Gipsy Daniels | |
Nationality: | Welsh |
Realname: | William Daniel |
Weight: | Light-heavyweight |
Birth Date: | 9 February 1903 |
Birth Place: | Llanelli, Wales |
Death Date: | June 1967 |
Death Place: | Plymouth, England |
Style: | Orthodox |
Total: | 152 |
Wins: | 95 |
Ko: | 37 |
Losses: | 44 |
Draws: | 13 |
William "Gipsy" Daniels (9 February 1903 – June 1967), was a Welsh Light-heavyweight boxing champion of Britain who, in an eighteen-year career, took in 141 contests, including eight fights in New York City, and notably knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of a 1928 encounter.
There is some confusion as to Daniels' actual name and place of birth. Though a definitive answer was given in Tony Lee's 2009 publication which printed a copy of his birth certificate. Daniels was born in Llanelli on 9 February 1903 as William Daniel to David John Daniel and Francis Ann Roberts.[1] His father was a successful rugby player who represented Llanelli and Wales.[2]
Daniels began his career boxing in contests in his home area of South Wales, and as an eighteen-year-old he fought under the name "Young Daniel" as a middleweight. By the end of 1920 he was boxing in Kent, and managed to win a couple of fights against similarly inexperienced opposition. On 24 February 1921, Daniels fought his first veteran boxer when he was carded to face Belgian Rene DeVos at The Ring in Blackfriars, London. DeVos already had 58 bouts under his belt, 37 of them wins, including a defeat over Daniels' fellow countryman Frank Moody. Daniels lost the 20 round fight on points.
By the end of 1921, Daniels had amassed a fighting record of eleven wins, six losses and two draws. In March 1922 he won a heavyweight competition at Blackfriars, and in October of that year he was fighting at the Pioneer Sporting Club in New York. It was around this time that Daniels was introduced to James J. Johnston, a local boxing promoter. Johnston decided that Daniels needed a gimmick to sell himself to the public, and decided that he looked "like a gypsy". Johnston took Daniels to a Woolworths five-and-ten-cent store and dressed him in cheap bandanna headscarves and hooped earrings. Johnston dubbed him 'Gypsey Daniels', though the most commonly used spelling of his nickname was 'Gipsy'.[3] Daniels fought eight times in New York, including two contests at Madison Square Garden, before returning to Great Britain.[4]
Daniels continued fighting in Wales and England, but in September 1925 he travelled to mainland Europe for the first time in his career, to face Swedish boxer Harry Persson at the Cirkus in Stockholm. Although Daniels lost the bout on points, on his return to Britain he began his most successful period of boxing, remaining undefeated for the next 18 fights. After a win over Frank Moody in April 1927 which earned him the Welsh Light Heavyweight belt, Daniels faced Tom Berry for the British Light-Heavyweight Championship Belt.[5] Daniels won the 20 round bout on points, but he faced a dilemma as to whether to defend the title as the National Sporting Club (NSC), who controlled boxing in Great Britain, offered far lower purses than outside promoters. Daniels chose to fight for a non-NSC affiliated promoter to maximise his income, giving up his newly acquired title.[6]
In January 1928, Daniels lost a bout to German, Max Schmeling followed by a defeat to Len Johnson, but in a rematch with Schmeling on 25 February he knocked out the German in the first round. Daniels career continued without the success of his earlier years, losing twice to Walter Neusel in Germany, but beating and drawing with Jack London before London became British and Commonwealth Champion.
Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Age | Location | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
166 | Win | 103–47–15 | Alf Robinson | PTS | 8 | May 12, 1938 | |||
165 | Win | 102–47–15 | Dick Power | PTS | 10 | Mar 8, 1938 | |||
164 | Win | 101–47–15 | Jeff Wilson | PTS | 12 | Nov 3, 1937 | |||
163 | Draw | 100–47–15 | Jim McKenzie | PTS | 10 | Oct 7, 1937 | |||
162 | Win | 100–47–14 | Fred Rowlands | PTS | 12 | Jul 29, 1937 | |||
161 | Loss | 99–47–14 | George Bennett | DQ | 3 (10) | Feb 8, 1937 | |||
160 | Win | 99–46–14 | Frank Borrington | KO | 5 (10) | Jan 25, 1937 | |||
159 | Win | 98–46–14 | Jim Young | TKO | 7 (10) | Dec 3, 1936 | |||
158 | Loss | 97–46–14 | Al Conquest | PTS | 10 | Dec 3, 1934 | |||
157 | Win | 97–45–14 | Teddy Phillips | PTS | 12 | Jun 11, 1934 | |||
156 | Loss | 96–45–14 | George Bennett | PTS | 12 | Mar 26, 1934 | |||
155 | Win | 96–44–14 | Tony Arpino | KO | 8 (12) | Mar 19, 1934 | |||
154 | Draw | 95–44–14 | Frank Borrington | PTS | 12 | Mar 5, 1934 | |||
153 | Win | 95–44–13 | Joe Edwards | PTS | 10 | Dec 26, 1933 | |||
152 | Win | 94–44–13 | Reggie Meen | PTS | 10 | Nov 27, 1933 | |||
151 | Draw | 93–44–13 | Frank Borrington | PTS | 12 | Nov 13, 1933 | |||
150 | Draw | 93–44–12 | Jack London | PTS | 12 | Jul 31, 1933 | |||
149 | Win | 93–44–11 | Jack London | PTS | 12 | Jul 17, 1933 | |||
148 | Win | 92–44–11 | Jeff Wilson | TKO | 4 (12) | Jun 26, 1933 | |||
147 | Loss | 91–44–11 | Harry Crossley | PTS | 12 | May 14, 1933 | |||
146 | Win | 91–43–11 | Frank Borrington | KO | 13 (15) | Apr 15, 1933 | |||
145 | Win | 90–43–11 | Jack London | RTD | 7 (12) | Apr 10, 1933 | |||
144 | Win | 89–43–11 | Jack Strongbow | TKO | 7 (12) | Feb 20, 1933 | |||
143 | Loss | 88–43–11 | Salvatore Ruggirello | TKO | 11 (15) | Jan 26, 1933 | |||
142 | Win | 88–42–11 | Ted Gater | TKO | 14 (15) | Jan 2, 1933 | |||
141 | Loss | 87–42–11 | Walter Neusel | PTS | 10 | Nov 26, 1932 | |||
140 | Win | 87–41–11 | Bernard Cook | PTS | 15 | Nov 5, 1932 | |||
139 | Loss | 86–41–11 | Del Fontaine | PTS | 15 | Oct 15, 1932 | |||
138 | Win | 86–40–11 | Rene Morris | PTS | 10 | Aug 13, 1932 | |||
137 | Win | 85–40–11 | Guardsman George Gater | PTS | 12 | Apr 11, 1932 | |||
136 | Loss | 84–40–11 | Harry Crossley | PTS | 15 | Feb 29, 1932 | |||
135 | Loss | 84–39–11 | Pierre Charles | PTS | 10 | Jan 30, 1932 | |||
134 | Loss | 84–38–11 | Don McCorkindale | PTS | 12 | Oct 19, 1931 | |||
133 | Win | 84–37–11 | Lode Wuestenraedt | KO | 9 (15) | Sep 3, 1931 | |||
132 | Loss | 83–37–11 | Walter Neusel | PTS | 10 | Jul 31, 1931 | |||
131 | Loss | 83–36–11 | Ernst Pistulla | PTS | 10 | Jun 5, 1931 | |||
130 | Draw | 83–35–11 | Jack Stanley | PTS | 15 | Mar 30, 1931 | |||
129 | Win | 83–35–10 | Jack Humbeeck | PTS | 15 | Mar 16, 1931 | |||
128 | Win | 82–35–10 | Don Shortland | PTS | 15 | Feb 9, 1931 | |||
127 | Loss | 81–35–10 | Theo Sas | PTS | 15 | Feb 2, 1931 | |||
126 | Win | 81–34–10 | Bob Carvill | TKO | 13 (15) | Jan 19, 1931 | |||
125 | Loss | 80–34–10 | Bob Carvill | DQ | 3 (15) | Jan 5, 1931 | |||
124 | Win | 80–33–10 | Jack Stanley | PTS | 15 | Oct 27, 1930 | |||
123 | Win | 79–33–10 | Joe Mullings | KO | 6 (15) | Oct 19, 1930 | |||
122 | Win | 78–33–10 | Farrier Berwick | KO | 7 (15) | Sep 29, 1930 | |||
121 | Loss | 77–33–10 | Frank Moody | PTS | 15 | Aug 4, 1930 | |||
120 | Loss | 77–32–10 | Reggie Meen | PTS | 15 | Jul 21, 1930 | |||
119 | Loss | 77–31–10 | Harry Crossley | PTS | 15 | Apr 15, 1930 | |||
118 | Win | 77–30–10 | Farrier Berwick | KO | 7 (15) | Apr 5, 1930 | |||
117 | Win | 76–30–10 | Reggie Meen | RTD | 9 (15) | Mar 25, 1930 | |||
116 | Win | 75–30–10 | Billy Adair | PTS | 15 | Feb 25, 1930 | |||
115 | Loss | 74–30–10 | Louis Guillaume | DQ | 4 (15) | Jan 20, 1930 | |||
114 | Loss | 74–29–10 | Helmut Hartkopp | PTS | 8 | Dec 7, 1929 | |||
113 | Loss | 74–28–10 | Michele Bonaglia | KO | 8 (?) | Oct 12, 1929 | |||
112 | Loss | 74–27–10 | Maurice Griselle | PTS | 12 | Sep 24, 1929 | |||
111 | Loss | 74–26–10 | Harry Crossley | PTS | 15 | Aug 26, 1929 | |||
110 | Loss | 74–25–10 | Hein Müller | PTS | 10 | Apr 12, 1929 | |||
109 | Loss | 74–24–10 | Franz Diener | PTS | 10 | Mar 8, 1929 | |||
108 | Loss | 74–23–10 | Jimmy Mendes | PTS | 15 | Jan 21, 1929 | |||
107 | Win | 74–22–10 | Jack Stanley | PTS | 15 | Aug 11, 1928 | |||
106 | Win | 73–22–10 | Hein Domgörgen | KO | 2 (10) | Apr 22, 1928 | |||
105 | Win | 72–22–10 | Hans Breitensträter | KO | 2 (10) | Mar 31, 1928 | |||
104 | Win | 71–22–10 | Max Schmeling | KO | 1 (10) | Feb 25, 1928 | |||
103 | Loss | 70–22–10 | Len Johnson | PTS | 15 | Jan 23, 1928 | |||
102 | Loss | 70–21–10 | Max Schmeling | PTS | 10 | Dec 2, 1927 | |||
101 | Win | 70–20–10 | Emile Morelle | KO | 2 (15) | Nov 21, 1927 | |||
100 | Win | 69–20–10 | Arthur Vermaut | KO | 5 (15) | Nov 7, 1927 | |||
99 | Loss | 68–20–10 | Frank Fowler | PTS | 15 | Sep 8, 1927 | |||
98 | Win | 68–19–10 | Tom Berry | PTS | 20 | Apr 25, 1927 | |||
97 | Win | 67–19–10 | Frank Moody | PTS | 20 | Apr 11, 1927 | |||
96 | Win | 66–19–10 | Alfred Baker | KO | 12 (15) | Mar 21, 1927 | |||
95 | Draw | 65–19–10 | Pierre Charles | PTS | 15 | Feb 7, 1927 | |||
94 | Draw | 65–19–9 | Pierre Charles | PTS | 15 | Dec 20, 1926 | |||
93 | Win | 65–19–8 | Fernand DeLarge | PTS | 10 | Dec 9, 1926 | |||
92 | Win | 64–19–8 | Fernand DeLarge | PTS | 15 | Nov 2, 1926 | |||
91 | Win | 63–19–8 | Constant Barrick | PTS | 10 | Oct 5, 1926 | |||
90 | Win | 62–19–8 | Paul Samson Körner | TKO | 6 (12) | Sep 19, 1926 | |||
89 | Draw | 61–19–8 | Jack Stanley | PTS | 15 | Sep 6, 1926 | |||
88 | Win | 61–19–7 | Marine Bill Trinder | KO | 6 (15) | Aug 15, 1926 | |||
87 | Win | 60–19–7 | Raoul Paillaux | KO | 2 (15) | Jul 19, 1926 | |||
86 | Win | 59–19–7 | Marcel Nilles | PTS | 10 | Jun 9, 1926 | |||
85 | Win | 58–19–7 | Francois Charles | PTS | 10 | Apr 1, 1926 | |||
84 | Win | 57–19–7 | Jim Slater | KO | 3 (15) | Mar 1, 1926 | |||
83 | Win | 56–19–7 | Marine Bill Trinder | PTS | 15 | Dec 19, 1925 | |||
82 | Win | 55–19–7 | Charlie Chetwynd | PTS | 10 | Dec 14, 1925 | |||
81 | Win | 54–19–7 | Leon Randol | PTS | 20 | Nov 16, 1925 | |||
80 | Loss | 53–19–7 | Harry Persson | PTS | 15 | Sep 24, 1925 | |||
79 | Loss | 53–18–7 | Phil Scott | PTS | 15 | Aug 29, 1925 | |||
78 | Draw | 53–17–7 | Soldier Jones | PTS | 15 | Jul 25, 1925 | |||
77 | Win | 53–17–6 | Leon Randol | PTS | 15 | Jul 16, 1925 | |||
76 | Win | 52–17–6 | Harry Reeve | KO | 3 (15) | Jul 11, 1925 | |||
75 | Win | 51–17–6 | Arthur Townley | PTS | 15 | May 28, 1925 | |||
74 | Win | 50–17–6 | Sergeant Sid Pape | RTD | 7 (15) | May 25, 1925 | |||
73 | Win | 49–17–6 | Jean Leroi | PTS | 15 | May 9, 1925 | |||
72 | Win | 48–17–6 | Frank Fowler | PTS | 15 | Apr 27, 1925 | |||
71 | Draw | 47–17–6 | Dave Magill | PTS | 15 | Apr 14, 1925 | |||
70 | Loss | 47–17–5 | Jack Stanley | PTS | 15 | Mar 21, 1925 | |||
69 | Win | 47–16–5 | Dave Magill | PTS | 15 | Feb 22, 1925 | |||
68 | Win | 46–16–5 | Frank Fowler | PTS | 15 | Jan 25, 1925 | |||
67 | Loss | 45–16–5 | Frank Fowler | PTS | 15 | Dec 26, 1924 | |||
66 | Win | 45–15–5 | George Hetherington | PTS | 15 | Nov 22, 1924 | |||
65 | Win | 44–15–5 | Joe Mullings | PTS | 15 | Nov 14, 1924 | |||
64 | Win | 43–15–5 | Phil Scott | PTS | 15 | Oct 27, 1924 | |||
63 | Win | 42–15–5 | Kid Moose | PTS | 15 | Oct 9, 1924 | |||
62 | Win | 41–15–5 | Corporal Billy Nash | TKO | 3 (15) | Aug 4, 1924 | |||
61 | Win | 40–15–5 | Harry Gold | TKO | 10 (15) | Jun 14, 1924 | |||
60 | Win | 39–15–5 | Stanley Glen | PTS | 15 | May 31, 1924 | |||
59 | Loss | 38–15–5 | Tom Berry | PTS | 15 | Mar 6, 1924 | |||
58 | Loss | 38–14–5 | Phil Scott | PTS | 15 | Dec 31, 1923 | |||
57 | Loss | 38–13–5 | Tom Berry | PTS | 15 | Dec 17, 1923 | |||
56 | Win | 38–12–5 | Guardsman Charlie Penwill | KO | 4 (15) | Dec 10, 1923 | |||
55 | Win | 37–12–5 | Guardsman Charlie Penwill | PTS | 10 | Oct 1, 1923 | |||
54 | Win | 36–12–5 | Albert 'Kid' Lloyd | PTS | 20 | Sep 3, 1923 | |||
53 | Win | 35–12–5 | Fred Davies | PTS | 20 | Jul 21, 1923 | |||
52 | Win | 34–12–5 | Arthur Townley | TKO | 7 (15) | Jul 12, 1923 | |||
51 | Loss | 33–12–5 | Frank Moody | PTS | 15 | Jul 3, 1923 | |||
50 | Win | 33–11–5 | Billy Cook | RTD | 7 (10) | Apr 28, 1923 | |||
49 | Win | 32–11–5 | Wolf Larsen | PTS | 10 | Mar 6, 1923 | |||
48 | Win | 31–11–5 | Fred Clarke | TKO | 4 (6) | Feb 21, 1923 | |||
47 | Loss | 30–11–5 | Charley McKenna | PTS | 12 | Jan 29, 1923 | |||
46 | Win | 30–10–5 | Charley McKenna | PTS | 10 | Dec 19, 1922 | |||
45 | Win | 29–10–5 | Wally Stripp | TKO | 4 (10) | Dec 5, 1922 | |||
44 | Win | 28–10–5 | Stewart Bell | PTS | 4 | Nov 27, 1922 | |||
43 | Win | 27–10–5 | Jack Douglas | PTS | 8 | Nov 21, 1922 | |||
42 | Loss | 26–10–5 | Dave Magill | PTS | 20 | Sep 18, 1922 | |||
41 | Loss | 26–9–5 | Jerry Shea | PTS | 20 | Aug 28, 1922 | |||
40 | Win | 26–8–5 | Johnny Bee | PTS | 15 | Jul 13, 1922 | |||
39 | Win | 25–8–5 | Harry Drake | PTS | 15 | Jun 10, 1922 | |||
38 | Draw | 24–8–5 | Pierre Nicolas | PTS | 15 | May 13, 1922 | |||
37 | Loss | 24–8–4 | Douglas Warner | TKO | 14 (15) | Apr 8, 1922 | |||
36 | Win | 24–7–4 | Trevor Llewellyn | PTS | 15 | Apr 1, 1922 | |||
35 | Win | 23–7–4 | Ernie Millson | PTS | 20 | Mar 23, 1922 | |||
34 | Win | 22–7–4 | Albert Rogers | PTS | 10 | Mar 9, 1922 | |||
33 | Win | 21–7–4 | Douglas Warner | PTS | 10 | Mar 2, 1922 | |||
32 | Win | 20–7–4 | Tom Norris | KO | 3 (15) | Feb 18, 1922 | |||
31 | Win | 19–7–4 | Harry Ashdown | KO | 1 (6) | Feb 16, 1922 | |||
30 | Win | 18–7–4 | Tom Plant | PTS | 6 | Feb 9, 1922 | |||
29 | Win | 17–7–4 | Len Collett | TKO | 2 (15) | Jan 30, 1922 | |||
28 | Loss | 16–7–4 | Guardsman George West | TKO | 8 (15) | Dec 19, 1921 | |||
27 | Win | 16–6–4 | Jack Hart | PTS | 15 | Dec 6, 1921 | |||
26 | Loss | 15–6–4 | Douglas Warner | PTS | 6 | Nov 17, 1921 | |||
25 | Win | 15–5–4 | Guardsman George West | PTS | 15 | Nov 3, 1921 | |||
24 | Loss | 14–5–4 | Fred Newberry | PTS | 15 | Oct 14, 1921 | |||
23 | Win | 14–4–4 | Mose Davies | KO | 12 (15) | Sep 12, 1921 | |||
22 | Win | 13–4–4 | Charlie Kemp | PTS | 15 | Sep 1, 1921 | |||
21 | Loss | 12–4–4 | Ted Moore | RTD | 9 (15) | Aug 19, 1921 | |||
20 | Win | 12–3–4 | Private Billy Cattell | TKO | 5 (15) | Jun 30, 1921 | |||
19 | Loss | 11–3–4 | Gunner Eddie Feathers | PTS | 15 | Apr 5, 1921 | |||
18 | Win | 11–2–4 | Ivor Powell | TKO | 5 (15) | Apr 2, 1921 | |||
17 | Loss | 10–2–4 | Rene De Vos | PTS | 20 | Feb 24, 1921 | |||
16 | Win | 10–1–4 | Joe Davis | PTS | 10 | Nov 20, 1920 | |||
15 | Win | 9–1–4 | Harry Franks | PTS | 15 | Nov 15, 1920 | |||
14 | Win | 8–1–4 | Bill Johnson | KO | 3 (10) | Oct 30, 1920 | |||
13 | Win | 7–1–4 | Pat Smith | PTS | 10 | Oct 23, 1920 | |||
12 | Win | 6–1–4 | Fred Smith | PTS | 10 | Oct 16, 1920 | |||
11 | Loss | 5–1–4 | Jack Davies | PTS | 10 | Oct 7, 1920 | |||
10 | Draw | 5–0–4 | Jim Davies | PTS | 15 | Sep 25, 1920 | |||
9 | Draw | 5–0–3 | Harry Higgins | PTS | 15 | Aug 28, 1920 | |||
8 | Win | 5–0–2 | Evan Llewellyn | PTS | 8 | Apr 17, 1920 | |||
7 | Win | 4–0–2 | Bryn Jenkins | PTS | 15 | Apr 3, 1920 | |||
6 | Win | 3–0–2 | Jack Terrett | RTD | 7 (10) | Feb 28, 1920 | |||
5 | Win | 2–0–2 | Young W. Amesbury | KO | 2 (15) | Jan 31, 1920 | |||
4 | Draw | 1–0–2 | Jack Higgins | PTS | 10 | Jan 24, 1920 | |||
3 | Win | 1–0–1 | Dai Jones | PTS | 10 | Aug 30, 1919 | |||
2 | 0–0–1 | Jack Jones | ND | 4 | Aug 25, 1919 | ||||
1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Frank Evans | PTS | 15 | Jul 12, 1919 | |||