5 ▁to ▁ 1 9 5 8 . ▁He ▁fought ▁as ▁both ▁a ▁middle weight ▁and ▁light - he avy weight , ▁becoming ▁British ▁middle weight ▁champion ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 0 . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁seven ▁children ▁and ▁lear nt ▁to ▁box ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁eight . ▁He ▁had ▁a ▁successful ▁amateur ▁career , ▁winning ▁ 6 3 ▁out ▁of ▁ 6 8 ▁cont ests . ▁ ▁Professional ▁career ▁He ▁had ▁his ▁first ▁professional ▁fight ▁on ▁ 1 4 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁at ▁the ▁Queens bury ▁Club , ▁So ho , ▁London . ▁He ▁fought ▁a ▁draw ▁over ▁six ▁r ounds ▁against ▁Edd ie ▁Star rs . ▁ ▁He ▁continued ▁to ▁build ▁up ▁a ▁successful ▁domestic ▁record ▁with ▁the ▁odd ▁defeat . ▁In ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁he ▁beat ▁Mark ▁Hart ▁for ▁the ▁Southern ▁Area ▁middle weight ▁title , ▁winning ▁on ▁points ▁over ▁ 1 2 ▁r ounds . ▁ ▁In ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 8 , ▁he ▁fought ▁the ▁prom ising ▁young ▁middle weight , ▁Rand olph ▁Tur pin , ▁at ▁the ▁Royal ▁Albert ▁Hall , ▁and ▁inf lic ted ▁Tur pin ' s ▁first ▁defeat , ▁winning ▁on ▁points ▁over ▁eight ▁r ounds . ▁ ▁In ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 9 , ▁he ▁challeng ed ▁Dick ▁Tur pin , ▁elder ▁brother ▁of ▁Rand olph , ▁for ▁his ▁British ▁and ▁Commonwealth ▁middle weight ▁titles . ▁The ▁fight ▁was ▁held ▁in ▁B irmingham ▁and ▁Tur pin ▁won ▁on ▁points ▁over ▁fifteen