Empire Welterweight Champion Eddie Thomas is training for next week's European Championship fight against Michelo Palermo, Italy, among his pals the miners of Morthyr Tydfil, South Wales. He spent ten years with them in the pits and next week he means to show them end Palermo that swinging a pick is good training for the sort of hook that makes an opponet's outlook blacker than a ton of coal. British, Empire and European welterweight boxing champion, Eddie Thomas, among his pals, the miners of Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. He spent 10 years with them in the pits. Thomas won the European title this week when he out pointed Italian Michele Palermo. February 14, 1951.