Freddie Simpson

Freddie Simpson was a schoolboy champion in 1930 and, at the age of 18, took part in trials for the 1934 British Empire Games. He competed in his first ABA Championships in 1935 and lost in the quarter-final of the lightweight division to Charlie Evenden. Simpson then took part in the Golden Gloves match against the United States at New York’s Yankee Stadium and enjoyed a victory over Murray Kravitz. The following year Simpson beat L. V. Burton to win the ABA lightweight title, which guaranteed him a place on the Olympic team. Later in the year he took part in the return match against the American boxers at Wembley, when he enjoyed another victory, over Marcus Cohn.

In 1937, Simpson failed to secure a second ABA title when he lost on points in the semi-final to the eventual champion Arthur Danahar, and the following year he came even closer, when he reached the final, but lost to Tommy McGrath. Shortly after the 1938 ABAs, Simpson turned professional and in a nine-year career had 47 contests with a 36-10-1 record. He never fought for a British title, but beat some well-established fighters during his career.