| Digger Stanley | |
| Nationality: | British |
| Realname: | George Stanley |
| Weight: | Bantamweight |
| Birth Date: | 28 February 1876 |
| Birth Place: | Kingston-upon-Thames, England |
| Total: | 86 |
| Wins: | 56 |
| Losses: | 21 |
| Draws: | 7 |
| No Contests: | 2 |
George 'Digger' Stanley (28 February 1876 – 7 March 1919) was an English boxer who was British and European bantamweight boxing champion.[1]
Stanley was a gypsy, and was born in a caravan at Kingston-upon-Thames. He could not read or write, but developed into a clever boxer. His early boxing career was spent fighting in fairground booths.
He began boxing professionally in 1899. In November 1903 he won the vacant British bantamweight title and in December of the same year he won the British flyweight title, but the titles were not recognised by the British Boxing Board of Control until 1909.
In October 1910 he fought Joe Bowker for the British and European bantamweight titles. He scored an eighth-round knockout to secure the titles. Stanley was also recognised by the National Sporting Club as the holder of the World bantamweight title, although he was not recognised as such in America.
In December 1910 he defended his British title against Johnny Condon, winning on points. In September 1911 he defended it again, against Ike Bradley, again winning on points.
In April and June 1912, he defended his European title twice against the Frenchman, Charles Ledoux. He won the first fight in Covent Garden on points, but lost the second fight in Dieppe, being knocked out in the seventh round.
In October 1912, he successfully defended his British title against Alex Lafferty, winning on points.
In June 1913, he lost his British title to Bill Beynon, on points, but four months later he beat Benyon on points to regain it. However, in his next defence, in April 1914, he lost the British title to Curley Walker on a disqualification in the thirteenth.
He continued to box but had only ten more fights, losing eight of them and winning two.
He had his last fight in February 1919, losing to Mike Blake, and died a month later, in poverty.
In 1909, the National Sporting Club began awarding a Lonsdale Belt to the British champion at each weight. The belts were made from 22 carat gold and enamel. Digger Stanley was awarded the first bantamweight belt and was allowed to retain it after successfully defending his British title.
All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 115 | Loss | 73–21–8 | George Kilts | DQ | 6 (20) | 13 Jul 1918 | ||
| 114 | Loss | 73–20–8 | George Kilts | DQ | 9 (15) | 22 Jun 1918 | ||
| 113 | Loss | 73–19–8 | Walter Young Ross | DQ | 6 (15) | 22 Apr 1918 | ||
| 112 | Win | 73–18–8 | Johnny Hughes | PTS | 20 | 23 Mar 1918 | ||
| 111 | Win | 72–18–8 | Bill Beynon | KO | 5 (15) | 25 Feb 1918 | ||
| 110 | Loss | 71–18–8 | Tommy Noble | PTS | 20 | 18 Feb 1918 | ||
| 109 | Loss | 71–17–8 | Walter Young Ross | PTS | 15 | 28 Jan 1918 | ||
| 108 | Win | 71–16–8 | Tommy Noble | PTS | 20 | 23 Oct 1916 | ||
| 107 | Loss | 70–16–8 | Joe Fox | DQ | 10 (20) | 9 Oct 1916 | ||
| 106 | Win | 70–15–8 | Sid Whatley | KO | 3 (20) | 18 Sep 1916 | ||
| 105 | Loss | 69–15–8 | Young Joe Brooks | PTS | 15 | 13 Mar 1916 | ||
| 104 | Loss | 69–14–8 | Joe Symonds | DQ | 13 (15) | 17 Dec 1915 | ||
| 103 | Loss | 69–13–8 | Tommy Harrison | DQ | 4 (15) | 11 Nov 1915 | ||
| 102 | Win | 69–12–8 | Joe Fox | PTS | 15 | 16 Sep 1915 | ||
| 101 | Draw | 68–12–8 | Jimmy Barry | PTS | 15 | 29 Mar 1915 | ||
| 100 | Win | 68–12–7 | Pedlar Palmer | RTD | 4 (10) | 19 Nov 1914 | ||
| 99 | Loss | 67–12–7 | Curley Walker | DQ | 15 (20) | 20 Apr 1914 | ||
| 98 | Win | 67–11–7 | Bill Beynon | PTS | 20 | 27 Oct 1913 | ||
| 97 | Loss | 66–11–7 | Bill Beynon | PTS | 20 | 2 Jun 1913 | ||
| 96 | Win | 66–10–7 | Alex Lafferty | PTS | 20 | 21 Oct 1912 | ||
| 95 | Win | 65–10–7 | Oswald Stapleton | KO | 9 (10) | 30 Aug 1912 | ||
| 94 | Loss | 64–10–7 | Charles Ledoux | KO | 7 (20) | 23 Jun 1912 | ||
| 93 | Win | 64–9–7 | Charles Ledoux | PTS | 20 | 22 Apr 1912 | ||
| 92 | Loss | 63–9–7 | Jean Poesy | PTS | 15 | 26 Feb 1912 | ||
| 91 | Win | 63–8–7 | Oswald Stapleton | KO | 6 (10) | 11 Dec 1911 | ||
| 90 | Win | 62–8–7 | Ike Young Bradley | PTS | 20 | 14 Sep 1911 | ||
| 89 | Draw | 61–8–7 | Tommy O'Toole | NWS | 6 | 8 Feb 1911 | ||
| 88 | Draw | 61–8–7 | Frankie Burns | NWS | 10 | 27 Jan 1911 | ||
| 87 | Win | 61–8–7 | Johnny Condon | PTS | 20 | 5 Dec 1910 | ||
| 86 | Win | 60–8–7 | Joe Bowker | KO | 8 (20) | 17 Oct 1910 | ||
| 85 | Draw | 59–8–7 | Young Pierce | PTS | 20 | 14 Feb 1910 | ||
| 84 | Win | 59–8–6 | Dick Golding | KO | 3 (10) | 27 Dec 1909 | ||
| 83 | Win | 58–8–6 | Oswald Stapleton | KO | 5 (6) | 3 Nov 1909 | ||
| 82 | Win | 57–8–6 | Alf Mitchell | PTS | 6 | 14 Jun 1909 | ||
| 81 | Draw | 56–8–6 | Jimmy Walsh | PTS | 15 | 24 May 1909 | ||
| 80 | Win | 56–8–5 | Bill Jordan | PTS | 10 | 22 Mar 1909 | ||
| 79 | Draw | 55–8–5 | Wally Morgan | PTS | 6 | 19 Nov 1908 | ||
| 78 | Win | 55–8–4 | Sam Kellar | PTS | 20 | 19 Oct 1908 | ||
| 77 | Win | 54–8–4 | Young Sullivan | PTS | 6 | 4 Apr 1908 | ||
| 76 | Win | 53–8–4 | Ike Young Bradley | PTS | 15 | 30 Mar 1908 | ||
| 75 | Win | 52–8–4 | Driver William Himphen | PTS | 6 | 7 Mar 1908 | ||
| 74 | Win | 51–8–4 | Wally Morgan | PTS | 6 | 22 Feb 1908 | ||
| 73 | Win | 50–8–4 | Wally Morgan | PTS | 6 | 30 Nov 1907 | ||
| 72 | Win | 49–8–4 | Young Lilley | PTS | 6 | 28 Nov 1907 | ||
| 71 | Loss | 48–8–4 | Bob Kendrick | DQ | 9 (20) | 12 Sep 1907 | ||
| 70 | Loss | 48–7–4 | Al Delmont | DQ | 12 (20) | 6 Jun 1907 | ||
| 69 | Win | 48–6–4 | Ike Young Bradley | PTS | 20 | 13 Dec 1906 | ||
| 68 | Win | 47–6–4 | Harry Young Slough | KO | 18 (20) | 21 May 1906 | ||
| 67 | Win | 46–6–4 | Billy Hughes | RTD | 16 (20) | 10 Feb 1906 | ||
| 66 | Win | 45–6–4 | Ike Young Bradley | PTS | 20 | 20 Jan 1906 | ||
| 65 | Draw | 44–6–4 | Darkey Haley | PTS | 6 | 18 Dec 1905 | ||
| 64 | Loss | 44–6–3 | Jimmy Walsh | PTS | 15 | 20 Oct 1905 | ||
| 63 | Loss | 44–5–3 | George Moore | PTS | 6 | 1 Jul 1905 | ||
| 62 | Win | 44–4–3 | Darkey Haley | PTS | 6 | 24 Jun 1905 | ||
| 61 | Win | 43–4–3 | Louis D'Or | RTD | 7 (10) | 17 Apr 1905 | ||
| 60 | Win | 42–4–3 | Alf Smith | KO | 4 (4) | 25 Mar 1905 | ||
| 59 | Win | 41–4–3 | Lew Branson | KO | 4 (6) | 27 Feb 1905 | ||
| 58 | Loss | 40–4–3 | Owen Moran | PTS | 20 | 23 Jan 1905 | ||
| 57 | 40–3–3 | Jack Johnson | ND | 4 | 16 Jan 1905 | |||
| 56 | Win | 40–3–3 | Syd Wilmott | KO | 4 (20) | 19 Nov 1904 | ||
| 55 | Win | 39–3–3 | Harry McDermott | KO | 19 (20) | 17 Oct 1904 | ||
| 54 | Win | 38–3–3 | Harry McDermott | KO | 6 (20) | 11 Jul 1904 | ||
| 53 | Draw | 37–3–3 | Jimmy Walsh | PTS | 15 | 6 Jun 1904 | ||
| 52 | Win | 37–3–2 | Jimmy Walsh | PTS | 15 | 18 Apr 1904 | ||
| 51 | 36–3–2 | Alf Butler | ND | 3 | 21 Dec 1903 | |||
| 50 | Win | 36–3–2 | Jack Walker | PTS | 15 | 14 Dec 1903 | ||
| 49 | Win | 35–3–2 | Owen Moran | PTS | 15 | 9 Nov 1903 | ||
| 48 | Win | 34–3–2 | George Dixon | PTS | 6 | 12 Oct 1903 | ||
| 47 | Loss | 33–3–2 | George Dixon | PTS | 6 | 1 Aug 1903 | ||
| 46 | Win | 33–2–2 | Jim Williams | PTS | 6 | 11 Jul 1903 | ||
| 45 | Loss | 32–2–2 | Pedlar Palmer | PTS | 12 | 11 May 1903 | ||
| 44 | Win | 32–1–2 | Jack Guyon | PTS | 10 | 28 Mar 1903 | ||
| 43 | Win | 31–1–2 | Jim Kenrick | PTS | 6 | 14 Mar 1903 | ||
| 42 | Win | 30–1–2 | Jack Walker | PTS | 12 | 2 Mar 1903 | ||
| 41 | Win | 29–1–2 | Jack Guyon | PTS | 6 | 21 Feb 1903 | ||
| 40 | Win | 28–1–2 | Jim Denhart | PTS | 6 | 14 Feb 1903 | ||
| 39 | Draw | 27–1–2 | Jack Guyon | PTS | 6 | 7 Feb 1903 | ||
| 38 | Win | 27–1–1 | Dave Morbin | PTS | 6 | 17 Jan 1903 | ||
| 37 | Win | 26–1–1 | Tom Rippington | PTS | 6 | 12 Jan 1903 | ||
| 36 | 25–1–1 | Bob Garwood | ND | 3 | 1 Dec 1902 | |||
| 35 | 25–1–1 | Tom Bowker | ND | 3 | 15 Nov 1902 | |||
| 34 | Win | 25–1–1 | Jack Guyon | PTS | 10 | 10 Nov 1902 | ||
| 33 | 24–1–1 | Tom Bowker | ND | 3 | 20 Oct 1902 | |||
| 32 | Win | 24–1–1 | Harry Young Slough | KO | 5 (8) | 13 Oct 1902 | ||
| 31 | 23–1–1 | William King | ND | 3 | 6 Oct 1902 | |||
| 30 | Win | 23–1–1 | Jack Fitzpatrick | PTS | 6 | 22 Sep 1902 | ||
| 29 | Win | 22–1–1 | Tom King | PTS | 6 | 20 Sep 1902 | ||
| 28 | Win | 21–1–1 | George Collins | PTS | 6 | 13 Sep 1902 | ||
| 27 | Win | 20–1–1 | Tom King | PTS | 6 | 6 Sep 1902 | ||
| 26 | Win | 19–1–1 | Cockney Cohen | PTS | 6 | 30 Aug 1902 | ||
| 25 | Loss | 18–1–1 | Pedlar Palmer | PTS | 10 | 16 Jun 1902 | ||
| 24 | Win | 18–0–1 | Jack Fitzpatrick | PTS | 8 | 24 May 1902 | ||
| 23 | Win | 17–0–1 | Jack Fitzpatrick | PTS | 6 | 17 May 1902 | ||
| 22 | Win | 16–0–1 | Dick Golding | PTS | 10 | 12 May 1902 | ||
| 21 | Win | 15–0–1 | Tibby Watson | PTS | 6 | 5 May 1902 | ||
| 20 | Win | 14–0–1 | Jack Christian | PTS | 6 | 3 May 1902 | ||
| 19 | Win | 13–0–1 | Tibby Watson | PTS | 10 | 14 Apr 1902 | ||
| 18 | 12–0–1 | Frank Connor | NC | 3 | 10 Apr 1902 | |||
| 17 | 12–0–1 | Sid Clarke | NC | 3 | 3 Apr 1902 | |||
| 16 | Win | 12–0–1 | Jim Kenrick | PTS | 6 | 29 Mar 1902 | ||
| 15 | Win | 11–0–1 | Tibby Watson | PTS | 6 | 22 Mar 1902 | ||
| 14 | Win | 10–0–1 | Ginger Atkinson | PTS | 6 | 15 Mar 1902 | ||
| 13 | Win | 9–0–1 | Jim Denhart | PTS | 6 | 3 Mar 1902 | ||
| 12 | Win | 8–0–1 | George Dunny | PTS | 10 | 17 Feb 1902 | ||
| 11 | Win | 7–0–1 | Jim Denhart | PTS | 6 | 1 Feb 1902 | ||
| 10 | Draw | 6–0–1 | Frank Morcombe | PTS | 12 | 23 Jan 1902 | ||
| 9 | 6–0 | Jim Denhart | ND | 4 | 18 Dec 1901 | |||
| 8 | 6–0 | Jem Burden | ND | 4 | 12 Dec 1901 | |||
| 7 | Win | 6–0 | Owen Moran | PTS | 20 | 17 Jun 1901 | ||
| 6 | Win | 5–0 | Jack Norman | PTS | 6 | 1 Apr 1901 | ||
| 5 | Win | 4–0 | Charlie Ward | RTD | 5 (10) | 13 Dec 1899 | ||
| 4 | 3–0 | Frank Jenkins | ND | 4 | 12 Dec 1899 | |||
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | J Newlands | PTS | 4 | 10 Jul 1899 | ||
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | J Newlands | PTS | 4 | 12 Jun 1899 | ||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Johnny Ford | PTS | 10 | 25 Mar 1899 | ||