Tommy Proffitt

Tommy Proffitt was taught to box by his father, a former boxer, at the age of 12, and at 14 Tommy joined the Air Training Corps (ATC) in 1941, with a view to eventually joining the RAF. In his first year, he became an ATC boxing champion. After going into service, he went on to win the RAF featherweight title. A maintenance engineer by trade, Proffitt won the 1948 ABA bantamweight title after his Ceylonese (now Sri Lankan) opponent Albert Perera, the only overseas boxer in the finals, was disqualified for a low punch.

Proffitt qualified for the London Olympics but was beaten on points by the Mexican Edel Ojeda, who was constantly cautioned for excessive kidney punching. In his next bout, the Mexican was disqualified for the same thing. Proffitt had one more amateur fight before turning professional. He enjoyed a five-year career in the paid ranks, which saw him win 34, lose 12 and draw 1 contest. He beat some good fighters and in 1950, when The Ring magazine rated him number eight in the world, he lost to [Peter Keenan[() in the final eliminator for the British title. It was the nearest Proffitt got to fighting for a title.

Following a loss to John Kelly at Belfast’s Kings Hall on the 11 April 1953, Proffitt decided to retire from the ring. He later became president of the Manchester Ex-Boxers Association, and was a much respected figure in the boxing world in the area.