CLIFF Anderson knocked down Mickey Francis five times to win an eight-round fight by technical knock out (TKO) in the final stanza. The contest was staged on December 17, 1946 in the Harringay Arena in London, England.
Anderson was 25 years old at the time, three older than his opponent and claimed his 23rd victory. The fight was the last of 13 that the Guyanese had for that year.
He had lose only two. Anderson was TKOed in round seven by Theo Medina in round seven in August.
Medina was the French bantamweight champion at the time and far superior in experience. Anderson’s other defeat of 1946 came in November at the hands of Georges Mousse who won the eight-round bout by on points.
The following year Anderson entered the ring only five times. In two of those fights he challenged for the Commonwealth featherweight title. Both times he lost to Al Phillips. Anderson’s contribution to the sport has been recognised in his native Guyana.
The National Sports Hall was renamed Cliff Anderson Sports Hall after the stalwart who died in 1998.