PZ Men that were Boxers from 1940's
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Interesting article from This is Cornwall Aug 2010
Hosting clash of our finest boxers
ON A Saturday evening in October 1939, at a packed St.John’s Hall Penzance, two Cornish boxers fought one another in a long awaited and much publicised exhibition match.
They were none other than our own Zachy Nicholas from Sennen and the legendary Len Harvey who was born in Stoke Climsland in east Cornwall.
Although Harvey left Cornwall for London as a young man, he was always proud of his heritage and this was evident when he fought, as his shorts always bore the Cornish emblem with its 15 bezants. As a teenager he soon became known as Britain’s wonder boxer.
Unquestionably the Duchy's finest; both had already achieved tremendous success as professionals.
The evening's programme described Harvey as a boxer who had previously won universal recognition and was the holder of multiple crowns. Known as the Battling Cornishman or as Gilbert Odd portrayed him in his book: The Prince of Boxers, he was born in 1908 and was schooled as a boxer at the former Cosmopolitan Gymnasium in Plymouth and became a triple British title holder.
The programme notes continued, "One of Nicholas' greatest fights was in 1938, when billed as 'the sensational Cornishman' he fought Jack Casey who was then the North of England heavyweight champion. It was a gruelling 15 three-minute rounder at St.Austell against his formidable opponent which Zachy eventually won on points. Also in April 1939, Nicholas fought Bill Wainwright who was the heavyweight champion of the Midlands. In 1938 at Wembley, Zachy defeated the heavyweight champion of the British West Indies."
The evening's entertainment, including the supporting bouts at St John's Hall for the big fight, were organised by the Corinthian Boxing Club, of Penzance, which was run by Garfield Searle and Jimmy Chinn. With ring side seats costing half a crown and Ted Jasper selling his pasties for a penny each, the atmosphere in the packed Hall was electrifying.
By the time the big fight had started, literally hundreds had congregated on the forecourt outside to listen to the relayed commentary, but Zachy, the local hero, excelled himself beyond all expectations before losing on points to his illustrious opponent.
During the 15 minute interval, Cyril Harvey – a local character – gave exhibitions of weightlifting. One of his many feats was a comic act in which a length of rope was placed around his neck and two men pulled; one on each side of the rope. He then demonstrated the power of his neck muscles in resisting a serious situation. Such was the flavour of the evening.
Proceeds from the evening's entertainment went to the County hospital which urgently needed £20,000 to continue. Both Harvey and Nicholas fought on the evening for an empty purse.
Of pale complexion, Len Harvey often looked out of place in the rough and tumble of the ring until the bell allowed him to display his incomparable skills. His technique, evasive ability and counter punching saw him safely through a career which consisted of 133 contests of which he only lost nine.
It was in 1929 when he won the first of his domestic title hat-tricks to take the British middleweight title. By the end of 1933 he was the British cruiserweight and heavyweight champion.
Harvey's greatest night came in 1936 at Wembley, when he challenged John Henry Lewis for the World light-heavyweight championship. Not many people gave Harvey a chance of winning but the Cornishman surpassed himself that night. He damaged his hand early in the fight, ignored the pain, and hit out at the American. Lewis won with a close points decision. However, Lewis never defended his title.
The British Boxing Board of Control then matched Harvey with Jock McAvoy and Harvey won to claim the light-heavyweight championship of the World.
Harvey was also the holder of the Empire heavyweight title.
Len Harvey's great career ended in 1942 when he lost his last remaining British title, the cruiserweight crown to Freddie Mills at White Hart Lane the home of Tottenham Hotspur FC. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.
Zachy Nicholas was born and bred in Sennen Churchtown. He was managed by his father who was the owner of the First and Last garage and local haulage business. As a teenager Zachy joined the Penzance Boxing Club and in 1935 at the age of 17 years he turned professional, winning fight after fight by mostly knock outs. He was latter encouraged to change his style and therefore more contests were won on points.
In 1938 he became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the West, out-pointing Bill Roberts at the Millbay Rinkeries in Plymouth. Such was his ability that he fought in exhibition matches against Tommy Farr (welterweight champion of Gt. Britain), the legendary Freddie Mills (Light-heavyweight champion of the world) and of course the great Len Harvey.
Several times Zachy Nicholas fought at the Wembley Arena and over a period of five years lost only six fights out of a total of 45. His career finished in the spring of 1940.
It was said on many occasions, that had he gone to London for his schooling he would have achieved worldwide recognition just like Len Harvey, his fellow Cornishman. "Some thought I could make it as the heavyweight champion of Great Britain, but I had the garage to look after down at Sennen," he once said. "But I always treated it as a sport and never took it seriously."
Hosting clash of our finest boxers
ON A Saturday evening in October 1939, at a packed St.John’s Hall Penzance, two Cornish boxers fought one another in a long awaited and much publicised exhibition match.
They were none other than our own Zachy Nicholas from Sennen and the legendary Len Harvey who was born in Stoke Climsland in east Cornwall.
Although Harvey left Cornwall for London as a young man, he was always proud of his heritage and this was evident when he fought, as his shorts always bore the Cornish emblem with its 15 bezants. As a teenager he soon became known as Britain’s wonder boxer.
Unquestionably the Duchy's finest; both had already achieved tremendous success as professionals.
The evening's programme described Harvey as a boxer who had previously won universal recognition and was the holder of multiple crowns. Known as the Battling Cornishman or as Gilbert Odd portrayed him in his book: The Prince of Boxers, he was born in 1908 and was schooled as a boxer at the former Cosmopolitan Gymnasium in Plymouth and became a triple British title holder.
The programme notes continued, "One of Nicholas' greatest fights was in 1938, when billed as 'the sensational Cornishman' he fought Jack Casey who was then the North of England heavyweight champion. It was a gruelling 15 three-minute rounder at St.Austell against his formidable opponent which Zachy eventually won on points. Also in April 1939, Nicholas fought Bill Wainwright who was the heavyweight champion of the Midlands. In 1938 at Wembley, Zachy defeated the heavyweight champion of the British West Indies."
The evening's entertainment, including the supporting bouts at St John's Hall for the big fight, were organised by the Corinthian Boxing Club, of Penzance, which was run by Garfield Searle and Jimmy Chinn. With ring side seats costing half a crown and Ted Jasper selling his pasties for a penny each, the atmosphere in the packed Hall was electrifying.
By the time the big fight had started, literally hundreds had congregated on the forecourt outside to listen to the relayed commentary, but Zachy, the local hero, excelled himself beyond all expectations before losing on points to his illustrious opponent.
During the 15 minute interval, Cyril Harvey – a local character – gave exhibitions of weightlifting. One of his many feats was a comic act in which a length of rope was placed around his neck and two men pulled; one on each side of the rope. He then demonstrated the power of his neck muscles in resisting a serious situation. Such was the flavour of the evening.
Proceeds from the evening's entertainment went to the County hospital which urgently needed £20,000 to continue. Both Harvey and Nicholas fought on the evening for an empty purse.
Of pale complexion, Len Harvey often looked out of place in the rough and tumble of the ring until the bell allowed him to display his incomparable skills. His technique, evasive ability and counter punching saw him safely through a career which consisted of 133 contests of which he only lost nine.
It was in 1929 when he won the first of his domestic title hat-tricks to take the British middleweight title. By the end of 1933 he was the British cruiserweight and heavyweight champion.
Harvey's greatest night came in 1936 at Wembley, when he challenged John Henry Lewis for the World light-heavyweight championship. Not many people gave Harvey a chance of winning but the Cornishman surpassed himself that night. He damaged his hand early in the fight, ignored the pain, and hit out at the American. Lewis won with a close points decision. However, Lewis never defended his title.
The British Boxing Board of Control then matched Harvey with Jock McAvoy and Harvey won to claim the light-heavyweight championship of the World.
Harvey was also the holder of the Empire heavyweight title.
Len Harvey's great career ended in 1942 when he lost his last remaining British title, the cruiserweight crown to Freddie Mills at White Hart Lane the home of Tottenham Hotspur FC. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.
Zachy Nicholas was born and bred in Sennen Churchtown. He was managed by his father who was the owner of the First and Last garage and local haulage business. As a teenager Zachy joined the Penzance Boxing Club and in 1935 at the age of 17 years he turned professional, winning fight after fight by mostly knock outs. He was latter encouraged to change his style and therefore more contests were won on points.
In 1938 he became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the West, out-pointing Bill Roberts at the Millbay Rinkeries in Plymouth. Such was his ability that he fought in exhibition matches against Tommy Farr (welterweight champion of Gt. Britain), the legendary Freddie Mills (Light-heavyweight champion of the world) and of course the great Len Harvey.
Several times Zachy Nicholas fought at the Wembley Arena and over a period of five years lost only six fights out of a total of 45. His career finished in the spring of 1940.
It was said on many occasions, that had he gone to London for his schooling he would have achieved worldwide recognition just like Len Harvey, his fellow Cornishman. "Some thought I could make it as the heavyweight champion of Great Britain, but I had the garage to look after down at Sennen," he once said. "But I always treated it as a sport and never took it seriously."
Hi Homebird and welcome to PP. Did your grandfather work on the lifeboat at Sennen?
Hello half hidden, no not on the lifeboat ( there were two Nicholas families in Sennen, one from 'down cove' and the other the ' over hillers', my family were the over hillers! they had Mayon farm at one point, then the first and last garage, which Zachy ran after his boxing finished). He did join the home guard and the coastguard but as far as i know, never went out with the lifeboat crew.
Fascinating bit of history. Maybe if you can take a photo of the picture at the inn and put a short story together we can pop it in the local character’s section 
