11 Facts About Vince Hawkins

Vincent Gregory "Vince" Hawkins was a British middleweight boxer who became British champion in 1946.

Vince Hawkins began his professional career in January 1940, and went on to win his first 42 fights, including victories over Battling Charlie Parkin, Paddy Roche, and Ginger Sadd.

Vince Hawkins had his first drawn fight against Tommy Davies in March 1944.

Vince Hawkins remained unbeaten until he challenged Ernie Roderick in May 1945 for the vacant British title; Hawkins lost on points.

Vince Hawkins won his next six fights before challenging Roderick again for the British title in October 1946 at the Royal Albert Hall; The fight went the full 15 rounds, with Hawkins winning on points to take the title.

Vince Hawkins celebrated the victory with an open-top trailer tour of his home town.

In January 1948 Vince Hawkins challenged for the vacant British Empire middleweight title against New Zealand champion Bos Murphy; Murphy took a points decision to win the title.

In January 1949 Vince Hawkins announced his retirement after a loss to Cyrille Delannoit in Belgium.

Vince Hawkins did fight four more times, losing his last three, before retiring in 1950.

Vince Hawkins married Marian Lucas in 1953, and went on to work as a prison officer at Winchester for 30 years.

Vince Hawkins died on 27 November 2008 at the Abbeygate care home in Winchester, aged 85, after suffering for Alzheimer's disease for some time.