23 February 1939

Eric Boon v Arthur Danaher was the first occasion that the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) had been permitted to televise a boxing match but also the first time a transmission had been shown live to a paying audience in cinemas (the Marble Arch Pavilion and the Tatler News Theatre). This preceded the first televised heavyweight boxing match (Max Baer vs Lou Nova, from Yankee Stadium) which was held on 1 June 1939.

The match, which pitched super-stylist Danahar against the ferocious, all-action Boon, was a mouth-watering prospect that exceeded expectations. Danahar was stopped in the fourteenth round of what turned out to be one of the most exciting British title showdowns ever.

Len Wickwar from Leicester, England, who had a recorded professional record of 465 fights - still a world record to this day.

Here he is in a 1939 non-title bout with reigning british lightweight champion, 19 year old sensation of the times, Eric Boon.

Entering this bout, Wickwar had not been stopped in his 82 previous fights. Since his last knockout defeat, Len had gone 72(41)-7-3. Wickwar would not be stopped again until nearly eight years later. Boon was his only stoppage defeat in a span of 91 competitive outings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTJiGQdrWtw