 Mallin in the early 1920s | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Henry William Mallin |
| Nationality | English |
| Born | (1892-06-01)1 June 1892 Hackney Wick, London, England |
| Died | 8 November 1969(1969-11-08) (aged 77) Lewisham, England |
| Height | 5 ft 10.5 in (180 cm) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Boxing |
| Weight class | Middleweight |
| Club | Eton Manor Boys and Old Boys Club, Hackney Wick. Metropolitan Police Amateur Boxing Club |
Medal record | |
Henry William Mallin (1 June 1892 – 8 November 1969) was an Englishmiddleweightamateurboxer. He came originally fromHackney Wick, his younger brother was the Olympic boxerFred Mallin. He lived in Dartmouth Park, North London and was a police officer with theMetropolitan Police.[1]
Mallin wasAmateur Boxing Association Britishmiddleweight champion five years in a row from 1919 to 1923. He was also world champion in the middleweight class between 1920 and 1928. He never lost an amateur bout and never turned professional.
In the1920 Summer Olympics he won agold medal in middleweight division, defeating Canadian boxerGeorges Prud'Homme in the final. In1924 he went on to win another gold in the same weight class. In that year, he metRoger Brousse of France in the quarter-finals, and after the decision came down 2–1 in favour of Brousse, Mallin showed the referee fresh teeth marks on his chest, which further examination proved that Mallin had definitely been bitten by his French opponent. Brousse was disqualified, clearing the way for Mallin to win his second gold medal. After the incident versus Brousse, Mallin was referred to by one reporter as "the unroasted human beef of Old England".[2]
Mallin was the first to successfully defend an Olympic title in two consecutive games, and still remains the only male British boxer to do so until Nicola Adams repeated the feat in 2016.[3] He retired undefeated after over 300 bouts.[3]
Subsequently, he managed the British Olympic boxing teams at the1936 and1952 Summer Olympics.[4]
In 1937, he achieved the distinction of being the first British television sports commentator, when he gave commentary on two boxing matches that were broadcast by the BBC fromAlexandra Palace.[4]
Mallin lived in police accommodation at Peel House, 105 Regency Street,Pimlico,City of Westminster, where, in 2018, ablue plaque was erected byEnglish Heritage.[5]
Mallin died at a nursing home inLewisham in November 1969.
1904: 145–158 lb (65.8–71.7 kg) · 1908: 140–158 lb (63.5–71.7 kg) · 1920–1936: 147–160 lb (66.7–72.6 kg) · 1948: 67–73 kg · 1952–2000: 71–75 kg · 2004–2012: 69–75 kg · 2016–2020: 70–75 kg · 2024–: 72–80 kg | |
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