THIS WEEK we are backtracking to a boxing item that we published in 2002 concerning a giant of a boxer from Birmingham who fought in the 1930s. He was Jack Newit, who at 6 feet 8 inches, was one of the tallest bruisers around, and reckoned to be Brum’s new ’White Hope’.
We have just received a response to this item from Jack’s son, Steven, who has recently been shown this article. Steven and his own son, Jack (named after his grandfather), are involved in another combat sport (see below), but first here are a few comments that we published about the boxer Jack Newit back in 2002...
Handsworth reader - Jim Davies - supplied information on Jack Newit whose name appeared on a boxing bill which was reproduced a couple off editions earlier.
Jack was described on the bill as ‘Birminghm’s New 6ft. 8ins. White Hope’ and was opposed to Bill Barchus (6ft. 5ins.) ‘The Jamaican Carnera’. Their joint heights - totalling 12ft. 13ins. - may well have created a new record? Jim wrote...
‘When I was a youngster, I remember my uncle talking about the biggest boxer he ever saw - named Jack Newit - who he knew quite well on a personal basis. He (Jack Newit) was, apparently, regarded as something of a ‘freak’ heightwise but was no mug, for according to my uncle Sam, he turned his height to good advantage by appearing on travelling fairs and circuses as a ‘strongman’ and also fought on boxing booth shows.
’All I have to go on are memories of what my uncle told me about him. One thing that still stands out is about Jack being billed by a circus as ‘The World’s tallest ‘Wall of Death’ rider’. I reckon he must have had a special bike made for him to perform on a show like that ? I also remember that my uncle said that Jack didn’t have many fights because he was always ‘in demand’ by circus and fairground proprietors and could make a lot more money that way than what he could from boxing.’
Steve’s info just received reads as follows...
"In August of 2002, a Bugle reader called Jim Davis wrote in asking about a fighter from the 1930s called Jack Newit. Better late than never, I hope, here’s an answer for him
My father, Jack Newit, born in 1909, became a successful boxer. He fought champions like Jack Peterson, Navy champion Seaman Foley, and Australian champion, Leo Bandias. He also fought in boxing booths at Nottingham’s Goose Fair, taking on all comers and entertained as a wall of death rider. He married Lilian Oakley from Cannock and settled in Birmingham where he worked for 37 years with the parks police based at Ward End.
"He had two children, Steven and Anne, who both became teachers. Anne is now a magistrate in Birmingham and Steven - (that’s me) - trains with his son, Jack Newit - named after his fighting granddad - six hours every week doing Tae Kwon-Do.
The new Jack Newit is taking after his grandfather and, at 16, has already taken five gold medals for patterns and sparring in two Bytomic tournaments in Windsor. Jack won the ’Student of the Year’ award and is now training hard for the World Amateur Kickboxing Organisation’s tournament in Sheffield.
"We’re with Sutton Schools of Tae Kwon-Do. based in Streetly, Walmley and Four Oaks.
"I’d like to thank Mr Davis for his interest in my father and to assure him that Jack Newit still packs one heck of a punch even after all these years!"