Person Open DS/UK/7496 Anderson; Cliff (22 October 1921-2 December 1998); Guyana-born English featherweight boxer Anderson Cliff 22 October 1921-2 December 1998 Guyana-born English featherweight boxer Male (cisgender) Clifford Matthew Anderson New Amsterdam, Guyana (born)

London, England (residence)

Guyanese Black Sensory disability No known religious affiliation Heterosexual Cliff Anderson was a professional boxer. As a teenager he fought his way out of the amateur ranks to become a professional boxer. When the Second World War broke out, he joined the British Merchant Navy and served for three years until arriving in Britain in 1945. He got his first big boxing break in 1946, at the Royal Albert Hall. He defeated the heavily favoured Frenchman, Theo Medina. In 1947, he fought for the vacant British Empire Featherweight Title at Alexandra Palace. However, as the boxing colour bar was in place at this time, he could not be awarded the Title even if he were victorious. This is even despite being a British citizen, who had served his country. Anderson beat his opponent the ‘Aldgate Tiger’ Al Phillips, yet the referee awarded the fight to Philips. Police had to be called to prevent a riot when fans heard the verdict. The Labour government’s colonial secretary Arthur Greech-Jones was called to the floor of the House of Commerce to denounce Britain’s ring colour bias after the fight. The public demanded a rematch where again Anderson beat Philips. However, Philips claimed that Anderson had deliberately hit him in the kidneys, and the referee disqualified him, awarding the fight to Phillips. This was to become one of the biggest controversies in British boxing history. Anderson retired from boxing in 1954, having sustained damage to his eyes. https://www.vercida.com/uk/articles/bhm-remembering-clifford-matthew-anderson (2022) International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 Yes RAHhbaulcombe 9/9/2013 RAHAKirkbride 10/13/2022 33654850-361c-45a8-b1e8-1f89aa2e822c