Honours And Legacy
In 2015, Larry Gains was posthumously inducted into the Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
Mirror / 24 MARCH 2022
Canada / 8 AUGUST 2024
In 2023, Larry Gains was posthumously inducted into the British Boxing Hall of Fame, recognised as a pioneer in the sport.
Larry Gains Featured on Leicester’s Heritage Panel
As part of Leicester City Council’s Story of Leicester project, Larry Gains is honoured on a public heritage panel, celebrating his contributions to the city’s cultural and sporting history. Located on Wharf Street, near to the site of the Jolly Angler pub where he trained, this recognition underscores his remarkable legacy and the impact he made both locally and beyond.
Clean Break – A Musical Tribute to Larry Gains
Featuring Peter Nicholls | Written by Steve Cartwright & Dave Taylor
From the album Legends of Leicester & Leicestershire, Vol. III
As part of Larry Gains’s growing legacy, musicians Steve Cartwright and Dave Taylor created the song Clean Break, featuring Peter Nicholls, which appears on the album Legends of Leicester & Leicestershire, Vol. III.
Inspired by Larry’s extraordinary life and the barriers he overcame,both inside and outside the ring the song is a powerful tribute. It captures the spirit of his lifelong fight for equality, dignity, and recognition, and serves as a modern reflection on a life that continues to inspire.
“I was doing a course on Leicestershire between the wars when I came across Larry Gains’s story. I discovered that his fame, winning the Empire title had earned him an open-top bus parade through Leicester. This was around the same time that our footballers won the Premier League title in 2016 and were honoured in the same way.
I dug deeper, found his autobiography, The Impossible Dream, and included his story in the course. Yet no one on the course had even heard of him. He had been all but forgotten.
That’s what led me together with Steve Cartwright to create Clean Break, as part of our musical project celebrating local historical characters.”
Dave Taylor
Listen to the song
Celebrating a Legacy – 2024 Exhibition
An exhibition honouring Larry Gains took place in Leicester in 2024, organised by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.
The exhibition brought Larry’s story to new audiences through archival material, community engagement, and creative tributes. It played a key role in shining a light on his remarkable life, helping to renew public interest in his achievements and influence both within boxing and beyond.
Larry Gains (1900–1983) - The Impossible Dream
This painting honours Larry Gains, the heavyweight boxing legend denied the opportunity to fight for both the World and British Heavyweight Titles due to the racial barriers of his time.
Larry is shown wearing the British Heavyweight Championship belt, a title he was denied in his lifetime due to racial discrimination, despite being one of the finest boxers of his era.
In the background are two additional belts:
The WBC Heavyweight Championship belt, symbolising the modern World Title — representing the global recognition Gains was unfairly denied.
The Canadian Heavyweight Championship belt, which he rightfully earned, celebrating his legacy as Canada’s heavyweight champion.
Also featured are his autobiography, The Impossible Dream, and a tribute to his service in the British Army during World War II (1939–1945), honouring his courage both in and beyond the ring.
This piece stands as a powerful tribute to Gains’s resilience, extraordinary talent, and his rightful place in both sporting and military history.
Artist Natasha Sargent
Custom Boxing Gloves by Rival Boxing Gear
At Rival Boxing Gear, we believe in honouring the fighters who paved the way, both in and out of the ring.
These custom made commemorative gloves were created to pay tribute to Larry Gains, a true Canadian pioneer whose resilience, courage, and world-class skill defied racial barriers and inspired generations.
Through this gesture, we proudly acknowledge his lasting impact on the sport and express our respect and support to his family and the Larry Gains Foundation in preserving his remarkable legacy.
-Rival Boxing Team
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