Heavyweight Title, April 1936 After his unsuccessful bid to capture the world light heavyweight crown from John Henry Lewis in 1936, McAvoy returned to England, and his next fight was for the British and British Empire heavyweight titles held by Welshman, Jack Petersen. Petersen won the fifteen round fight on points in Kensington, London on 23 April 1936. After a fast start, the action slowed and the crowd of 10,000, urged the boxers to mix. McAvoy picked up the pace, rocking Petersen with some flashy lefts, but was later down for a count of eight from a right uppercut. He fought well, if cautiously for the remainder of the bout, easily remaining on his feet throughout, despite Petersen's twelve pound weight advantage. McAvoy weaved continuously and fought from a crouch, methods he had observed fighting in America. Though there were few fouls, Petersen was repeatedly warned for blows to the back of McAvoy's head. Taking the BBBofC British Light Heavyweight Title, April 1937 McAvoy took the BBBofC British Light Heavyweight Title from Eddie Phillips in a fourteenth-round knockout on 27 April 1937 at Empire Pool at Wembley. The match was featured as the semi-final bout. Losing the British Empire Light Heavyweight Title, April 1938 McAvoy officially lost the BBBofC Light Heavyweight Title to Len Harvey on 7 April 1938 in a fast fifteen-round decision at Harringay Arena. Harvey was cut over the right eye when both boxers bumped heads in the third round, and so skillfully ducked a blow by McAvoy in the tenth, that he nearly toppled from the ring. McAvoy lost another BBBofC World Light Heavyweight Title in a fifteen-round decision against Len Harvey on 10 July 1939 before an incredible crowd of 100,000 at White City Stadium in London. The title was sanctioned as both a World Light Heavyweight, and BBBofC Light Heavyweight Title bout. In the second round Harvey was floored for a count of one, but he finished strong to take the decision. According to the Associated Press, Harvey took a terrific beating in the fourteenth, but caught McAvoy in his corner and beat him harshly with a series of right crosses. His most important remaining bout was against future Light Heavyweight world champion Freddie Mills, who beat him on points, and forced him to retire in the re-match with an injured back. Assessment McAvoy was a hard puncher who scored 88 KOs in his