Jock McAvoy

“The Rochdale Thunderbolt”

Boxing · Deceased

132-14-1RECORD

88WINS BY KO / TKO

44WINS BY DECISION

147PRO FIGHTS

Profile

Full name	Joseph Patrick Bamford
Nickname	The Rochdale Thunderbolt
Date of birth	20 Nov 1908
Died	20 Nov 1971
Nationality	British
Birthplace	Burnley, England
Based in	Not added yet
Weight classes	Light heavyweight, Middleweight
Trainers	Not added yet
Height	Not added yet
Reach	Not added yet
Stance	Orthodox
Years active	1927–1945
Status	Deceased
Last fight	Loss vs Freddie Mills, 23 Feb 1942

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 11 Oct 2026. The fight history below may be incomplete. Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

British middleweight champion (won 1933)
British Empire middleweight champion (1933–1939)
British light heavyweight champion (1937–1938)
BBBofC Northern Area middleweight champion (1931)

Background

Jock McAvoy, born Joseph Patrick Bamford, was a British boxer from Lancashire known for his punching power. He was managed by Joe Tolley of Tolley's Rochdale Boxing Club and challenged for world titles at light heavyweight.

Fight history

12 fights on file. More fights can be added when this profile is claimed.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Freddie Mills	TKO (corner retirement)	1		23 Feb 1942		Retired with back injury
Loss	Freddie Mills	Decision (points)	12		8 Aug 1940
Loss	Len Harvey	Decision (points)	15		10 Jul 1939	White City Stadium, London, England	For British light heavyweight title (billed as world light heavyweight title)
Loss	Len Harvey	Decision (points)	15		7 Apr 1938	Harringay Arena, London, England	Lost British light heavyweight title
Win	Eddie Phillips	KO	14		27 Apr 1937	Empire Pool, Wembley, England	Won British light heavyweight title
Loss	Jack Petersen	Decision (points)	15		23 Apr 1936	Kensington, London, England	For British and British Empire heavyweight titles
Loss	John Henry Lewis	Decision (points)	15		13 Mar 1936	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US	For NBA world light heavyweight title
Win	Babe Risko	KO	1	2:48	21 Dec 1935	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
Win	Al McCoy	Decision (points)			1 Nov 1935	US	Date approximate
Loss	Marcel Thil	Decision (unanimous)			15 Jan 1935	Paris, France	For European middleweight title
Win	Len Harvey	Decision (points)	15		10 Apr 1933	Manchester, England	Won British and British Empire middleweight titles
Win	Joe Lowthner	TKO	8		10 Aug 1931	King's Hall, Manchester, England	Won BBBofC Northern Area middleweight title

Record source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).