South Yorkshire Times May 21, 1955
Conisbro’ Boxer Hailed as ‘Britain’s Unluckiest’
George Mills, 22-years-old eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mills, Daylands Avenue, Conisbrough, has been called ‘Britain’s unluckiest boxer.’ To find out how George got this unusual title – given him by a national boxing magazine – a ‘South Yorkshire Times’ sports writer called at the Mills home on Saturday.
There was a cheery ‘Good morning’ from George. But behind his smile there was anguish and pain, caused by a fractured jaw and a bad tooth.
His run of bad luck dates back a few weeks. After battling his way to the quarter finals of ABA light welterweight boxing championships George looked all set for a title.
In the first round of his quarter final with George Martin, he took a blow on the side of the jaw. He finished the round all right, and made his corner with case. But then he could not grip his gum shield. ‘My jaw felt like jelly. I had no control over it,’ he said.
However, his trainer and ring adviser Petty Officer ‘Whacker’ Payne (he had 85 flights in the Navy and lost only five) urged him to carry on. ‘I knew something was wrong but I was determined to win’. He did win, on points, but on the following day he was examined by a surgeon who confirmed his worst fears – George had sustained a broken jaw. That meant he had to relinquish all hopes of a title – without even losing a fight!
Tragic Blow.
It was a tragic blow for George, who is serving a 12-years engagement in the Royal Navy ‘I had pinned all my hopes on that title. I had made my mind up about five months ago to pack up boxing after my next defeat, but I haven’t really lost a fight, and I would like to get to the championships,’ said George.
Winner of the Fleet Air Arm championship in five successive years, Navy champion in three successive years, George formerly attended Conisbrough Morley Place Junior School and later Mexborough Schofield Technical College.
On leaving school at 15 he joined his father at the Conisbrough sickle works. He worked there two years when a friend, Harry James, brother of Maurice, who made quite a name for himself as a boxer in the Navy, asked him to go along to the Steel, Peech and Tozer gym in Rotherham.
The trainer there was very impressed with what he saw in George. As a boxer, he made a good start in the junior featherweight class, winning his first three fights.
Soon Qualified.
In 1951, George signed on in the Royal Navy and was stationed at Portsmouth. He soon qualified as a Fleet radio mechanic. Inside three months he had collected the Fleet Air Arm Novices’ boxing title at Brancote in Warwickshire and later he went on to win the Fleet Air Arm lightweight championship.
A well-muscled 9st. 13lbs. George stands 5ft. 6½Ins., and his good-looking, sun-tanned face shows little sign of injury. After leaving Portsmouth, he went to Warrington for nine months and later to Glasgow, where he fought for the famous L.M.S. Rovers Boxing Club. There he was trained by the great Charlie Kerr, whose name is well-known in Scottish boxing circles.
From Scotland, George moved to Winchester for nine months and now he is stationed in Ireland. Everything he has gone, he has fought, and this is his very impressive record: fought 55 times, won 50, including 16 knock outs. And he has never been knocked down in the ring.
A Big Date.
Later this year, on August 4th, George has a big date. He will be married to Miss K. M. Burns, who lives in Potter’s Bar. Miss Burns may have a big say in George’s future. Although he is undecided, his wife-to-be wants him to have another crack at that title.
His jaw swollen, his teeth gripped by steel, George forced a cheery smile and said, ‘I think I’ll try again’.