Joe Rolfe – puncher and gentleman

(This article features a video interview with Joe Rolfe and fellow pre-war Bermondsey boxer Tom Daly - well worth a look!)

The name Joe Rolfe may mean nothing to you, and that's not surprising, for it's 82 years since it last decorated the sporting headlines and billposters of London. In the 1920s it was a name synonymous with gameness, sportsmanship, fighting skill and a fearsome right hand; a name bellowed loudly all around the south London district of Bermondsey, a place famed for its docks, its tanneries, and its fearless fighting men.

Joe Rolfe started life there on 20 December 1901 with the given name of Joseph Olliffe. Aged eight he joined Bermondsey's renowned Fisher amateur boxing club, he married early at age 16, but to his dismay found work on the local docks hard to come by. It was through sheer necessity that he decided to turn pro, and attempted to get himself onto the bill at the famous Covent Garden National Sporting Club (NSC), which at the time ran novices' competitions in support of the main bouts.

Continue reading:

http://blog.boxinghistory.org.uk/2011/09/joe-rolfe-puncher-and-gentleman.html

Another great article mate, thanks for sharing. Also, a nice break from the obviously predominant topic of the next few days!

Really goes to show the difference in the talent pool in those days and, prior to the proliferation of belts, the difficulty that one could have in order to even get so far as a British title. Puts in perspective perfectly when you think that modern day fighters often win the British title as early as 6 or 7 fights in.

Deleted the duplicate article you created, by the way. Presume that was just a mistake.

Fists of Fury wrote:Deleted the duplicate article you created, by the way. Presume that was just a mistake.

And the iron fist rule continues i see.....................

Fists of Fury wrote:Deleted the duplicate article you created, by the way. Presume that was just a mistake.

Cheers! Yeah, connection cut out while I was posting.

Thanks for sharing Alex.

coxy0001 wrote:

Fists of Fury wrote:Deleted the duplicate article you created, by the way. Presume that was just a mistake.

And the iron fist rule continues i see.....................

Along with Coxy's stupidity. See alex's response before commenting, next time. Maybe you should go and get that sleep you were talking about.

Night mate.

Fists of Fury wrote:Another great article mate, thanks for sharing. Also, a nice break from the obviously predominant topic of the next few days!

Really goes to show the difference in the talent pool in those days and, prior to the proliferation of belts, the difficulty that one could have in order to even get so far as a British title. Puts in perspective perfectly when you think that modern day fighters often win the British title as early as 6 or 7 fights in.

No problem. Glad to see that it's being read!

You're dead right... there were so many more boxers in Britain back then, each weight close (particularly the lighter ones) was that much more competitive. Winning a British title then was a tremendous achievement. Some champions had 70 or 80 pro fights under their belts before they even got their first British title shot!

The Galveston Giant wrote:Thanks for sharing Alex.

Thanks for taking the time to read it.

By the way, the video is also well worth a look - extremely rare and insightful interviews with two terrific fighters (Rolfe and Tom Daly).

alexd wrote:

Fists of Fury wrote:Another great article mate, thanks for sharing. Also, a nice break from the obviously predominant topic of the next few days!

Really goes to show the difference in the talent pool in those days and, prior to the proliferation of belts, the difficulty that one could have in order to even get so far as a British title. Puts in perspective perfectly when you think that modern day fighters often win the British title as early as 6 or 7 fights in.

No problem. Glad to see that it's being read!

You're dead right... there were so many more boxers in Britain back then, each weight close (particularly the lighter ones) was that much more competitive. Winning a British title then was a tremendous achievement. Some champions had 70 or 80 pro fights under their belts before they even got their first British title shot!

Absolutely, unfortunately those days are long gone...when being a champion meant you were a champion, if you get my meaning.

Fists of Fury wrote:

alexd wrote:

Fists of Fury wrote:Another great article mate, thanks for sharing. Also, a nice break from the obviously predominant topic of the next few days!

Really goes to show the difference in the talent pool in those days and, prior to the proliferation of belts, the difficulty that one could have in order to even get so far as a British title. Puts in perspective perfectly when you think that modern day fighters often win the British title as early as 6 or 7 fights in.

No problem. Glad to see that it's being read!

You're dead right... there were so many more boxers in Britain back then, each weight close (particularly the lighter ones) was that much more competitive. Winning a British title then was a tremendous achievement. Some champions had 70 or 80 pro fights under their belts before they even got their first British title shot!

Absolutely, unfortunately those days are long gone...when being a champion meant you were a champion, if you get my meaning.

I certainly do. Young prospects can win British titles today before they've even learnt their trade. Winning a title after so few fights and with little competition around, to an extent, must devalue the achievement.