Dave Crowley (Clerkenwell, London)
Born: 04/05/1910, Clerkenwell, London
Died: 11/12/1974
Dave Crowley was one of Britain's most exciting feather-cum-lightweights of the 1930s. He could box, he could fight and packed a punch in both hands. Hailing from Clerkenwell - then London's Little Italy - Dave, who was half Italian, turned pro in 1929.
He had to box 86 contests before he earned his first British title fight, against Nel Tarelton in 1934. Dave lost to the brilliant Liverpudlian but two years later, during a USA tour, he boxed a draw with reigning world featherweight champion, Mike Belloise, to earn a shot at Belloise's title. Unfortunately, Crowley was stopped in the ninth round of his world title bid and never received another shot; but he did become British lightweight champion in May 1938.
In 180 fights he boxed 34 times against men who at some stage were champions. Among them were world champions Jackie Brown, Panama Al Brown, Petey Sarron and Freddie Miller.
Recorded fights
Won: 128
Lost: 41
Drawn: 11
Weight classes fought in
Lightweight
Featherweight
Bantamweight
Boxing videos
Dave Crowley vs. Nel Tarleton (1934)
Dave Crowley gives a few simple lessons in boxing (1939)