Rube Warnes

Rube Warnes was the first man to win five ABA middleweight titles. Having lost to Geoff Townsend in the 1898 final, he won his first title the following year when he beat Edward Mann in the final. It would be the first of three occasions Warnes and Mann would meet in the final, with Warnes winning again in 1901, and Mann taking the honours the following year. Warnes beat A. Williams of Belsize ABC to win his third title in 1903. His other two tiles came at the expense of H. Collins in 1907 and W. Fountain in 1910. Both men were members of the Eton Mission BC.

Warnes competed at the 1908 Olympics, losing by a knockout to the eventual champion John Douglas in the semi-final. A fine water polo player, who played in goal for the famous Bermondsey Dreadnougth team, Warnes was one of five boxers selected to travel to New York in May 1911 and represent Great Britain against the United States at Madison Square Garden, in a match billed as for the “World Championship”. Warnes later became an ABA referee, and in 1932 was appointed a vice-president of the Association, which he served in many capacities, including honorary treasurer, for more than 30 years. His son Billy was an England amateur football international who played for Arsenal and Norwich City. In eight years with Arsenal, his only first team appearance came in January 1933, when the Gunners lost 2-0 at third division Walsall in what was regarded as the greatest FA Cup upset of all time.