Lloyd 'Kid' Davis, Swansea's Black Marvel
The latest Annual Report of the County Archivist from West Glamorgan Archives features an article, “Lloyd 'Kid' Davis, Swansea's Black Marvel” on pages 38-42. It was written by Local Studies Librarian, Gwilym Games together with Steve Jones, one of Kid Davis's descendants. It tells the fascinating story of Kid Davis, the American born black boxer who settled, fought and trained in Swansea in the period just before World War One. With increasing interest in Swansea's multiethnic past the story of Kid Davis gives us a deeper insight into a black Swansea sporting hero from over a hundred years ago. Kid Davis was born in Denver, Colorado had a fascinating career first as a cyclist before becoming a professional boxer fighting in many places in America, all over Britain, France, Belgium and Ireland, before serving in the Merchant Navy in the First World War. You can read the article in the online report (p. 38-42) here:
Steve Jones has donated a photocopy of the rare pamphlet which told Kid Davis’ life story to the library service and it is an important addition to our collections. Researching Kid Davis’s life involved using one of the library's greatest treasures - our collections of historic newspapers. Kid Davis's fights at home and abroad were generally well covered in the Swansea press. You can find out more about Swansea Libraries newspaper collections and how you can use them for historical research here.
A recent discovery from the South Wales Daily Post which could not be included in the article is this copy of the obituary of Kid Davies from 1928 showing his local popularity. You can read it here:
South Wales Daily Post 10/1/1928 p.8
Swansea Libraries have also recently received copies of a new book on another black Swansea boxer Neville Meade, the British and Welsh Heavyweight Champion who was also based in Swansea. Originally from Montserrat Neville Meade made a spectacular win of the British Heavyweight title in 1981.