Eddie Townsend

Edward "Eddie" Townsend (October 5, 1914 – February 1, 1988) was an American professional boxing trainer.

He is revered in Japan for training several boxing world champions. An award given to boxing trainers was established in his honor and a boxing gym in Osaka, bears his name.

Biography Townsend was born to a Japanese mother and an American father in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. His mother lived in Yamaguchi Prefecture, before immigrating to the United States and his father worked as a lawyer.

He began boxing at age 14 and was undefeated in 12 fights as a professional, before losing his 13th bout the day before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 6, 1941). Townsend's American friends quickly deserted him after learning that he was half Japanese and Townsend decided to end his professional career to become a trainer.

Townsend first traveled to Japan in 1962