Background
Palmer was born in Canning Town, London on 19 November 1876. His father was a bare-knuckle champion of Essex, and rumour had it that his mother could take on and beat any woman in London’s East End.
Palmer was born in Canning Town, London on 19 November 1876. His father was a bare-knuckle champion of Essex, and rumour had it that his mother could take on and beat any woman in London’s East End.
Dave Sullivan of Cork, Plimmer and Billy Rochford. Palmer lost his title in Tuckahoe, New York in September 1899. He was knocked out in the first round by Terrible Terry McGovern - Palmer claimed that he had been blinded by the lights.
Having held the Championship for four years, Palmer was still only 22 years old.
Palmer was a heavy drinker. In April 1907 he killed Robert Croat on a train to Epsom races, for which crime he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison.
On his release he boxed again, but never enjoyed his earlier levels of success. Foreign the last 20 years of his life he was a bookmaker in Brighton.
He died in Brighton on 13 February 1949, aged 72.