Brian Curvis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brian Curvis |
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Curvis wearing one of his Lonsdale Belts in 1964
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| Statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Rated at | Welterweight | |||||||||||||
| Nationality |  Wales |
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| Born | 14 August 1937 Swansea, Wales |
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| Died | 9 January 2012 (aged 74) | |||||||||||||
| Stance | Southpaw | |||||||||||||
| Boxing record | ||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 41 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 37 | |||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 22 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Draws | 0 | |||||||||||||
| No contests | 0 | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Brian Nancurvis (born August 14, 1937 – died January 9, 2012) was a famous boxer from Swansea, Wales. He was known professionally as Brian Curvis. He boxed from 1959 to 1966 in the Welterweight division. In 1960, he became the British welterweight champion. He retired without ever losing his British title. Brian Curvis is also the only welterweight boxer to win two Lonsdale Belts outright, which is a special award for winning a British title three times. He only lost four fights in his career, and all of those were against boxers from other countries. He was never beaten by a British boxer.
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Becoming a Boxer
Brian was the fourth son of Dai Nancurvis, who was also a boxer. His father had a boxing gym in Swansea. All of Brian's brothers were boxers too, including Cliff Curvis, who also became a British and Commonwealth welterweight champion.
Brian started his boxing journey while he was in the army. He represented the army in boxing matches. During this time, he won the A.B.A. welterweight title, which is a big achievement for amateur boxers. In 1958, he was chosen to represent England at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. These games were held in Cardiff, Wales, that year. Brian fought under his birth name, Brian Nancurvis. He reached the semi-finals and won a bronze medal.
Professional Boxing Career
Brian Curvis had his first professional fight on June 2, 1959, at the Empire Pool in Wembley. He won this fight by a technical knockout (TKO) against Harry Haydock. This was a great start to his professional career.
Winning Titles
Brian won his first thirteen professional fights in a row! After these wins, he fought George Barnes from Australia in May 1960. This fight was for the Commonwealth welterweight title. It took place at the Vetch Field in Swansea. Brian won the fight on points after fifteen rounds, becoming the Commonwealth champion.
Just three fights later, in November 1960, Brian fought Wally Swift. Swift held the British welterweight title. Brian also defended his Commonwealth title in this fight. The match was in Nottingham, and Brian won again on points after fifteen rounds. This made him both the British and Commonwealth welterweight champion!
In May 1961, Brian had a rematch with Wally Swift in Nottingham. He won on points again, showing he was the better boxer. In October 1961, he defended both his titles against Mick Leahy at the old Empire Pool. Brian won this fight by a knockout in the eighth round.
He continued to defend his titles. In February 1962, he fought Tony Mancini at the Royal Albert Hall. Brian won by a technical knockout in the fifth round.
First Defeat and Comeback
In his twenty-fourth fight, Brian Curvis faced his first defeat. He lost to an American boxer named Guy Sumlin by a technical knockout in the eighth round. However, Brian got his revenge! Two fights later, he beat Sumlin on points.
He kept defending his titles successfully. In February 1963, he fought Tony Smith at the Royal Albert Hall. Brian won by a technical knockout in the ninth round. In July 1964, he defended his titles against Johnny Cook in Porthcawl, winning by a technical knockout in the fifth round.
Fighting for the World Title
In September 1964, Brian Curvis got a huge opportunity. He had only lost one fight in his career so far. He fought the American world welterweight champion, Emile Griffith. Griffith held both the WBA and WBC world titles. The fight was held at the Empire Pool in Wembley.
The fight went the full distance, which means all the rounds were completed. However, Brian was knocked down a few times by body punches. He lost the fight by a unanimous points decision. Even though he lost, fighting for a world title is a massive achievement for any boxer.
Later Career and Retirement
After his world title attempt, Brian Curvis continued to box. He had a defeat against Willie Ludick in Johannesburg.
In November 1965, he defended his British and Commonwealth titles for the sixth time. He fought Sammy McSpadden from Scotland in Cardiff. Brian won by a technical knockout in the twelfth round.
In April 1966, he challenged for the European welterweight title. He fought Jean Josselin from France in Paris. Brian was forced to stop fighting in the fourteenth round.
Brian Curvis had one more fight after that. He defeated Des Rea in Carmarthen in September 1966. After this fight, he decided to retire from boxing. He retired as the undefeated British and Commonwealth welterweight champion. Because he successfully defended his titles six times, he won two Lonsdale Belts outright. This is a very rare achievement for a welterweight boxer.
In 1960, Brian Curvis was honored as the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year.
See also
- List of British welterweight boxing champions
