Boxing in Norwich - Arthur 'Ginger' Sadd 1939 Q&A
Arthur 'Ginger' Sadd of Norwich boxed from 1929 until 1951 and held the Eastern Area Welterweight and Middleweight titles. He beat many of the top welter and middleweight contenders of his era, yet only got one shot at a British title - when he challenged the redoubtable Jock McAvoy for the British and Empire middleweight titles in May 1939.
Sadd was not a big puncher but a master craftsman in the ring. He continued to box when he was well past his prime, but his boxing skills were enough for him to hold his own with the best middleweights of the 1940s.
What was the hardest fight of your career?
Against Tommy Martin of Deptford, at Holborn Stadium, in December, 1937. For that fight, which I won on points, I was awarded a Certificate of Merit. I did my training at the Green Man, Blackheath, and Tommy trained at Deptford. There was a very tense atmosphere during the training which was kept right up to the fight.
When did your name hit the headlines?
When I beat ex-Seaman Lawlor, of Lowesoft. That was for the Eastern Area title and it was my first official fight. I found Lawlor awkward and unorthodox, owing to his southpaw stance, and it took me several rounds to sum him up. I certainly had to fight all the way to get the decision.
What fight gave you the greatest thrill?
That's easy. My fight with Jock McAvoy for the championship of Great Britain. It was not only the fight which thrilled me but the fact that I very nearly won it. The thrill continued when I reached Norwich, for there the streets were lined with my home-folks to give me a welcome. There were 8,000 of them. McAvoy is a great fighter, but that was the first time I'd met him and I'm confident I can beat him on the second time of asking.
What are your interests outside boxing?
My business, for I am a publican. I'm a keen football fan and have many friends in the football world. There is the Norwich Lads' Club, which I am sure is the finest equipped club in the world. I won the championship of the club four years in succession so you see what the club did for me.
Then I'm a keen darts player. In fact, all my family are darts experts. There are 18 in or family, and I am the 13th child. We have a family darts team composed of eight brothers and we travel the distric playing the game. In the Darts Charity Cup, in which 500 teams entered, our family team reached the last eight. I'm a pretty strong swimmer and, when a lad, used to dive into the River Wersum for pennies.
What were the strong and weak points of the three best men you've met?
The best, of course, is Jock McAvoy. I found no weaknesses in his make-up and I thought his left and right hooking were his strongest points. Then I place Ben Valentine amongst the best. His strength is his fast punching. He seems to be moving everywhere at the same time and hitting from every angle. George Davis, Southhern Area middleweight champion, is a grand lad in the ring. I consider he is the hardest puncher at his weight. He has a terrific right-hand punch to the ribs. Maybe it's my fault, but when up against them I found no weaknesses.
What is your most outstanding memory?
Oh, that was in Manchester before my McAvoy fight. My manager, Wally Day, and I left the hotel on the morning of the fight for a quiet stroll. We did not think we would be recognised, but turning into a side street we met three men delivering coals from a lorry. One of the men recognised me and came off. He carried a lump of coal. "Best o' luck, Ginger, lad," he said, "and here's a lump of coal to bring tha' luck." And he placed the coal in my hand. I thought this a fine gesture coming from a Lancashire man, and his good wishes very, very nearly came to pass.
Who has helped you in the boxing game?
First of all place Mr Wally Day, the best manager in the game. He just knows how to handle me and what's good for me. I've found great assistance from Bob Scally as a sparring partner. He can tune me up better than anyone else. I've another sparring partner to thank - Danny Gardener, of Mexborough. He was an army boxer and is now doing service in the Territorials.
What was the hardest punch you ever took?
For Lawlor, at Norwich. That punch had me down in the fourth round, but I beat the count and got up to win the fight. But it was some punch!
What was your best fight?
That is rather difficult to say. But maybe I would take my fight with Roy Mills, of Sunderland, when we met at North Shields. At that time I was feeling absolutely in the pink. You know how you feel like that sometimes. Mills is a good lad, yet he could do nothing against me. Every move I tried came off and I felt I was fighting on top of the world.
What about your next fight?
Well, an outstanding visitor has come to our shores. He comes with a fine reputation in Australia. He is Fred Henneberry, champion middleweight, and has already beaten George Davis, so he has class. I'd like to fight him for the British Empire title. That looks a "natural" and should pull in the crowd.
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