Professional Boxer. A respected lightweight over a decade-long career, he once lost a controversial decision in a fight for the World Championship. Born to Scottish parents, he was raised in both Craigneuk and Dartford and worked as a boilermaker prior to devoting himself to boxing. Charnley capped a successful amateur career by taking a Bronze Medal at the 1954 Commonwealth Games then turned professional later that same year. He steadily improved his skills and in 1957 outpointed Joe Lucy for a British Lightweight crown that he was to keep until retirement. Charnley lost his first try for the Commonwealth title to South African Willie Towell but won the return match by knockout on March 12, 1959; stopped on cuts by World Champion Joe Brown in Houston on December 2, 1959, he captured the European championship by knocking out Mario Vecchiatto in the 10th. round on March 29, 1960. On October 18, 1961, in London he lost a 15 round decision to Brown that is still disputed and though he finally knocked Brown out in Manchester in March of 1963 the American was by then no longer champion. Running out of lightweights to beat he moved up to welterweights and did well until being stopped by Hall of Famer Emile Griffith in the 9th round. Retiring in 1963 with a final record of 48 wins with 27 by knockout, 12 losses, and one draw, Charnley still had all his money and all his brains; he was a building contractor, owned a chain of hair salons, and became wealthy. He died at his home following a short illness.
Professional Boxer. A respected lightweight over a decade-long career, he once lost a controversial decision in a fight for the World Championship. Born to Scottish parents, he was raised in both Craigneuk and Dartford and worked as a boilermaker prior to devoting himself to boxing. Charnley capped a successful amateur career by taking a Bronze Medal at the 1954 Commonwealth Games then turned professional later that same year. He steadily improved his skills and in 1957 outpointed Joe Lucy for a British Lightweight crown that he was to keep until retirement. Charnley lost his first try for the Commonwealth title to South African Willie Towell but won the return match by knockout on March 12, 1959; stopped on cuts by World Champion Joe Brown in Houston on December 2, 1959, he captured the European championship by knocking out Mario Vecchiatto in the 10th. round on March 29, 1960. On October 18, 1961, in London he lost a 15 round decision to Brown that is still disputed and though he finally knocked Brown out in Manchester in March of 1963 the American was by then no longer champion. Running out of lightweights to beat he moved up to welterweights and did well until being stopped by Hall of Famer Emile Griffith in the 9th round. Retiring in 1963 with a final record of 48 wins with 27 by knockout, 12 losses, and one draw, Charnley still had all his money and all his brains; he was a building contractor, owned a chain of hair salons, and became wealthy. He died at his home following a short illness.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
Advertisement
See more Charnley memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
