Boxer. In May 1926 at Covent Garden, he became the British welterweight champion, as well as winning a Lonsdale Belt, when he defeated Harry Mason on points over twenty rounds. Later that year, he travelled to the United States for a series of fights in an attempt to be given a chance to compete for the world title. In October 1929, back in London at the Holborn Stadium, he fought Len Harvey for the British and Empire middleweight titles, but Harvey won, and retained his title two months later at Olympia, when the rematch was drawn. In October 1931, Hood had to forfeit his welterweight title on the grounds that he had not defended it, but he regained it in March 1933 with a knockout in the ninth round against George Reynolds, at Sparkbrook in Birmingham. Two months later, at the same stadium, he was awarded the European title after a fight against Adrien Anneet, after the Belgian was disqualified in the third round for punching too low. In February 1934, he lost the British welterweight title to Len "Tiger" Smith, following which he announced his retirement from the ring with the words, "We must all bow to the inevitable and, being no exception, I realise that my best boxing days are now past." Eight months later, however, he returned to defeat Smith on points over fifteen rounds, and this proved to be his penultimate fight, the last being a victory on points against Charlie Baxter. In his career of fourteen years and 85 fights, he won 67 and lost six, in which he was stopped only once. After his retirement from boxing, from 1939 until 1972, he went on to run The Bell Inn, which is just across the road from the church in which his ashes are buried. His gloves are on display in The Bell, as are several other items of memorabilia. These, until 2011, included his Lonsdale Belt, which has since been sold at auction for £36,000.
Boxer. In May 1926 at Covent Garden, he became the British welterweight champion, as well as winning a Lonsdale Belt, when he defeated Harry Mason on points over twenty rounds. Later that year, he travelled to the United States for a series of fights in an attempt to be given a chance to compete for the world title. In October 1929, back in London at the Holborn Stadium, he fought Len Harvey for the British and Empire middleweight titles, but Harvey won, and retained his title two months later at Olympia, when the rematch was drawn. In October 1931, Hood had to forfeit his welterweight title on the grounds that he had not defended it, but he regained it in March 1933 with a knockout in the ninth round against George Reynolds, at Sparkbrook in Birmingham. Two months later, at the same stadium, he was awarded the European title after a fight against Adrien Anneet, after the Belgian was disqualified in the third round for punching too low. In February 1934, he lost the British welterweight title to Len "Tiger" Smith, following which he announced his retirement from the ring with the words, "We must all bow to the inevitable and, being no exception, I realise that my best boxing days are now past." Eight months later, however, he returned to defeat Smith on points over fifteen rounds, and this proved to be his penultimate fight, the last being a victory on points against Charlie Baxter. In his career of fourteen years and 85 fights, he won 67 and lost six, in which he was stopped only once. After his retirement from boxing, from 1939 until 1972, he went on to run The Bell Inn, which is just across the road from the church in which his ashes are buried. His gloves are on display in The Bell, as are several other items of memorabilia. These, until 2011, included his Lonsdale Belt, which has since been sold at auction for £36,000.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
Inscription
John ("Jack") Hood
1902 - 1992
And His Devoted Wife
Clara Marjorie
("Madge")
1907 - 1993
Loving Parents of
Jackie And Jill
Dear Grandparents And
Great Grandparents.
Family Members
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