# Pedlar Palmer

Pedlar Palmer, born Thomas Palmer, (1876 – 13 February 1949) was an English boxer who held the world bantamweight championship from 1895 to 1899.

## Life

Palmer was born in Canning Town, London on 19 November 1876. His father was a bare-knuckle champion of Essex, and rumour had it that his mother could take on and beat any woman in London's East End. As a boxer, Palmer soon gained the nickname "Box o' Tricks", reflecting his showmanship - he and his brother had taken part in a stage act as children and Palmer utilised some of the things he had learned on stage in the boxing ring.
In 1893, Palmer won bouts advertised as the "World 100lb" title against Walter Croot and Mike Small, and became World Bantamweight Champion in 1895 when he beat Billy Plimmer of Birmingham on a 14th round foul. He boxed a draw with the World Featherweight Champion George Dixon in New York in 1896. He kept his bantamweight title through five defences against Johnny Murphy, Ernie Stanton. Dave Sullivan, Billy Plimmer, and Billy Rochford.
Palmer met Irish-born American boxer Dave Sullivan in London on 18 October 1897 in what was billed as a World 116 pound Title Match. It would be Sullivan's first loss according to most sources. Sullivan failed to receive the twenty round points decision, but established himself as the primary contender for the World Featherweight Title.

## Loss of World Bantamweight Title to Terry McGovern

Palmer lost his title in Tuckahoe, New York in September 1899. He was knocked out in the first round by Terrible Terry McGovern - Palmer claimed that he had been blinded by the lights. Having held the Championship for four years, Palmer was still only 22 years old.

## Loss of the British Bantamweight Title

In November 1900 Palmer lost the British bantamweight title to Harry Ware, and although he won two out of three fights with George Dixon and beat Digger Stanley, another world champion, he was twice beaten in British featherweight title fights by Ben Jordan and Joe Bowker.
Jordan successfully defended the English Featherweight Title on 12 December 1904 against Palmer in an important bout at the National Sporting Club in London in a fifteen-round points decision.
Palmer was a heavy drinker. In April 1907 he killed Robert Croat on a train to Epsom races, for which crime he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. On his release he boxed again, but never enjoyed his earlier levels of success. For the last 20 years of his life he was a bookmaker in Brighton, where he died on 13 February 1949, aged 72. He is buried on the western edge of Brighton; the gravestone no longer stands.

## Professional boxing record

| 70 fights | 51 wins | 15 losses |
| By knockout | 13 | 9 |
| By decision | 33 | 5 |
| By disqualification | 5 | 1 |
| Draws | 4 | 4 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 70 | Loss | 51–15–4 | Jim Driscoll | TKO | 4 (10) | Mar 10, 1919 | Hoxton Music Hall, Hoxton, London, England, U.K. | |
| 69 | Loss | 51–14–4 | Digger Stanley | RTD | 4 (10) | Nov 19, 1914 | West London Stadium, London, England, U.K. | |
| 68 | Loss | 51–13–4 | Jim Lloyd | RTD | 4 (10) | Aug 1, 1912 | Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, U.K. | |
| 67 | Win | 51–12–4 | Sam Russell | DQ | 3 (10) | Jul 25, 1912 | Premierland, Whitechapel, London, England, U.K. | |
| 66 | Win | 50–12–4 | George Moore | RTD | 7 (10) | Mar 25, 1912 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | |
| 65 | Win | 49–12–4 | George Moore | DQ | 5 (10) | Mar 2, 1912 | Premierland, Whitechapel, London, England, U.K. | |
| 64 | Win | 48–12–4 | Alec Lambert | PTS | 6 | Jan 24, 1912 | Premierland, Whitechapel, London, England, U.K. | |
| 63 | Win | 47–12–4 | Darkey Haley | PTS | 6 | Jan 6, 1912 | Premierland, Whitechapel, London, England, U.K. | |
| 62 | Loss | 46–12–4 | Darkey Haley | KO | 10 (15) | Dec 7, 1906 | Pitfield Street Baths, Hoxton, London, England, U.K. | |
| 61 | Win | 46–11–4 | Cockney Cohen | DQ | 4 (20) | May 28, 1906 | Drill Hall, Plymouth, Devon, England, U.K. | |
| 60 | Win | 45–11–4 | Driver William Himphen | PTS | 6 | Apr 28, 1906 | Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K. | |
| 59 | Draw | 44–11–4 | Cockney Cohen | PTS | 15 | Mar 26, 1906 | Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K. | |
| 58 | Loss | 44–11–3 | Charlie Lampey | PTS | 15 | Feb 28, 1906 | Sporting and Dramatic Club, Charing Cross, London, England, U.K. | |
| 57 | Loss | 44–10–3 | Cockney Cohen | KO | 6 (20) | Nov 13, 1905 | Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K. | Cohen claims English 122 lbs title |
| 56 | Win | 44–9–3 | Cockney Cohen | PTS | 15 | Sep 25, 1905 | Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K. | |
| 55 | Win | 43–9–3 | Bob White | KO | 6 (15) | Aug 5, 1905 | The Circus, West Hartlepool, County Durham, England, U.K. | |
| 54 | Win | 42–9–3 | George Moore | PTS | 6 | Jun 17, 1905 | Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K. | |
| 53 | Draw | 41–9–3 | George Moore | PTS | 15 | May 29, 1905 | Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K. | For vacant NSC British and English featherweight titles |
| 52 | Loss | 41–9–2 | Joe Bowker | TKO | 12 (15) | Mar 20, 1905 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | For vacant NSC British and English featherweight titles |
| 51 | Loss | 41–8–2 | Ben Jordan | PTS | 15 | Dec 12, 1904 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | For NSC British and English featherweight titles |
| 50 | Win | 41–7–2 | Young Joseph | PTS | 15 | Oct 17, 1904 | Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K. | |
| 49 | Win | 40–7–2 | WJ (Watty) Austin | PTS | 20 | Aug 8, 1904 | Camps Bay Pavilion, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa | |
| 48 | Draw | 39–7–2 | WJ (Watty) Austin | PTS | 20 | Jul 4, 1904 | Camps Bay Pavilion, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa | |
| 47 | Win | 39–7–1 | Dan Hyman | RTD | 9 (20) | May 23, 1904 | Wanderers Hall, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 46 | Loss | 38–7–1 | Harry Alexander | DQ | 4 (15) | Mar 25, 1904 | Britannia Theatre, Hoxton, London, England, U.K. | |
| 45 | Win | 38–6–1 | Harry Alexander | KO | 4 (15) | Mar 14, 1904 | Boulevard Football Ground, Hull, Yorkshire, England, U.K. | |
| 44 | Loss | 37–6–1 | George Dixon | PTS | 20 | Nov 9, 1904 | Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, U.K. | Billed world 120lbs title |
| 43 | Win | 37–5–1 | Jim Williams | PTS | 20 | Oct 23, 1903 | New National Athletic Club, Marylebone, London, England, U.K. | |
| 42 | Win | 36–5–1 | Spike Robson | PTS | 20 | Sep 14, 1903 | Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, London, England, U.K. | Billed English 124 lbs title; Not generally recognised as over 2-minute rounds |
| 41 | Win | 35–5–1 | George Dixon | PTS | 8 | Jun 27, 1903 | Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K. | |
| 40 | Win | 34–5–1 | Digger Stanley | PTS | 12 | May 11, 1903 | Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K. | |
| 39 | Win | 33–5–1 | Fred Delaney | PTS | 6 | Apr 2, 1903 | Barking Public Hall, Barking Road, Canning Town, London, England, U.K. | |
| 38 | Win | 32–5–1 | Harry Ware | PTS | 12 | Feb 16, 1903 | Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K. | Billed English 8st 8lbs title |
| 37 | Loss | 31–5–1 | Will Curley | KO | 8 (15) | Dec 15, 1902 | Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, U.K. | |
| 36 | Win | 31–4–1 | Jim Williams | PTS | 20 | Oct 23, 1902 | The National AC, Marylebone, London, England, U.K. | |
| 35 | Win | 30–4–1 | George Dixon | PTS | 15 | Sep 8, 1902 | New National Athletic Club, Marylebone, London, England, U.K. | |
| 34 | Win | 29–4–1 | Digger Stanley | PTS | 10 | Jun 16, 1902 | Wonderland, Mile End, London, England, U.K. | |
| 33 | Loss | 28–4–1 | Jim Williams | KO | 2 (15) | Jan 27, 1902 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | For vacant NSC bantamweight title claim |
| 32 | Loss | 28–3–1 | Harry Harris | PTS | 15 | Mar 18, 1901 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | For vacant world bantamweight title |
| 31 | Loss | 28–2–1 | Harry Ware | PTS | 20 | Nov 12, 1900 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | Lost NSC bantamweight title |
| 30 | Win | 28–1–1 | Harry Ware | PTS | 15 | May 28, 1900 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | Retained NSC bantamweight title |
| 29 | Loss | 27–1–1 | Terry McGovern | KO | 1 (20) | Sep 12, 1899 | Westchester A.C., Tuckahoe, New York, U.S. | Lost world bantamweight title claim; For vacant world bantamweight title |
| 28 | Win | 27–0–1 | Billy Rotchford | DQ | 3 (20) | Apr 17, 1899 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | Retained world bantamweight title claim |
| 27 | Win | 26–0–1 | Billy Plimmer | TKO | 17 (20) | Dec 12, 1898 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | Retained world bantamweight title claim; Won vacant NSC bantamweight title |
| 26 | Win | 25–0–1 | Dave Sullivan | PTS | 20 | Oct 18, 1897 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | Retained world bantamweight title claim |
| 25 | Win | 24–0–1 | Ernie Stanton | TKO | 14 (20) | Jan 25, 1897 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | Retained world bantamweight title claim |
| 24 | Win | 23–0–1 | Johnny Murphy | PTS | 20 | Oct 12, 1896 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | Made a world bantamweight title claim |
| 23 | Win | 22–0–1 | Ted Willis | RTD | 4 (10) | Apr 13, 1896 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | |
| 22 | Win | 21–0–1 | Ted Willis | KO | 2 (6) | Mar 31, 1896 | Ned Donnelly's Rooms (over a saddlers shop), London, England, U.K. | |
| 21 | Draw | 20–0–1 | George Dixon | PTS | 6 | Jan 30, 1896 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Billy Plimmer | DQ | 14 (20) | Nov 25, 1895 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | Won NSC British flyweight and world 112lbs titles |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Ginger Walters | KO | 7 (8) | Oct 27, 1894 | Bermondsey School of Arms, Bermondsey, London, England, U.K. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Ernie Stanton | PTS | 20 | Oct 15, 1894 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | Retained NSC British light flyweight title; Billed English 108lbs title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Bill Mortimer | TKO | 5 (20) | Jun 25, 1894 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | Won vacant NSC British light flyweight title; Won English 106lbs title claim |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Young Edwards | TKO | 2 (3) | Apr 16, 1894 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Ted Wood | PTS | 6 | Feb 19, 1894 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Albert Gould | PTS | 6 | Dec 11, 1892 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Albert Gould | TKO | 2 (6) | Dec 4, 1892 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Mike Small | PTS | 6 | May 29, 1892 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Walter Croot | KO | 17 (20) | May 1, 1892 | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, U.K. | Won NSC British minimumweight title |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | George Wood | PTS | ? | Sep 1, 1892 | United Kingdom | Date Unknown |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Dick Edwards | PTS | ? | Aug 1, 1892 | United Kingdom | Date Unknown |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Ted Sounders | PTS | ? | Jul 1, 1892 | United Kingdom | Date Unknown |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Will Morse | PTS | ? | Jun 1, 1892 | United Kingdom | Date Unknown |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Ginger Wright | PTS | ? | May 1, 1892 | United Kingdom | Date Unknown |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Tom Shane | PTS | ? | Apr 1, 1892 | United Kingdom | Date Unknown |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Ernie Stanton | PTS | 3 | Mar 1, 1892 | Plaistow, London, England, U.K. | Exact date unknown |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Arthur Wigg | PTS | ? | Feb 1, 1892 | United Kingdom | Date Unknown |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | San Swamburg | PTS | ? | Jan 1, 1892 | United Kingdom | Date Unknown |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | WC Bond | PTS | 11 | Jan 1, 1891 | United Kingdom | Date Unknown |