in the 12th round on cuts. Harvey then went on to fight for the world title on 9 November 1936, but was beaten on points by John Henry Lewis. He then regained the British Heavyweight title by disqualification against old foe Eddie Phillips. In 1936, he starred in the film, Excuse My Glove. In 1938 John Henry Lewis retired after developing eye problems, Harvey was then matched with another old foe Jock McAvoy for British recognition of the world championship at Harringay Arena. This time he won on points on 10 July 1939.

Later career and death

During the Second World War Harvey joined the Royal Air Force. He was seen in the eyes of the public as a national sporting idol and was given an officer rank. During this time he was persuaded to defend his titles against Freddie Mills on 20 June 1942. Harvey was a veteran of over a hundred bouts and was 35 years old. He was knocked out in two rounds, only the second time he was stopped and the first by K.O. He retired after this bout. He had an official record of 146 fights, 122 wins, 10 draws and 14 defeats: he claimed to have had 418 fights, but they probably included booth fights. His four fights with Jock McAvoy were legendary; he won three and lost one. He later died in Plymouth on 28 November 1976 of a heart attack relaxing at his home and commenting to his wife he was feeling ill. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.

Notable bouts

Result	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes[1]
Loss	Freddie Mills	KO	2 (15)	1942-06-20	White Hart Lane, Tottenham, London
Win	Jock McAvoy	PTS	15	1939-07-10	White City Stadium, White City, London
Win	Larry Gains	TKO	13 (15)	1939-03-16	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London
Win	Jock McAvoy	PTS	15	1938-04-07	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London
Loss	John Henry Lewis	PTS	15	1936-11-09	Empire Pool, Wembley, London
Loss	Jack Petersen	PTS	15	1936-01-29	Empire Pool, Wembley, London
Draw	Walter Neusel	PTS	12	1934-11-26	Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London
Win	Larry Gains	PTS	15	1934-02-08	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
Win	Jack Petersen	PTS	15	1933-11-30	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
Loss	Jock McAvoy	PTS	15	1933-04-10	Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, Manchester, Lancashire
Loss	Marcel Thil	PTS	15	1932-07-04	White City Stadium, White City, London
Win	Len Johnson	PTS	15	1932-05-11	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
Win	Jock McAvoy	PTS	15	1932-03-21	Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, Manchester, Lancashire
Loss	Ben Jeby	UD	12	1931-03-20	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Loss	Vince Dundee	SD	12	1931-02-13	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Loss	Vince Dundee	UD	12	1931-01-09	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win	Dave Shade	PTS	15	1930-09-29	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
Win	Alexander Ireland	KO	7 (15)	1929-05-16	Olympia, Kensington, London
Win	Frank Moody	TKO	6 (10)	1929-02-21	The Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London
Win	Marcel Thil	PTS	15	1927-12-12	Holland Park Rink, Kensington, London
Loss	Len Johnson	PTS	20	1927-01-03	The Ring, Southwark, London

See also

• List of British heavyweight boxing champions
• List of British light-heavyweight boxing champions
• List of British middleweight boxing champions

References

Further reading

• Arnold, Peter History of Boxing
• Hugman, Barry J. (ed.) The British Boxing Board of Control Year Book 2007
• Mullan, Harry The World Encyclopedia of Boxing

External links

• Boxing record for Len Harvey from BoxRec (registration required)
• Sparring with Len Harvey (1934) Article.

Achievements
Preceded by Alexander Ireland	British Middleweight Champion 16 May 1929 – 10 April 1933	Succeeded by Jock McAvoy
	Commonwealth Middleweight Champion 16 May 1929 – 10 April 1933
Preceded by Jack Petersen	British Heavyweight Champion 30 November 1933 – 4 June 1934	Succeeded by Jack Petersen
Preceded by Larry Gains	Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion 8 February 1934 – 4 June 1934
Preceded by Jock McAvoy	British Light Heavyweight Champion 7 April 1938 – 20 June 1942	Succeeded by Freddie Mills
Vacant Title last held by Gipsy Daniels	Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion 10 July 1939 – 20 June 1942
Vacant Title last held by Tommy Farr	British Heavyweight Champion 1 December 1938 – 21 November 1942 Retired	Succeeded by Jack London
	Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion 16 March 1939 – 21 November 1942 Retired
Titles in pretence
Vacant Title last held by Joe Choynski	World Light Heavyweight Champion BBBC recognition 10 July 1939 – 20 June 1942	Vacant

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