On This Day: Remembering Nipper Pat Daly

By Peter Silkov

Nipper Pat Daly was one of Britain’s greatest ever prodigy, after beginning his boxing career when he was just ten years old. He only fought for 7 years, but in that time, became a sensation in London. At the age of just 16, he was rated in the world's top-ten by “The Ring” magazine, yet by the time he was 18, he had retired, burnt out while still a teenager.

Born ,Patrick Clifford Daley, on February 17, 1913, in Abercrave, Wales, Daley moved with his family to London when he was 5 years old, and he started training at the gym of ‘Professor’ Andrew Newton. Daly showed such an extraordinary talent for boxing, and developed so quickly, that Newton had him turn professional one month before his 10^th birthday.

Daly soon became a sensation with the fans. He had superlative boxing skills, a sharp, and lightning fast left. and could box on the outside while also being adept at infighting. As he went through opposition at an astonishing rate he was soon being matched in 15 rounders against championship level fighters.

Beginning his career at flyweight, Daly was soon moving up in weight, and his battles with the scales would prove to he part of his undoing.

During his career, Daly fought fighters such as Johnny Summers, Tommy Brown, Young Siki, Dod Oldfield, George Garrard, Arthur Boddington, Nicolas Petit-Biquet, Arthur Young Adkins, Packy Mcfarland, Dick Corbett, Kid Socks, Alf Kid Pattenden. Billy Cain, Karl Schulze, Johnny Edmunds, Auguste Gyde, Seaman Tommy Watson, and Nobby Baker.

Daly was so good that there were calls for him to fight for the British title, yet the BBBC had strict rules about anyone under 21 being able to fight for a British championship.

At the age of 16, Daly, by now fighting as a featherweight, was offered a world title fight against Battle Battalino, but Newton would not allow him to go to America, possibly for fear that he would lose him to some powerful American promoters.

Photo: London Ex-Boxers Association

On April 20, 1833, Daly fought Seaman Tommy Watson, and weakened by weight-making was stopped in the 11^th round, after leading the fight early on. Daly suffered a severe concussion, and although he continue boxing for a while, under a different promoter, Daly decided to retire.

Nipper Pat Daly had his last professional fight on a January 27, against Harry Jenkins, who he beat on a 4^th round stoppage. Daly retired with a final record of (99-11-8, 26Koes).

Nipper Pat Daly had his last professional fight on a January 27, against Harry Jenkins, who he beat on a 4^th round stoppage. Daly retired with a final record of (99-11-8, 26Koes).

In his later years, Daly owned his own gym, trained amateurs and some professionals boxers, and ran an Irish dance hall. He died on September 25, 1988, aged 75.

Photo: London Ex-boxers Association: (Nipper Daly, unknown boxer, Arthur Norton)

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