Jack Hyams (Stepney)
aka 'Kid Froggy'
Born: 08/02/1909, Aldgate, London
Died: 11/1982
Jewish Jack Hyams attended school in Myrtle Street with Jack Kid Berg and learnt to box at the Victoria Boys' Club in Commercial Road. He turned pro in his mid teens, through sheer poverty and against his parents' wishes. He boxed initially under the pseudonym 'Kid Froggy' and in time proved himself one of the East End's cleverest boxers.
In a 17-year pro career he fought at every weight class from bantam to light-heavy, taking on almost every reigning champion. The men he beat include such top-notchers as Harry Corbett, Dave McCleave, Len Fowler, Mick Hill, Young Johnny Brown, Archie Sexton, Alf Mancini, Frank Hough, Bill Hardy and Eddie Maguire.
Hyams won the British Southern Area middleweight title in June 1936 and challenged the fearsome Jock McAvoy for the British crown that October. After a brilliant display he was stopped on a cut eye in the eleventh. Despite continued success, Hyams never got another championship shot. But he did win the Southern Area light-heavyweight title in 1938, and although he lost it that same year, he regained it in 1941.
Recorded fights
Won: 102
Lost: 47
Drawn: 15
Divisions fought in
Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Welterweight
Lightweight
Featherweight
Bantamweight