{{short description|British boxer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox boxer | name = Tommy Noble | image = TommyNoble.jpg | image_size = 300px | alt = | caption = TommyNoble | realname = | nickname = | weight = Bantamweight, featherweight | height = 5 ft 5 in | reach = <!-- "X in" or "X cm" (conversions are automatic) --> | nationality = British | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1897|03|04}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1966|04|01|1897|03|04}} | death_place = | style = | total = 181 | wins = 81 | KO = 25 | losses = 66 | draws = 17 | no contests = 15 (several no/unknown decision) | website = | medaltemplates = | show-medals = }} '''Tommy Noble''' (4 March 1897 – 1 April 1966) was a British boxer who was British bantamweight champion between 1918 and 1919, and European champion in 1919. He won the World featherweight title in 1920.
==Career== Noble enlisted into the British Army when World War I broke out, but was discharged as medically unfit in January 1915.<ref name="Award">{{cite news |title=Boxer Awarded £200 Damages |work=Evening Despatch |date=5 June 1940 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000671/19400605/136/0008| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He made his professional debut in February 1915 with a win over Jim Welsh. He fought 29 times in 1915, winning 23. His first fight of 1916 was a loss to Jimmy Wilde, and he was also beaten in April, and again in July, by Joe Symonds.<ref name="Roberts">Roberts, James B. & Skutt, Alexander G. (2006) ''The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book'', McBooks Press, {{ISBN|978-1590131213}}, p. 243</ref> He had a run of success later in the year, beating Bill Ladbury twice, before five straight defeats to Johnny Hughes, Digger Stanley, Joe Fox, Wilde,<ref name="Roberts" /> and Tancy Lee. He beat Hughes on points in November.
In 1917 he was called up under the Derby Scheme and served as a private in the Army Service Corps until being medically discharged again in November 1918.<ref name="Award" /><ref name="YP">{{cite news |title=Boxing: The Bantam-Weight Championship |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=26 November 1918 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19181126/183/0010| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In 1917 he beat Sid Smith, Nat Brooks,<ref>{{cite news |title=Tommy Noble v Nat Brooks |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=8 May 1917 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19170508/198/0010| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and Freddie Jacks, but lost to Mike Honeyman, Louis Ruddick (twice), and Joe Conn.<ref>{{cite news |title=Yesterday's Boxing Results |work=Daily Mirror |date=16 October 1917 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19171016/018/0002| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> A good run in the latter half of 1918, including a win over Curley Walker despite being a stone lighter,<ref>{{cite news |title=Tommy Noble Wins on Points |work=Dundee Courier |date=16 July 1918 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000164/19180716/060/0004| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> led to his meeting Symonds in November at the National Sporting Club, for the British bantamweight title vacated by Fox. The fight went the full 20 rounds, with Noble taking the decision to become British champion.<ref name="YP" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Tommy Noble Wins Bantam-Weight Championship |work=Dundee Courier |date=26 November 1918 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000164/19181126/004/0002| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In April 1919 Noble successfully challenged for Eugène Criqui's European title at the Holborn Stadium, stopping the defending champion in the 19th round.<ref>"[http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=PBH19190428.2.102 Bantam Entente: Criqui Suffers For France]", ''Poverty Bay Herald'', Volume XLVI, Issue 14896, 28 April 1919, p. 9. Retrieved 1 January 2016 via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz</ref> He defended the title two months later against Criqui, the fight ending in a draw.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boxing in France |work=Western Daily Press |date=28 June 1919 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000264/19190628/025/0005| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Only three days after the Criqui fight, Noble lost the British title, retiring in the tenth round against Walter Ross.<ref>Dartnell, Fred (1924) ''Seconds Out!'', T. W. Laurie, Limited, p. 79</ref><ref>"Ross Wins British Bantam Title", ''The New York Times'', 1 July 1919</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Return of Tommy Noble |work=Dundee Courier |date=27 November 1919 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000164/19191127/100/0006| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> A month later he faced former European champion Charles Ledoux in Paris, losing the European title via a tenth-round knockout, with Noble protesting that he had got up before the count ended.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boxing |work=The Cornishman |date=6 August 1919 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000331/19190806/024/0002| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Noble spent most of 1920 fighting in the United States and Canada, where he faced Georges Papin, Jacks, and Al Shubert among over a dozen contests, most notably a win over Johnny Murray at Madison Square Garden in October that saw him win the World featherweight belt.<ref>Morrison, Ian (1988) ''Boxing: The Records'', Guinness, {{ISBN|978-0851123455}}, p. 59</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=British Boxer's Success in America |work=Western Times |date=11 October 1920 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000265/19201011/038/0004| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
He spent 1921 fighting in Australia, with little success apart from a win over Victorian champion Bert Spargo.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tommy Noble Beaten |work=Sheffield Independent |date=10 October 1921 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001464/19211010/155/0006| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tommy Noble's Success in Australia |work=Dundee Evening Telegraph |date=1 August 1921 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19210801/110/0007| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Between 1922 and 1926 he had a second spell in the US and Canada, losing most of his fights.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tommy Noble Defeated |work=Dundee Courier |date=19 July 1922 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000164/19220719/040/0003| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tommy Noble Beaten |work=Derby Daily Telegraph |date=14 October 1924 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000327/19241014/019/0003| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tommy Noble Beaten |work=Lincolnshire Echo |date=18 June 1925 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000332/19250618/091/0003| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> On his return to England he lost his first three fights, to Johnny Curley and twice to Battling van Dijk, and retired from the ring. He returned in 1930, beating a handful of inexperienced boxers, before retiring for good in 1932, although he later boxed in exhibition bouts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Victoria Pier Attractions |work=Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald |date=8 July 1933 |accessdate=1 January 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000765/19330708/043/0002| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> His career earnings from boxing were stated at £100,000.<ref name="Award" />
He went on to market his own brand of bath oils which he sold by mail order, and worked as a street trader.<ref name="Award" /> In 1940 he was awarded £200 damages against the Daily Sketch and Sunday Graphic Ltd. after an article published in the ''Daily Sketch'' wrongly suggested that Noble should have served at the front during the war and may have bribed his superiors to be allowed to box.<ref name="Award" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.boxinghistory.org.uk/records/14206-Tommy-Noble-Bermondsey.pdf Career record], boxinghistory.org.uk *{{BoxRec|13805}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Noble, Tommy}} Category:1897 births Category:1966 deaths Category:English male boxers Category:Bantamweight boxers Category:Flyweight boxers Category:Boxers from London Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:Royal Army Service Corps soldiers Category:20th-century English sportsmen