Len James
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (Welsh) |
| Born | 7 February 1933 Pontypridd, Wales |
| Died | 6 February 2011 (aged 77) Pontypridd, Wales |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Boxing |
Event | Heavyweight |
| Club | Patchway BC, Bristol |
Leonard Gwyn James also known as Rocky James (7 February 1933 – 26 February 2011) was a boxer who competed for Wales at the Commonwealth Games.
Biography
James was originally from Wood Road in Treforest and boxed for the Midlands and Western Counties.[1]
In 1959, James reached the final of the prestigious A.B.A. heavyweight championship[2] despite breaking a bone in his right hand.[3] He lost to three time champion Dave Thomas of Polytechnic ABC in the final.[4]
Living in Patchway, Bristol,[5] he boxed out of the Patchway Bristol Boxing Club and was a Welsh international.[6]
James acted as the Welsh team captain on several occasions.[7] and was the 1962 Welsh ABA champion at heavyweight[8]
He was selected for the 1962 Welsh team[9] for the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia. He competed in the heavyweight category,[10] where he was beaten by eventual gold medallist George Oywello of Uganda.[11]
Family
His sister was the swimmer Jenny James.[12]
References
- ^ "Rocky James". Pontypridd Observer. 16 April 1960. p. 16. Retrieved 23 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Roll of Honour". England Boxing. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
- ^ "Great chance of Bristol double in final". Bristol Evening Post. 5 April 1960. p. 23. Retrieved 23 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Kenny just out in tense semi final". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 25 April 1959. Retrieved 2 January 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Disappointment For Len James". Bristol Evening Post. 31 January 1961. p. 23. Retrieved 23 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Sports Gossip". Worthing Gazette. 10 January 1962. p. 13. Retrieved 23 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "McTaggart for his Fourth Championship". Evening News (London). 9 December 1961. p. 7. Retrieved 23 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "WABA Heavyweight" (PDF). Welsh Boxing. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
- ^ "Big trip for boxer who quit to build own house". Daily Mirror. 14 June 1962. p. 31. Retrieved 23 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Perth 1962". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
- ^ "Commonwealth Games - Perth, Australia - November 22 - December 1 1962". Amateur Boxing. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
- ^ "Channel Swimmer;s Father". Pontypridd Observer. 27 January 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 23 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.