‘Born With My Fists Closed’
The Eddie Thomas Story
Format:Paperback
Publisher:St David's Press
Publishing:17th Sep '26
£19.99
This title is due to be published on 17th September, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
Champion boxer and world renowned trainer, Merthyr’s Eddie Thomas is a legend of the sport and this is the first biography of the man who is still loved and revered in his home town.
Born into poverty in Merthyr Tydfil, Thomas began working as a miner but became an boxing sensation, winning the Welsh (1948), British (1949), Empire and European (1951) welterweight championships.
Now the number one contender for the world championship, Thomas was denied a shot at title holder Sugar Ray Robinson, due to boxing politics.
After retirement in 1954, Thomas established the Dowlais Boxing Club and became a celebrated and highly successful trainer and manager who guided local boy Howard Winstone (1968, featherweight) and Scotsman Ken Buchanan (1970, lightweight) to world championships.
The first British manager to have two world champions, Swansea’s Colin Jones (welterweight), already an Olympic gold medal winner, almost made it an astonishing three world crowns for Thomas but drew one world title fight and lost another on a split-decision in 1983.
‘Coalminer, son of a coalminer, outstanding welterweight champion in his time, he is a giant in the working-class mythology of Merthyr, and it was natural that he should have been found using the skills learned underground to extricate with tender patience, many of the small bodies buried by the avalanche of slurry in the Aberfan school disaster.’
Hugh McIlvanney
‘This biography of Eddie Thomas is a thoroughly deserved tribute to a very special man.’
John H. Stracey, World welterweight champion
‘A man of his word which isn’t common in the world of boxing. He was well respected in all walks of life and had an enormous aura about him which would light up a room.’
Colin Jones, British, European and Commonwealth welterweight champion
Any man who can steer two men to World Championships, must have something special.’
Sir Henry Cooper British, Empire and European heavyweight champion
‘Eddie Thomas was respected across the boxing world. A great manager, who trained us to perfection. He was a one off, a great guy, and I miss him dearly.’
Eddie Avoth, British & European light-heavyweight champion
ISBN: 9781904609339
Dimensions: 234mm x 156mm x 20mm
Weight: unknown
224 pages