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 Forgotten Champions:
Peter Kane
by Marty Mulcahey (August 26, 2003)
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1930's flyweight champion Peter Kane had two very distinct features. Outside the ring, he was instantly recognizable for his large, saucer like, bulging eyes that reminded one of comedian Don Knotts. Inside the ring, Kane used those eyes to track down, and crush opponents with devastating power. While power was
not his whole game, it is easy to justify rating Kane as one the five hardest hitting flyweights of all time, probably as high as number two behind the frightful fists of Jimmy Wilde.
The task of ranking Kane among the best flyweights of all time is made difficult by the fact that his rise, and reign as champion, coincided with the Second World War. Thus, much of his prime was spent fighting the German war machine, instead of contenders from around the world.
Sure, Kane held the title for years, but the opposition was weak, and his defenses were sporadic. Not to mention that Kane fought above the flyweight limit for many fights during this period. Still, Kane did enough to be ranked a respectable 16th when highly regarded ring historian and master of boxing
lists, Herb Goldman, rated his 100 greatest flyweights.
It can be argued that Kane deserves a higher ranking. One big point in Kane's favor would be that countryman Brian Doogan (whose knowledge of the English fight game is second to none) rated Kane as one of the 10 greatest boxers to ever come out of the pugilistically rich island. This was not a list compiled in the mid 1950's or 60’s; it was done for a 1994 issue of The Ring magazine.
All of these, of course, are arguments of opinion. What cannot be disputed is the power with which Kane stepped through the ropes. One must also consider that in 102 contests, over the span of 14 years, Kane only lost seven bouts, a largely unparalleled feat in an era where the best boxers routinely squared off against one another.
Kane was born in the village of Heywood on February 28, 1918. It is often, falsely, reported that he was born in Golborne because his family moved there before his first birthday. Those who knew Kane always referred to him as a man of limited ego who was quick to make friends. When asked about his boxing career, Kane always spoke of his love for the sport, and monetary compensation for his ring wars was often a secondary consideration. This was a fact often brought up by Jim Turner, a manager whose decisions and
contracts were sometimes overridden by Kane when it came to making fights instead of money.
Even as Kane was hailed as the world flyweight champion, he maintained a job as the village blacksmith in the tiny town of Lowton for $4.50 a week.
Peter Kane's era featured many skilled flyweights. He set himself apart by employing a tireless work ethic.... and that big right hand. Even as he aged, Kane continued to put himself through a routine that would make workaholics wince. Kane was still fighting for international honors after fourteen years of swapping leather, a feat that is not matched by many flyweights of any era.
The career of Peter Kane started in the early 1930's, when he was discovered while working for local blacksmith Chris Jordan. This would, eventually, lead to his nickname of "The Golborne Blacksmith". The work of pounding out iron with a large hammer for eight hours a day helped Peter develop tremendous upper body strength.
After doing well in boxing booth contests with a local carnival, Peter decided to train for boxing seriously. His father, who had some limited boxing experience of his own, helped him in this. Lack of refinement and technical skills were an early hindrance, but his ability to deliver a fight-ending blow covered any flaws. Over half of Kane’s career victories would end with his opponent unable to continue resisting the onslaught of power Kane was able to dish out.
Peter entered his first professional bout on a cold evening, two weeks before Christmas, in a small Liverpool community hall. It is here where he first took on the moniker of Kane, (his real surname was Cain) after his name was misspelled on the bill. No one is sure why he kept the name; perhaps superstition played a role?
Kane was still a boy of 16 years (look back on your youth and imagine boxing a grown man at that stage of your life) but he quickly advanced his record to 41-0. Amazingly, his still developing body produced 33 knockouts in those 41 victories. Even with that kind of power, few could have envisioned that Kane would become a serious contender in as short as time as he did. Kane was only three years away from challenging for the world title.
In his first test against a nationally respected foe, Kane was extended to the 10 round limit by Joe Curran. The bout, also, marked the first time Kane fought out of his home base of Liverpool. Curran was a stern test for a man competing in his 13th fight, and went on to lose a decision to Jackie Paterson in his one shot at the world title. The win over Curran was a sign that Kane was ready for boxers that inhabited the upper echelons of the European boxing scene.
Austrian Ernst Weiss, a tactical boxer, (who won the European flyweight, bantamweight, & featherweight titles) was brought in to test the young knockout artist. The difficult test was passed with flying colors, as
Kane displayed more boxing ability than previously thought possible of him. Weiss was able to negate the power of Kane, taking him the 12 round distance, but could not overcome the aggressiveness of Kane.
The win over Weiss marked Kane as a serious threat to the world title, a position quickly enhanced after challenging quick fisted Valentin Angelmann. Valentin was the reigning IBU flyweight champion (which
morphed into the European Boxing Union over time), and a considerable threat to Kane's unbeaten record. As it turned out, Angelman did not have what it took to defeat Kane, even on his home turf of Paris.
Valentin was rocked early in the fight and never posed a serious threat afterwards. This was a prime example of Kane's power. It was such that once it struck, it left opponents invariably thrown off any game plan they had envisioned using against the youngster. Kane returned to Liverpool a 12 round points winner. But boxing politics have changed little in the 80 years since that fight.
The IBU withdrew recognition of Angelman as their champion, but also never bothered to acknowledge Kane as their champion. It was of little consequence to Kane, as the great prize, and real world champion of the time, was Benny Lynch, a phenomenal champion who, to anyone with a knowledge of flyweight boxing history, ranks as one of the five best flyweights of all time.
Kane earned a title shot with Lynch after he knocked out southpaw Jimmy Warnock in the fourth round. Warnock had made his reputation by defeating Benny Lynch twice. Local papers were already hyping a fight between Kane and Lynch, describing Kane as, "A raw youngster of nineteen with a terrific punch, but little defense. He has plenty of color, always moving in on his opponent. Staring at him with those large Eddie Cantor (a popular singer of the time) like eyes."
Peter was still only 19, and had beaten the best that England (and neighboring nations) had to offer. Europe had been defeated, now a world title opportunity loomed. Many tabbed Kane as the man who would unseat Lynch as champion, largely based on his one sided win over Jimmy Warnock. However, all had one nagging question that could not be answered until fight time. How would a youthful, but improving 19-year-old fare against a champion in his prime? A champion that was used to the big fight atmosphere? Youth or experience, strength or guile? Which would win out?
To describe the anticipation of this fight as intense would be an understatement. It was so eagerly anticipated that people were turned away at the gate, and an overflow crowd of 40,000 people (an attendance record in Scotland for a boxing event) packed Shawfield Park in Glasgow. City Newspapers reported that it did not matter if you had a ticket to the fight, at the opening bell there was such a congestion at the main gate that many were locked out with ticket in hand. This was partly the newspapers making, since headlines hyped the fight as "The two most destructive pair of flyweights since Jimmy Wilde tear into
each other like wildcats."
How right they were. Those who managed to make their way past the turnstiles would not be disappointed in the fare they were served up. The fight turned out to be one of the few bouts that could, rightfully be tagged with the moniker of epic.
It would be impossible to conjure up a worse start for Kane. Peter was floored by the first combination, a hook to the body followed by a big right hand, thrown by Lynch in the opening minute of the fight. A badly hurt Kane rose, on wobbly legs, at the count of three. Kane's youth was already evident, since he did not take advantage of the extra six seconds he could have used to recover his senses. Peter weathered the follow-up attack of Lynch, staggering to his corner after three furious minutes. After the first knockdown,
the pro Lynch crowd believed a short night was in store for their champ. How wrong they were.
Kane not only survived the first round, but won the second round handily, rocking the champion on two occasions. Rounds three to nine saw the youthful challenger match the champion punch for punch. Still, veteran observers saw what was really happening. Kane seemed to be fighting for survival in the ring, while Lynch was throwing tactical punches, not wasting his motions. It paid dividends for Lynch because as the rounds wore on, Kane tired rapidly from the tenth round on.
Peter was a spent shell by the 12th round, tasting the canvas on two occasions in that round. The courageous Kane fought on through a blood spattered nose, and torn lip to be saved by the bell. In the 13th, a big left hook dropped the challenger hard. Kane struggled to his feet at the count of seven, but was badly hurt. Another left cross sent Kane down for the last time, finally unable to rise from the consistent battering Lynch had forced upon him.
It was a classic fight to which English boxing historians still refer to as one of the best to ever be contested at the flyweight level. Kane's performance drew rave reviews from all quarters, and Lynch had to know a rematch with Kane was inevitable. Britain's Boxing News commented, "A big hand must be accorded to Peter. His spirit was unflinching, his courage was amazing.". Boxing writer James Butler said of the bout, "Any Scottish fight fan will tell you this was the greatest flyweight slam in history."
When Kane was asked about the fight in interviews, he could not give many details. He remembered nothing after that bone jarring right hand landed in the first round. Kane had fought on instinct for 12 rounds of the best two way action flyweight history had to give. A rematch was expected, and trumpeted by Scottish and English press alike. Something that good had to have a sequel.
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E-Mail Marty Mulcahey at fivedogss@msn.com
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