Name Jack Solomons | Died 1979 | |
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Jack Solomons's gym remembered by Sammy McCarthy and Teddy Lewis
Jack Solomons OBE (December 1900 – 8 December 1979) was a British boxing promoter who has been called "one of the greatest boxing promoters in history" and "England's greatest boxing impresario".
Solomons was born in Petticoat Lane in the East End of London. He began promoting boxing in London during the 1930s. He took over operations at the Devonshire Club in Hackney, but that club was destroyed in the bombing of 1940. Later,his base of operations was his gymnasium located at 41 Great Windmill Street in Soho.
His first great success came when he put together a match between Jack London and Bruce Woodcock for the British heavyweight title. He was involved in many major British boxing promotions involving Woodcock, Freddie Mills, and Randolph Turpin during those years. He promoted the bout between Turpin and Sugar Ray Robinson when Robinson lost his middleweight world title in 1951. He was particularly associated with promoting boxing matches at Harringay Arena in north London. In all, he promoted 26 world title fights. He also promoted Henry Cooper's 1963 bout with Muhammad Ali (but not their 1966 rematch). He was appointed OBE in the 1978 New Year Honours.
Solomons died in 1979 and was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.