10 Facts About Pedlar Palmer

Pedlar Palmer, born Thomas Palmer, was an English boxer who held the world bantamweight championship from 1895 to 1899.

Pedlar Palmer's father was a bare-knuckle champion of Essex, and rumour had it that his mother could take on and beat any woman in London's East End.

In 1893, Pedlar Palmer won bouts advertised as the "World 100lb" title against Walter Croot and Mike Small, and became World Bantamweight Champion in 1895 when he beat Billy Plimmer of Birmingham on a 14th round foul.

Pedlar Palmer boxed a draw with the World Featherweight Champion George Dixon in New York in 1896.

Pedlar Palmer kept his bantamweight title through five defences against Johnny Murphy, Ernie Stanton.

Pedlar Palmer met Irish-born American boxer Dave Sullivan in London on 18 October 1897 in what was billed as a World 116 pound Title Match.

Pedlar Palmer lost his title in Tuckahoe, New York in September 1899.

Pedlar Palmer was knocked out in the first round by Terrible Terry McGovern - Palmer claimed that he had been blinded by the lights.

In November 1900 Pedlar Palmer lost the British bantamweight title to Harry Ware, and although he won two out of three fights with George Dixon and beat Digger Stanley, another world champion, he was twice beaten in British featherweight title fights by Ben Jordan and Joe Bowker.

Pedlar Palmer is buried on the western edge of Brighton; the gravestone no longer stands.