Based in Mexborough, Yorkshire, and a miner by trade, Harry Crossley began his boxing career with two bouts in his hometown in 1924.
He followed this with a win over Gipsy Daniels, and then fought heavyweight Larry Gains in Cologne, losing on points.
[1][3][4] Over the next few years, Crossley beat the likes of the heavyweight Reggie Meen, Gipsy Daniels (twice), earned a draw against Len Johnson (Crossley offered Johnson a shot at his title but it wasn't sanctioned due to Johnson being of mixed race),[5] and was beaten by Meen, Jimmy Tarante,[6] Don McCorkindale and German champion Ernst Pistulla,[7] before defending his light heavyweight title against Jack Petersen in May 1932; Petersen won a points decision to take the title.
After Peteresen relinquished the title, Crossley was due to fight the winner of an eliminator between Eddie Phillips and Len Harvey for the vacant title, but he withdrew from the light heavyweight division to focus on fighting at heavyweight.
[9][10] His final two fights were defeats by knockout to Petersen and Gains in the early part of 1934.