by S. Graveson

Created on: December 18, 2009   Last Updated: December 21, 2009

With so few great Cumbrian sportsmen, it was a surprise to find out that there was a former boxer from a town near my own. Tom Cowler, wo lived in Whitehaven in Cumbria was known as the Cumbrian Giant as he fought some of the best fighters in the world between 1910-1924. Born in 1892 in Hensingham in Whitehaven Cowler was a huge man of the times reportedly weighing anywhere up to 221lbs in his fighting days he was often considered as a world title contender, though never quite managed to challenge for the title in a career that saw him fighting almost 100 times as a professional. Though little is known about his life outside of boxing, in fact, very few in the town have even heard of "Concrete Crus" despite his escapades in the great sport of boxing.

Though little of the early part of his career isn't that well known what's often accepted is that he started his career in 1910 as an 18 year old fighting in his home town. In fact local papers report he knocked out his opponent with pretty much the first punch of the fight. He would win his first 4 fights by stoppages before drawing his fifth then suffering his first loss, feeling he was hit low the referee saw no grounds to disqualify the opponent so counted Cowler out for his first loss just over a year since his debut. The man who beat him was Frank Moran who is better know for losing a title fight to Willard in 1916.

After stringing together a few more wins he'd then fight "Battling" Jim Johnson, who despite only being 8-4-1 as a professional boxer was only 21 months from fighting for the world heavyweight title (against Jack Johnson). Johnson would out point Cowler giving the Cumbrian just his second loss in 17 fights, bizarrely both against future title contenders. In fact this would continue with his third loss coming to Bandsman Dick Rice a fighter who would face Georges Carpentier for the IBU and European Light Heavyweight titles 10 months after beating Cowler.

After losing to Rice Cowler went on a run of KOs as he stopped 14 of his next 16 contests early (as well as having a DQ win and a no contest in the other 2 bouts). Cowler was being noted as a hard hitter by some though he wasn't beating people of note (other than Denver Ed Martin) he was bowling over fighters over in the UK, Canada and Australia as he tried to prove himself on the world level. For those unsure on who Denver Ed Martin is he was a fighter who fought some of the greats of the day including Jack Johnson (pre-Johnson's title reign),

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