25 Facts About Larry Gains

Lawrence Samuel "Larry" Gains was a Black Canadian heavyweight boxer who was champion of Canada and the British Empire.

Larry Gains was born on Sumach Street in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on 12 December 1900.

Larry Gains took up boxing at around the age of twenty, after being asked to act as a sparring partner by Charlie Clay, and boxed out of Toronto's Praestamus Club, an organisation for Black boxers.

Larry Gains later defended it against two of the biggest names in Canadian boxing at the time, Jack Renault and Charlie Belanger.

In 1930, Larry Gains settled in Leicester, England, where many of his fights over the next few years were held.

The colour bar was lifted in 1932, and Larry Gains cemented his hold on the title with a victory over white South African Donald McCorkindale at the Royal Albert Hall, the fight ending in an unpopular points decision for Larry Gains, with his trainer Jack Goodwin collapsing and dying during the fight.

Larry Gains was the second black fighter to fight at the Royal Albert Hall, as Len Johnson was the first black fighter due to his contest with Adolf Pott being first.

Larry Gains lost the British Empire title in 1934 to Len Harvey, and failed to regain it later that year, defeated by Jack Petersen in front of a crowd of 64,000 at White City.

Larry Gains was considered one of the top heavyweights of his era, but was denied the opportunity to fight for the British Championship and the World Championship due to the rules against black boxers competing for the titles, instead competing for the "Coloured Heavyweight Championship of the World", a title that he won in 1928 and 1935.

In 1939, with the advent of World War II, Larry Gains joined the British Army as a physical training instructor.

Larry Gains served as a sergeant major in the Pioneer Corps in the Middle East.

Larry Gains's last fight was a defeat to Jack London in June 1942, held to raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Larry Gains had 143 professional fights, winning 115 and drawing five, most of his defeats coming in the latter years of his career.

Larry Gains stated that during his career he won around 500,000, much of which was lost through gambling.

Alongside his own training, Larry Gains coached young adults, passing on his knowledge and passion for the sport.

Larry Gains trained in various places across the UK, including the George Pub, Jolly Angler, and many others.

Larry Gains pleaded guilty and stated that he would repay the money.

Larry Gains successfully appealed against the sentence and was discharged conditionally after a "well known sporting gentleman" repaid the money along with the court costs.

Larry Gains later worked in car sales and as a boxing trainer in Morden, near London.

Larry Gains died in July 1983 from a heart attack while visiting relatives in Cologne, Germany.

In 2015, Larry Gains was posthumously inducted into the Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

The amateur boxing HABC trophy that Larry Gains won in March 1922 was restored in 2021 on BBC1 programme The Repair Shop by silversmith Brenton West.

In 2023, Larry Gains was inducted into the British boxing Hall of Fame.

Larry Gains, who trained at the hotel in 1939 and lived nearby, led a remarkable life.

The event was organised by the Nubian Jak Community Trust in partnership with the Larry Gains family, celebrating his legacy and contributions to the sport and community.