Billy Edwards (boxer)

Billy Edwards (21 December 1844 – 12 August 1907) was a lightweight boxer of the late 1860s and 1870s in England.

For the English footballers, see Billy Edwards (footballer, born 1952) and Billy Edwards (footballer, born 1895).

Bare chested man from waist up with raised fists in boxing stance.
Billy Edwards, Pugilist, from World's Champions, Series 2 (N29) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Professional career

Nicknamed "Make-Believe Billy", Edwards was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire. He began boxing at the age of 14 and fought Sam Collyer on 24 August 1868 for the American Lightweight Championship. Edwards won the fight in the 34th-round to win the title.

Edwards fought Hall of Famer Charlie Mitchell in 1884, losing in the 3rd round.

Life After Boxing

Following the Mitchell bout, Edwards retired from the ring but remained in boxing by training John L. Sullivan for several winning contests.

Edwards was a successful real estate investor after retiring. In 1894 Edwards appeared as himself in the Edison Company's kinetoscope film Billy Edwards and the Unknown Boxer, in a pre-determined-outcome exhibition match against a random boxer.[1] This film survives and is preserved in the Library of Congress.

Death

Edwards died of Bright's Disease on 13 August 1907 in Brooklyn.[2]

Honors

Edwards has been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

References
  1. Billy Edwards and the Unknown Boxer (1894); IMDb.com..Retrieved August 24, 2018
  2. Everett Morning Tribune, Everett, WA, USA, August 21, 1907


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