# Digger Stanley

George 'Digger' Stanley (28 February 1876 – 7 March 1919) was an English boxer who was British and European bantamweight boxing champion.

## Early life

Stanley was a gypsy, and was born in a caravan at Kingston-upon-Thames. He could not read or write, but developed into a clever boxer. His early boxing career was spent fighting in fairground booths.

## Professional career

He began boxing professionally in 1899. In November 1903 he won the vacant British bantamweight title and in December of the same year he won the British flyweight title, but the titles were not recognised by the British Boxing Board of Control until 1909.
In October 1910 he fought Joe Bowker for the British and European bantamweight titles. He scored an eighth-round knockout to secure the titles. Stanley was also recognised by the National Sporting Club as the holder of the World bantamweight title, although he was not recognised as such in America.
In December 1910 he defended his British title against Johnny Condon, winning on points. In September 1911 he defended it again, against Ike Bradley, again winning on points.
In April and June 1912, he defended his European title twice against the Frenchman, Charles Ledoux. He won the first fight in Covent Garden on points, but lost the second fight in Dieppe, being knocked out in the seventh round.
In October 1912, he successfully defended his British title against Alex Lafferty, winning on points.
In June 1913, he lost his British title to Bill Beynon, on points, but four months later he beat Benyon on points to regain it. However, in his next defence, in April 1914, he lost the British title to Curley Walker on a disqualification in the thirteenth.
He continued to box but had only ten more fights, losing eight of them and winning two.
He had his last fight in February 1919, losing to Mike Blake, and died a month later, in poverty.

## Lonsdale belt

In 1909, the National Sporting Club began awarding a Lonsdale Belt to the British champion at each weight. The belts were made from 22 carat gold and enamel. Digger Stanley was awarded the first bantamweight belt and was allowed to retain it after successfully defending his British title.

## Professional boxing record

| 115 fights | 73 wins | 21 losses |
| By knockout | 18 | 1 |
| By decision | 55 | 11 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 9 |
| Draws | 8 | 8 |
| No contests | 11 | 11 |
| Newspaper decisions/draws | 2 | 2 |
All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 115 | Loss | 73–21–8 (13) | George Kilts | DQ | 6 (20) | 13 Jul 1918 | St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England | |
| 114 | Loss | 73–20–8 (13) | George Kilts | DQ | 9 (15) | 22 Jun 1918 | St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England | |
| 113 | Loss | 73–19–8 (13) | Walter Young Ross | DQ | 6 (15) | 22 Apr 1918 | Hoxton Baths, Hoxton, London, England | |
| 112 | Win | 73–18–8 (13) | Johnny Hughes | PTS | 20 | 23 Mar 1918 | The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London, England | |
| 111 | Win | 72–18–8 (13) | Bill Beynon | KO | 5 (15) | 25 Feb 1918 | Queen's Hall, Cardiff, Wales | |
| 110 | Loss | 71–18–8 (13) | Tommy Noble | PTS | 20 | 18 Feb 1918 | The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London, England | |
| 109 | Loss | 71–17–8 (13) | Walter Young Ross | PTS | 15 | 28 Jan 1918 | Pitfield Street Baths, Hoxton, London, England | |
| 108 | Win | 71–16–8 (13) | Tommy Noble | PTS | 20 | 23 Oct 1916 | The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London, England | |
| 107 | Loss | 70–16–8 (13) | Joe Fox | DQ | 10 (20) | 9 Oct 1916 | Central Baths, Bradford, Yorkshire, England | |
| 106 | Win | 70–15–8 (13) | Sid Whatley | KO | 3 (20) | 18 Sep 1916 | The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London, England | |
| 105 | Loss | 69–15–8 (13) | Young Joe Brooks | PTS | 15 | 13 Mar 1916 | Hoxton Baths, Hoxton, London, England | |
| 104 | Loss | 69–14–8 (13) | Joe Symonds | DQ | 13 (15) | 17 Dec 1915 | Cosmopolitan Gymnasium, Plymouth, Devon, England | |
| 103 | Loss | 69–13–8 (13) | Tommy Harrison | DQ | 4 (15) | 11 Nov 1915 | Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England | |
| 102 | Win | 69–12–8 (13) | Joe Fox | PTS | 15 | 16 Sep 1915 | Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England | |
| 101 | Draw | 68–12–8 (13) | Jimmy Barry | PTS | 15 | 29 Mar 1915 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 100 | Win | 68–12–7 (13) | Pedlar Palmer | RTD | 4 (10) | 19 Nov 1914 | West London Stadium, Church Street, Edgware Road, London, England | |
| 99 | Loss | 67–12–7 (13) | Curley Walker | DQ | 15 (20) | 20 Apr 1914 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | Lost Lonsdale British bantamweight title |
| 98 | Win | 67–11–7 (13) | Bill Beynon | PTS | 20 | 27 Oct 1913 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | Won Lonsdale British bantamweight title |
| 97 | Loss | 66–11–7 (13) | Bill Beynon | PTS | 20 | 2 Jun 1913 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | Lost Lonsdale British bantamweight title |
| 96 | Win | 66–10–7 (13) | Alex Lafferty | PTS | 20 | 21 Oct 1912 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | Retained Lonsdale British bantamweight title |
| 95 | Win | 65–10–7 (13) | Oswald Stapleton | KO | 9 (10) | 30 Aug 1912 | Skating Rink, Chelmsford, Essex, England | |
| 94 | Loss | 64–10–7 (13) | Charles Ledoux | KO | 7 (20) | 23 Jun 1912 | Grand Hall des Magasins Généraux, Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France | Lost IBU and world bantamweight titles |
| 93 | Win | 64–9–7 (13) | Charles Ledoux | PTS | 20 | 22 Apr 1912 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | Retained IBU and world bantamweight titles |
| 92 | Loss | 63–9–7 (13) | Jean Poesy | PTS | 15 | 26 Feb 1912 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 91 | Win | 63–8–7 (13) | Oswald Stapleton | KO | 6 (10) | 11 Dec 1911 | Drill Hall, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales | |
| 90 | Win | 62–8–7 (13) | Ike Young Bradley | PTS | 20 | 14 Sep 1911 | Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England | Retained IBU and world bantamweight titles Won vacant BBBofC British bantamweight title |
| 89 | Draw | 61–8–7 (13) | Tommy O'Toole | NWS | 6 | 8 Feb 1911 | American A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 88 | Draw | 61–8–7 (12) | Frankie Burns | NWS | 10 | 27 Jan 1911 | National Sporting Club, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 87 | Win | 61–8–7 (11) | Johnny Condon | PTS | 20 | 5 Dec 1910 | The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London, England | Retained IBU and world bantamweight titles |
| 86 | Win | 60–8–7 (11) | Joe Bowker | KO | 8 (20) | 17 Oct 1910 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | Won IBU, Lonsdale, and world bantamweight titles |
| 85 | Draw | 59–8–7 (11) | Young Pierce | PTS | 20 | 14 Feb 1910 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 84 | Win | 59–8–6 (11) | Dick Golding | KO | 3 (10) | 27 Dec 1909 | The Queens Theatre, Poplar, London, England | |
| 83 | Win | 58–8–6 (11) | Oswald Stapleton | KO | 5 (6) | 3 Nov 1909 | The Athenaeum Club, Angel Court, Throgmorton Street, City of London, London, England | |
| 82 | Win | 57–8–6 (11) | Alf Mitchell | PTS | 6 | 14 Jun 1909 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 81 | Draw | 56–8–6 (11) | Jimmy Walsh | PTS | 15 | 24 May 1909 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 80 | Win | 56–8–5 (11) | Bill Jordan | PTS | 10 | 22 Mar 1909 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 79 | Draw | 55–8–5 (11) | Wally Morgan | PTS | 6 | 19 Nov 1908 | Cromwell Hall, Putney, London, England | |
| 78 | Win | 55–8–4 (11) | Sam Kellar | PTS | 20 | 19 Oct 1908 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 77 | Win | 54–8–4 (11) | Young Sullivan | PTS | 6 | 4 Apr 1908 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 76 | Win | 53–8–4 (11) | Ike Young Bradley | PTS | 15 | 30 Mar 1908 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 75 | Win | 52–8–4 (11) | Driver William Himphen | PTS | 6 | 7 Mar 1908 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 74 | Win | 51–8–4 (11) | Wally Morgan | PTS | 6 | 22 Feb 1908 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 73 | Win | 50–8–4 (11) | Wally Morgan | PTS | 6 | 30 Nov 1907 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 72 | Win | 49–8–4 (11) | Young Lilley | PTS | 6 | 28 Nov 1907 | Marlborough Lines Gymnasium, Aldershot, Hampshire, England | |
| 71 | Loss | 48–8–4 (11) | Bob Kendrick | DQ | 9 (20) | 12 Sep 1907 | Liverpool Gymnastic Club, Liverpool, Merseyside, England | |
| 70 | Loss | 48–7–4 (11) | Al Delmont | DQ | 12 (20) | 6 Jun 1907 | Liverpool Gymnastic Club, Liverpool, Merseyside, England | Lost World & English 112lbs bantamweight title claims Stanley disqualified for a low blow |
| 69 | Win | 48–6–4 (11) | Ike Young Bradley | PTS | 20 | 13 Dec 1906 | Liverpool Gymnastic Club, Liverpool, Merseyside, England | Retained World & English 112lbs bantamweight title claims |
| 68 | Win | 47–6–4 (11) | Harry Young Slough | KO | 18 (20) | 21 May 1906 | Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England | Retained English 112lbs title claim |
| 67 | Win | 46–6–4 (11) | Billy Hughes | RTD | 16 (20) | 10 Feb 1906 | Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England | |
| 66 | Win | 45–6–4 (11) | Ike Young Bradley | PTS | 20 | 20 Jan 1906 | Liverpool Gymnastic Club, Liverpool, Merseyside, England | Claimed disputed vacant world & English 112lbs bantamweight titles |
| 65 | Draw | 44–6–4 (11) | Darkey Haley | PTS | 6 | 18 Dec 1905 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 64 | Loss | 44–6–3 (11) | Jimmy Walsh | PTS | 15 | 20 Oct 1905 | Pythian Rink, Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S. | For world bantamweight title claim |
| 63 | Loss | 44–5–3 (11) | George Moore | PTS | 6 | 1 Jul 1905 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 62 | Win | 44–4–3 (11) | Darkey Haley | PTS | 6 | 24 Jun 1905 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 61 | Win | 43–4–3 (11) | Louis D'Or | RTD | 7 (10) | 17 Apr 1905 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 60 | Win | 42–4–3 (11) | Alf Smith | KO | 4 (4) | 25 Mar 1905 | Hounslow Town Gymnasium, Hounslow, London, England | |
| 59 | Win | 41–4–3 (11) | Lew Branson | KO | 4 (6) | 27 Feb 1905 | Olympia, Kensington, London, England | |
| 58 | Loss | 40–4–3 (11) | Owen Moran | PTS | 20 | 23 Jan 1905 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | Lost Lonsdale and Commonwealth bantamweight titles |
| 57 | NC | 40–3–3 (11) | Jack Johnson | ND | 4 | 16 Jan 1905 | Temple of Varieties, Hounslow, London, England | No decision trial bout |
| 56 | Win | 40–3–3 (10) | Syd Wilmott | KO | 4 (20) | 19 Nov 1904 | Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England | Won vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title |
| 55 | Win | 39–3–3 (10) | Harry McDermott | KO | 19 (20) | 17 Oct 1904 | Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England | |
| 54 | Win | 38–3–3 (10) | Harry McDermott | KO | 6 (20) | 11 Jul 1904 | Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England | |
| 53 | Draw | 37–3–3 (10) | Jimmy Walsh | PTS | 15 | 6 Jun 1904 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 52 | Win | 37–3–2 (10) | Jimmy Walsh | PTS | 15 | 18 Apr 1904 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 51 | NC | 36–3–2 (10) | Alf Butler | ND | 3 | 21 Dec 1903 | Drill Hall, West Ealing, London, England | No decision trial bout |
| 50 | Win | 36–3–2 (9) | Jack Walker | PTS | 15 | 14 Dec 1903 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | Retained Lonsdale flyweight title |
| 49 | Win | 35–3–2 (9) | Owen Moran | PTS | 15 | 9 Nov 1903 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | Won Lonsdale British flyweight title |
| 48 | Win | 34–3–2 (9) | George Dixon | PTS | 6 | 12 Oct 1903 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 47 | Loss | 33–3–2 (9) | George Dixon | PTS | 6 | 1 Aug 1903 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 46 | Win | 33–2–2 (9) | Jim Williams | PTS | 6 | 11 Jul 1903 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 45 | Loss | 32–2–2 (9) | Pedlar Palmer | PTS | 12 | 11 May 1903 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 44 | Win | 32–1–2 (9) | Jack Guyon | PTS | 10 | 28 Mar 1903 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 43 | Win | 31–1–2 (9) | Jim Kenrick | PTS | 6 | 14 Mar 1903 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 42 | Win | 30–1–2 (9) | Jack Walker | PTS | 12 | 2 Mar 1903 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | Billed World and English 110lbs titles |
| 41 | Win | 29–1–2 (9) | Jack Guyon | PTS | 6 | 21 Feb 1903 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 40 | Win | 28–1–2 (9) | Jim Denhart | PTS | 6 | 14 Feb 1903 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 39 | Draw | 27–1–2 (9) | Jack Guyon | PTS | 6 | 7 Feb 1903 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 38 | Win | 27–1–1 (9) | Dave Morbin | PTS | 6 | 17 Jan 1903 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 37 | Win | 26–1–1 (9) | Tom Rippington | PTS | 6 | 12 Jan 1903 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 36 | NC | 25–1–1 (9) | Bob Garwood | ND | 3 | 1 Dec 1902 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | No decision trial bout |
| 35 | NC | 25–1–1 (8) | Tom Bowker | ND | 3 | 15 Nov 1902 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | No decision trial bout |
| 34 | Win | 25–1–1 (7) | Jack Guyon | PTS | 10 | 10 Nov 1902 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | |
| 33 | NC | 24–1–1 (7) | Tom Bowker | ND | 3 | 20 Oct 1902 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | No decision trial bout |
| 32 | Win | 24–1–1 (6) | Harry Young Slough | KO | 5 (8) | 13 Oct 1902 | Fairground, Le Neves Booth, Leicester, Leicestershire, England | |
| 31 | NC | 23–1–1 (6) | William King | ND | 3 | 6 Oct 1902 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England | No decision trial bout |
| 30 | Win | 23–1–1 (5) | Jack Fitzpatrick | PTS | 6 | 22 Sep 1902 | Tee to Tum Club, Stamford Hill, London, England | |
| 29 | Win | 22–1–1 (5) | Tom King | PTS | 6 | 20 Sep 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 28 | Win | 21–1–1 (5) | George Collins | PTS | 6 | 13 Sep 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 27 | Win | 20–1–1 (5) | Tom King | PTS | 6 | 6 Sep 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 26 | Win | 19–1–1 (5) | Cockney Cohen | PTS | 6 | 30 Aug 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 25 | Loss | 18–1–1 (5) | Pedlar Palmer | PTS | 10 | 16 Jun 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 24 | Win | 18–0–1 (5) | Jack Fitzpatrick | PTS | 8 | 24 May 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 23 | Win | 17–0–1 (5) | Jack Fitzpatrick | PTS | 6 | 17 May 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 22 | Win | 16–0–1 (5) | Dick Golding | PTS | 10 | 12 May 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 21 | Win | 15–0–1 (5) | Tibby Watson | PTS | 6 | 5 May 1902 | Railway Arch Gym, Cambridge Road, Hammersmith, London, England | |
| 20 | Win | 14–0–1 (5) | Jack Christian | PTS | 6 | 3 May 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 19 | Win | 13–0–1 (5) | Tibby Watson | PTS | 10 | 14 Apr 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 18 | NC | 12–0–1 (5) | Frank Connor | NC | 3 | 10 Apr 1902 | Hammersmith Gymnasium, Cambridge Road, Hammersmith, London, England | No decision bye bout |
| 17 | NC | 12–0–1 (4) | Sid Clarke | NC | 3 | 3 Apr 1902 | Hammersmith Gymnasium, Cambridge Road, Hammersmith, London, England | No decision bye bout |
| 16 | Win | 12–0–1 (3) | Jim Kenrick | PTS | 6 | 29 Mar 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 15 | Win | 11–0–1 (3) | Tibby Watson | PTS | 6 | 22 Mar 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 14 | Win | 10–0–1 (3) | Ginger Atkinson | PTS | 6 | 15 Mar 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 13 | Win | 9–0–1 (3) | Jim Denhart | PTS | 6 | 3 Mar 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 12 | Win | 8–0–1 (3) | George Dunny | PTS | 10 | 17 Feb 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 11 | Win | 7–0–1 (3) | Jim Denhart | PTS | 6 | 1 Feb 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 10 | Draw | 6–0–1 (3) | Frank Morcombe | PTS | 12 | 23 Jan 1902 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 9 | NC | 6–0 (3) | Jim Denhart | ND | 4 | 18 Dec 1901 | The Atheneum Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, London, England | No decision trial bout |
| 8 | NC | 6–0 (2) | Jem Burden | ND | 4 | 12 Dec 1901 | The Crown Gym, Lille Road, Fulham, London, England | No decision trial bout |
| 7 | Win | 6–0 (1) | Owen Moran | PTS | 20 | 17 Jun 1901 | Slaney Street Assembly Rooms, Birmingham, West Midlands, England | |
| 6 | Win | 5–0 (1) | Jack Norman | PTS | 6 | 1 Apr 1901 | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England | |
| 5 | Win | 4–0 (1) | Charlie Ward | RTD | 5 (10) | 13 Dec 1899 | The Crown Gym, Lille Road, Fulham, London, England | |
| 4 | NC | 3–0 (1) | Frank Jenkins | ND | 4 | 12 Dec 1899 | Paddington Baths,Queen's Road, Bayswater, London, England | No decision trial bout |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | J Newlands | PTS | 4 | 10 Jul 1899 | Lillie Hall, West Brompton, London, England | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | J Newlands | PTS | 4 | 12 Jun 1899 | Lillie Hall, West Brompton, London, England | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Johnny Ford | PTS | 10 | 25 Mar 1899 | Beresford Street Drill Hall, Woolwich, London, England | |