Tommy Farr

Tommy Farr, the ‘Tonypandy Terror’, carried the hopes of the nation into an epic battle overseas when he famously fought Joe Louis for the World Heavyweight title in New York. Freed’s, the electrical store in Duke Street, Cardiff, sold out of radiograms, everyone set their alarm clocks for an early morning start and listened in to every gripping moment on 30 August, 1937.

Was it too much to hope that a Welshman could get his hands on the most coveted prize in world sport? No one in the Rhondda Valley thought it was beyond the man from Clydach Vale.

He stood toe to toe with the most awesome fighter of his, and probably any age, and almost came out on top. The World Heavyweight crown is among the highest accolades any sportsman can win. Many ringside observers thought Farr had earned that title.

Unfortunately, the judges saw it differently, although Louis had few harder fights than the 15 round duel he fought with Farr in front of 32,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, New York.

Farr went to America with the British and Empire heavyweight titles behind him. He almost returned with the World crown. He won 84, lost 34 and drew 17 of his 135 fights and remains one of Britain’s greatest heavyweight boxers.

Tommy Farr (boxer): born in Clydach Vale on 12 March, 1913; died on 1 March, 1986.