He was born at Glynarthen, Cardiganshire but moved to Carncelyn Farm, Penygraig, in the Rhondda Valley of South Wales at an early age.

Born at Glynarthen, Cardiganshire (the home of his mother) and then moving to Carnelyn Farm,[1] he began boxing in a sideshow, touring with Freddie Welsh and Jim Driscoll.

After winning the local Rhondda valley heavyweight "championship", he won a National Sporting Club middleweight competition in London.

In 1909, he fought Charlie Wilson to become the first holder of a Lonsdale Belt at his weight.

He won over thirty fights before losing the British middleweight title to Jim Sullivan in November 1910.