Freddie Mills: A comprehensive overview of one of England’s boxing legends, a boxer whose courage and ability to take punishment in his quest for success made him legendary in boxing lore.

Frederick Percival Mills was born in Parkstone, a suburb of Poole, in the county of Dorset, on England’s south coast; on 26th June 1919. He came from humble beginnings. The Mills family lived in an old terraced house in one of the less salubrious back streets. His father Tom, who served in the army in the Great War, was a “Totter” who drove his horse and cart around the streets buying unwanted junk which he, hopefully, would sell at a profit. His mother Lottie had worked part time in the local hotels to help support the family while Tom was away in the army.

It was Freddie’s older brother Charlie who introduced young Freddie to boxing. Charlie boxed in unlicensed shows and he introduced the youngster to the basic boxing skills.

He was given his first pair of gloves on his 11th birthday and aged 13 saw his fist professional fight at Bournemouth’s Winter gardens. He and a friend scaled the side of the building and found a window from where they could see the action. They repeated this on several occasions until one day they were almost caught by the promoter Jack Turner – who would later become Freddie’s promoter.

At age 14 Freddie left school and went to work for Percy Cook the milk man who along with his brother Gordon were former boxers and helped the youngster develop his boxing skills. When he was 16 he entered a novice tournament at Westover Ice Rink, Bournemouth. Despite never having fought as an amateur Freddie knocked out Jimmy Riley – who was far from being a novice – in the first round. Two weeks later George Barfoot went the same way in the semi final. Two weeks later he met Reg Davis in the final and dispatched him in three rounds.

He began fighting in fairground booths and at venues on the south coast. Mills was 5 ft 10½ in and did not have a sophisticated boxing style. However he relied on two-fisted aggression, relentless pressure, and the ability to take punishment to carry him through, and in more cases than not these attributes were sufficient.

His official professional debut was on the 26^th of February 1936 against Jim Riley whom he beat by KO in the first round.

His first 64 fights, in 3½ years, against minor light-heavyweights resulted in 48 wins, 9 losses and 7 draws. He then stepped up in class to fight Jock McAvoy, the British and Commonwealth middleweight champion, who had, the previous year, unsuccessfully fought Len Harvey for the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles. The fight against McAvoy took place in Liverpool in August 1940 and Mills won a clear decision over ten rounds.

When the second world war broke out Freddie was stationed at RAF Padgate, Lancashire, but soon after enlisting caught pneumonia and after three weeks in hospital was sent home some 20lb lighter on sick leave. On his return to RAF Padgate he was sent for training as a Physical Training Instructor which was the usual trade for sportsmen. He passed the course and was posted as corporal to Nethervon, Wiltshire

In December 1941, he fought Jack London, a heavyweight who was later (in 1944) to win the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. Mills won on points over ten rounds.

In February 1942, Mills fought Jock McAvoy again, in a final eliminator for the British light-heavyweight title. The fight, in the Royal Albert Hall, ended after one round when McAvoy was forced to retire with an injured back. The way was open for Mills to challenge Len Harvey for the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles.

The title fight took place on 20 June 1942, at White Hart Lane, Tottenham, in front of a crowd of 40,000. In the second round Mills caught Harvey with a powerful left hook and put him down for a count of nine. When Harvey got up Mills hit him with a left uppercut to win by a knockout. Mills now had the light-heavyweight titles.

In September 1944, Mills fought Jack London for the vacant British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. The fight took place at Belle Vue, Manchester, with Mills conceding about three stones (19 kilos) in weight. Neither man was a stylish boxer but they slugged it out over fifteen rounds with London gaining the points decision.

In May 1946, he was given a shot at the world light-heavyweight title when he was matched with the current champion, American, Gus Lesnevich, Mills took a terrible beating, probably the worst of his career and the fight was stopped in the tenth round.

In September 1947, Mills fought for the vacant European light-heavyweight title against the Belgian, Pol Goffaux, winning by a knockout in the fourth round. He defended the title in February 1948, against the Spaniard, Paco Bueno, winning by a knockout in the second round.

On 26 July 1948, Mills was matched against Gus Lesnevich for his second attempt at the world light-heavyweight title. Mills was in much better shape for this fight, held at the White City Stadium, London. The fight lasted fifteen rounds and Mills boxed well, putting Lesnevich down twice, securing a points decision and the world title. Later, the sounds from Lesnevich's camp and the American press seemed to be indicating that Lesnevich's defeat was down to his continual problems to reach the Light Heavyweight limit of 175 pounds. However, while his difficulties in making weight were undeniable (Lesnevich regularly fought around the 180 pound mark taking on good fighters such as Tami Mauriello, Jimmy Bivins and later Ezzard Charles) his defeat was largely brought about by the cuts over both of his eyes, which had streamed with blood from the opening round onwards.

On 30 September 1948, Mills married Marie McCorkindale, the daughter of his manager, Ted Broadribb. She had previously married another boxer Donald McCorkindale and had a son by him. Mills and his wife went on to have two daughters.

On 24 January 1950, Mills defended his world title against American, Joey Maxim at Earls Court, London. Mills dominated the fight for the first three rounds but Maxim began to overhaul him in the following rounds, until in the tenth he caught Mills with a flurry of head punches and won by a knockout. Mills’s reign as world champion was over, and a few weeks later he announced his retirement.

For years, he was in massive demand both on radio and television. He wrote a boxing column for a Sunday newspaper, picked up acting work, including roles in two Carry On films, and in partnership with former actor Andy Ho opened one of London's first Chinese restaurants.

After its initial success his nightclub began to fail and he tried to sell it, without success. He sold off what property he had but was in serious financial difficulty.

In July 1965 he was found dead in the back seat of his car, just yards from the restaurant, which by then had been converted into a nightclub. He had been shot once in the head; a rifle rested between his knees.

Freddie’s death has been the subject of controversy over the years, books and theory’s have been published these have included: that he was depressed by the suicide of the singer, Michael Holliday; that he had been having a homosexual affair with Holliday; that he was about to be arrested for the murder of several prostitutes, that he had been targeted by a Chinese tong.

The coroner recorded the death as a suicide.

Freddie Mills – Born June 1919 – Died July 1965

Was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium in London, England.