Harry Isaacs (7 January 1893 – 10 December 1958), better known as Harry Reeve, was a British middleweight and

cruiserweight Cruiserweight is a term associated with: *Cruiserweight (boxing), a weight class in boxing between light heavyweight and heavyweight * Cruiserweight (MMA), a weight class in mixed martial arts with an upper weight limit at . *Cruiserweight (profess ...

boxer who was British Cruiserweight champion in 1916. At the time, the cruiserweight division was referred to as light heavyweight.

Early life and career

Born in St. George's, London and based in Plaistow, Essex, the Jewish Isaacs fought under the name Harry Reeve and made his professional debut in 1910. Undefeated in his first 18 fights, he suffered his first loss in January 1912, to Harry Rudge, starting a run of nine fights where he won only two and lost five. He hit another winning streak in mid-1912, and despite a mixed record in 1913, got a shot at the vacant British middleweight title in February 1914 against Pat O'Keeffe, who won a points decision after 20 rounds. Reeve moved up to light-heavyweight and beat British heavyweight champion

Joe Beckett Joseph Beckett (4 April 1892 – 12 March 1965), also known by the nickname of "Joe", born in Wickham, Hampshire was an English professional light heavy/ cruiser/heavyweight boxer of the 1910s and early 1920s, who won the National Sporting ...

in December 1914 in a non-title bout. A run of eight straight wins in 1915 and 1916 led to a fight for Dick Smith's British light-heavyweight title on 30 October 1916 at the National Sporting Club at Covent Gardens. Reeve won on points over 20 rounds to take the title and the

Lonsdale Belt The Lord Lonsdale Challenge Belt, commonly known as the Lonsdale Belt, is the oldest championship belt in British professional boxing. Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale, introduced the prize on behalf of the National Sporting Club (NSC), int ...

, gaining momentum in the last three rounds of the close bout. He relinquished the title before defending it. Light heavyweight division is usually classified as cruiserweight today. Reeve had already reached the rank of Lance Corporal in his service in WWI prior to winning the light-heavyweight title. Reeve served in the 7th

Middlesex Regiment The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1966. The regiment was formed, as the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), in 1881 as part of the Childers Ref ...

and

Military Police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. In wartime operations, the military police may support the main fighting force with force protection, convoy security, Screening (tactical), ...

during his service with the British Army in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fig ...

. Before completing his service, he suffered a leg wound that hampered his subsequent career. After the war, Reeve returned to boxing, losing to Joe Beckett in January 1919 after a fifth round stoppage. He continued to fight until 1934, his post-war career including losses to

Bombardier Billy Wells William Thomas Wells, better known as Bombardier Billy Wells (31 August 1889 – 12 June 1967), was an English heavyweight boxer. Fighting under the name "Bombardier Billy Wells", he was British and British Empire Champion from 1911 ...

Eddie McGoorty Edward Martin "Eddie" McGoorty (July 31, 1889 – November 2, 1929) was a middleweight American boxer who won the Australian version of the World Middleweight Title during his career. McGoorty won the amateur 130 lb Boxing Championship ...

Mike McTigue Mike may refer to: Animals * Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum * Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off * Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and document ...

, Gus Platts, and

Phil Scott Philip Brian Scott (born August 4, 1958) is an American politician, businessman and Stock car racing, stock car racer who has served as the List of governors of Vermont, 82nd governor of Vermont since 2017. A member of the Republican Party (Unit ...

, draws with Scott (at the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

in 1924) and

Reggie Meen Reginald Meen (20 November 1907 – 1984) was a British boxer, who won the British heavyweight title in 1931. Career Reggie Meen was born in Warwickshire in 1907 and grew up in Desborough in Northamptonshire, where he was originally a bootmake ...

, and several fights against Senegalese fighter

Battling Siki Louis Mbarick Fall (16 September 1897 – 15 December 1925), known as Battling Siki, was a French light heavyweight boxer born in Senegal who fought from 1912 to 1925, and briefly reigned as the World light heavyweight champion after knocking ...

.Runstedtler, Theresa (2012) ''Jack Johnson, Rebel Sojourner: Boxing in the Shadow of the Global Color Line'', University of California Press, , p. 237 He finished with a record of 79 wins from 150 professional fights.

Life outside boxing

Reeve married Ethel Sophia Stone in 1912, eventually having twelve children. He died on 10 December 1958.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Reeve, Harry 1893 births 1958 deaths Burials in England Military personnel from London British Army personnel of World War I Middlesex Regiment soldiers Royal Military Police soldiers British Jews Light-heavyweight boxers Middleweight boxers Jewish boxers English male boxers Boxers from Greater London

Early life and career

Life outside boxing

See also

References

External links