2-547-249 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Benny Lynch, Scottish boxer, 1938. Born in the Gorbals district of Glasgow, Lynch (1913-1946) has been described as Scotland's greatest ever boxer. Learnung his skills in carnivals in the West of Scotland during the Great Depression, Lynch won the Scottish flyweight title in 1934, before taking the British and world titles by beating England's Jackie Brown on 8 September 1935. He successfully defended his titles against Pat Palmer, the Filipino Small Montana and Peter Kane, but his hard-drinking lifestyle caused him difficulties in making the flyweight limit. In 1938 he was overweight for a rematch with Kane, although the fight, which ended in a draw, went ahead after Lynch agreed to pay a forfeit. Later the same year he beat Jackie Jurich of the United States, but had to forfeit the title for being overweight for the bout. Lynch only fought twice more, losing both times, and died aged just 33 from malnutrition after suffering from alcoholism. He won the A Churchman's Cigarettes picture card.