STANLEY, DIGGER SIGNED REAL PHOTO POSTCARD

George ‘Digger’ Stanley (28 February 1876 – 7 March 1919) was an English boxer who was British and European bantamweight boxing champion. He began boxing professionally in 1899. In November 1903 he won the vacant British bantamweight title and in December of the same year he won the British flyweight title, but the titles were not recognized by the British Boxing Board of Control until 1909. In October 1910 he fought Joe Bowker for the British and European bantamweight titles. He scored an eighth-round knockout to secure the titles. Stanley was also recognized by the National Sporting Club as the holder of the World bantamweight title, although he was not recognized as such in America. In December 1910 he defended his British title against Johnny Condon, winning on points. In September 1911 he defended it again, against Ike Bradley, again winning on points. In April and June 1912, he defended his European title twice against the Frenchman, Charles Ledoux. He won the first fight in Covent Garden on points, but lost the second fight in Dieppe, being knocked out in the seventh round. In October 1912, he successfully defended his British title against Alex Lafferty, winning on points. In June 1913, he lost his British title to Bill Beynon, on points, but four months later he beat Benyon on points to regain it. However, in his next defense, in April 1914, he lost the British title to Curley Walker on a disqualification in the thirteenth. He continued to box but had only ten more fights, losing eight of them and winning two. He had his last fight in February 1919, losing to Mike Blake, and died a month later, in poverty. Offered here is an extremely rare original, real photo postcard of Digger Stanley which he has boldly signed and inscribed.
This is an original, real photo postcard picturing Stanley in full fight pose. Boldly signed in fountain pen, "Yours Sincerely Digger Stanley." Bold, clear image. Unused postcard. Not creased or torn. Clean front and back. 3 1/2" x 5 1/2."