Harry Hurst

Harry Hurst (May 26, 1918 – May 15, 1979) was a Canadian boxer who competed in the 1938 British Empire Games.

Early life Harry Hurst was born in Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Hurst began boxing out of Montreal athletic clubs. In 1939, he won the Quebec Golden Gloves title at 135 pounds. At the Canadian Amateur Boxing Championships on April 28, 1939, he captured the 135-pound lightweight crown.

Professional career Hurst transitioned to professional boxing under Maurice Foreman in late 1939 as the reigning national amateur lightweight champion.

Title match with Dave Castilloux, April 1941 In 1941, he returned to his hometown to compete for the Canadian lightweight boxing championship. On April 22, 1941, Hurst and Canadian welterweight champion Dave Castilloux fought to a 10-round draw in their first Canadian lightweight title bout. By September, he entered the National Boxing Association's lightweight ratings.

Second title match with Dave Castilloux, September 1941 In the Castilloux-Hurst rematch for the lightweight title on September 25, 1941, Hurst lost the 10-round bout at the Montreal Forum by unanimous decision.

He held the ninth position among lightweights in The Ring magazine's 1941 annual ratings.

When he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in March 1942, Hurst held the number four lightweight ranking globally during World War II. The air force's disapproval of boxing prevented him from fighting throughout his three-and-a-half-year stint as a PT instructor in England, unlike navy or army personnel who could continue developing through service bouts.

Title matches with Johnny Greco, 1947-1948 Hurst competed in two title bouts against defending champion Johnny Greco for the Canadian welterweight championship between 1947 and 1948.

Professional boxing record

Death Harry Hurst died on May 15, 1979, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was buried in Mount Royal Cemetery.