Harry Mizler

Hyman Barnett "Harry" Mizler (22 January 1913 – March 1990) was an English boxer who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics and won the British BBoC Lightweight title in January 1934.

Early life and amateur career Mizler was born in Wicket Street, St Georges in the heart of the East End of London to Jewish parents. They had a fish stall in Watney Street Market and after leaving school he worked in the stall along with his brothers Moe and Judah, who also boxed. He had a stellar amateur career, winning the Federation of Working Men's Club's Bantamweight championship in 1929–30, and in 1932-3 held the ABA Amateur Bantamweight title.

At age seventeen, Mizler competed in the 1930 British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada, where he won the gold medal in the bantamweight division, defeating Scotland’s Tommy Holt in the final.

In 1932 he was eliminated in the first round of the lightweight class at the Los Angeles Olympic Games, after losing his bout to the eventual bronze medalist Nathan Bor of the United States. His manager Victor Berliner was well known in British boxing circles.

Taking the BBoC British lightweight title, Jan 1934 On 18 January 1934, he defeated Johnny Cuthbert in fifteen rounds at Kensington's Royal Albert Hall for the British Board of Control (BBofC) lightweight title. More experienced and accomplished, Cuthbert was the 1927 BBoC British featherweight champion. Nonetheless, showing immense talent at an early stage in his career, Mizler's title victory was only his tenth professional fight.

Mizler defended the British Boxing Board of Control lightweight title once, defeating Billy Quinlan on points over fifteen rounds on 4 August 1934 in Swansea, Wales.

Loss of lightweight title, Oct 1934 Mizler lost the title to Jack Kid Berg on 29 October 1934 at the Royal Albert Hall, when his corner retired him at the end of the tenth round of a scheduled fifteen-round bout. Mizler was said to have "received a ceaseless drubbing from Berg's busy fists", with Berg using both hands against the face of his younger opponent. Berg pulled ahead decisively after the first two rounds. Mizler was more effective at long range, but Berg controlled the bout with greater speed and stronger close-range attacks. In the third round, Berg landed a left to the jaw that drove Mizler back to the ropes. Mizler struggled to defend against Berg’s left hooks to the jaw, and his corner retired him at the end of the tenth round.

On 2 October 1935, Mizler defeated Gustave Hummery of France by eighth-round stoppage. Mizler had been knocked down four times for counts of nine and once for a count of eight before the bell ended the round. In the eighth round, he knocked Hummery down with a left-right combination to the jaw, after which Hummery’s corner threw in the towel. After the war he made a good living as an entrepreneur in the garment center.

Selected fights

Win Johnny Cuthbert 18 Jan 1934 Kensington, West End, London 15 Rounds Won British lightweight title Win Billy Quinlan 4 Aug 1934 Swansea, Wales 15 Rounds Retained Brit. lightweight title Loss Jack Kid Berg 29 Oct 1934 Kensington, London 10th Round TKO Lost British lightweight title Win Gustave Hummery 2 Oct 1935 Kensington, London 8th Round TKO Win Norman Snow 2 Dec 1935 Northampton, Eng. 15 Rounds Won BBoC Southern Lightweight title Loss Jimmy Walsh 19 Oct 1936 Kensington, London 15 Rounds For BBoC Brit. Lightweight title Win Petey Sarron 15 Apr 1937 Johannesberg, SA 1st Round DQLow blow, Non-title Sarron-World feather champ Loss Petey Sarron 19 Jun 1937 Harringay, North London 10 Rounds Sarron-World feather champ Win Al Roth 15 Nov 1937 Kensington, London 10 Rounds Roth broke hand Loss Jack Kid Berg 27 Feb 1941 Cambridge Theatre 10 Rounds