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

Military Police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. Not to be confused with civilian police, who are legally part of the civilian populace. In wartime operations, the military police may supp ...

during his service with the British Army in the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. 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, Eddie McGoorty, Mike McTigue, Gus Platts, and Phil Scott, draws with Scott (at the

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in 1924) and Reggie Meen, and several fights against Senegalese fighter Battling Siki.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 Military personnel from the London Borough of Havering British Army personnel of World War I Middlesex Regiment soldiers Royal Military Police soldiers Jewish English sportspeople Light-heavyweight boxers Middleweight boxers Jewish boxers English male boxers Boxers from the London Borough of Havering People from Hornchurch 20th-century English sportsmen

Early life and career

Life outside boxing

See also

References

External links