Jake Kilrain (British boxer)
{{short description|Scottish boxer}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name = Jake Kilrain
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| realname = Henry Owens
| nickname =
| weight = Lightweight
welterweight
middleweight
| height =
| reach =
| nationality = British
| birth_date = January 1, 1914
| birth_place = Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland
| death_date = October 1, 1984 (aged 70)
| death_place =
| style =
| total = 114
| wins = 86
| KO = 38
| losses = 24
| draws = 4
| no contests =
| medaltemplates =
| show-medals =
}}
Henry Owens (January 1, 1914 — October 1, 1984), who fought under the name Jake Kilrain (after the American boxer), was a Scottish boxer who was British welterweight champion between 1936 and 1939.
Career
Born in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Owens adopted the ring name Jake Kilrain while still an amateur. He adopted the name of American boxer Jake Kilrain. He began his professional career in 1931 and in his first three years won over thirty fights and suffered only two defeats. After a defeat at the hands of the experienced Boyo Rees in April 1934 he was out of the ring for almost a year due to hand injuries before returning with another loss by disqualification to Fred Lowbridge.{{cite news |title=Jake Kilrain Loses on Foul |work=Dundee Courier |date=22 March 1935 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19350322/160/0011| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} He won his next four fights, including a fourth-round knockout of Len Wickwar, before meeting Joe Kerr in an eliminator for the Scottish lightweight title, which ended in a draw.{{cite news |title=Where Jake Kilrain Failed |work=Dundee Evening Telegraph |date=14 August 1935 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19350814/128/0008| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
He moved up to welterweight and beat Jim P Boyle in December 1935 to take the Scottish welterweight title. He followed this with wins over Harry Mason, George Purchase, and Billy Graham,{{cite news |title=Easy for Jake Kilrain: Scot Was Dictator to Billy Graham |work=Dundee Evening Telegraph |date=21 February 1936 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19360221/168/0012| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} before being beaten on points in March 1936 by Ernie Roderick.{{cite news |title=Roderick Beats Jake Kilrain |work=Dundee Courier |date=13 March 1946 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19360313/043/0004| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} He beat Seaman Jim Lawlor a month later and then fought Dave McCleave in June that year for the British welterweight title, winning via an eighth-round knockout.{{cite news |title=No Test For Jake Kilrain |work=Dundee Evening Telegraph |date=17 April 1936 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19360417/186/0012| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}{{cite news |title=Jake Kilrain Wins British Welterweight Title |work=Aberdeen Journal |date=3 June 1936 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000577/19360603/009/0004| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} Over the next twelve months he had nine fights – seven wins, a draw, and a further defeat to Roderick. He lost to Jimmy Purcell in August 1937,{{cite news |title=Shock for Jake Kilrain: Purcell Gets Points Verdict |work=Dundee Courier |date=21 August 1937 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19370821/041/0004| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} and to Jack Kid Berg in October, before successfully defending his British title in February 1938 against Jack Lord.{{cite news |title=Jake Kilrain Keeps Title |work=Dundee Courier |date=22 February 1938 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19380222/125/0009| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} The second defence of his title was due to take place in July against Roderick, but was twice delayed due to Kilrain's eye injuries and abdominal surgery in November following appendicitis;{{cite news |title=Jake Kilrain's Crown Will Not Topple Easily |work=Aberdeen Journal |date=23 March 1939 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000577/19390323/020/0004| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} The fight took place in March 1939 at Anfield, Roderick taking the title with a seventh-round knockout.{{cite news |title=Ernie Roderick's Dream Comes True |work=Lancashire Evening Post |date=24 March 1939 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000711/19390324/308/0012| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} After winning his next two fights, including victory over former European champion Felix Wouters,{{cite news |title=Jake Kilrain to Meet European Champion |work=Dundee Courier |date=31 May 1939 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19390531/151/0011| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} the next three years saw most of Kilrain's fights ending in defeat.
By the mid-1940s, Kilrain had moved up to middleweight, and in January 1946 won the Scottish Area middleweight title with a points victory over Jock McCusker.{{cite news |title=Kilrain on Right Road Back |work=Dundee Courier |date=24 January 1946 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19460124/082/0004| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} He defended the title in September 1946 against the previously undefeated Eddie Starrs, retaining it with a fourth round stoppage.{{cite news |title=Scottish Title for Jake Kilrain |work=Aberdeen Journal |date=12 September 1946 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19460912/035/0003| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}{{cite news |title=Kilrain Wins in Four Rounds |work=Dundee Courier |date=12 September 1946 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19460912/016/0002| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
On 15 May 1947 he was arrested after a fight against Freddy Price at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow; After being warned three times for fouls, in the fourth round he was ordered to his corner by the referee, former Scottish middleweight champion Steve McCall, after headbutting Price. Kilrain refused and continued throwing punches, hitting McCall twice in the face, sparking a melee in which several spectators got involved, a man suffered a broken arm, and the referee was thrown out of the ring.{{cite news |title=Sensational End to Boxing Match |work=Aberdeen Journal |date=16 May 1947 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19470516/056/0004| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}{{cite news |title=Jake Kilrain in Court |work=Dundee Courier |date=17 May 1947 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19470517/069/0003| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}"[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2715069 Scottish Boxer Arrested for Striking Referee]", The Canberra Times, 17 May 1949, p. 1. Retrieved 22 February 2015, via trove.nla.gov.au Kilrain was charged with striking the referee, and after being found guilty of assault was fined £25, with the option of three months imprisonment.{{cite news |title=Jake Kilrain is Fined £25 |work=Aberdeen Journal |date=1 July 1947 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19470701/069/0004| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} He was subsequently suspended from boxing until the end of the year by the Scottish Council of the BBBofC and fined a further £20.{{cite news |title=Jake Kilrain Suspended |work=Dundee Courier |date=8 July 1947 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19470708/006/0002| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
He returned to the ring in March 1948, beating Johnnie McKenna in one round after McKenna suffered a badly cut mouth.{{cite news |title=Fife Bouts End in First Round |work=Dundee Courier |date=11 March 1948 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19480311/084/0004| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} After two defeats later that year he defended his Scottish area title in May 1949 at Celtic Park against Willie Whyte; Kilrain won on points to retain his title, but this proved to be his final fight.
After retiring from boxing, Kilrain became an official, serving on the BBBofC's Scottish Council, and a referee.{{cite news |title=Dundee Promoter is Chairman |work=Dundee Courier |date=19 August 1950 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19500819/102/0005| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}{{cite news |title=Keen to Have a Go |work=Dundee Courier |date=26 May 1953 |accessdate=22 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19530526/110/0006| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} Kilrain died on October 1, 1984.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=24154&cat=boxer&pageID=1 Career record] at boxrec.com
- [http://www.boxinghistory.org.uk/records/90782-Jake-Kilrain-Bellshill.pdf Career record] at boxinghistory.org.uk
{{British boxing}}
{{boxing}}
{{boxing History}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kilrain, Jake}}