Lionel "Dick" Turpin[1] (26 November 1920 – 7 July 1990) was an English middleweight boxer. He was British and Commonwealth middleweight champion, reputedly being the first black fighter to win a British boxing title.[2][3] He was elder brother and trainer of the more famous Randolph Turpin, who became world middleweight champion after beating Sugar Ray Robinson in 1951.[4]

Dick Turpin
Born
Lionel Turpin

26 November 1920
Died7 July 1990 (aged 69)
Statistics
Weight(s)Middleweight
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights104
Wins77
Wins by KO33
Losses20
Draws6
No contests1

Dick was the son of Lionel Turpin who had been born in British Guyana and his wife, Beatrice Elizabeth Whitehouse. He had two brothers Jack, who was a featherweight and Randolph, a middleweight.

Professional career

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Turpin fought his first professional bout in March 1939 against Jimmy Griffiths, in Coventry. He lost on points over ten rounds.

He went on to build up a domestic record of 86 fights with 68 wins, 12 losses, 5 draws and one no-contest, before his first title fight. This was for the Commonwealth middleweight title, in May 1948, and was against Richard Bos Murphy of New Zealand. Turpin won the fight, at Coventry, by a knockout in the first round to become Commonwealth champion.

In his next bout, on 28 June 1948, Turpin fought Vince Hawkins for his British middleweight title. The fight was held at Villa Park, Birmingham and Turpin won on points over fifteen rounds. He now held both the British and Commonwealth middleweight titles.

During late 1948 and early 1949, Turpin fought European boxers, drawing and then losing on points against Tiberio Mitri, of Italy, then being knocked out in seven rounds in a non-title fight against the then world middleweight champion, Marcel Cerdan, of France.[5] He then won by a disqualification against another Frenchman, Robert Charron.

In June 1949, he defended his British and Commonwealth titles against Albert Finch, winning on points after fifteen rounds.

In September 1949, he defended his Commonwealth title against Australian, Dave Sands. The fight was at Harringay Arena, and Turpin was knocked out in the first round, and so only retained his British title.[6][7]

Turpin then won his next four fights, losing the fifth, on points to the American, Baby Day, before defending his British title against Albert Finch, whom he had beaten in his previous defence. The fight was held in April 1950, in Nottingham and Finch won on points after fifteen rounds.

Having lost both his titles, Turpin had only two more fights, against the Belgian, Cyrille Delannoit, in Brussels, losing on a technical knockout in the sixth, and finally against his old rival Albert Finch, losing on a technical knockout in the eighth. This last fight was in July 1950.[8]

Trainer

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Turpin was the trainer of his more successful and famous brother Randolph, who beat Sugar Ray Robinson to take the world middleweight title in 1951.

Professional boxing record

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108 fights 81 wins 21 losses
By knockout 35 8
By decision 45 13
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 5
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
108 Loss 81–21–5 (1) Albert Finch RTD 8 (10) Jul 3, 1950 Ice Rink, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
107 Loss 81–20–5 (1) Cyrille Delannoit RTD 7 (10) May 13, 1950 Palais des Sports, Schaerbeek, Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium
106 Loss 81–19–5 (1) Albert Finch PTS 15 Apr 24, 1950 Ice Rink, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England For BBBofC British middleweight title
105 Loss 81–18–5 (1) Baby Day PTS 10 Mar 14, 1950 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England
104 Win 81–17–5 (1) Ron Pudney PTS 8 Mar 6, 1950 Davis Theatre, Croydon, London, England
103 Win 80–17–5 (1) Vince Hawkins PTS 8 Jan 16, 1950 Drill Hall, Coventry, West Midlands, England
102 Win 79–17–5 (1) Ron Cooper PTS 8 Dec 12, 1949 Ice Rink, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
101 Win 78–17–5 (1) George Ross TKO 7 (10) Nov 1, 1949 Bingley Hall, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
100 Loss 77–17–5 (1) Dave Sands KO 1 (15) Sep 6, 1949 Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England Lost vacant BBBofC British and Commonwealth British middleweight title
99 Win 77–16–5 (1) Albert Finch PTS 15 Jun 20, 1949 St Andrews (Birmingham City FC), Birmingham, West Midlands, England Won vacant BBBofC British and Commonwealth British middleweight title
98 Win 76–16–5 (1) Robert Charron DQ 5 (10) May 30, 1949 Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England
97 Loss 75–16–5 (1) Marcel Cerdan KO 7 (10) Mar 29, 1949 Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England
96 Loss 75–15–5 (1) Tiberio Mitri PTS 12 Mar 12, 1949 Idroscalo, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
95 Draw 75–14–5 (1) Tiberio Mitri PTS 12 Nov 29, 1948 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England
94 Win 75–14–4 (1) Doug Miller RTD 7 (8) Oct 18, 1948 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England
93 Win 74–14–4 (1) Bert Sanders PTS 8 Sep 27, 1948 Embassy Rink, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
92 Win 73–14–4 (1) Vince Hawkins PTS 15 Jun 28, 1948 Villa Park, Birmingham, West Midlands, England Retained Commonwealth British Empire middleweight title
Won BBBofC British middleweight title
91 Win 72–14–4 (1) Bos Murphy KO 1 (15) May 18, 1948 Highfield Road (Coventry FC), Coventry, West Midlands, England Won Commonwealth British Empire middleweight title
90 Win 71–14–4 (1) Mark Hart PTS 12 Feb 2, 1948 Ice Rink, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
89 Win 70–14–4 (1) Bert Sanders PTS 8 Dec 1, 1947 Town Hall, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
88 Win 69–14–4 (1) Ron Cooper PTS 8 Nov 20, 1947 Skating Rink, Smethwick, West Midlands, England
87 Win 68–14–4 (1) Freddie Price PTS 10 Nov 7, 1947 King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, Lancashire, England
86 Win 67–14–4 (1) Billy Stevens PTS 10 Oct 23, 1947 New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England
85 Win 66–14–4 (1) Johnny Boyd PTS 8 Sep 22, 1947 Drill Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England
84 Win 65–14–4 (1) Art Owen RTD 2 (8) Sep 18, 1947 Assembly Rooms, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England
83 Win 64–14–4 (1) Vince Hawkins TKO 6 (8) Sep 9, 1947 Butts Stadium, Coventry, West Midlands, England
82 Win 63–14–4 (1) Tommy Davies TKO 5 (10) Jul 24, 1947 The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England
81 Win 62–14–4 (1) Bert Sanders PTS 8 Jul 12, 1947 Picture House, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
80 Win 61–14–4 (1) Des Jones PTS 8 Jul 5, 1947 Skating Rink, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
79 Win 60–14–4 (1) Jim Hockley PTS 8 Jun 23, 1947 Drill Hall, Coventry, West Midlands, England
78 Win 59–14–4 (1) Billy Stevens TKO 3 (10) May 29, 1947 The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England
77 Win 58–14–4 (1) Norman Rees RTD 2 (10) May 23, 1947 Judge's Hall, Trealaw, Wales
76 Win 57–14–4 (1) Jim Wellard PTS 8 May 6, 1947 Wembley Town Hall, Wembley, London, England
75 Win 56–14–4 (1) Gordon Griffiths TKO 4 (8) Apr 14, 1947 Town Hall, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
74 Win 55–14–4 (1) Tommy Braddock RTD 4 (8) Apr 3, 1947 Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
73 Win 54–14–4 (1) Frank Hayes KO 4 (8) Mar 24, 1947 Birmingham, West Midlands, England
72 Win 53–14–4 (1) Ron Cooper PTS 8 Mar 17, 1947 Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire, England
71 Draw 52–14–4 (1) Bert Sanders PTS 8 Feb 10, 1947 Town Hall, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
70 Loss 52–14–3 (1) George Howard KO 7 (8) Jan 14, 1947 Seymour Hall, Marylebone, London, England
69 Win 52–13–3 (1) Billy Mayne TKO 7 (10) Dec 16, 1946 Embassy Rink, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
68 Win 51–13–3 (1) Johnny Boyd KO 4 (8) Dec 9, 1946 Town Hall, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
67 Loss 50–13–3 (1) Johnny Best TKO 4 (10) Nov 19, 1946 Seymour Hall Baths, Marylebone, London, England
66 Win 50–12–3 (1) Trevor Burt KO 3 (10) Nov 11, 1946 Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire, England
65 Win 49–12–3 (1) Art Owen TKO 6 (10) Oct 28, 1946 Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England
64 Win 48–12–3 (1) Jack Lord KO 3 (10) Oct 16, 1946 Embassy Rink, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
63 Win 47–12–3 (1) Johnny Blake TKO 4 (10) Oct 14, 1946 Town Hall, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
62 Win 46–12–3 (1) Paddy Roche PTS 10 Sep 30, 1946 Corn Exchange, Stroud, Gloucestershire, England
61 Loss 45–12–3 (1) Johnny Boyd PTS 8 Sep 24, 1946 Embassy Rink, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
60 Win 45–11–3 (1) Jack McKnight KO 1 (10) Feb 26, 1946 Co-op Hall, Rugby, Warwickshire, England
59 Loss 44–11–3 (1) Dave McCleave PTS 8 Mar 18, 1944 Drill Hall, Coventry, West Midlands, England
58 Loss 44–10–3 (1) Arthur 'Ginger' Sadd TKO 7 (10) Dec 16, 1940 Ice Rink, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
57 Win 44–9–3 (1) Pat O'Connor PTS 10 Aug 24, 1940 Highfield Road (Coventry FC), Coventry, West Midlands, England
56 Win 43–9–3 (1) Albert O'Brien KO 2 (10) Jul 13, 1940 Rugby Football Ground, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
55 Win 42–9–3 (1) Paddy Roche PTS 10 Jun 10, 1940 Skating Rink, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England
54 Win 41–9–3 (1) Tommy Davies PTS 10 Jun 3, 1940 Plasmarl, Swansea, Wales
53 Win 40–9–3 (1) Jim Berry PTS 10 May 27, 1940 King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, Lancashire, England
52 Loss 39–9–3 (1) Eddie Maguire PTS 10 May 20, 1940 Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
51 Win 39–8–3 (1) Tommy Smith TKO 10 (10) Apr 14, 1940 Arena, Coventry, West Midlands, England
50 Draw 38–8–3 (1) Eddie Maguire PTS 10 Apr 1, 1940 Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
49 Win 38–8–2 (1) Sid Williams PTS 10 Mar 15, 1940 Town Hall, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
48 Win 37–8–2 (1) Dave McCleave KO 5 (10) Mar 4, 1940 Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
47 Win 36–8–2 (1) Arthur 'Ginger' Sadd PTS 10 Feb 25, 1940 Arena, Coventry, West Midlands, England
46 Win 35–8–2 (1) Maurice Dennis TKO 7 (10) Jan 24, 1940 Arena, Coventry, West Midlands, England
45 Win 34–8–2 (1) Ben Valentine PTS 10 Dec 24, 1939 Arena, Coventry, West Midlands, England
44 Win 33–8–2 (1) Ben Valentine PTS 10 Dec 10, 1939 Arena, Coventry, West Midlands, England
43 Loss 32–8–2 (1) George Howard PTS 10 Nov 26, 1939 Arena, Coventry, West Midlands, England
42 Win 32–7–2 (1) Charlie Parkin PTS 10 Oct 30, 1939 Skating Rink, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
41 Win 31–7–2 (1) Harry Ainsworth PTS 12 Aug 18, 1939 Arena, Coventry, West Midlands, England
40 Win 30–7–2 (1) George Robey TKO 11 (12) Aug 7, 1939 Shipston-on-Stour, Worcestershire, England
39 Win 29–7–2 (1) Nat Franks PTS 10 Jun 4, 1939 The Arena, Mile End, London, England
38 Win 28–7–2 (1) Jack Milburn PTS 15 May 22, 1939 Northampton County Ground, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England Won vacant BBBofC Midlands Area middleweight title
37 Win 27–7–2 (1) Wally Pack PTS 8 May 7, 1939 Devonshire Club, Hackney, London, England
36 Win 26–7–2 (1) Alf Bishop KO ? Apr 29, 1939 Colston Hall, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England
35 Loss 25–7–2 (1) George Robey PTS 10 Apr 21, 1939 Banbury, Oxfordshire, England
34 Win 25–6–2 (1) Jimmy Griffiths PTS 10 Apr 17, 1939 Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
33 Loss 24–6–2 (1) Jimmy Griffiths PTS 10 Mar 30, 1939 Drill Hall, Coventry, West Midlands, England
32 Win 24–5–2 (1) Ted Carroll PTS 10 Mar 25, 1939 Evesham, Worcestershire, England
31 Win 23–5–2 (1) George Robey PTS 10 Mar 17, 1939 Spencer Stadium, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England
30 Win 22–5–2 (1) Jack Hammer PTS 12 Mar 13, 1939 Town Hall, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
29 Win 21–5–2 (1) Johnny Thornton TKO 5 (10) Mar 6, 1939 Bingham Hall, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England
28 Win 20–5–2 (1) Jack Beech KO 2 (10) Feb 27, 1939 Colonnade Skating Rink, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
27 Win 19–5–2 (1) Mick Miller PTS 10 Feb 24, 1939 Banbury, Oxfordshire, England
26 Loss 18–5–2 (1) Ernie Butcher Gascoigne PTS 10 Jan 28, 1939 Public Hall, Evesham, Worcestershire, England
25 Win 18–4–2 (1) Walter Rankin PTS 10 Jan 19, 1939 Town Hall, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England
24 Win 17–4–2 (1) Alf Bishop PTS 10 Dec 26, 1938 Colonnade Skating Rink, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
23 Loss 16–4–2 (1) Charlie Parkin PTS 10 Dec 10, 1938 Public Hall, Evesham, Worcestershire, England
22 Win 16–3–2 (1) Jack McKnight PTS 10 Nov 21, 1938 Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
21 Loss 15–3–2 (1) Charlie Parkin PTS 10 Nov 14, 1938 Arena, Coventry, West Midlands, England
20 Win 15–2–2 (1) Trevor Burt KO 5 (10) Nov 7, 1938 Colston Hall, Bristol, Avon, England
19 Win 14–2–2 (1) Mick Miller KO 2 (10) Oct 10, 1938 Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
18 Draw 13–2–2 (1) Alf Bishop PTS 10 Oct 3, 1938 Kingsholm Rugby Ground, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England
17 Win 13–2–1 (1) Johnny Clark PTS 10 Aug 11, 1938 Kingsholm Rugby Ground, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England
16 Loss 12–2–1 (1) Rex Whitney PTS 10 Jun 11, 1938 Graziers Arms, West Haddon, Northamptonshire, England
15 Win 12–1–1 (1) Sid Fitzhugh PTS 8 May 23, 1938 Semilong Working Men's Club, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
14 Win 11–1–1 (1) Trevor Burt PTS 8 Mar 28, 1938 Public Hall, Evesham, Worcestershire, England
13 Win 10–1–1 (1) Frankie Smith TKO 4 (8) Mar 19, 1938 Drill Hall, Coventry, West Midlands, England
12 Draw 9–1–1 (1) Bob Hartley PTS 8 Mar 7, 1938 Co-op Hall, Rugby, Warwickshire, England
11 Win 9–1 (1) Walter Rankin PTS 8 Feb 28, 1938 Skating Rink, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England
10 Win 8–1 (1) Bill Blythling TKO 4 (8) Feb 19, 1938 Evesham, Worcestershire, England
9 Win 7–1 (1) Ray Chadwick KO 4 (8) Dec 18, 1937 Public Hall, Evesham, Worcestershire, England
8 Win 6–1 (1) Frank Guest KO 6 (6) Dec 13, 1937 Embassy Rink, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
7 NC 5–1 (1) Eddie Harris ND 4 (6) Nov 21, 1937 Public Hall, Evesham, Worcestershire, England
6 Win 5–1 Phil Proctor KO 2 (6) Nov 20, 1937 Public Hall, Evesham, Worcestershire, England
5 Win 4–1 Trevor Burt PTS 4 Nov 15, 1937 Arena, Coventry, West Midlands, England
4 Win 3–1 Frank Guest PTS 4 Nov 1, 1937 Sparkbrook Stadium, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
3 Win 2–1 Eddie Harris TKO 6 (6) Oct 16, 1937 Public Hall, Evesham, Worcestershire, England
2 Loss 1–1 Trevor Burt KO 3 (6) Oct 4, 1937 Arena, Coventry, West Midlands, England
1 Win 1–0 Eric Lloyd TKO 6 (6) Sep 27, 1937 Co-op Hall, Rugby, Warwickshire, England

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Something About This Lionel Turpin". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 5 March 1940. Retrieved 26 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ "Former champion to be remembered". Leamington Courier. 2 December 2013. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  3. ^ "On This Day: Dick Turpin becomes Britain's first mixed-race boxing champion | The Pugilist - Yahoo Sport". Uk.sports.yahoo.com. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  4. ^ Weeks, Jim. "Breaking the Barrier: How Dick Turpin Became Britain's First Black Boxing Champion | FIGHTLAND". Fightland.vice.com. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Marcel Cerdan KO's Dick TURPIN" on YouTube
  6. ^ Solomons, Jack (1951). Jack Solomons Tells All. Rich & Cowan. p. 149. ASIN B0000CHY1P.
  7. ^ "Dave Sands in Full Colour" on YouTube
  8. ^ Turpin, Jackie; Fox, W. Terry (2005). Battling Jack. Mainstream Publishing. p. 280. ASIN B00AKBEJ7Y.

Sources

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