Life Story
Alf Greenfield claimed the title of English Heavyweight boxing champion during a colourful career in which he fought John L. Sullivan for the World Heavyweight title.
Born in on March 22nd 1853 at Russell Terrace Northampton, England, he was the eldest of three boys born to Morris Greenfield and Amelia Matthews.
He married Maria Hounsell and they had five children (Harriet, twins Walther and Ada, Elizabeth and Morris).
Alf was a bargeman by profession before becoming a boxer and after retirement he became publican at the Swan with Two Necks, Livery Street, Birmingham and later the Oxford & Cambridge (earlier known as the Three Tuns).
Alf started boxing while living in the Northampton area having a few minor bouts of which no details are known. Backed and supported throughout his career by a notorious gang of 'roughs' who never hesitated to 'break-things up' if Alf was getting the worst of it in the ring. He took part in many exhibition bouts throughout his career.
Winning and Losing a Belt
He won the English Championship belt in 1883 but it was stolen from the Swan while on display just before his departure for America in 1884. The belt was the only thing taken. Four men, John Rowe, William Reeding, John Kennedy and Timothy Kennedy appeared in court before stipendiary magistrate Mr Kymnersley
A woman, Mrs Jemima James, heard John Kennedy saying to the other three "we will go up the entry and climb over the wall, Alf is away and she, Mrs Greenfield, will be boozed. The thinnest can go through". Henry Stretton a Silversmith said "Reeding asked him to run some stuff down for him" but he refused. The stipendiary stated "the evidence wasn't strong enough to convict" and all four men were discharged.
Tour of America
On October 25th 1884 Alf sailed on the SS Oregon for USA with fellow heavyweights Jack Welch and George Fayer. A number of other English boxers, including Charlie Mitchell and Jack Burke, were already in USA presumably because of the money to be made there.
His trip appears to have been something of a financial disappointment, with the American Sporting Life reporting that Alf's benefit show in Chicago was a failure. Alf parted from his trainer Nobby Smith and shortly afterwards returned to England citing a domestic "affliction". Further potentially lucrative fights in San Francisco were turned down and it's unclear exactly why Alf left so suddenly.
The greatest success of the trip may have been his friendship with John L. Sullivan who later helped Alf in England
On May 25th Alf publicly thanked his friends from Taunton, MA for the gift of a handsome walking stick of best ebony with a handle of 18ct gold.
On September 25th his supporters presented Alf with a replica belt to replace the one stolen.
Final Years
A fire broke out at the Three Tuns, Smithfield at 3am on 12th January 1891 and Alf rescued his wife and the children from the first floor. Mrs Greenfield discovered the fire and serious damage was done to the building.
Alf continued to give exhibition matches until January 1894 when a serious accident involving a horse drawn cab caused him to be hospitalised. He died on July 10th 1895, aged 42, at Winson Green Mental Home. It seems likely that the years of boxing were the true cause of his illness.
He was buried in Yardley cemetery but the grave was unmarked and in a part of the cemetery that has been re-used.