The Old Tin Shed - Sydney Stadium

How it Began - Hugh D. McIntosh and the Chinese Market Garden

2012-02-02T21:42:00.000+11:00

December 26, 1908. It was time for the start of the long awaited world heavyweight championship fight between the holder, Tommy Burns, and Jack Johnson. Johnson, however, was flatly refusing to go into the ring unless he received more money. Grabbing a revolver, promoter Hugh D. McIntosh, burst into his dressing room.

“If you’re not in the ring in two minutes,” he snarled, “I’ll blow your brains all over the floor.” Johnson rose with alacrity, his gold teeth flashing as he grinned, “Massa Mac, Ah’m on mah way.” It would have taken a shrewder man than Johnson to get the better of Hugh D. McIntosh.

Hard as nails and cunning as a fox, the bull knecked Hugh D. McIntosh, was an entrepreneurial genius. His father, a local police sergeant, was unimpressed when at the age of ten, young Hugh told him that he was going to make his fortune, and that he didn’t care how he did it. It was a philosophy that stayed with him as he made and lost several fortunes over four decades of wheeling and dealing.

A millionaire by his early thirties, “Huge Deal,” as he was aptly known, had a diverse career. Starting with a basket of pies, he became a successful restaurateur, newspaper proprietor, theatre magnate and politician. He was responsible for pulling cycling out of the mud, attracting crowds of upto fifty thousand - and always a man of style - was the first to introduce china cups to the top of Mount Kosciusko.

It was McIntosh’s vision and flair, that made Sydney Stadium possible. With the artfulness that was the hallmark of his career, he succeeded where the world’s top promoters had failed. He enticed Tommy Burns to put his world heavyweight title on the line against the gigantic Negro, Jack Johnson.

Johnson stepped into the ring and into the history books, as the first colored heavyweight champion of the world. With the world’s press, and writers such as Jack London and Damon Runyan, covering what was as much a battle of the races, as a title fight, Sydney and the open air stadium at Rushcutters Bay, became famous the world over.

McIntosh promoted some of the greatest fights ever seen in Australia. Fights, which during Australia’s Federal infancy, put the fledgling commonwealth on the sporting map of the globe. The world’s top fighters flocked to Australia, and Sydney Stadium became a Mecca for the pride of the American and European rings.

Hugh Donald McIntosh was born in 1876 in a tiny house at the bottom of Sydney’s Macquarie Street. After revealing his ambition to his father, and discovering that they did not see eye to eye on business matters, McIntosh left home. As many people would later discover, McIntosh was not one to let anybody stand in his way.

He became an assistant to a travelling tinker and for two years they wandered throughout NSW. Eventually McIntosh deserted him in Broken Hill, taking a more profitable job picking silver ore.

However, the back breaking work was not to his liking. He decided that it was better to work with his brain, than with his back. He drifted to Melbourne, where for a while he played the hind legs of a mule in pantomime. Returning to Sydney at the beginning of the booming 1890s, he became a bread carter. It was to be the last time he would work for someone else.

McIntosh set up in business as a pieman. He started with virtually nothing except a basket and six dozen pies bought on credit from a Redfern factory. Within a few months, he had an army of white coated vendors thronging Sydney’s racecourses, beaches and parks - “coining,” money for him.

No opening was ignored. He even sent his piemen knocking on the doors of the illicit two-up schools, betting clubs and houses of ill repute, that dotted Surrey Hills, Darlinghurst and Wooloomooloo. With the profits, McIntosh set up his own factory at North Sydney. From there it was an easy graduation to ownership of a chain of plush, ornate restaurants.

Always on the lookout for money making opportunities, McIntosh set his sights on cycle racing, which was then the most popular sport of the day. With his flair for showmanship and the ability if necessary to control trouble making cyclists with a spanner, McIntosh had no difficulty in making himself the king-pin cycling promoter. When the cycling boom ended, Hugh D. sought out other lucrative ventures.

In 1908, the Prime Minister, Mr. Alfred Deakin, orchestrated a goodwill visit of 16 warships of the US Navy. It was the impending arrival of The 'Great White Fleet', that planted in McIntosh’s mind, the seed that would grow into Sydney Stadium.

He had for some time thought of bringing world heavyweight champion Tommy Burns to Australia. McIntosh believed that the 12,000 American sailors would pay good money to see a world title fight. Forming a company called the Scientific Boxing and Self Defense Ltd., McIntosh cabled Burns an offer of £4000, to defend his title against the slogging Australian miner, Bill Squires.

With the contest arranged, Hugh D. now had to find somewhere to stage it. He initially chose the Exhibition Building, which was situated in Prince Alfred Park, near the Railway Station. However, when he went to view it, McIntosh found barriers erected. and a large man, making unmistakable signs with his huge fingers. McIntosh decided to seek out an alternative venue.

He wandered down to Rushcutters Bay in an old shabby suit selected for the occasion, and gazed over a waste where once a Chinese market garden had bloomed. While he looked and nosed around, the owner approached him and asked McIntosh what he wanted.

McIntosh looked sadly at the site of the garden. He told him he was looking for a place to put up a nice two man show with a view to making a bob or two during Fleet Week. After some negotiation, McIntosh agreed to rent the land. The rent was £2 per week for two years, with the right to renewal for the same term at £4 per week!

A few days later the owner was astounded to see vast piles of building material being dumped on the land. When he made inquiries he was taken to the man he had met in patched pants, but who was now resplendent in an expensive suit. “Huge Deal” handed him a cigar and said, “It’s for my two man show - the Burns - Squires fight.”

At a cost of £2000, McIntosh quickly erected a huge unroofed timber stadium, that was destined to become, “The Old Tin Shed.”

The fight was a huge success, but not because of the American Sailors. They stayed away in thousands. It is said that only two sailors were present and both were drunk, staggering down to the ring, offering to fight anybody for two dollars. Twenty thousand Sydneysiders, however, paid the unprecedented gate of £13,600 to see Burns win easily.

The success of that fight spurred him to renew his lease and stage the biggest boxing match in Australian history.

For years Jack Johnson had been trying to get into a ring with Tommy Burns, but the champion had persistently dodged him. McIntosh asked Burns what he would want to meet Johnson. Believing that McIntosh would never pay it, Burns demanded £6000. The Australian promoter accepted on the spot and Tommy was trapped.

The jubilant Johnson was satisfied with £1000 as his payment, (later raised to £1500), and the fight was on.

For Burns it was the end of the road. It is now ring history how Johnson cruelly and methodically carved him to pieces, and won the title that he was to hold for the next seven years.

With ringside seats at £10, McIntosh made his greatest financial killing. The gate receipts were £26000, then a world record. From these boxing promotions and others over the next few years, Hugh D. McIntosh raked in more than a quarter million pounds.

McIntosh went to England and America and made a name for himself in London as a fight promoter. When he returned to Australia, he was followed by a crowd of the world’s best boxing talent.

Boxing was lifted to a high level. The only thing that prevented it being completely respectable was the “Fear of The Dark”. McIntosh introduced a stream of colored fighters to the white boxing world, helping to make heavyweights like Sam Langford and Sam McVea world famous.

Until McIntosh, promoters believed there was little money to be made by putting two colored fighters in the same ring. However, Australia gazed with mingled awe and delight at the spectacle of McVea and Langford knocking corners of each other.

It was also under his management that Jimmy Clabby, Billy Papke, Cyclone Johnny Thompson and a team of French boxers, descended on Sydney and Australia.

McIntosh decided to expand. The first thing was to put a roof over the Stadium. The arena was entirely transformed. From having an exterior consisting of hideous poster hoarding, it became an elegant castellated structure. Solid concrete foundations were put in to support the weight of the roof and when it was finished, it was possible to have boxing, or any other sport there all the year round. On August 3rd, 1912, Sam Langford outpointed Sam McVea, in the first fight held under cover.

Later that year, McIntosh thought it was time to develop the more artistic side of his entrepreneurial genius. One morning, Sydneysiders awoke and learned with amazement that Hugh D. McIntosh had paid £100,000 to take over the huge Rickards theatre circuit.

For a brief while he ran both establishments, but on December 2nd 1912, the Stadium was taken over on approval by Reginald (Snowy) L. Baker. In March 1913, he bought the business lock, stock and barrel and Hugh D. McIntosh ceased to have any but sentimental interest in the great stadium he had created.

McIntosh began to live the role of the successful tycoon, buying a mansion, “Bellhaven,” at Bellevue Hill and a fleet of Pierce-Arrow cars with his crest prominently displayed on the doors.

A personal friend of the Premier, W.A. Holman, he was elected to a seat in the NSW Legislative Council, which he held till he was made bankrupt in 1932.

Hugh D. entertained on a fabulous scale. Many visiting celebrities, enjoyed his hospitality. He made his money easily and he squandered it the same way. His gifts of motor cars to friends, diamond studded wrist watches to chorus girls and gold cigarette cases to mere acquaintances, became the talk of the town.

Hankering for fresh fields, McIntosh now bought the Sydney Sunday Times the oldest Sunday newspaper in Australia. It was a vehicle he would later use to persecute the great Les Darcy.

McIntosh had his own ideas on how to increase circulation. One such example was an offer to a notorious murderer named Simpson on the eve of his execution. Simpson would be paid £5000, if he would endeavor to come back from the dead and appear at the Sunday Times office before witnesses.

Visited in his cell, Simpson accepted the proposition eagerly. He jotted down the address of the newspaper office, so he would not “get lost on the way,” and promised to do his best to solve “the age old riddle of whether the dead could return.” Forty people gathered in McIntosh’s office on the night following Simpson’s execution. Simpson, however, was not one of them.

By such stunts, McIntosh did more harm than good to the paper, which had previously enjoyed a valuable prestige. It became one of his financial failures.

In 1928 Hugh D. McIntosh tried his luck in England. He bought Broome Park, a seventeenth century mansion set in 600 acres and formerly owned by Lord Kitchener.

In association with C.B. Cochran, he promoted a few fights in the Olympia Annex in London and also at stadiums in Paris. None of them earned enough to keep him in cigars.

For four years, McIntosh lived a fantastic round of pleasure in England. He poured out his money entertaining the rich, the famous, the titled, and beggared himself in the process.

In 1932 he returned to Australia broke. Bankruptcy proceedings were instituted against him. His liabilities were proved at a staggering figure.

But Hugh D. McIntosh could not be kept down for long. He was soon staging a comeback, promoting fights at the Sydney Stadium. Full of enthusiasm, he imported the American heavyweight Young Stribling and matched him with the Australian heavyweight Ambrose Palmer, hoping to repeat his 1908 clean up with Burns and Johnson.

It was not to be. The takings amounted to only £3800 and Stribling alone had been guaranteed £3000. Another financial body blow followed with the failure of a boomed match between Ron Richards and Fred Henneberry.

The now aging promoter was down - but he was not out. He threw himself into the flotation of a chain of cake shops and opened a large guest house in the Blue Mountains.

In 1935 he sailed once more for England, where on August 1 he opened what was to be the first of a chain of 500 McIntosh milk bars throughout the country.

With an excess of ballyhoo, a company was floated which McIntosh said would soon be disposing of the milk output of a million cows, to two million customers a week.

McIntosh opened a dozen milk bars in London, and it seemed he was on the right foot again. However, lack of capital and cut-throat competition beat him.

When he died in 1942, he was penniless. His old time friends had to contribute to a fund to defray his funeral expenses.

The final bell - but not for memories

2012-02-02T21:41:00.002+11:00

Henry Cooper, Joe Frazier, Brian Curvis and Angelo Dundee, all recently heard the final bell.

Their posters and photographs once proudly displayed on my childhood bedroom wall, have long gone. However, the memories that these men gave me, will always remain.

RIP Angelo. You were the greatest for the greatest.

Joe Frazier

2011-11-06T19:56:00.004+11:00

Although this blog is supposed to focus on boxing at the old Sydney Stadium, I was deeply saddened to hear that Joe Frazier has been diagnosed with liver cancer.

I have many fond memories of 'Smokin' Joe". As a fifteen year old, the lead up to his first fight with Ali, was as exciting as Christmas, as I counted off the days to the fight.

I have never been very good at drawing or art, but Joe fascinated me and I tried to capture with a charcoal drawing, the Joe that I saw in my mind. I spent weeks working on and perfecting that drawing. It did actually receive praise from the school art teacher, then I went back to my normal pictures of matchstick men!

I have included a link to this clip from 'Carmen Jones." I fell in love with the movie when I first saw it as a toddler and Joe always reminded me of Husky Miller. I sincerely hope that Joe, who never took a backward step in the ring, will "stand up and fight." Sure, we will all hear the final bell one day, but till then - stand up and fight like hell.

Stand Up And Fight - Carmen Jones

Update:

Today brought the sad news that Joe Frazier passed away. Thanks for the memories Joe, you were one of the breed of boxers that has not been seen since. I would often lie wake with a transistor radio hidden the blankets waiting for the results of your fights - especially your first fight against Ali.

You may have been responsible for my being late for school many times, but it was worth it. What you taught me about courage and never giving up, was worth more than any teacher could ever teach.

R.I.P. Joe, a class act in and out of the ring.

Herb McCoy - cheeky little ball of muscle

2011-09-27T21:00:00.003+10:00

Herb McCoy was a great lightweight champion who fought and beat some of the world's best. Below is an "electronic" translation of an old newspaper clipping I have. Sadly much of the clipping is barely readable.

The article is from the Adelaide Mail, dated May 15, 1937 and is written by Sam Gray, one of the great names of Australian boxing

****

Fifty years' active participation in the sport of boxing as fighter, instructor, promoter, manager, and second, with scarcely a day in that span passing without donning the gloves, is the record of Sam Gray, who claims it as a world's record. An ex-champion featherweight, he is one of the few fighting men who have been able to impart his knowledge to pupils, and many of his boys have won fistic honors, while he himself has been one of the mainstays of the sport through its years of depression and riches. It was Sam Gray who launched 'Kid' McCoy, former lightweight champion of Australia, on the road to fame and fortune. He piloted the destinies of McCoy from his first fight up to his last ring appearance 13 years later. McCoy met the world's best, and his 103 fights include some of the most stirring battles seen in Australia.

BOXING has enjoyed many bursts of popularity in Australia in the last half -century,but none to equal the boom that began about 1908, and; fizzled out during the years when the world was at war. Jack Johnson, Sam McVea, and Sam Langford came to these shores, chasing the golden rainbow of boxing, and Tommy Burns. Burns and Johnson focused the eyes of the world on Australia when they fought for the world's heavyweight title at Sydney. Men of smaller stature had to play a part in keeping a fight-crazed public interested, and Billy Papke, Jimmy Clabby, Eddie McGoorty, and a host of other middleweights invaded the Commonwealth to find the weight of the late Les Darcy's punch. But the Stadium coffers bulged through the agency of the galaxy of world-famed lightweights, who in that decade clashed in a series of clever, fierce, and inspiring battles. They came from America, England, France, Holland, and Africa, and all had to meet the Stadium drawcard, McCoy, before they won the approbation or disapproval of the fight fans of the Commonwealth. Win, lose, or draw, all knew they had been fighting before getting through an engagement with the per fectly moulded fighting machine that was McCoy. Had Meteoric Rise So meteoric was McCoy's rise to the highest rung of the fistic ladder that the story of his entry into the ranks of professional pugilists is worth telling.

In June, 1908, a bright-faced, stocky little fellow came to me and told me that he wanted to take boxing lessons. I asked his age, and when he told me he was 15 I said,' 'You're too small, sonny; come and see me in a year's time" I never gave the youngster another thought until he turned up 12 months later. Opening- a book, he said, 'Here I am, Mr. Gray, the 12 months are up today; I've got the date marked here.' What could I do, but take him? When I asked hirn his name, he told me it was Herb Wilson, but he stipulated there and then that when he fought it would be under the name of 'Kid McCoy.' The world-famous fighter of that name was a hero in the eyes of the bright, strong little fellow who marked me down as the man to put him in the game- of hard knocks. First let me say that the pupil must be made of the right stuff if he wants to get anywhere in the sport of boxing — amateur or professional. He must have confidence in himself, and above all, confidence in his manager-trainer, together with a respect for him. A boxer without a pal and adviser in his corner is like a rudderless ship. Many fights have been won and lost by the man behind the fighter.

I'll Do the Fighting, You Do the Thinking'

McCoy was the perfect pupil. 'I'll do the fighting, and you' do the thinking,' he said to me more than once.

I became attached to him as though he were my son, and I saw unlimited possibilities in him. Quick to learn, eager to train, and a nipper with stamina out of the ordinary, I was afraid at first that he would overtax his strength, but he proved to be made of the stuff of which champions are' made. I knew in the first three months be was in my care that he was a coming Australian, if not world's, champion lightweight. Within eight months of the day he came to me, he had three victories ? points decisions over Bull Williams, Soldier Rogers, and Tommy Jones, and a glorious defeat at the hands of Frank Thorn, a champion who at different times held the feather, light, and welter championships of Australia. Fight promoters realised the merit of the performance for a lad 16 years old, and Frank Thorn told me that I had the best boy he had ever seen. Frank was sincere, too, and when McCoy defeated him three times the following year. Thorn generously shook hands and told me that my kid was too vigorous and clever.

Close Contest With Hock Keys

When only a lad of 17, I had no alternative but to allow McCoy to go into the ring against Hock Keys, one of the really clever men we have seen in this country. Hock won a close decision at the end of 20 torrid rounds. The hallmark of boxing was now stamped on McCoy. He was in the forefront of Australian lightweights, and the day was near at hand when Hughie Mehegan would have to guard his lightweight crown. - Still, there were tons of fighting for both of them, and I was not in a desperate hurry to pit my charge against Mehegan, who was a hard man to get a decision over. , McCoy resisted invasions from West Australians in Alf Morey and Dick: Cullen in 1912, and then strung together four knock-outs at the expense! of Frank O'Grady, Rod Standon, Les! Gleeson, and Alf. Goodwin. He then had to meet the Frenchmen, Paul Til and Jean Poesy. I told him not to take risks with either of them, as we did not know much about overseas form/

Paul Til could not go any further than nine rounds, while his compatriot went 15 rounds before crying enough. In between those two triumphs, McCoy had two fights with Hock Keys, one ending in a draw, and the other going to McCoy after 20 rounds. As one of those fights was an epic of Australian boxing, I will deal with it in a later story.

In this story, the first of a series by Sam Gray, who has been associated with boxing for 50 years, he tells many untold and behind the scenes tales of the fight business, also some of the thrilling experiences he had with the 'apple of his eye,' Kid McCoy. Gray's eyes sparkle with pride when he speaks of his protege. 'McCoy was the greatest lightweight since Griffo,' he declares. Great Invasion Of Lightweights By this time, 1913 and 1914, Australia had some magnetic attraction for the world's greatest lightweights, and the influx included Waldemar Holberg, Pal Brown, Nat Williams, Milburn Saylor, Joe Shugrue, Kid Lewis, Matt Wells, Young Abe Attell, and another French team, comprising Eugene Volaire, Fernand Quendreux, Marcel Denis, and Louis de Ponthier. The doughty McCoy was stacked up against them all. Just as war broke out, McCoy met Hughie Mehegan at Sydney for the lightweight title, and was knocked out in 17 rounds. Undismayed, McCoy took the setback in the right spirit, and his words to me in the dressing room after the bout were prophetic and true. He told me that Mehegan would never defeat him again if be lived to be 100. They met again at Mel bourne, in February, 1915, and McCoy won the lightweight championship of Australia by knocking the ' redoubtable Hughie in 14 rounds

To prove that he was Mehegan's master he repeated the performance in July of the same year, taking 15 rounds to hammer Hughie into submission. Further meetings between them could not be arranged, as Hughie Mehegan enlisted and sailed to the war, never to return. And so passed a gallant little gentleman. McCoy was not a 'glass case' cham pion, and no fighter can say that he side-stepped them if they wefe worthy of a crack at his title. In the year that he won the title of lightweight champion he fought 15 times, having bouts at Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. The next year, 1916, he fought 16 times, meeting men of mettle in Fred Kay, Tommy Uren, Harry Stone, Eddie Moy, Benny Palmer, Arlos Fanning, and the peerless ,Lew Edwards. Lost title to Edwards To Llew Edwards McCoy lost his crown, and be had nothing but respect for the clever, hard-hitting English man, who was a Lonsdale belt holder. They fought seven times, and two of their fights were ring classics, that the referee had no alternative but to de clare draws, while four other bouts were thrillers that had the crowds on their feet throughout McCoy was a generous winner and loser, and he never growled at a deci sion all the time he was boxing. He enthused about the cleverness of Llew Edwards in a manner that would make anyone listening think that he had been in the Edwards corner, instead of being opposed to him in fights. On the night he lost bis title to Edwards at Sydney in 1917, when he was knocked out in 18 rounds, McCoy told me that he bad met his master, and that Edwards would shade him any time they met in the future.

We both knew that eight years of strenuous battling in the ring against the best men in the world had taken its toll, and that the end was not far off, but we also knew that only topnotchers could push McCoy to his limit, even though a tired man. His knock-out victories over Dave Meakin, * Mattie Smith, Jimmy HilL and Mattie Smith again — four in succes sion, were proof that he was not easy money for anyone. I claim that McCoy was the greatest Australian lightweight since Griffo, and his record will prove it. He fought any time and any where, and always delivered himself at the ringside in fettle good enough to fight for a king dom. As pointed out previously, he foueht whenever a fight offered, sometimes three times a month, and the better the opponent the keener McCoy was to get in the ring with him. As a box office attraction he has had no equal and stadium managers and boxing promoters will remember him for the value he always gave for the money he received. No fighter in Australia was ever called on to meet so many good men from overseas and at borne, and most of bis opponents looked back over their careers and admitted that McCoy was the best man they had met. He heard the gong go for 1,625 rounds, and in each one of them he fought with a clever fury that lasted till the referee called 'corners.' His cleverness, fighting spirit, indifference to punishment, recuperative powers, will to win, and general love of the noble art, made him a great fighter, and in my humble opinion, the best since Griffo, undefeated featherweight champion of the world.

HERB McCOY in bis heyday cheeky little ball of muscle said, 'Don't worry, Sam, I'll have a go at toppling them over.' And over they went.

Eugene Criqui - he came, he saw, he conquered

2011-08-18T23:19:00.008+10:00

Sid Godfrey on the left, Criqui on the right

Sydney Stadium became a Mecca for boxers from all over the world. One of the finest boxers to grace our shores was the great French featherweight world champion, Eugene Criqui. During a career that spanned eighteen years from 1910-1928, Criqui won 99 fights, losing only 17 along the way.

In 1920 and 1921, Criqui fought several times at The Old Tin Shed, beating such fine boxers as Vince Blackburn, Jackie Green, Bert Spargo, Sid Godfrey, Cabanella Dencio. and the plucky little boxer from the Philippines, Silvino Jamito.

· It was claimed his “steel” jaw, which was reconstructed after injury, made him impervious to punches on the chin.
· Famous fight with Sid Godfrey at the Stadium.
· Fought Bert Spargo, knocking him out in the 16th round. At that stage, Spargo was well ahead on points
· Epic contest with Cabanella Dencio.

Tommy Uren

2011-06-21T21:09:00.004+10:00

Although a perfect gentleman, Tommy Uren was not the sort of bloke a two-bob thug would like to upset on a dark night. Under-rated and if there is such a word - "under-remembered"! Tommy was a former Australian light, welter, and middleweight champion. He also fought as a heavyweight.

Tough an determined Tommy fought and beat some of the great names of the day - Clabby, Harry Stone, Fernand Quendreux, Eddie McGoorty and Fred Kay. His career spanned from 1916 to 1930 notching up 70 wins and 28 losses.

Born in 1893, Tommy died in 1954 aged 61.

Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 26 August 1924

At the Stadlum, Tommy Uren, 10.01, outpointed Merv Williams, 11.6, for the middleweight championship of Australia. In the first ten rounds Uren outbozed his opponent, using bis right to splendid .advantage. Williams was aggressive, but most of his leads were cleverly taken on the gloves. Williams rushed his opponent all round the ring until a left to the Jaw floored him for two seconds. Williams did most of the leading from the thirteenth to the twentieth round and repeatedly scored with lefts to the Jaw. Uren seemed content to box on the defensive and blocked many uppercuts. The referee's decision for Uren was a good one

Dave Smith

2011-03-02T19:47:00.005+11:00

Dave Smith was a typical journeyman. Three times Australian champion, a great fighter, tough, rugged and determined. During his career he beat some of the great names of the era - Jimmy Clabby, Billy Papke, Cyclone Johnny Thompson, Jerry Jerome and Fritz Holland (vanquisher of Les Darcy).

More notes on Dave will follow, but here is an introduction.

Fights at Sydney Stadium

Arthur Cripps drew 20 Dave Smith 29 Nov 1909
Dave Smith ko 17 Pat O'Keefe 19 Jan 1910
Dave Smith pts 20 Arthur Cripps 12 Oct 1910
Dave Smith wf 10 Billy Papke 26 Dec 1910
Dave Smith pts 20 Jimmy Clabby 17 Jan 1911
Dave Smith pts 20 Cyclone Johnny Thompson 05 Feb 1911
Billy Papke ko 7 Dave Smith 11 Mar 1911
Dave Smith pts 20 Bandsman Rice 11 Nov 1911
Dave Smith drew 20 Jimmy Clabby 09 Dec 1911
Dave Smith wf 14 Jack Lester 01 Jan 1912
Dave Smith pts 20 Cyclone Johnny Thompson 26 Jan 1912
Dave Smith drew 20 Jimmy Clabby 24 Feb 1912
Dave Smith ko 3 Ercole De Belzac 01 Jan 1913
Dave Smith ko 10 Reg Midwood 01 Feb 1913
Dave Smith ko 18 Jerry Jerome 19 Apr 1913
Dave Smith ko 16 Les O'Donnell 16 Jul 1913
Dave Smith pts 20 Pat Bradley 25 Oct 1913
Eddie McGoorty ko 1 Dave Smith 01 Jan 1914
Dave Smith pts 20 Jules Dubourg 22 Feb 1914
Eddie McGoorty ko 10 Dave Smith 11 Apr 1914
Jimmy Clabby ko 1 Dave Smith 01 Aug 1914
Dave Smith pts 20 Fritz Holland 30 Jan 1915
Dave Smith pts 20 Ben Doyle 13 Feb 1915
Dave Smith ko 14 Colin Bell 10 Jun 1916
Les Darcy ko 12 Dave Smith 24 Jun 1916
Buck Crouse ko 9 Dave Smith 15 Jul 1916
Dave Smith ko 4 Buck Crouse 05 Aug 1916
Art Maygirl ko 12 Dave Smith 02 Sep 1916
Dave Smith pts 20 Joe Chip 14 Oct 1916
Dave Smith ko 10 Bill Squires 26 Dec 1916
Dave Smith pts 20 Albert Lloyd 14 Apr 1917
Jimmy Clabby ko 10 Dave Smith 26 May 1917

Career Record

Ranji Burns ko 9 1909 Sydney Australia
Starlight pts 8 1909 Sydney Australia
George Reidy pts 20 1909 venue ? Australia
Pat O'Keefe pts 20 1909 venue ? Australia
Reg Dempsey ko 1 1909 venue ? Australia
Billy McColl ko 13 1909 venue ? Australia
Albert Scanlon ko 9 1909 venue ? Australia
Jack Blackmore ko 9 1909 venue ? Australia
Arthur Cripps drew 20 29 Nov 1909 Sydney Stadium Australia
Ted Whiting ko 12 1910 venue ? Australia
Pat O'Keefe ko 17 19 Jan 1910 Sydney Stadium Australia
Arthur Cripps pts 20 12 Oct 1910 Sydney Stadium Australia
Billy Papke wf 10 26 Dec 1910 Sydney Stadium Australia
Frank Bungardy lf 7 1911 venue ? Australia
Jack Howard ko 9 1911 venue ? Australia
Jimmy Clabby pts 20 17 Jan 1911 Sydney Stadium Australia
Billy Papke koby 7 11 Mar 1911 Sydney Stadium Australia
Cyclone Johnny Thompson pts 20 05 Nov 1911 Sydney Stadium Australia
Bandsman Rice pts 20 11 Nov 1911 Sydney Stadium Australia
Jimmy Clabby drew 20 09 Dec 1911 Sydney Stadium Australia
Jack Lester wf 14 01 Jan 1912 Sydney Stadium Australia
Cyclone Johnny Thompson pts 20 26 Jan 1912 Sydney Stadium Australia
Jimmy Clabby drew 20 24 Feb 1912 Sydney Stadium Australia
Eddie McGoorty koby 1 02 Sep 1912 New York Usa
George Asche nd 6 24 Sep 1912 Philadelphia USA
Freddy Hicks pts 12 02 Oct 1912 Boston USA
Leo Houck nd 6 Oct 1912 Philadelphia USA
Battling Levinsky nd 6 21 Oct 1912 Philadelphia USA
Les O'Donnell ko 13 1913 venue Australia
Jerry Jerome ko 11 1913 venue Australia
Bill Lang pts 20 1913 venue Australia
Les O'Donnell pts 20 1913 venue Australia
Ercole De Belzac ko 3 01 Jan 1913 Sydney Stadium Australia
Reg Midwood ko 10 01 Feb 1913 Sydney Stadium Australia
Jerry Jerome ko 18 19 Apr 1913 Sydney Stadium Australia
Les O'Donnell ko 16 16 Jul 1913 Sydney Stadium Australia
Pat Bradley pts 20 25 Oct 1913 Sydney Stadium Australia
Jules Douberg ko 11 1914 venue Australia
Eddie McGoorty koby 1 01 Jan 1914 Sydney Stadium Australia
Jules Douberg pts 20 22 Feb 1914 Sydney Stadium Australia
Eddie McGoorty koby 10 11 Apr 1914 Sydney Stadium Australia
Jimmy Clabby koby 1 01 Aug 1914 Sydney Stadium Australia
Jimmy Clabby pts 20 12 Aug 1914 venue Australia
Fritz Holland pts 20 30 Jan 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Ben Doyle pts 20 13 Feb 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Jimmy Clabby lpts 20 20 May 1916 venue Australia
Colin Bell ko 14 10 Jun 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Les Darcy koby 12 24 Jun 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Buck Crouse koby 9 15 Jul 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Buck Crouse ko 4 05 Aug 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Les Darcy koby 11 23 Aug 1916 Brisbane Australia
Art Magirl koby 12 02 Sep 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Joe Chip pts 20 14 Oct 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Art Magirl koby 6 28 Oct 1916 Melbourne Australia
Bill Squires ko 10 26 Dec 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Albert Lloyd pts 20 14 Apr 1917 Sydney Stadium Australia
Jimmy Clabby koby 10 May 26 1917 Sydney Stadium Australia

Notes On his fight with Colin Bell

· Take the fight he had with Dave Smith at the Sydney Stadium on June 10, 1916, as an instance. It was typical of other battles which the Moree giant participated in with, if anything, this difference - that he demonstrated his incapacity to become a great fighter in a greater measure than usual. For that night he had victory within his grasp four or five times and was not equal to effecting the “killing” that should have been easy for him.

· Smith, who although heavyweight champion of Australia, was little better than a middleweight. As a matter of fact he weighed 13 stone 11 ¾ pounds as against hi opponents 11st 9lb, a difference of over two stones.

But this tremendous advantage did not worry Smith, who had the fighting instinct well developed, and besides was a firm believer in the familiar and popular boxing axiom that the bigger they are the harder they fall. And so instead of Bell being the aggressor and endeavoring to overwhelm his man with his strength, it was Smith who took up the attack from the moment they were called together. David and Goliath in a modern setting.

The enormous strength which Bell possessed, with the added advantages of skill with his hands and cleverness on his feet, should have counselled the big fellow to carry the war into the enemy camp, but the absence of “devil” that prompted caution proved his undoing. Smith, realising that his strength would not prove equal to the task if he remained on the defensive and allowed Bell to wear him down, punished his man at every opportunity and set a pace that might have caused his own downfall had he not been in superb condition.

· The fact was, that Smith knew of Bell’s weakness and, like a good general, capitalized it at every stage of the contest. Ducking and side-stepping and dodging he leaped in and out at the mountain of muscle in front of him and so punished him about the head with lefts and rights that after a few rounds Bell was tottering. But only momentarily. He pulled himself together well and then did what he should have done from the start - opened out. For a round or two he fought as if he really meant it. Smith was hard put to it to defend himself and in the sixth session was in such a bad way that had Bell taken proper advantage of the opportunity he would probably have with a knock-out.

· ……with the result that Smith was given the “breather” that enabled him to gather his scattered senses. And having done that and possessing the very thing that Bell was deficient in, he made attack his defence and in a few moments was dominating the fighting again.

· Again a few rounds later he caught Smith with a terrific left over the right eye, splitting it badly and causing the blood to flow freely. A second later he hooked a powerful left to the jaw and again Smith was flying distress signals. But did Bell go in to finish his man? He did not. And so Smith, maintaining a relentless attack, continued on until, by the time the tenth round was reached, Bell was obviously done.

• For a while the big fellow tried to bluff that all was well, but Smith refused to believe him and continued to pepper him with rights and lefts. And then Bell got another chance. A heavy right to the jaw had Smith in a bad way, but instead of crowding in and administering the finishing punch as he had plenty of opportunities to do, he allowed the damaged warrior freedom from trouble until such time as his head had cleared and then had to take what was coming to him - which was not altogether pleasant.

• By the time the fourteenth round was reached Bell was badly used up. Smith had gradually worn him down until he was comparitively easy for the smaller man to handle. And so Smith, who was showing signs of wear and tear, concluded that the best thing to do would be to get the business over. With right and left he pasted Bell unmercifully and drove him staggering, back on to the ropes. As Bell rebounded Smith’s right flashed through the air on to the opposing jaw and Bell crashed to the floor helpless. The finishing punch was not a particularly hard one, but it was all that was necessary to terminate the big fellow’s interest in the proceedings.

• If ever a boxer should have won a fight it was Bell that night.

Newspaper clipping from The Canberra Times, Wednesday 30 May 1945. Transcript below

Three times heavyweight champion of Australia, Dave Smith died at a private hospital to-day at the age of, 59.

He was acknowledged as one of the fairest and squarcst fighters Australia had known, and he fought the leading boxers of the world be tween 1914 and 1917.

Eddie McGoorty - The Oshkosh Terror

2011-02-10T20:24:00.004+11:00

I will be writing more about Eddie McGoorty when I have cleaned up some of my old paper files. But for now, a brief introduction.

Eddie McGoorty, also known as the "Oshkosh Terror" was another favorite with Sydney Stadium crowds. Sadly, like Jimmy Clabby, Eddie's life was short and tragic dying at the age of 40

A more than capable middleweight he won 65 fights (44 on knockouts) and lost 18. In addition he notched up 22 "newspaper decisions" for only six losses.

Below is a report of his 1915 fight against Les Darcy - a fight he lost when the police stopped the fight in the 15th round after Eddie was knocked down four times. Click to enlarge.

Fred Kay

2011-02-08T19:52:00.005+11:00

Fred Kay was a great boxer and a favorite with crowds at Sydney Stadium. He once advised fellow boxer, the great Jimmy Clabby, "son save your money for when you're old and grey". Rather prophetically, Jimmy replied, "I aint going to be old and grey"

Fred's record belies his ability, won 39 (KO 6) lost 20 (KO 6) with 3 draws, but he scored victories over some great boxers - including Jimmy Clabby and Fernand Quendreux

Fred was born in Melbourne in 1890 but I have no record of his passing.

Below is a photocopy of a report of his victory over Clabby. Click to enlarge

"Hop" Harry Stone

2011-01-28T20:17:00.001+11:00

Out of all the boxers I researched, a few became favorites, even though they were long before my time. One such boxer was the New York born "Hop" Harry Stone, who as a lad, used to sell newspapers at the Bronx Zoo.

Harry Stone was both skillful and flamboyant - and a hard worker. He was credited with having over 500 fights, which even in those days was a remarkable achievement.

Sadly many of my notes and photocopies have deteriorated over the years - many photocopies were not all that brilliant to begin with!

The photo is a report of Harry's death, published in The Cairns Post, 14 December 1950 - courtesy National Library of Australia. Click on the photo to enlarge.

The article is hard to read, but below is an electronic attempt at translation

SYDNEY, Dec. 12.-"Hop" Harry Stone, one of the most colorful figures in Australian boxing in the 20's, died in Sydney to-day, aged 57.

A former Australian lightweight boxing champion, "Hop" Harry was the idol of Australia's boxing crowds many years ago, both in Sydney and Melbourne.

A native of America, he had lived in Australia for many years. In re- cent years he had lived at Marrickville, where he had a business.

His ring record showed more than 500 fights. He was never knocked out and never lost a fight on a foul. He numbered welterweights, middleweights and heavyweights among his opponents, although his greatest success was in the light- weight class.

He took the Australian title in 1920 from Llew Edwards, an Englishman, and lost it the following year to Sid Godfrey

The passing of Hugh D. McIntosh

2011-01-25T20:55:00.002+11:00

The West Australian 10 February 1942. Click to enlarge

How Burns and Johnson almost came to blows a week early

2011-01-18T21:06:00.003+11:00

From Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW) Monday 21 December 1908. The article describes how Tommy Burns and Jack Johnson almost came to blows a week before their historic fight. It was generaly accepted, it was just a publicity stunt. Click on the photo to see larger image.

When Les Darcy was a babysitter

2010-12-09T19:56:00.004+11:00

When I was researching the history of the old Sydney Stadium, I was introduced to a lady named Cathy. Cathy's father had been a well known senior government official and advisor, who used to put on benefits at the Stadium.

She told me how Les Darcy and fellow boxer Les O’Donnell, would sometimes be enlisted to nurse her.

Les O’Donnell was a regular fighter at the stadium, and she described how he became ill and his spine shrank making him shorter than the six footer she remembered.

Sydney Morning Herald. July 1931 Click to enlarge

Hughie Dwyer - 'You don't fight your man in America — you fight the whole family'

2010-12-07T17:57:00.008+11:00

Hughie Dwyer
Place Of Birth Gunnedah, NSW
Date Of Birth June 05,1898
Date Deceased 28-08-1975
Height 5′ 7½″ / 171cm
Divisions Middle, Welter and Lightweight
Titles Middle, Welter and Lightweight
Record won 37 (KO 12) + lost 13 (KO 4) + drawn 8 = 59 Newspaper Decisions won 1

Stadium Span 1922-1924

The following information is an extract from an undated copy of Becketts Budget Weekly (circa 30s)

From his very start in boxing he showed science in attack and particularly in defense, though he had difficulty with the more powerful and heavier opponents he had to meet in his early efforts, as the result of his better speed against those of his own poundage.

This somewhat marred his early record. Owing to the lack of knowledge of promoters, Dwyer did not get the chance his ability deserved, especially after spending quite a long time as assistant instructor to Dave Smith. Because of this he went to New Zealand. Returned to Australia, defeating such people as, Frank O’Connor, Herb McCoy, Harry Stone, Harry Collins, Sid Godfrey and Billy Grime.

He then went to America. Damaged his hand. When he returned to Australia his hand was still “on the blink”.

As is the case with most boxers who do likewise, Dwyers periodical lay offs and comebacks put him well out of his stride.

The West Australian March 1924 (transcript of article to the left)

Click for larger view
With a. suggestion of. disapppintment -colouring his statements, Hughie Dwyer told a representative of the 'West Austrailan' facts concerning his trip abroad

Dwyer left Australia about twelve months ago for America, and England, and he returned yesterday on the Orsova.

Booked up with a number of .fights ahead, both in America and England, and buoyant with his recent -wins in Australasia, by which he had attained the title of light-weight champion of Australia, and feather, light,welter, and middle weights championships of New Zealand, Dwyer sailed for America.

In his first fight be received an injury to his hand, which eventually caused the cancellation of his engagements. In that fight with Jole McCabe he obtained the decision, but was not successful against another opponent a week later. Commenting on boxing in America, Dwyer said it had become commercialised to such a degree that the only persons who obtained any benefit were the promoters, managers, and newspaper men who lived on the game. 'Foreigners have no chance in the States,' said Dwyer, 'and the only fighters that come forward are those that carry around with them their own referees and large entourage.

You don't 'fight your man in America — you fight the whole family.' While in America Dwyer saw the Dempsey-Firpo bout He said that the statements that Dempsey is a slogger are incorrect as the world's champion is a fast big man, capable of giving and receiving terrific punishment and a clever fighter.

While abroad he did not see any heavyweight that could hope to live in the ring with Dempsey with the possible exception of Harry Wills, who appeared to be a formidable opponent.

From America Dwyer journeyed to England, -where he 'was matched to meet Ernie Bice, but acting under medical instructions, he bad to cancel the fight, owing to his hand injuries. He thought it probable that Rice' might come to Australia during this year.

In England he found the game clean, but run under old-fashioned rules. Upon an inquiry being made as to why Australian fighters did not succeed in England, Dwyer said that the greatest difficulty appeared to be the matter of acclimatisation. 'You can't breathe in those terrible English fogs, and when you go into even light training your chest simply cries out for some good Australian air,' Dwyer said.

It is his wish to get his hand in pro per fighting trim, and to meet anybody of his weight in Australia. 'I ask one thing more,' Dwyer concluded, 'and that is to be given the first fight with any American that comes to Australia, or any imported boxer that lands in the Commonwealth.'

Bob Fitzsimmons - Ruby Bob

2010-12-03T17:36:00.003+11:00

Nickname Ruby Bob
Place Of Birth Helson Cornwall UK
Date Of Birth June 4, 1862
Date Deceased Chicago October 23, 1917 (pneumonia)
Height 5ft 11¾
Weight 11st 6lb
Divisions Heavyweight, Light heavyweight, Middleweight
Titles World Heavyweight, middleweight, light heavyweight

BobFitzsimmons, (1862-1917), British-born prizefighter. He was born Robert Prometheus Fitzsimmons in Cornwall, England, and taken as a child to New Zealand. He first fought in the United States in 1890. In 1891 he won the middleweight boxing championship of the world from the American prizefighter Jack “Nonpareil” Dempsey. In 1897 Fitzsimmons became world heavyweight champion by defeating the American prizefighter James Corbett; he held his title until 1899, when he was himself defeated by another American prizefighter, Jim Jeffries. From 1903 to 1905 he held the world light heavyweight title, and he did not retire from competition until 1914, when he was 52 years old and still capable of a remarkable defensive performance.

His link with Australian boxing is that for the first seven years of his remarkable career he fought here and came back at 46 to fight for the national heavyweight crown.

Fitzsimmons astonished crowds not just by his consummate prowess and fearsome punching power, but his very appearance. He was built along the lines of the modern day Detroit bomber Thomas Hearns. At his peak, Fitzsimmons stood a fraction under 6 feet and weighed just under 12 stone. Yet it was nothing for him to meet and beat men of 15 stone and more.

in 1909 aged 46, he lost in 12 to Bill Lang in Sydney

Tommy Burns - And an ex-world champion became a parson

2010-12-02T19:18:00.003+11:00

Article dated 16 Mar 1947

And an ex-world champion became a parson.

FACT’S San Francisco Correspondent.

Former world heavyweight champion Tommy Burns is fighting what he calls his greatest fight - against sin. As a pastor of the Church of Brotherhood of Universal Love, the ex-prizefighter has found a new glory, new health, and a new wife.

He told Fact this week that after he lost his title to Negro Jack Johnson on a tumultuous Boxing Night in Sydney in 1908, he felt vaguely dissatisfied with life and his health suffered.
Hunting for something

Said Burns quietly: “I always felt I had been hunting for something, but did not know what. I did not find it in the fame and money in the prizering. I went through my money anyway.”

“Sixteen years ago in New York I was crippled by arthritis and I thought I would never walk again. But when religion found me and I found that when you healed the mind you healed the body - and when you heal the mind, you heal the world.”

With his faith his legs strengthened. He drifted to the West Coast, began preaching in a little Seattle church. Burns came to California last year, met and wooed anew a woman he had first met 43 years ago in Detroit. They married last July.

Now 65 and grey, he is a soft spoken man who lives in California’s sunshine in a little cottage surrounded by flowers at Coalinga near the city of Fresno.

The glories of his fistic past mean little to Burns now. Said he “If I had my life over again, I would not be a boxer.”

A grand people

“Not that I disapprove of boxing or have forgotten my boxing career. When I lost in Sydney in 1908, the Australian people treated me as if I had won. They are grand people.
He intends to renounce his British citizenship and become an American on June 9th (he was born in Hanover, Canada.)

Miscellaneous Notes.

· In his fight with Jack Johnson he was badly marked and suffered a twisted ankle.

· Most experts, and Burns himself agrees, that he never recovered from the uppercut that put him down in the first round.

· He insists that on the morning of the fight he weighed under 12 stone (weights were announced as Johnson 13 st 10 lbs and Burns 12 st 0½ lb. Most accounts say Johnson was much heavier, anything upto 15 stone.

· After the fight, he made a quick recovery and drove to the Blue Mountains the next day.

· Burns thinks that police stopped the fight because a rumor went around the Stadium that he had broken his jaw.

· Opened a string of hotels in the North of England. He had also been an insurance agent, Box Lacrosse promoter, café proprietor and hockey player.

· Some reports deny Johnson was in hospital after the fight.

· Eugene Corri, the English boxing referee, described him as unpopular, insolent and arrogant. He claimed he was known as “Emperor Burns.”

· Burns was involved in a brawl with England’s Joe Beckett in an hotel corridor in Leeds (Burns won easily, in what was mostly a wrestle).

· When his prodigy Jack Lester was billed to fight at the Stadium, Burns was in Melbourne. At this time the Stadium was unroofed. Concerned about the size of the gate, he asked Lester to wire him as to how the crowd “rolled up”. Soon after 8 o’clock a message came, “Thousands turned away. Jack.” A delighted Burns retired to dream of happy financial days when his percentage of the Stadium cheque came through. Next morning he read in a newspaper “A terrific last minute thunderstorm caused thousands to be turned away from Sydney Stadium last night when the international fight was postponed.”

Lethal right hook made Sid Godfrey a champ

2010-11-30T17:10:00.004+11:00

Name Sid Godfrey
Place Of Birth Raglan NSW
Date Of Birth 20 August 1897
Date Deceased 1965
Height 5’ 7”
Weight 9st 8lb
Divisions Featherweight, Lightweight
Titles Featherweight, Lightweight
Record won 52 (KO 27) + lost 15 (KO 4) + drawn 10

Fights At Stadium
Patsy Brannigan pts 20 Sid Godfrey 04 Nov 1916
Sid Godfrey ko 17 Patsy Brannigan 25 Nov 1916
Jimmy Hill pts 20 Sid Godfrey 01 Jan 1917
Sid Godfrey ko 11 Frank Thorn 07 May 1917
Tommy Ryan pts 20 Sid Godfrey 21 May 1917
Sid Godfrey ko 15 Wave Geike 21 Jul 1917
Vince Blackburn pts 20 Sid Godfrey 18 Aug 1917
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Vince Blackburn 27 Oct 1917
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Vince Blackburn 27 Oct 1917
Sid Godfrey drew 20 Vince Blackburn 12 Jan 1918
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Sam Saunders 25 Jan 1919
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Harry Holmes 14 Feb 1920
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Harry Holmes 06 Mar 1920
Sid Godfrey ko 2 Digger Evans 20 Mar 1920
Jackie Green pts 20 Sid Godfrey 05 Apr 1920
Sid Godfrey ko 8 Rug Macario 29 May 1920
Sid Godfrey wf 7 Joe Symonds 17 Jul 1920
Jimmy Hill drew 20 Sid Godfrey 04 Sep 1920
Sid Godfrey wf 8 Silvano Jamito 02 Oct 1920
Sid Godfrey ko 9 Arthur Wynns 26 Dec 1920
Eugene Criqui ko 10 Sid Godfrey 05 Feb 1921
Sid Godfrey wf 15 Francisco Flores 26 Mar 1921
Llew Edwards pts 20 Sid Godfrey 02 Apr 1921
Sid Godfrey ko 17 Cabanella Dencio 14 May 1921
Sid Godfrey ko 2 Leo Patterson 25 Jun 1921
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Llew Edwards 23 Jul 1921
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Harry Stone 20 Aug 1921
Sid Godfrey ko 9 Pat Mills 15 Oct 1921
Sid Godfrey wf 17 Tommy O'Brien 29 Oct 1921
Sid Godfrey drew 20 Bert Spargo 04 Feb 1922
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Billy McCann 18 Mar 1922
Sid Godfrey drew 20 Bert Spargo 15 Apr 1922
Sid Godfrey ko 5 Tommy Cello 08 Jul 1922
Hughie Dwyer pts 20 Sid Godfrey 14 Oct 1922
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Harry Collins 17 Feb 1923
Sid Godfrey pts 20 George Eagel 24 Mar 1923
Sid Godfrey ko 20 Archie Bradley 26 May 1923
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Luis Plees 22 Dec 1923
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Bert Spargo 26 Jan 1924
Sid Godfrey ko 12 Eddie Butcher 29 Mar 1924
Sid Godfrey drew 20 Archie Bradley 12 Apr 1924
Sid Godfrey drew 20 Billy Grime 10 May 1924
Harry Collins ko 10 Sid Godfrey 11 Apr 1925

Random Jottings

· Won featherweight title from Vince Blackburn 1915

· Won Lightweight title from Harry Stone in 1921

· Fought epic fight with Eugene Criqui

The following article was published in The Daily Mirror Saturday June 1, 1957

LETHAL RIGHT HOOK MADE SID GODFREY A CHAMP

FIFTEEN thousand avid boxing fans thronged to Sydney Stadium on the night of February 5, 1921, to cheer on local idol Sid Godfrey against the devastating French importation, Eugene Criqui. Already the visitor had humbled the cream of Australia’s boxing talent. Tough, hard hitting Godfrey was almost the only possibility left to defend the national ring honor. He did his best, and for six rounds gave Criqui a boxing lesson. Then his strength began to wane from the
drastic weight reduction the French camp had cagily insisted on. The hushed crowd saw the gallant Australian made a chopping block. Finally in the tenth he took the count - but was far from disgraced. The man who beat him went on to win a world title.

Veteran of some 125 fights, Sid Godfrey won all but a bare dozen or so. At different times he won both the Australian featherweight and light weight titles.

One of the greatest draw cards in the history of the Australian ring, he earned £20,000 in eight years of boxing when the pound was really a pound.

He fought 25 importation’s, many of them world rated stars, and for aggression, crowd pleasing fighting spirit and power laden punching took second place to none.

Generally considered in the first three Australian lightweights of all time, Sid Godfrey and his famous lethal right hand punch carved themselves a permanent place in our ring history and in the hearts of thousands of fans.

Sid Godfrey was born on his parents’ farm at Raglan, near Bathurst, on August 20 1897. His father was interested in boxing and fitted up a ring in one of the barns.

There from the age of 12, young Sid took on youngsters for miles round. Two years later he moved to Sydney in search of amateur honors.

Settled at Auburn, he went to work for a blacksmith at 5 shillings a week and began entering amateur tournaments then popular around the suburbs.

In One of these affairs at Merrylands, Godfrey won every fight except one by a knockout - sometimes vanquishing four opponents in one night.

When he got a rise in wages, he was able to afford 2/6 for a weekly lesson from old time lightweight champion Jim Barron.

A star of the boxing “Golden Age” in the 1890’s, whose proudest record was a twenty round draw with Young Griffo, Barron conducted boxing classes at St. Benedict’s School in Abercombie Street, Redfern.

While sparring there one evening in 1916, Sid Godfrey impressed Snowy Baker who was then promoting at Sydney Stadium.

As a result he turned professional. He won his first bout against Luke Wright by a knockout in six rounds and was soon battering his way through the grueling twenty rounders then common.
Work at the smithy had developed a strong right arm. Young Godfrey won a following among Stadium regulars as he dispatched most of his opponents with a right hook.

In his second year as a professional Godfrey collected the Australian featherweight tile from Vince Blackburn.

He held it for three years until beaten by Jackie Green in 1920.

One of Godfrey’s 1917 victories was in Melbourne over Jack Jannesse when because of the widespread strike that year purses were very poor.

Each boxer received only £10. Godfrey had to pay his return fare from Sydney out of that, but he was still probably better off than Jannesse.

For 16 rounds the Melbourne boy took a fearful hiding before he finally collapsed and was counted out.

Godfrey had no wish to punish his opponent unnecessarily - particularly for a mere £10. From the bell he sailed into action to end it quickly.

Jannesse was soon punched into a semi-coma as Godfrey’s wicked right kept toppling him to the canvas.

Each time, however, he dazedly climbed back to his feet and walked up to continue the battle.
Godfrey’s face blanched at the prospect of further belting into the almost helpless Victorian.
“Go down Jack,” he hissed. “You don’t want to get killed for a tenner do you?”
Jannesse took no notice. Godfrey winced with each punch and pleaded with him to stop taking the sickening punishment.

His words seemed to fall on deaf ears. The beating up continued round after round.
In the 16th, Godfrey pushed his opponent as he seemed to fall forward into a clinch. Jannesse toppled over and lay still.

He was counted out and the fight was over. Godfrey shrugged. Next day he questioned his opponent.

“Why did you take such a hiding Jack?” he asked. “That was worth more than a tenner. You should have gone down as I told you.”

Jannesse grinned and explained: “I didn’t hear you Sid. I don’t remember a thing after the second round - I must have been out on my feet.”

Godfrey was climbing rapidly in Australian boxing. In 1918 he had 18 fights and was beaten only twice .

The following year, unable to get enough fights at home to keep him busy, he tried his luck in the Philippines.

At Manila, lonely and homesick, he met the whirlwind Cabanella Dencio, and suffered one of the few knockouts of his career - in the first round.

Godfrey proved his Manila form was all wrong when the Filipino arrived in Australia in 1921. He evened the score with a ko win in the 17th.

By 1920, Godfrey had proved himself in international class with victories over visiting overseas stars.

His victims included the clever English featherweight Joe Symonds (one of the cagiest boxers ever to visit Australia), the highly rated Arthur Wyns (featherweight champion of Europe_ and the rugged Filipino Salvino Jamito.

Symonds gave Godfrey a torrid time with one of the most vicious exhibitions of foul fighting ever seen at Sydney Stadium .

He specialized in a backward blow known as a “Shamrock.” Designed to injure an opponents face, it utilized the back of the wrist and the elbow.

Symonds made it doubly effective with a special corkscrew action and took heavy toll of Godfrey’s features in the early rounds.

Godfrey gave back better he got. Four times his hurricane right put Symonds down, starting in the first round.

By the third the Englishman had been knocked down twice. Godfrey’s heavier punching had him staggering.

He retaliated with his shamrock, illegally tearing Godfrey’s mouth with a swipe of his wrist.
Referee Joe Wallis warned him. Godfrey came bounding in with his own chastisement.

His right shot out in a bone jolting blow to Symond’s jaw. The Englishman was bowled over like a rabbit.

The Stadium crowd was roaring with excitement and let go a cheer as the plucky little pug from Plymouth hauled himself to his feet at the count of eight.

Again Godfrey let go his right hand wallop and Symonds was on the floor once more. He was up at nine, when the bell saved him from a certain finisher Godfrey was winding up.

In the fourth Symonds surprisingly emerged with new strength. That round and the next he took the offensive, cruelly flailing the Australian’s injured mouth with blatant shamrocks whenever he got close.

Referee Joe Wallis warned him repeatedly, but was somehow impressed with the wily Englishman’s repeated apologies and smiling protestations that he would not offend again.
Godfrey’s punching was getting wilder and less accurate as his temper rose. In the seventh he unleashed a furious assault to end it quickly.

Symonds clinched. The crowd booed angrily as he fouled Godfrey again and again with shamrocks.

There was no alternative for the referee but to disqualify him and crown Godfrey winner on a foul.

Godfrey’s fight with the Belgian star Arthur Wyns on December 26th , 1920, definitely proved he was in world class. Wyns had a win over Criqui in his record as well as the European title in his pocket.

The Stadium, as usual for Godfrey’s bouts was packed. He was a sensational puncher and crowds invariably turned up for the thrilling action that was always a feature of his bouts.

They were not disappointed with his affray with Wyns. Both men forced the fight from the opening bell, trading punch for punch, round after round.

Each man launched regular, vicious two fisted offensives and the fortunes see-sawed. Each flurry of blows resulted only in rousing his opponent to step up his own attack.

By the ninth, the more experienced Wyns was considered to be in front on points. Godfrey gambled on a knockout blow and took dire punishment to maneuver the Belgian into his sights.
He retreated. The tough Wyns followed, his arms pounding like pistons into Godfrey’s body.

Pinned on the ropes, the Australian was obvisouly wilting under the hurricane barrage.
To the crowd it seemed only seconds before Godfrey must go down and Wyns win by a knockout. They underestimated their own idol.

Godfrey took all Wyns could deliver. He was coolly waiting for the break that was inevitable sooner or later in his opponents onslaught.

It came. Wyns nearly exhausted stepped back. Momentarily he dropped his arms.
With the speed of a rapier thrust, Godfrey’s deadly right came over. Straight as a bullet it sped to the target and landed flush on Wyns temple.

Godfrey’s swarms of supporters cheered him to the echo. Standing on their seats to get a better view, they yelled derisively at Wyns as he made a forlorn
attempt to rise before Joe Wallis counted him out.

Then a lightweight , Godfrey had already paid the penalty of drastic weight reduction when he lost his featherweight title to Jackie Green in 1920.

He made the same mistake against Frenchman Eugene Criqui whose manager insisted he make 9 stone.

Forced to take 12 lb of quickly, he had almost nothing to eat or drink for the last couple of days before the fight.

He left himself a weakened shell of the great fighter he was. Only his iron will to win kept him going until the inevitable defeat in the 10th round.

Godfrey was satisfied with the then enormous purse of £780, and tried to lure Criqui into a return at a 9 st 5 lb limit.

The Frenchman politely, but firmly declined and went back to Europe, where he defeated Johnny Kilbane for the world featherweight title.

For all his torrid encounters with imported boxers, Godfrey’s hardest opponent was probably the rough and rugged Queenslander Archie Bradley known variously as the “Gympie Tiger,” “man-eater,” and “Killer.”

They first met at Brisbane in 1921. Bradley brought into play almost every illegal trick in boxing.
He fought like a ferocious wild bull and the locals loved for it. He belted into Godfrey whenever he stepped back after being ordered to break.

Several times he threw Godfrey out of the ring and rocked him with savage punches as he climbed back.

Bradley did everything but bite. After 20 rounds of what Godfrey called the “Marquess of Queensland Rules,” Bradley got the decision.

Two years later after Godfrey had won the lightweight title championship from “Hop” Harry Stone, Archie Bradley arrived in Sydney with a challenge.

Godfrey k.o.’d him in the 20th, but always said “The Gympie Tiger” was his hardest opponent. It was the first time Bradley had ever been knocked off his feet.

In 1923 Hughie Dwyer - a more brilliant boxer but without Godfrey’s punching power - won the lightweight title from him on points with clever tactics and generalship.

Godfrey was well fixed financially and considering retirement. He owned a city hotel and business was his first concern.

His ring appearances became fewer in 1924. He beat Bert Spargo and Eddie Butcher, drew with Billy Grime and then virtually retired.

A year passed. Godfrey’s weight climbed to 11 stone. A promoter then offered him £850 to fight the sensational Harry Collins for the welterweight title.

The money lured Godfrey back. He threw himself into strenuous training. But when he climbed into the ring on April 11th, 1925, he was still slow and flabby and not a shadow of the former lightweight tornado.

Collins outweighed him and he had run out of gas by the eighth round.

His last desperate throw was a famous Godfrey right which caught Collins flush on the chin in the ninth, but the big welter was able to hang on and finish the round.

In the 10th Sid Godfrey was himself knocked out. One of the greatest Australian boxing careers was finished.

Godfrey returned to the hotel business, in which he continues to this day.
Of his tough boxing years he know says: “I wouldn’t like to go through them again.”

The Following Article By W.F. CORBETT Was Published In The Sun October 28, 1944

Memories of weight making Sid Godfrey, ex lightweight champion of Australia are like the sweating horror of a child waking from a bad dream. Reducing to the featherweight limit of 9 stone to fight grim, slashing Frenchman Eugene Criqui in 1921, was an agony of body and soul.

Sid with his characteristic long rolling stride and still fairly trim figure is today proprietor of “The Horse and Jockey Hotel” in Parramatta Road, Homebush.

“ I tremble to think of the torment I went through making my weight. I was as tall as I was now (5’ 7”) and to fight Criqui I was under the feather limit.”

Criqui with savage, merciless attacks, stopped the weakened Godfrey in the tenth round before a mass of people, many of whom burst in through the Stadium’s main doors and avalanched down the aisle to ringside.

“My fight prior to Criqui was with Arthur Wynns, whom I had in 10. I weighed 9st 5lb and 9st 12lb when I commenced to train for the Criqui fight. Ultimately I got down to 9st 5lb but discovered that though I would reduce 2lbs, I would put 1lb back on again. Even so, I went down to 9st 4lb and 9st 3lb. At this stage I would lose 1lb and build up 2. I couldn’t raise a perspiration, and in the sweat box the bulbs were burning me. I decided the only chance I had to make the weight was not to eat at all. All I eat for 2½ days wouldn’t amount to one square meal.

Then at 7:30 on the night of the fight I weighed in at 8st 13¾. Immediately after I drank a pint of milk and eggs. It was one of the worst things I could have done. Not as long as I live, will I forget that ordeal, it was a killer.”

Now he plays golf. He weighed 13 stone when he first started playing, but is now little more than 11 stone.

The cleverest men he fought he says was Jimmy Hill and Jackie Green and the hardest hitter American Tommy O’ Brien, who introduced the old soup basin haircut which was so fashionable among young bloods at the time. He rates Archie Bradley the toughest. He is convinced Vince Blackburn would have won the world bantamweight title if he would have gone after it when he was at his best.

In 1919 he announced his retirement. Jack Munro met him by chance and suggested he make a comeback at the Hippodrome. He replied that he would never be a draw card. Munro persuaded him. He had another 35 fights netting £7000 in 5 years, making £15000 for Stadiums Ltd.

The following is an unfinished article from scrapbook 33 of the Bert Cox Collection. It is written by Bill Lawless (“Solar Plexus”) and parts may be inaccurate.

If it could be claimed that Sid Godfrey was the equal in ability to such previous lightweight champions as Keys, Mehegan, McCoy, Dwyer, Llew Edwards, Jack Hall, he could console himself with the fact that he was such a better drawcard than those mentioned, that in one or two contests alone, he earned more than did some of the other top liners in the whole course of their careers.

Another strange feature concerning this worthy fellow is the fact that at one point of his career, he was so sick and tired of boxing for next to nothing, that at one point he seriously considered giving up. However he didn’t and eventually made sufficient money to invest wisely in the hotel business.

He began boxing in amateur tournaments in Granville in 1914, in which he failed to win any honors. The first published account of his career was early in 1915 at an amateur tournament in Auburn, where he won the final of the featherweight competition . A little while later he won a similar tournament, but also won the lightweight final.

In 1916 he began his professional career with a six round knock out of a promising and hard hitting youth called Luke Wright. He then figured in twelve bouts, winning six by knock out.

Early in 1917, he was well beaten by brilliant former featherweight Jimmy Hill who scaled 9st 6½lb. In Feb 1917 he as ko’d in 14 by Bert Spargo. After a defeat against Wave Geike (whom he had previously beaten) he ko’d Frank Thorn twice, then knocked out Wave Geike in 15. Returning to Sydney he cleverly outpointed Tommy Ryan.

He tried to win the featherweight crown from Vince Blackburn, but lost on points. However, in October 1917, he won the title in a questionable points decision over Blackburn.

In 1917, he fought an Aboriginal featherweight, Sandy McVea, who took a terrible battering for 11 rounds. The referee should have stopped the fight around the sixth round, or failing that his corner should have thrown in the towel. However, it was rumored that a certain individual had bet that McVea would last ten rounds.

In 1918, he had another fight with Blackburn and although he was declared the winner on points, he lost the featherweight title because he was overweight.

From then until the end of 1918, he was beaten on points by Jimmy Hill and Llew Edwards and was extremely lucky in having a drawn decision with Blackburn, for in the 8th round he accidentally sent a right below the belt and the contest was stopped by police.

In 1919 he beat Bob Williams at Sydney Stadium on a TKO in 20 rounds for the lightweight championship of NSW. He then went to Manila He was a sick man. He fought a draw with Flores, but was ko’d in one round by Dencio. He returned to Australia and defeated Eugene Volaire in Brisbane.

It was about this time that he sincerely thought about quitting. But the wheel of fortune turned his way by a stream of French, English and Filipino boxers.

Arthur Cripps - three good teeth and several stumps

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Place Of Birth. Sydney NSW
Date Of Birth. 08 Jan 1879
Date Deceased. 04 Sep 1934
Height. 5’9”
Weight. 11 st 4 lb
Divisions. Middleweight, Heavyweight
Titles. Australian Middleweight, 1903-1905, 1906-1909

Record. won 33 (KO 14) + lost 11 (KO 3) + drawn 3 Newspaper Decisions won : lost 1

Stadium Career. 1909-1911

Career Span. 1902-1914

Fights At The Stadium: 1909 - 1911

Rudy Unholz pts 20 10 Nov 1909
Dave Smith drew 20 29 Nov 1909

Gunner Moir koby 7 23 Feb 1910
Ed Williams pts 20 11 Mar 1910
Dave Smith lpts 20 12 Oct 1910

Jimmy Clabby koby 15 18 Nov 1911

Random Jottings

Member of AIF team. (Australian Imperial Force)
A benefit night of boxing was held for him at the Stadium, shortly before his death. He had been ill for some time.
Traveled to many places and ended up in New York, knocking out Joe Williams in two rounds
Returned to Australia and on 09 August 1904 fought Jack Thompson for the third time. Fought a twenty round draw with giant Peter Felix. This was followed by a win on a foul against Bill Squires, when he cleverly threw himself in such a way that the referee thought he had been thrown, and promptly disqualified Squires.
Born in Victoria Street, Sydney. His father was a well known medico and his mother an accomplished lady with a “glorious voice”.
He spent much time in Queensland, and on several occasions represented the Queensland Football team.
He claimed that after being trained by Austin, he never suffered a black eye or a bloody nose.
Late in his career he fought Jerry Jerome and was offered £1.00 per round during Jerome’s stay in the ring. “One can well imagine he carried Jerry who however, beat the ex champion when the latter was at the end of his tether.”
Taught by Big Jim Austin, one of the cleverest trainers of the time, who saw him in a crude effort against Bill McCarthy, at the Gaiety Hall in Sydney in Jul 1902.
From that time, until November, he was not allowed to fight until Jim Austin was satisfied. Following his previous amateurish performance, he was not given much of a chance against clever and capable Harry Dawson, but he had advanced sufficiently to KO him in eighteen rounds .
In 1903, he dethroned middleweight champion Jack Thompson. He then went to South Africa, where he was beaten by Irishman Mike Williams, who was then the South African champion.

Article From “The Referee”, date unknown.

Dear old Arthur Cripps, one of the best middleweights Australia has had. When he took his teeth out, Arthur’s jaws fell in, his chin thrust out and his mouth slitted in a thin straight line.

But he was not entirely fangless. He had three good teeth and several stumps. But boxing was not responsible for the gaps. He lost several teeth on the football field. He was a first class Rugby Union player.

Arthur retired from football. He had nine teeth left and his fiancee declared an ultimatum. Cripps was in love, so he took to boxing.

Long years afterwards, Cripps told me , that when he was at the peak of his career, he never received £100 for a fight, “But when I was through as a fighter, McIntosh sprouted as a promoter, and I got more money out of four fights, than I collected in all the years I was champion.”

In his early boxing years, he ran a two up school as a sideline. This is no reflection on his character.

He was an honest man and he conducted a “square” game. But his efforts to keep it clean, cost him six of his teeth. So he quit the gaming house and carried on with three.

Mouthguards were not worn in those days, but I never saw Arthur sporting a cut or lacerated lip. He was a brilliant boxer, a man four square in and out of the ring.

Involvement with AIF.

Arthur Cripps, was selected as Heavyweight, but his place was taken by Corp. R.G. Stephenson, so he could enter the light-heavyweight tournament. However, Cripps was prevented by constant illness from competing.

Cripps was not keen on fighting for the AIF, stating, “I’m after a spot of real fighting.”

Brisbane Courier July 1935

Llew Edwards

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Name Llew Edwards
Place Of Birth Porth, Wales
Date Of Birth 1894
Date of Death: 1965
Divisions Lightweight
Titles Australian Lightweight
Record Fights 93, 35 ko, 33 wpts, 4 wf, 6 draws ,7 lpts, 5 koby, 1 nc, 2 nd
Stadium Span 1915 - 1921

Fights At Stadium

Llew Edwards ko 2 Jimmy Hill 18 Dec 1915
Llew Edwards pts 20 Roughhouse Burns 29 Apr 1916
Llew Edwards pts 20 Herb McCoy 27 May 1916
Llew Edwards ko 2 Jimmy Hill 27 Jan 1917
Llew Edwards ko 18 Herb McCoy 10 Feb 1917
Llew Edwards ko 20 Herb McCoy 10 Mar 1917
Llew Edwards ko 2 Matty Smith 04 Aug 1917
Llew Edwards ko 13 Eddie Wallace 27 Dec 1919
Llew Edwards pts 20 Sid Godfrey 02 Apr 1921
Sid Godfrey pts 20 Llew Edwards 23 Jul 1921
Llew Edwards wf 11 Jack Suddington 12 Nov 1921
Tommy O'Brien ko 7 Llew Edwards 26 Nov 1921

The following article is taken from a newspaper clipping dated Oct, 13 1939.

Llew Edwards was a Lonsdale belt holder and featherweight champion of Great Britain when he came to this country. His first fight here was against Jimmy Hill for the Empire title, which Llew won.

These feats and facts are forgotten by fight fans today for more than 20 years have elapsed since Llew wore those crowns, but there is one title he held that will be remembered as long as is his name. One of the greatest two handed fighters and crowd pleasers who ever came to Australia is a title he will never lose.

Llew is a product of Wales, that little country that gave this world such champions as Welsh, Wilde and Driscoll.

He was 19 when he had his first fight, and before coming to Australia he beat Owen Moran in an elimination series for the featherweight title of Great Britain.

Australian fight fans took to Llew Edwards like a duck takes to water. He was the answer to a promoters dream with his non stop, two handed style of fighting. A clean living boy who trained assiduously, he was always ready to step into the ring, never quibbling where, when, or whom he fought.

In one month he had as many as four fights covering Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. These are the reasons for Llew Edwards being one of the most popular overseas fighters with fans and promoters alike.

After fighting Jimmy Hill, Frank Thorn, Geo Taylor, Bert Spargo and a few other top-notchers, Llew went to the Philippines in 1919 with Vince Blackburn, Tommy Ryan, Harry Holmes and Owen Cairns.

In four contests there he was unbeaten and made history in licking the immortal Dencio Cabanella.

On his return to Australia he had four or five fights and then went to America. Poor Llew never got warm from the day he landed until the day he left. In the Philippines the tropical heat was almost unbearable; he got back to Australia in the middle of a very hot summer, but on reaching Chicago walked into a climate with a temperature 20 below zero.

His first fight in the land of Uncle Sam was against Ritchie Mitchell, one of the best lightweights in the world. Llew lost and the only excuse he offers is that Mitchell was by far the best fighter he ever met.

Llew had three or four more fights, but could not get acclimatized, so went back to England, had one fight, and then came back to Australia, where he has been ever since.

That was in 1920 and he went on fighting the best until he met Harry Stone in 1922. During that fight he was faced with the realization that his eyesight was failing. His sense of distance and timing was all wrong. There and then he decided to quit - and he did.

He had earned a fortune with his fists, but like most people to whom wealth comes quickly, he spent freely. Unfortunately for him, he did not pay enough attention to the business end of fighting. He left that to others, and when he finished, instead of having plenty, the cupboard was bare. There was nothing left for him but hard work.

Llew took this blow just as he had taken punches - with a smile - and for a while he capitalized his name with a boxing booth. After that he worked behind a hotel bar for a year or so, when he came to Melbourne and got a job as assistant boiler attendant.

While in that place he attended night school and got his own ticket to tend boilers, but unfortunately most boilers today are so made that they mind themselves.

Llew has no kick with the way the cards have fallen. He can still smile and has his health. If he had his time over, he says he would sit in on the same game.

Random Jottings

· Australian lightweight champion. Beat McCoy on points at the end of 1916.

· Not clever, nor was he a stylist, but possessed untiring energy.

· Could deliver a fair punch and take them unflinchingly and maintain a good pace for twenty rounds.

· As training he was made to box twenty rounds a day. Had his training schedule been less, he might have been boxing, longer and better.

· Started boxing at 19. Arrived in Australia in 1916 and was at his best. Had 44 fights here.

· Met Sid Godfrey three times. Won first and second on points, badly beaten in third.

· KO’d by Ritchie Mitchell in Milwaukee.

· In England beat Jack Regan three times. Returned to U.S. and had ND with Laelar and Noye. KO’d in two by Clonie Tate.

· Returning to Australia outpointed Volaire and Godfrey. Beaten by Harry Stone. KO’d Dick Johnson in Sydney.

· Non drinker, non smoker.

· Tried to become a teacher of boxing

George Chip

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Photo: Bert Cox Collection

Name: George Chip
Real Name: George Chipulonis
Place Of Birth: Scranton, Pa.
Date Of Birth: 25th August, 1888
Date Deceased: 06th November, 1960
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 158 lbs
Divisions: Middleweight
Titles: A claimant to the world middleweight title.

Won 42 (KO 35) + lost 16 (KO 3) + drawn 3 = 63
Newspaper Decisions won 40 : lost 44 : drawn 15

Stadium Career Span: 1916

Misc.: Manager Jimmy Dime. Tetewanian-American.

Article “Fistic Flashbacks” published in undated “Sports Novels” magazine.

After the murder of Stanley Ketchell, the world middleweight boxing title became vacant, and it was several years before George Chip emerged as champion.

With the sudden and tragic death of Ketchell came numerous claimants for the vacant middleweight crown. “Cyclone” Johnny Thompson, who stopped former title holder Billy Papke, at Sydney Stadium, probably had the strongest pretensions to this crown, but for some unknown reason failed to force his claims and gradually faded out of the picture as a contender.

For several years the title was in dispute. Eventually George Chip became recognized champion when he KO’d Frank Klaus, who in the course of his graduation to the field of claimants had whipped Papke and George Carpentier.

The family name was Chipulonis. In those days a boxer with such a name would be frowned upon. Therefore when George launched upon his fistic career, he wisely shortened his name to Chip.

Born of Lithuanian parents at Scranton USA on August 25, 1888, George made a successful ring debut early in 1909 by stopping his opponent in the second round. This initial triumph was followed by four more KOs which gained him a bout with a pretty tough customer in the person of Billy Manfredo.

George was not a bit overawed by the reputation of his opponent and sailed into him from the first bell to administer a severe thrashing to his rival for two rounds, when in sheer desperation, Manfredo committed an unpardonable foul and was disqualified.

This pair of lads met on three occasions during this year, all of which were no decision affairs. Early in 1910 Chip proved his superiority over Manfredo by stopping him in five rounds.

From thenceforth George’s ability soared high in the estimation of the promoters and they sent him into the ring opposed to top class boys. He held Buck Crouse to even terms in two no decision bouts, then suprisingly had the better of the “Giant Killer” Jack Dillon. However, before the year ended Crouse came back for another shot at George suffered his first defeat when he was KO’d in the third round.

In his first bout in 1911 Chip suffered a further defeat when he was outpointed by Jack Dillon after fifteen rounds of hard and fast fighting.

These defeats did not cause any loss of prestige. George had proved conclusively that he was a fighter of the highest quality, therefore, he continued to gain matches with the best of the middleweight brigade. He engaged in fourteen more bouts before he was again declared a loser.

This time it was the cagey Jeff Smith who stopped his run of success by gaining a fifteen round's decision. To be whipped by this ring general neither disgraced nor discouraged George. He insisted that he met the best and before he annexed the title he again crossed gloves with Dillon, Crouse, etc.

It was on the night of October 11, 1913, at Pittsburgh that Frank Klaus and Chip came together in their championship clash.

Frank, although well aware of his opponent's record was so puffed up with his own victories, that he did not take his rival seriously. Consequently, he did not prepare himself as he should have - a lapse that was brought home to him with a vengeance before the opening round was a minute old.

With the opening bell, George hurled himself into the attack with a vicious barrage of blows which had Frank stepping around much more speedily than he anticipated would be necessary to retain his high standing in the middleweight division.

The boy from Scranton continued his onslaught until midway through the sixth round before he sent his foe crashing to the floor with a vicious right hand to the chin. At the count of nine, Klaus struggled to his feet, but was immediately sent down and out by a similar blow.

Two months later Frank made an attempt to reverse the defeat. However, he fared a little worse on this occasion as the winning blow was put over in the fifth session.

George’s reign as king of the division was short-lived. Approximately six months later the champion paid the same penalty as Klaus had by underestimating his opponent's ability, when he clashed with Al McCoy at Brooklyn, on April 7, 1914.

True, Al had no standing in the first flight of middleweights at that period. Nethertheless, that was no excuse for George to have been lax in his preparation or careless with his defense which Al, quickly demonstrated. Exactly one minute and thirty seconds after the opening bell, George dropped his guard and as quick as a flash McCoy seized the opportunity by driving a powerful right to the chin, which dropped the champion to the canvas for the full count.

Although deprived of his crown, George continued to successfully battle among the top class boys.
Naturally he was anxious for a return with McCoy and pestered him until he obliged with a ten round no decision encounter. They met at Brooklyn on April 6, 1915, and George administered a severe lacing to his opponent throughout the entire bout. Unable to knock out his man, Chip had to be contented that he had inflicted heavy punishment upon the man who had unexpectedly shorn him of his crown.

Whatever chances George had of regaining the title were completely blotted out when he clashed with Les Darcy in Sydney. Darcy proved Chip’s master in every phase of the game, until he KO’d him in the ninth round.

Before leaving these shores George engaged in another bout in Melbourne, Art Magirl being the victim of a fourteenth round ko.

On his return to his homeland, George continued his ring activities for a further five years, meeting good, bad and indifferent fighters during this period. In none of these bouts did he display the ability he had when fighting his way up to the middleweight crown.

During twelve years of ring warfare Chip engaged in 153 bouts, most of which were no decision affairs. Nethertheless, despite the fact that he crossed gloves with such notables as Tommy and Mike Gibbons, Harry Greb, Gus Christie, K.O. Brown, Jeff Smith, Jack Dillon, Jimmy Clabby, Frank Klaus, K.O. Brennan, Billy Murray, Frank Loughrey, Eddie McGoorty, Al McCoy, Buck Crouse and Les Darcy, none of these men, with the exception of the last three mentioned boxers, were capable of stopping him, which proves George Chip was an excellent fighting machine.

Vince Blackburn

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Sadly the photo I have of Vince Blackburn, is of very poor quality

Name: Vince Blackburn
Place Of Birth: Balmain NSW
Date Of Birth: 04 Aug 1895
Date Deceased: Unknown
Height 5′ 5½″ / 166cm
Divisions: Featherweight, Bantamweight
Won 21 (KO 2)
Lost 17 (KO 8)
Drawn 5
Newspaper Decisions won 1

Titles:
Featherweight Champion 1917
Bantamweight Champion 1916 - 1920

Stadium Career Span: 1916 - 1922

Fights At Stadium: (Bert L Cox Collection)

Frank Pearson pts 20 13 Nov 1916
Jack Jannesse lpts 20 11 Dec 1916
Jack Jannesse lpts 20 23 Dec 1916
Andy Maguire drew 20 31 Dec 1916

Jack Jannesse pts 20 21 Apr 1917
Andy Maguire wf 15 30 Jun 1917
Sid Godfrey pts 20 18 Aug 1917
Jack Jannesse pts 20 29 Sep 1917
Sid Godfrey lpts 20 27 Oct 1917

Sid Godfrey drew 20 12 Jan 1918

Silvano Jamito pts 20 06 Sep 1919
Silvano Jamito pts 20 03 Oct 1919
Silvano Jamito wf 16 06 Dec 1919

Jackie Green lpts 20 17 Jan 1920
Eugene Criqui koby 10 23 Oct 1920

Joe Symonds koby 7 05 Mar 1921

Jackie Green ko 13 20 May 1922
Stanley McBride pts 20 03 Jun 1922
Larry Jones koby 17 01 Jul 1922
Frank Kramer koby 9 29 Jul 1922

Notes based on an article entitled “Famous Fighters”

(Newspaper and writer unknown)

Boxing fans of an earlier generation will recall when they heard with delight the announcers cry “The Blackburn brothers” and saw little Vince and Lal, hardly able to peep above the middle rope, give an exhibition with dad, their tutor looking on with pride. When sweet charity called the trio, they were always willing and many worthy causes benefited.

Lal, the more brilliant passed on without showing his brilliance in open company. Vince became bantamweight champion of Australia. He also later took the featherweight title.

When Vince decide to go into the game seriously, Newtown Olympia asked him to give a three round exhibition. No one was longer in the game, yet they wanted to give him a trial! Three of his opponents shied away.

He beat Billy Molyneux then later lost to him. After that, he could not get a fight until he beat Mick Mulqueen.

In 1916, after winning against Harry Holmes and Victorian George Eddy, he beat Holmes again for the State lightweight title, stopping him in 14 rounds.

He met Frank Pearson for the Australian bantamweight title, which was dormant through Jack Jannesse being laid aside with illness.

Vince took the title, but Jack Jannesse came back to reclaim his crown, only to lose it again to Vince. Jannesse and Blackburn fought five times, with Blackburn winning three and Jannesse two.

Whilst in possession of the bantamweight title he gave 8½ lbs to Sid Godfrey to take the featherweight championship. Godfrey later regained his title.

He gave away a stone to Jimmy Hill and drew with him, beating him in a return.

Had two fights against Cabanella Dencio for one win and one loss.

Went to the Philippines with Llew Edwards, Harry Holmes, Tommy Ryan and George Ballieu. There he won the bantamweight championship of the Orient (Holmes took the featherweight title). During eight months in the Philippines he lost only to Dencio.

After winning the bantamweight championship in 1916, he held it until beaten by Jackie Green in 1920

Blackburn traveled to England and the US. He lost two fights in England and beat Sammy Mandell in America after sustaining a broken hand in the second round. He was offered $2000 to fight Bud Ridley but refused.

He retired after losing to Eugene Criqui, but Stadiums Ltd. persuaded him to make a comeback against Jackie Green, whom he knocked out in thirteen rounds. After that he beat the American Stan McBride.

After retirement he went into the hotel trade and ran several city and country hotels, including one at Redfern.

Sid Godfrey claimed that Blackburn could have won the World bantamweight title when at his best.

Described as a keen businessman with a genial personality.

When Pat Bradley hit them, they stayed hit

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Photo: Bert Cox Collection

Weight: middleweight
Country Ireland
Residence San Francisco, California, United States
won 15 (KO 14) + lost 12 (KO 7) + drawn 3 = 32
rounds boxed 236 KO% 43.75

Fights At Stadium: (Bert Cox Collection)

Jean Adoucy ko 8 08 Feb 1913
Charlie Godfrey ko 1 05 Mar 1913
Jack Clarke ko 12 19 Mar 1913
Sid Stagg ko 13 10 May 1913
Jim Sullivan ko 1 05 Jul 1913
Jerry Jerome ko 13 13 Sep 1913
Dave Smith lpts 20 25 Oct 1913

Eddie McGoorty lpts 20 08 Feb 1914
Jeff Smith koby 16 13 Apr 1914
Frank Loughrey koby 8 12 Dec 1914

N. Simpson lpts 20 14 Aug 1915

The following article is from an undated newspaper, probably The Referee.

WHEN PAT BRADLEY HIT THEM

THEY STAYED HIT

A Wonderful Plodder with Remarkable

Patience and Endurance

ENGLISHMAN SID. STAGG AS A STEPPING

STONE TO FORTUNE.

When I hits ‘em they stays hit” was not exactly the motto of Pat Bradley, the welterweight who carved such a swath in the ranks of the welterweights and middleweights of Australia,England and America close on 20 years ago, but if ever a boxer should have had it emblazoned on his crest - that is, of course, if he had a crest - it was the same Pat Bradley.

For if he had had to depend on points decisions to build up a reputation he would never have left the novice class. He was the finished knockout merchant if ever there was one - a real one-punch man in every sense of the term - and whether he landed properly with left or right the recipient stayed put and took no further interest in the proceedings.

** Article taken from press clipping. Newspaper and author unknown.

JEFF SMITH’S REFUSAL TO BE

COWED BY DEADLY PUNCH

ust as familiarity breeds contempt, so does over-respect cause a boxer to fight within himself and present himself to the world as a stultified edition of what otherwise would be a fine fighting machine.

Take the case of Eddie McGoorty, American boxer and fighter with a knockout in either hand and Pat Bradley, another American who was essentially a fighter with a terrific punch, an infinite capacity for taking punishment, and a native ring cunning that made him an awkward customer to handle and a dangerous man at all times!

Bradley stayed twenty rounds with McGoorty, yet the American had no difficulty in sending Dave Smith, who gave Bradley one of the trouncings of his young life into dreamland inside a round on two occasions. And on top of that Jeff Smith another American middleweight who, although McGoorty’s master, was not credited with being the knockout artist McGoorty was, gave Bradley the father of a hiding and made it necessary for the police to intervene in the sixteenth round.

That McGoorty found himself in this position was due to the fact that he developed over-respect for a punch - not without cause, it must be admitted - and permitted it to affect his fighting to such an extent that he had to be satisfied with a points decision when he should have won early with a knock-out.

ust about this time - early in 1914 - Bradley was bowling the welterweights and middleweights of Australia, America, and England over like nine-pins. He was no respector of persons. And when he entered the ring he had only one idea in view, and that was to annihilate his opponent in short order. Those swings of Bradley’s were dreadful things to contemplate, and when one landed, there was hardly ever a mistake - the full count followed. And unlike the average fighter he could not “pull” a punch: he could not “stall.” And box along quietly: every punch was fully loaded, and although they were sometimes erratic, they were always a deadly menace whenever they were about for no matter where they landed, they hurt.

Boxer after boxer had gone down under the weight of that punch, and as far as he was concerned, what was virtually a reign of terror existed. The men round and about his weight were not exactly afraid of him, but although one and all knew that they ought to beat him in ordinary course of event, the menace of that punch was a nightmare to them. They knew they should not get caught with it, but so many good men had fallen victims that the thought was ever present that any one of them-----answer the call of the wild but devastating swing. But when the match with McGoorty was arranged, Australia as a man thought the hoodoo would be ended, for the night at any rate and that Bradley would be forced to swallow some of the medicine he was so fond of dispensing. Nobody imagined for an instant that McGoorty the Puncher would be infected with the terrors of a mere punch, and they looked to him to polish Bradley in that masterly manner that had been evident whenever he entered the ring. Consequently the meeting was regarded as likely to provide a rare fight - while it lasted, which was not expected to be very long.

But the crowd reckoned without their Bradley, without the far reaching effects of his punch. For, despite that he could have scorned the idea that he was troubled, it was obvious throughout the contest, which was decided at Sydney Stadium on Feb 7^th 1914, that the possibility of it bringing him the loser’s end of the gate was never out of McGoorty’s mind.

Not that he fought badly. Far from it. But there was a reserve that had never previously been present and although he punished Bradley severely in every round, there was always a sufficiency of respect that prevented his going right after his man and completing his job in the workmanlike manner that was characteristic of him.

That punch had him in its tolls and kept him within bounds that were foreign to him.- caused him to refrain from opening out with that liberty that would probably have meant an early finish.

Round after round McGoorty pasted his man unmercifully. He hit him with everything he possessed - hooks, swings, jabs, jolts. There was nothing that did not end up on some part of Bradley’s anatomy and even allowing for the toughness of the recipient, there was always lacking the real McGoorty touch, that finished punching that made the difference between the horizontal and the perpendicular.

So the fight went on - one-sided and uninteresting. The huge crowd was more or less disgusted. They had smelt blood, and wanted it. But when they realized that they were not going to get it they contented themselves by gambling against the possibility of Bradley seeing the distance out. In this way they developed a renewed keenness in the contest, a keenness that was intensified when Bradley, despite the hammering he was constantly subjected to, every now and then narrowly missed the opposing jaw with one of his ”haymakers”

Bradley was always dangerous. This McGoorty knew, and notwithstanding that he had the strength, ability, and punching power to ease the burden that was troubling him so greatly, there was always lacking that freedom that kept Bradley on his feet. And so Bradley saw the 20 rounds out, a performance a punter could have written his own ticket about before the fight when it was difficult to wager on a knockout in a specified number of rounds.

What a different attitude was adopted by Jeff Smith when he met Bradley on April 11 of the same year. In the interval, Smith had beaten McGoorty in the famous fight in which McGoorty had been given the decision, to have it repudiated the world over: but despite that, he had handled McGoorty in most finished manner, and boxed and fought him faultlessly, he was still regarded as his inferior in the knock-out department of the game. It was conceded on all sides that he must beat Bradley, barring accidents, but in spite of all his cleverness and shiftiness the thought was always present that one of those accidents that Bradley was so prone to encouraging would assuredly happen.

Miscellaneous Notes

In the 1930’s he worked on the “SS Mariposa” on which most of the overseas boxers arrived in Australia.

Colin Bell - Lack Of Fighting Instinct Proved Colin Bell’s Downfall

2010-11-17T19:51:00.003+11:00

Name Colin Bell
Place Of Birth Narrabri NSW
Date Of Birth October 6, 1883
Date Deceased Manly 1948
Height 6 ft
Weight 13 st 7 lb
Divisions Heavyweight
Titles Australian Heavyweight

Record
Stadium Span 1911 -1923
Career Span 1909-1923

Fights At The Stadium
Jack Howard lpts 20 18 Mar 1911
Dave Smith koby 14 10 Jun 1916
Les O'Donnell wf 6 09 Dec 1916
Tim Tracey ko 3 03 Mar 1917
Albert Lloyd koby 2 24 Mar 1917
Gordon Coghill ko 5 09 Aug 1921
Jim Roland Dwyer koby 13 24 Feb 1923

Random Jottings

• First Fight May 6, 1909 (Sam Hillings)
• Last Fight February 24, 1923, Jim Dwyer
• Lacked ambition and killer instinct. In his last fight against James Roland Dwyer, he lost against a much poorer boxer.

THERE’S ALWAYS THE DEVIL TO PAY FOR THE
BOXER WITHOUT “DEVIL”

Heavyweight Who Should Have Been a Champion, but Wasn’t.
Lack Of Fighting Instinct Proved Colin Bell’s Downfall

DAVID AND GOLIATH IN MODERN SETTING
(By Jack Gell)

A BOXER without heart is about as capable as a one armed painter with the itch.
The will to win, with which is incorporated the refusal to acknowledge defeat at all times, is so much a necessity for the ringman that he is doomed to defeat and general failure without it. There is s no half measure. Possessed of the fighting “heart” or “devil,” or whatever you care to call it, there is always the possibility of triumphing lack of skill or condition. But all the attributes in the world will avail nothing unless they are backed up with that very real quality which spurs a man to victory and compels him to go down fighting.

Australian heavyweight Colin Bell was a man without this brand of “heart.” Not that he was in any sense a coward - the term must not be taken as implying the possession of a “yellow streak,” - but he did not possess the fighting instinct that is so well defined in the average boxer. Although endowed well above the average, both physically and mentally, he was pre-destined never to make a great success in the ring.

The “find” of a Moree squatter who had the rough edges knocked off him and was
developed by Larry Foley, Bell threatened many anxious moments for the heavyweight world. In the gymnasium he was the personification of everything a heavyweight champion should be. He was skillful above the average…..was as fast on his feet as the fastest lightweight, stood well over 6 foot in his socks, and was built in proportion. Superficially, a fighter every inch of him, but he possessed that hopeless minus quantity, lack of “devil,” which made all the difference between a ring fighter and a gymnasium gloveman.

And so, while capable of doing everything that was asked of him in exhibition bouts, he could not take into the ring with him the very asset so necessary for success.

Bell had an indifferent career as a boxer. He placed some good wins to his credit, but other fights he should have won were snatched from him in his hour of victory by men, who had they acknowledged defeat instead of fighting on in the hope that the tide may turn in their favor, would have gone under to him. That was Bell all over. There was a sort of faint heartedness or soft heartedness about him that caused him to hesitate when he should have gone in to finish his man, a shortage of combativeness more in keeping with the kindergarten than the boxing ring.
Still Bell could not help it. He was a sort of boxing misfit, a skilled Hercules who because of his one great failing, was a boxing pigmy. He did his best to overcome his weakness, but Nature remained paramount and he never did the great things that, with his wonderful strength and skill, should have been an easy accomplishment.

Take the fight he had with Dave Smith at the Sydney Stadium on June 10, 1916, as an instance. It was typical of other battles which the Moree giant participated in with, if anything, this difference - that he demonstrated his incapacity to become a great fighter in a greater measure than usual. For that night he had victory within his grasp four or five times and was not equal to effecting the “killing” that should have been easy for him.

Bell had just returned from a trip to England and America where he had fought, among others Bombardier Wells (the English false alarm) and Joe Jeanette (the colored heavyweight who for many years was the idol of Paris), without adding to his laurels. He looked a veritable giant alongside Smith, who although heavyweight champion of Australia, was little better than a middleweight. As a matter of fact he weighed 13 stone 11 ¾ pounds as against hi opponents 11st 9lb, a difference of over two stones.

But this tremendous advantage did not worry Smith, who had the fighting instinct well developed, and besides was a firm believer in the familiar and popular boxing axiom that the bigger they are the harder they fall. And so instead of Bell being the aggressor and endeavoring to overwhelm his man with his strength, it was Smith who took up the attack from the moment they were called together. David and Goliath in a modern setting.

The enormous strength which Bell possessed, with the added advantages of skill with his hands and cleverness on his feet, should have counseled the big fellow to carry the war into the enemy camp, but the absence of “devil” that prompted caution proved his undoing. Smith, realizing that his strength would not prove equal to the task if he remained on the defensive and allowed Bell to wear him down, punished his man at every opportunity and set a pace that might have caused his own downfall had he not been in superb condition.

The fact was, that Smith knew of Bell’s weakness and, like a good general, capitalized it at every stage of the contest. Ducking and side-stepping and dodging he leaped in and out at the mountain of muscle in front of him and so punished him about the head with lefts and rights that after a few rounds Bell was tottering. But only momentarily. He pulled himself together well and then did what he should have done from the start - opened out. For a round or two he fought as if he really meant it. Smith was hard put to it to defend himself and in the sixth session was in such a bad way that had Bell taken proper advantage of the opportunity he would probably have with a knock-out.

But he did not. He procrastinated. He just could not assert that once of “devil” that constituted the difference victory and defeat with the result that Smith was given the “breather” that enabled him to gather his scattered senses. And having done that and possessing the very thing that Bell was deficient in, he made attack his defense and in a few moments was dominating the fighting again.

With all this, it must not be imagined that Bell was fighting badly. Far from it…
neglecting to follow up his advantages and consequently was being forced to play a minor role when he should have won his way to victory.

Again a few rounds later he caught Smith with a terrific left over the right eye, splitting it badly and causing the blood to flow freely. A second later he hooked a powerful left to the jaw and again Smith was flying distress signals. But did Bell go in to finish his man? He did not. And so Smith, maintaining a relentless attack, continued on until, by the time the tenth round was reached, Bell was obviously done.

For a while the big fellow tried to bluff that all was well, but Smith refused to believe him and continued to pepper him with rights and lefts. And then Bell got another chance. A heavy right to the jaw had Smith in a bad way, but instead of crowding in and administering the finishing punch as he had plenty of opportunities to do, he allowed the damaged warrior freedom from trouble until such time as his head had cleared and then had to take what was coming to him - which was not altogether pleasant.

By the time the fourteenth round was reached Bell was badly used up. Smith had gradually worn him down until he was comparatively easy for the smaller man to handle. And so Smith, who was showing signs of wear and tear, concluded that the best thing to do would be to get the business over. With right and left he pasted Bell unmercifully and drove him staggering, back on to the ropes. As Bell rebounded Smith’s right flashed through the air on to the opposing jaw and Bell crashed to the floor helpless. The finishing punch was not a particularly hard one, but it was all that was necessary to terminate the big fellow’s interest in the proceedings.

If ever a boxer should have won a fight it was Bell that night. But, although Nature had endowed him handsomely, the most essential ingredient for the development of a successful fighter had been overlooked. And because of the lack of “devil” there was invariably the devil to pay - for Bell - whenever he entered the ring.

The Following Notes Are Taken From An Article in “The Sydney Sun”
by W.F. Corbett, dated August 26, 1944.

• “Colin Bell, with the chest of a locomotive boiler, a neck the girth of an Atlantic Funnel.

• “Hero of fights untold, follower of a dozen callings, he is caretaker of the Australian Railway Union’s building downtown. Colin Bell, as massive as the concrete block he looks after. Hands as huge as a steam grab, a hand that could pulp your bones, Colin has tossed a glove with men who stand out in big type in the record books. Men like, Jack Johnson , Bill Lang, Sam Langford, Sam McVea, Dave Smith, King Levinsky.

• Of Johnson he says “I was with him in America for three months as his sparring partner. He was the best. Never in that time did I see him off balance. I believed I was a good boxer, but he could do just what he liked with me.”

• Explaining the rumor that Johnson was afraid to fight Langford, Johnson told him, “Well Colin, I can get £6000 to fight white men who are easier to beat than Langford. The promoters would offer me only £1800 to fight Langford. If I were offered £6000 to fight Langford, I would.

• Bell was made as hard as a cliff face by a life of vigorous variety before he became a boxer. The strength of his hands was acquired from the old blade method of shearing. He has been a bullock driver, sheep drover, tank sinker, tin miner, done miles of fencing in tough country, took a turn at saw milling and also a taxi driver.

• One of the strange things about Colin Bell throughout his career was the mercy he showed on his opponents. It used to be said that if he had the killer instinct, he would have beaten all the heavyweights of his time. Bell confirms this, “When I could knock an opponent out with one punch that was all right, but after staggering a man, I could not go in for the kill. I just couldn’t do it, that’s all there is to it.”

• In 1944 he was 61, 18 stone. His top fighting weight was fourteen stone 10 pounds when he beat George Cook. In the ring he had the pace of a featherweight.

• For three years he hunted buffalo in the Northern Territory. He rode in wild west shows. Is gentle, courteous, but has a rollicking robustness that would have gone pretty well in a medieval banquet hall.

The fights: 1908 - 1920

2010-11-12T17:39:00.008+11:00

FIGHT RESULTS AT SYDNEY STADIUM 1908 - 1920

Copied in pencil! from the Bert Cox Collection held at the NSW State Library

1908

21 Aug Sid Russell pts 20 Peter Felix (First fight at Stadium)
21 Aug Harry Raff nd 6 Charles Raff
(prelim. Harry Raff given newspaper decision)
24 Aug Tommy Burns ko 13 Bill Squires (First World Title fight)
24 Aug Prendergast ko 4 Harry Raff
(prelim. Prendergast was a US sailor)
26 Aug Jim Griffin ko 13 Jack Blackmore
26 Aug Fredick ko 2 Bowers
(prelim. Both from the US Fleet)
04 Sep George Sterling pts 20 Joe Gumm
21 Oct Frank Thorn pts 20 Arthur Douglas
12 Dec Jack Blackmore dr 20 Pat O’ Keefe
16 Dec Les O’ Donnell dr 20 Bob Bryant
26 Dec Jack Johnson psf 14 Tommy Burns
30 Dec Frank Thorn pts 20 Rudy Unholz

1909

09 Jan Jack Blackmore ko 9 Joe Summers
13 Jan Bobby Whitelaw ko 20 Monty Andrews
30 Jan Tommy Jones pts 20 Sid Sullivan
13 Feb Bill Lang ko 17 Bill Squires
27 Mar Arthur Douglas wf 13 Rudy Unholz
29 May Arthur Douglas pts 20 Frank Thorn
22 Sep Arthur Douglas pts 20 Frank Thorn
06 Oct Rudy Unholz pts 20 George Johns
13 Oct Les O’Donnell pts 20 Bob Bryant
03 Nov Les O’Donnell pts 20 Joey Costa
10 Nov Arthur Cripps pts 20 Rudy Unholz
29 Nov Arthur Cripps dr 20 Dave Smith
08 Dec Pat O’Keefe ko 19 Bill Turner
26 Dec Bill Lang ko 12 Bob Fitzsimmons
29 Dec Frank Thorn pts 20 Rudy Unholz

1910

03 Jan Mark Higgins ko 10 Jack Blackmore
05 Jan Johnny Douglas ko 7 George Johns
17 Jan Bill Lang ko 7 Bill Squires
19 Jan Dave Smith ko 17 Pat O’ Keefe
26 Jan Johnny Summers dr 20 Rudy Unholz
02 Feb Hughie Mehegan pts 20 Johnny Douglas
09 Feb Frank Thorn pts 20 Dick Cullen
23 Feb Gunner Moir tko 7 Arthur Cripps
04 Mar Johnny Summers dr 20 Arthur Douglas
11 Mar Arthur Cripps pts 20 Ed Williams
16 Mar Sid Sullivan pts 20 Jack McGowan
23 Mar Mike Williams tko 18 Pat O’ Keefe
31 Mar Bob Bryant tko 16 Mark Higgins
06 Apr Johnny Summers ko 19 Hughie Mehegan
13 Apr Special Featherweight tournament:
Sailor Duffy ko 6 Joe Conrad
Billy Elliot ko 9 Lebres
Billy Elliot pts 11 Sailor Duffy (level after 10 rds)
27 Apr Billy Elliot pts 20 Sid Sullivan
11 May Dick Cullen dr 20 Rudy Unholz
23 May Mike Williams ko 3 Ranji Burns
16 Jun Tim Land pts 20 Monty Andrews
28 Sep Johnny Summers dr 20 Hughie Mehegan
06 Oct Arthur Douglas pts 20 Johnny Summers
12 Oct Dave Smith pts 20 Arthur Cripps
19 Oct Hughie Mehegan tko 4 Arthur Douglas
25 Oct Billy Papke tko 6 Ed Williams
02 Nov Jimmy Clabby ko 7 Bob Bryant
09 Nov Cyclone J. Thompson tko 6 Rudy Unholz
16 Nov Ray Bronson pts 20 Sid Sullivan
07 Dec Jimmy Clabby ko 8 Mark Higgins
13 Dec Ray Bronson tko 3 Frank Thorn
21 Dec Jimmy Clabby tko 11 Ed Williams
26 Dec Dave Smith w.f 10 Billy Papke
29 Dec Cyclone J. Thompson ko 20 Tim Land

1911

01 Jan Hughie Mehegan pts 20 Ray Bronson
07 Jan Ray Bronson tko 11 Arthur Douglas
17 Jan Dave Smith pts 20 Jimmy Clabby
21 Jan Cyclone J. Thompson ko 3 Tim Land
28 Jan Johnny Douglas pts 20 Sid Sullivan
05 Feb Dave Smith pts 20 Cyclone J. Thompson
11 Feb Cyclone J.Thompson pts 20 Billy Papke
14 Feb Jimmy Hill pts 20 Yng. Hanley
11 Mar Billy Papke ko 7 Dave Smith
18 Mar Jack Howard pts 20 Colin Bell
25 Mar Joe Russell pts 20 Colin Fitzjohn
01 Apr Jack Howard ko 5 Joe Costa
05 Apr Billy Elliot pts 20 Teddy Green
15 Apr Billy Elliot pts 20 Colin Fitzjohn
03 May Jack Blackmore ko 3 Bill Rudd
06 May Frank Picato pts 20 Arthur Douglas
13 May Bill Lang wd 6 Jack Lester
26 Aug Hughie Mehegan pts 20 Charlie Griffin
09 Sep Jack Lester pts 20 Bill Lang
30 Sep Sam McVea pts 20 Jack Lester
07 Oct Jack Cullen tko 16 Jack Read
14 Oct Bandsman Rice ko 11 Jack Howard
22 Oct Hughie Mehegan ko 14 Hock Keyes
28 Oct Sam McVea ko 2 Bill Lang
04 Nov Hughie Mehegan ko 18 Frank Picato
11 Nov Dave Smith pts 20 Bandsman Rice
12 Nov Tim Land pts 20 Tom Townsend
18 Nov Jimmy Clabby tko 15 Arthur Cripps
23 Nov Jimmy Clabby ko 10 Tim Land
03 Dec Sid Sullivan pts 20 Jack Read
06 Dec Frank Picato tko 4 Mark Higgins
09 Dec Dave Smith dr 20 Jimmy Clabby
16 Dec Bandsman Rice pts 20 Cyclone J.Thompson
26 Dec Sam McVea pts 20 Sam Langford

1912

01 Jan Dave Smith wf 14 Jack Lester
?? Jan Hughie Mehegan pts 20 Frank Picato
26 Jan Al Thompson pts 20 Tom Townsend
26 Jan Dave Smith pts 20 Cyclone J.Thompson
12 Feb Sam Langford pts 20 Jim Barry
24 Feb Dave Smith dr 20 Jimmy Clabby
05 Mar Porky Flynn ko 5 Pat Doran
16 Mar Sam McVea pts 20 Jim Barry
23 Mar Jack Lester pts 20 Cyclone J.Thompson
08 Apr Sam Langford pts 20 Sam McVea
10 Apr Jimmy Clabby pts 20 Hughie Mehegan
13 Apr Jack Lester pts 20 Jack Howard
27 Apr Porky Flynn pts 20 Jim Barry
04 May Terry Keller pts 20 Tim Land
03 Aug Sam Langford pts 20 Sam McVea (First fight under roof)
10 Aug Les O’Donnell wf ?? Terry Keller
24 Aug Bill Rudd ko 3 Ernie Zanders
30 Aug Herb McCoy tko 9 Paul Til
07 Sep Jack Read pts 20 Hock Keyes
14 Sep Ernie Zanders tko 18 Jack Sullivan
24 Sep Jack Read pts 20 Paul Til
05 Oct Hock Keyes dr 20 Herb McCoy
12 Oct Jack Read pts 20 Grover Hayes
19 Oct Hock Keyes pts 20 Leon Bernstein
06 Nov Herb McCoy pts 20 Hock Keyes
20 Nov Ercole De Belzac tko 12 Ernie Zanders
23 Nov Paul Til pts 20 Jack Read
26 Nov Frankie O’Gradie pts 20 Jean Poesy
31 Nov Sid Sullivan wf 10 Paul Til
14 Dec Jean Poesy pts 20 Hock Keyes
18 Dec Frankie O’Gradie pts 20 Leon Bernstein
26 Dec Sam Langford ko 13 Sam McVea
27 Dec Leon Truffier tko 17 Jimmy Hill

1913

01 Jan Dave Smith ko 3 Ercole De Belzac
04 Jan Jack Read pts 20 Frank Picato
11 Jan Jean Poesy pts 20 Hock Keyes
12 Jan Bill Sonter ko ?? Ernie Zanders
15 Jan Arthur Douglas wf 8 Leon Bernstein
18 Jan Jean Adoucy ko 12 Tim Land
22 Jan Leon Truffier tko 15 Sid Sullivan
25 Jan Frank Picato pts 20 Hock Keyes
26 Jan Leon Truffier pts 20 Sid Sullivan
01 Feb Dave Smith ko 10 Reg Midwood
05 Feb Frank Picato ko 2 Jean Poesy
08 Feb Pat Bradley tko 8 Jean Adoucy
12 Feb Jimmy Hill pts 20 Leon Truffier
15 Feb Jean Poesy ko 11 Herb McCoy
?? Feb Ray Kennedy ko 9 Larry Foran
?? Feb Joe Atchenson pts 20 Arthur Douglas
22 Feb Jerome Jerome ko 5 Ercole De Belzac
?? Feb Gordon Coghill ko 4 Sid Fitzsimmons
?? Feb Frank Picato ko 12 Alf Morey
05 Mar Pat Bradley ko 1 Charlie Godfrey
06 Mar Harold Ewers ko 3 Alf Pooley
08 Mar Jack Clarke bt ?? Ray Kennedy
12 Mar Gordon Coghill ko 1 Harold Ewers
19 Mar Pat Bradley ko 12 Jack Clarke
22 Mar Alf Morey pts 20 Jack Read
23 Mar Johnny Summers ko 19 Frank Picato
28 Mar George Taylor pts 20 Billy Wennand
02 Apr Black Paddy ko 19 Jack Evans
04 Apr Boyo Driscoll ko 13 Yng. Simpson
12 Apr Jim Sullivan ko 10 Reg Midwood
19 Apr Dave Smith ko 18 Jerome Jerome
23 Apr Harry Stone pts 20 Hock Keyes
26 Apr Johnny Summers ko 9 Alf Goodwin
30 Apr Jimmy Hill pts 20 Harry Thomas
03 May Bill Lang pts 20 P.O Curran
07 May Jimmy Hill ko 12 Tommy Hanlon
10 May Pat Bradley ko 13 Sid Stagg
14 May Soldier Thompson pts 20 Black Paddy
17 May Herb McCoy ko 16 Alf Spenceley
21 May Billy Elliot dr 20 Jack Warner
24 May Les O’Donnell pts 20 Harry Mansfield
27 May Sid Deering pts 20 Joe Atchenson
30 May Alf Spenceley pts 20 Jack Read
04 Jun Larry Foran ko 13 Battling Taylor
11 Jun Pat Doran ko 10 Gordon Coghill
14 Jun Herb McCoy ko 1 Joe Russell
21 Jun Johnny Summers pts 20 Sid Burns
25 Jun Jimmy Hill pts 20 Charlie Simpson
28 Jun Harry Thomas pts 20 Frank Thorn
05 Jul Pat Bradley ko 1 Jim Sullivan
12 Jul Hughie Mehegan ko 17 Waldemar Holberg
16 Jul Dave Smith ko 16 Les O’Donnell
26 Jul Alf Morey pts 20 Sid Stagg
30 Jul Private Palmer pts 20 Jack Cordell
09 Aug Matt Wells pts 20 Hughie Mehegan
16 Aug Bill Lang pts 20 P.0. Curran
23 Aug Arthur Evernden tko 12 Frank Picato
30 Aug Herb McCoy pts 20 Waldemar Holberg
06 Sep Jerome Jerome ko 13 Harry Mansfield
13 Sep Pat Bradley ko 13 Jerome Jerome
20 Sep Arthur Evernden ko 10 Sid Burns
27 Sep Matt Wells pts 20 Owen Moran
01 Oct Pal Brown pts 20 Hughie Mehegan
01 Oct Billy Elliot pts 15 Sid Nelson
11 Oct Johnny Summers pts 20 Arthur Evernden
18 Oct Jerome Jerome ko 2 Jim Sullivan
25 Oct Dave Smith pts 20 Pat Bradley
01 Nov Yng. Nipper pts 20 Waldemar Holberg
08 Nov Hock Keyes ko 15 Bob Turner
15 Nov Les O’Donnell tko 20 Jerome Jerome
22 Nov Herb McCoy pts 20 Pal Brown
31 Nov Harry Stone pts 20 Matt Wells
06 Dec Sid Burns pts 20 Sid Stagg
13 Dec Harry Stone pts 20 Pal Brown
26 Dec Herb McCoy pts 20 Harry Stone

1914

01 Jan Eddie McGoorty ko 1 Dave Smith
03 Jan Milburn Saylor ko 14 Alf Morey
10 Jan Tom McCormick pts 20 Johnny Summers
17 Jan Herb McCoy pts 20 Matt Wells
24 Jan Milburn Saylor ko 20 Hughie Mehegan
01 Feb Johnny Summers pts 20 Arthur Evernden
08 Feb Eddie McGoorty pts 20 Pat Bradley
15 Feb Tom McCormick ko 1 Johnny Summers
22 Feb Dave Smith pts 20 Jules Dubourg
29 Feb Matt Wells ko 7 Ray Bronson
07 Mar Milburn Saylor ko 18 Herb McCoy
14 Mar Eddie McGoorty pts 20 Jeff Smith
21 Mar Matt Wells pts 20 Tom McCormick
26 Mar Milburn Saylor ko 2 Nat Williams
04 Apr Bill Lang ko 19 Arthur Pelkey
11 Apr Eddie McGoorty ko 10 Dave Smith
13 Apr Jeff Smith ko 16 Pat Bradley
19 Apr Milburn Saylor ko 10 Tom McCormick
26 Apr Fritz Holland ko 9 Jimmy Fritton
02 May Frank Thorn pts 20 Lee Johnson
09 May Milburn Saylor ko 12 Hughie Mehegan
16 May Joe Shugrue ko 15 Herb McCoy
23 May Herb McCoy pts 20 Joe Welling
30 May Ted ‘Kid’ Lewis pts 20 Herb McCoy
06 Jun Jeff Smith pts 20 Jimmy Clabby
13 Jun Ted ‘Kid ‘ Lewis pts 20 Hughie Mehegan
20 Jun Joe Welling pts 20 Sapper O’Neil
27 Jun Ted ‘Kid’Lewis pts 20 Joe Shugrue
04 Jul Jimmy Clabby wf 8 Eddie McGoorty
11 Jul Joe Shugrue pts 20 Milburn Saylor
18 Jul Fritz Holland pts 20 Les Darcy
25 Jul Fred Kay pts 20 Milburn Saylor
01 Aug Jimmy Clabby ko 1 Dave Smith
08 Aug Jimmy Hill dr 20 Frank Thorn
15 Aug Milburn Saylor pts 20 Joe Shugrue
22 Aug Herb McCoy ko 17 Hughie Mehegan
29 Aug Eddie McGoorty ko 7 Les O’Donnell
05 Sep Fred Kay pts 20 Joe Shugrue
12 Sep Fritz Holland wf 13 Les Darcy
19 Sep Mick King pts 20 Joe Shugrue
26 Sep Johnny Griffith dr 20 Herb McCoy
03 Oct Hughie Mehegan pts 20 Leon De Pontlieu
05 Oct Les Darcy ko 5 KO Marchand
10 Oct Eugene Volaire wf 16 Herb McCoy
17 Oct Johnny Griffith pts 20 Fred Kay
24 Oct Gus Christie ko 3 KO Marchand
01 Nov Fred Storbeck pts 20 Ben Doyle
05 Nov Les Darcy pts 20 Gus Christie
14 Nov Johnny Griffith ko 8 Hughie Mehegan
21 Nov Fred Kay pts 20 Jim Coffey
28 Nov Mick King pts 20 Jeff Smith
05 Dec Herb McCoy tko 3 Leon De Pontlieu
12 Dec Frank Loughrey ko 8 Pat Bradley
19 Dec Ben Doyle pts 20 Les O’Donnell
26 Dec Jeff Smith pts 20 Mick King

1915

02 Jan Fred Kay wf 7 Herb McCoy
09 Jan Frank Loughrey dr 20 Mick King
16 Jan Fritz Holland ko 12 Billy McNabb
23 Jan Jeff Smith wf 5 Les Darcy
30 Jan Dave Smith pts 20 Fritz Holland
06 Feb Wave Geike ko 4 Eddie Miller
13 Feb Dave Smith pts 20 Ben Doyle
20 Feb Jim Coffey bt ?? Fred Jones
27 Feb Les Darcy pts 20 Frank Loughrey
06 Mar Harold Hardwick pts 20 Les O’Donnell
13 Mar Les Darcy pts 20 Fritz Holland
20 Mar Henri Demlin pts 20 Frank Loughrey
27 Mar Albert Lloyd pts 20 Jim Coffey
03 Apr Les Darcy ko 5 Henri Demlin
10 Apr Tom Crowley pts 20 Les O’Donnell
17 Apr Jack Clune ko 14 Jimmy Hill
23 Apr Henri Demlin pts 20 Frank Loughrey
01 May Jeff Smith pts 20 Harold Hardwick
08 May Henri Demlin pts 20 Billy McNabb
15 May Herb McCoy ko 18 Jack Clune
22 May Les Darcy wf 2 Jeff Smith
29 May Tom Crowley ko 2 Bert Doyle
05 Jun Fred Dyer pts 20 Fritz Holland
12 Jun Les Darcy ko 10 Mick King
19 Jun Tommy Uren pts 20 Billy Gradwell
26 Jun Eddie McGoorty ko 10 Harold Hardwick
10 Jul Red Watson ko 9 Billy Yates
17 Jul Harold Hardwick pts 20 Joe Bonds
24 Jul Mick King pts 20 Billy Murray
31 Jul Les Darcy ko 15 Eddie McGoorty
07 Aug Joe Bond tko 12 Harry Reeves
14 Aug N. Simpson pts 20 Pat Bradley
21 Aug Red Watson ko 8 Henri Demlin
28 Aug Fred Kay pts 20 Red Watson
04 Sep Les Darcy pts 20 Billy Murray
11 Sep Fred Kay pts 20 Ferdinand Quendreux
18 Sep Eddie McGoorty ko 4 Billy Murray
25 Sep Eddie McGoorty ko 5 Harry Reeves
02 Oct Tommy Uren wf 6 Herb McCoy
09 Oct Les Darcy ko 6 Fred Dyer
16 Oct Harry Reeves pts 20 Fritz Holland
23 Oct Les Darcy pts 20 Jimmy Clabby
06 Nov Harry Reeves pts 20 Harold Hardwick
13 Nov Henri Demlin pts 20 N.Simpson
20 Nov Jimmy Clabby pts 20 Fritz Holland
27 Nov Eddie McGoorty ko 11 Mick King
04 Dec Fritz Holland pts 20 Red Watson
11 Dec Herb McCoy pts 20 Fred Delaney
18 Dec Llew Edwards ko 2 Jimmy Hill
27 Dec Les Darcy ko 8 Eddie McGoorty

1916

01 Jan Jimmy Clabby pts 20 Mick King
08 Jan Tommy Uren pts 20 Fred Gilmore
15 Jan Les Darcy pts 20 K.O. Brown
22 Jan Fritz Maki pts 20 Red Watson
29 Jan Herb McCoy pts 20 Tommy Uren
05 Feb Frank O’Connor wf 10 Fred Delaney
12 Feb K.O. Brown pts 20 Fritz Holland
18 Feb Les Darcy ko 7 Harold Hardwick
25 Feb Fred Gilmore pts 20 Fred Gilmore
04 Mar Jimmy Clabby pts 20 Fritz Holland
11 Mar Red Watson tko 7 Frank O’Connor
18 Mar Fritz Holland pts 20 K.O. Brown
25 Mar Les Darcy ko 7 Les O’Donnell
01 Apr Tommy Uren tko 16 Frank O’Connor
08 Apr Les Darcy pts 20 K.O. Brown
15 Apr Fritz Holland pts 20 Tommy Uren
22 Apr Harry Stone pts 20 Herb McCoy
26 Apr Tommy Uren pts 20 Harry Stone
29 Apr Llew Edwards pts 20 Roughhouse Burns
06 May Herb McCoy pts 20 Eddie Moy
13 May Les Darcy ko 4 Alex Costica
20 May Jimmy Clabby pts 20 Dave Smith
27 May Llew Edwards pts 20 Herb McCoy
03 Jun Les Darcy ko 2 Buck Crouse
10 Jun Dave Smith ko 14 Colin Bell
12 Jun Jack Cole ko 3 Fred Delaney
17 Jun Tommy Uren pts 20 Eddie Moy
19 Jun Bill Kilrain ko 7 George Newbury
19 Jun Les Gleeson wf ? Otto Frost
19 Jun Matt Murphy ko ? Larry Olive
19 Jun ?? O’Brien pts 10 Wally Scutts
24 Jun Les Darcy ko 12 Dave Smith
01 Jul Jimmy Hill dr 20 Bert Spargo
03 Jul Jack Read pts 20 Matt Murphy
08 Jul Fred Kay pts 20 Harry Stone
15 Jul Buck Crouse ko 9 Dave Smith
22 Jul Fred Kay pts 20 Tommy Uren
24 Jul Jack Read pts 15 Frank O’Connor
24 Jul Harry Holmes pts 15 Havilah Uren
31 Jul Tom O’Malley wf 13 Billy McNabb
05 Aug Dave Smith ko 4 Buck Crouse
12 Aug Jack Cole pts 20 Eddie Moy
19 Aug Tommy Uren pts 20 Fritz Holland
21 Aug Owen Cairns pts 15 Frank O’Connor
26 Aug Tommy Uren pts 20 Jack Cole
28 Aug Tom O’Malley pts 20 Henri Demlin
02 Sep Art Magirl ko 12 Dave Smith
04 Sep Les Widders pts 15 Larry Foran
04 Sep Owen Cairns pts 15 Ferdinand Quendreux
09 Sep Les Darcy pts 20 Jimmy Clabby
16 Sep Babe Picato ko 7 Jimmy Hill
23 Sep Tom McMahon ko 10 Les O’Donnell
28 Sep Matt Murphy tko 11 Jack Read
30 Sep Les Darcy ko 9 George Chip
02 Oct Eugene Volaire pts 20 Joe Humphries
02 Oct Ferdinand Quendreux pts 20 Owen Cairns
07 Oct Tommy Uren pts 20 Harry Stone
11 Oct Eugene Volaire pts 20 Roughouse Burns
14 Oct Dave Smith pts 20 Joe Chip
16 Oct Bill Long pts 15 Bert Secombe
16 Oct Alf Davis pts 20 George Sellars
21 Oct Tom McMahon pts 20 Tim Tracey
23 Oct Owen Cairns dr 20 Roughouse Burns
27 Oct Fred Kay pts 20 Jimmy Clabby
29 Oct Owen Cairns dr 20 Roughouse Burns
04 Nov Patsy Brannigan pts 20 Sid Godfrey
06 Nov Matt Murphy ko 6 Frank O’Connor
11 Nov Fritz Holland pts 20 Joe Chip
13 Nov Vince Blackburn pts 20 Frank Pearson
18 Nov Fred Kay ko 10 Art Maguire
20 Nov Fernand Quendreux pts 20 Owen Cairns
25 Nov Sid Godfrey ko 17 Patsy Brannigan
27 Nov Tommy Ryan ko 17 Dart Harris
02 Dec Jimmy Hill pts 20 Wave Geike
04 Dec George Newbury pts 20 Tommy Ryan
09 Dec Colin Bell wf 6 Les O’Donnell
11 Dec Jack Jannese pts 20 Vince Blackburn
16 Dec Fred Kay pts 20 Tommy Uren
18 Dec Sid Nelson pts 20 Jack Darcy
23 Dec Jack Jannese pts 20 Vince Blackburn
26 Dec Dave Smith ko 10 Bill Squires
31 Dec Andy Maguire dr 20 Vince Blackburn

1917

01 Jan Jimmy Hill pts 20 Sid Godfrey
01 Jan Harry Kilrain pts 20 Chris Jordan
06 Jan Tommy Uren pts 20 Fred Kay
08 Jan Harry Kilrain ko 13 Wally Vincent
13 Jan Jimmy Hill pts 20 Mally Smith
15 Jan George O’Malley pts 20 Herb Sullivan
20 Jan Fritz Holland pts 20 Tommy Uren
22 Jan Tom O’Malley ko 10 Fritz Maki
27 Jan Llew Edwards ko 2 Jimmy Hill
29 Jan Wally Scutts pts 20 George Newbury
03 Feb Fred Kay pts 20 Harry Stone
05 Feb George Sellars pts 10 Ted Uren
10 Feb Llew Edwards ko 18 Herb McCoy
12 Feb Albert Lloyd ko 13 George Cook
17 Feb Tommy Uren pts 20 Jimmy Clabby
19 Feb Sam Saunders ko 18 Harry Kilrain
24 Feb Tommy Uren ko 8 Jack Coyne
26 Feb Herb Williams pts 20 Fred Enok
03 Mar Colin Bell ko 3 Tim Tracey
05 Mar George O’Malley tko 17 Freddie Fitzsimmons
10 Mar Llew Edwards ko 20 Herb McCoy
12 Mar George O’Malley pts 20 Jack Humphries
17 Mar Teddy Green pts 20 Al White
17 Mar Harry Holmes dr 20 Herb Williams
24 Mar Albert Lloyd ko 2 Colin Bell
26 Mar Jack Cole pts 20 Tim Land
30 Mar Bobby Graham ko 5 Freddie Hastie (?)
30 Mar Matt Murphy ko 8 Leo Coyle
07 Apr Tommy Uren pts 20 Eddie McGoorty
09 Apr Matt Murphy ko 16 Percy Young
14 Apr Dave Smith pts 20 Albert Lloyd
16 Apr Herb Williams pts 20 Harry Holmes
21 Apr Vince Blackburn pts 20 Jack Jannese
23 Apr Matt Murphy ko 7 Les Kemp
28 Apr Jimmy Clabby pts 20 Tommy Uren
30 Apr Alf Davis wf 1 Sandy McVea
07 May Sid Godfrey ko 11 Frank Thorn
10 May Jack Cole pts 20 Tim Land
14 May Benny Palmer ko 17 Matt Murphy
16 May Jack Humphries ko 5 George O’Malley
21 May Tommy Ryan pts 20 Sid Godfrey
23 May Eisk (?) Smith ko 18 Ras (?) Martin
26 May Jimmy Clabby ko 10 Dave Smith
28 May Sandy McVea ko 7 George Eddy
02 Jun Andy Reeves (?) pts 20 Frank O’Connor
02 Jun K.O. Brown ko 8 Jack Thompson
02 Jun Fritz Holland ko 10 Jack Cole
04 Jun Andy Greaves (?) pts 20 Frank O’Connor
09 Jun Tommy Uren pts 20 Fred Kay
11 Jun Wally Scutts pts 20 Herb Williams
16 Jun Albert Lloyd pts 20 Eddie McGoorty
18 Jun Jack Hilt pts 20 Henri Demlin
23 Jun Benny Palmer bt 5 Jimmy Hill
25 Jun Jack Humphries pts 20 Stan Champion
25 Jun Arthur Evernden ko 6 Al Tierney
30 Jun Vince Blackburn wf 15 Andy Maguire
02 Jul R. Green ko 6 Jim Miller
02 Jul Tom Ralston ko 1 George Martin
04 Jul Ernie Goodwin pts 10 Marty Woolfe
07 Jul Fritz Holland ko 7 Albert Lloyd
07 Jul Bert Secombe ko 2 Roy Fuller
07 Jul Art Riordan pts 10 Ray Wilson
09 Jul Billy Monty ko 4 Alex Barber
09 Jul Harry (??) ko 3 Monty Woolfe
09 Jul Tom McDonald ko 1 Jerry Sullivan
09 Jul Fred Bone pts 10 Tom Thomas
14 Jul Jack Hilt pts 15 Jack Kearns
14 Jul Billy Woods pts 10 Billy Monty
21 Jul Sid Godfrey ko 15 Wave Geike
23 Jul Herb Barker pts 15 Bert Secombe
28 Jul Fred Kay pts 20 Fritz Holland
31 Jul Wally Scutts pts 20 Eisk Smith
31 Jul Bill Long pts 10 Mick Mulqueen
04 Aug Llew Edwards ko 2 Matty Smith
06 Aug Tom O'Malley ko 1 Fritz Maki
06 Aug Bill Long pts 10 George Sellars
11 Aug Albert Lloyd dr 20 Jimmy Clabby
13 Aug Jack Hilt ko 2 Bill Brodie
13 Aug Tom Thomas ko 2 Al Cullen
18 Aug Vince Blackburn pts 20 Sid Godfrey
20 Aug Harry Holmes pts 20 George Eddy
20 Aug Harry Green pts 10 Joe Atchinson
25 Aug Harry Holmes pts 20 Jimmy Taylor
27 Aug Fred Brett pts 15 Jack Humphries
27 Aug Ern Goodwin pts 10 Norm Smith
01 Sep Jack Hilt ko 3 Jack Kearns
03 Sep George Eddy pts 15 Alf Davis
08 Sep George Mendies pts 20 Jack Green
10 Sep Harry Green ko ? Ern Goodwin
10 Sep Tom Thomas ko 3 Jack Humphries
15 Sep Billy McDonald pts 10 George Frame
15 Sep Jack Read pts 11 Harry Lake
22 Sep Jerry Sullivan pts 6 Tom Dwyer
29 Sep Vince Blackburn pts 20 Jack Jannese
06 Oct Freddie Fitzsimmons dr 10 Al King
06 Oct Eddie Randall pts 10 Jerry Sullivan
13 Oct Tommy Uren pts 20 Fred Kay
20 Oct George Eddy pts 10 Billy Woods
20 Oct George Albert pts 10 Bob Williams
27 Oct Sid Godfrey pts 20 Vince Blackburn
03 Nov Al Davis ko 7 Bill Long
03 Nov Jimmy Holden ko 1 Les Samuels
10 Nov Fred Kay ko 9 Jack Hilt
17 Nov Frank O’Connor pts 15 Matt Murphy
21 Nov Jack Kearns ko 4 Ray O’Donnell
24 Nov Fred Kay pts 20 Albert Lloyd
28 Nov Ern Goodwin pts 10 Ray Wilson
01 Dec Pat Gleeson pts 10 Ray Wilson
08 Dec Sid Godfrey ko 11 Sandy McVea
12 Dec Jack Green ? ? George Eddy
15 Dec George Cook ko 10 George Marchand
19 Dec Chris Jordan pts 10 Harry Johns
22 Dec Fred Kay pts 20 Harry Stone
26 Dec Harry Stone pts 20 Benny Palmer
30 Dec Jack Hill pts 20 Jim Millerick

1918

01 Jan Albert Lloyd pts 20 Jimmy Clabby
05 Jan Matt Murphy pts 10 Benny Palmer
09 Jan Billy Tingle pts 10 Les Watson
12 Jan Sid Godfrey dr 20 Vince Blackburn
19 Jan Pat Moran ko 1 Herb Williams
19 Jan Bill Long pts 10 Bill Smith
23 Jan Jack Hilt ko 1 Billy Ross
26 Jan Albert Lloyd ko 13 Fred Kay
26 Jan Billy Tingle dr 20 George Eddy
27 Jan Pat Gleeson pts 10 Pat Humphries
30 Jan Tom O’Malley ko 5 Pat Moran

Stadium closed down Feb 1918, due to lack of suitable fighters.

1919

18 Jan Fred Kay pts 20 Tommy Uren
18 Jan Frank Darcy ko 5 Al Cullen
20 Jan Bob Williams pts 20 Pat Gleeson
20 Jan Bert Secombe ko ? Teddy Uren
25 Jan Sid Godfrey pts 20 Sam Saunders
27 Jan Jack Cole ko 7 Jack Hilt

End of January the government closed down places of entertainment due to the influenza epidemic.

01 Mar Albert Lloyd pts 15 George Cook
03 Mar George Mendies ko 2 George Gray
08 Mar Jackie Green pts 20 Jack Finnie
08 Mar Harry Lasker dr 10 Frank O’Connor
10 Mar Fritz Holland pts 10 Tom O’Malley
15 Mar Jackie Green ko 10 Mick Scales
15 Mar Mick Mulqueen pts 10 Al Cockling
17 Mar George Mendies pts 20 Jack Brown
22 Mar Frank Darcy wf 18 Barney Thompson
24 Mar Jackie Green (?) ko 10 Mick Scales
30 Mar Fritz Holland ko 3 Jim Flett

No fights took place for several weeks

24 May Jackie Green ko 7 George Mendies
26 May Tom O’Malley ko 1 Jerry Hansen
26 May Art Riordan pts 10 Ray Wilson
14 Jun Tommy Uren pts 20 Barney Thompson
16 Jun Bill Ugne pts 20 Mick Mulqueen
28 Jun Fritz Holland ko 10 Jack Cole
30 Jun Tom O’Malley ko 7 Jack Hilt
30 Jun Fred Brogan ko 5 Bob Williams
07 Jul George Eddy pts 20 Theo Green
12 Jul Jimmy Clabby pts 20 Fritz Holland
14 Jul Jack Humphries ko 5 Bert Kilrain
19 Jul Bobby Gray wf 7 Dave Wall
26 Jul George Mendies ko 18 George Eddy
28 Jul Tom Reeder ko 1 Jack Humphries
02 Aug Tommy Uren pts 20 Red Mitchell
04 Aug Barry Lasher wf 9 Matt Murphy
10 Aug Bobby Gray ko 12 Dave Wall
17 Aug Frank Brogan wf 17 Herb McCoy
24 Aug George Cook pts 20 Fritz Holland
31 Aug Tommy Uren pts 20 Jimmy Clabby
06 Sep Vince Blackburn pts 20 Silvano Jamito
27 Sep Jimmy Clabby pts 20 George Cook
03 Oct Vince Blackburn pts 20 Silvano Jamito
10 Oct Jackie Green pts 20 Jack Jannese
17 Oct Llew Edwards ko 11 Joe Mooney
24 Oct Jackie Green pts 20 Frank Daley
08 Nov Chuck Wiggins pts 20 George Cook
08 Nov Frank Smith ko 6 Ray Wilson
15 Nov Frank Daley pts 20 Silvano Jamito
22 Nov Chuck Wiggins ko 11 Fred Kay
22 Nov George Storey pts 6 Fred Madden
29 Nov Frank Brogan pts 20 Eddy Keiley
01 Dec Pat Gleeson pts 20 Cliff Thomas
06 Dec Vince Blackburn wf 16 Silvano Jamito
13 Dec Chuck Wiggins pts 20 Albert Lloyd
20 Dec Jackie Green dr 20 Silvano Jamito
27 Dec Llew Edwards ko 13 Eddie Wallace

1920

01 Jan Chuck Wiggins ko 11 Tom O’Malley
03 Jan Silvano Jamito pts 20 Bert Secombe
10 Jan Albert Lloyd wf 16 Chuck Wiggins
17 Jan Jackie Green pts 20 Vince Blackburn
24 Jan Silvano Jamito pts 20 Eddie Wallace
31 Jan Silvano Jamito pts 20 Frank Thorn
07 Feb Digger Evans pts 20 Jackie Green
14 Feb Sid Godfrey pts 20 Harry Holmes
21 Feb George Cook dr 20 Albert Lloyd
28 Feb Digger Evans pts 20 Silvano Jamito
28 Feb Harry Green pts 6 Roy Morris
06 Mar Sid Godfrey pts 20 Harry Holmes
13 Mar Frank Brogan ko 17 Fred Brock
20 Mar Sid Godfrey ko 2 Digger Evans
27 Mar Jackie Green pts 20 Jerry Sullivan
03 Apr Digger Evans pts 20 Silvano Jamito
05 Apr Jackie Green pts 20 Sid Godfrey
10 Apr Fred Brogan ko 8 Chris Jordan
12 Apr Joe Symonds ko 9 Silvano Jamito
24 Apr Jerry Sullivan ko 17 Arthur Bishop
24 Apr Clive Mulhare ko 2 Al Davis
02 May Digger Evans pts 20 Rug Macario
07 May Tom O’Malley ko 16 Willie Farrell
09 May Fred Brock pts 20 Matt Murphy
14 May Jackie Green ko 16 Yng. Cortez
22 May Joe Symonds ko 8 Digger Evans
29 May Sid Godfrey ko 8 Rug Macario
29 May Jack Read pts 10 Art Linton
05 Jun Jerry Sullivan ko 7 Yng. Cortez
12 Jun Jackie Green dr 20 Joe Symonds
19 Jun Jerry Sullivan pts 20 Digger Evans
19 Jun Jack Read pts 4 Joe Finnie
26 Jun Joe Symonds pts 20 Jackie Green
02 Jul Len Probert pts 20 Stanley Jones
10 Jul George Mendies dr 20 Billy Tingle
17 Jul Sid Godfrey wf 7 Joe Symonds
21 Jul Billy Shade ko 1 Herbie Hinton
21 Jul Billy Smith pts 6 Cec Williams
31 Jul Billy Tingle ko 7 Bobby Gray
07 Aug Jerry Sullivan pts 20 Joe Symonds
14 Aug K.O. Brown pts 20 Billy Tingle
21 Aug Jackie Green pts 20 Eddie Coulon
28 Aug Joe Symonds wf 18 Jerry Sullivan
04 Sep Jimmy Hill dr 20 Sid Godfrey
11 Sep Billy Shade ko 19 Tommy Uren
18 Sep Jackie Green ko 16 Burt McCarthy
25 Sep Joe Symonds ko 3 Jose Alveres
02 Oct Sid Godfrey wf 18 Silvano Jamito
09 Oct Billy Shade ko 15 Fred Kay
16 Oct Jackie Green pts 20 Joe Symonds
23 Oct Eugene Criqui ko 10 Vince Blackburn
30 Oct Arthur Wynns ko 3 Jimmy Hill
06 Nov Francois Charles pts 20 Harry Stone
13 Nov Jerry Sullivan pts 20 Andre Dupre
26 Nov Eugene Criqui ko 3 Jackie Green
27 Nov Billy Shade ko 10 Francois Charles
04 Dec Arthur Wynns wf 7 Joe Symonds
11 Dec Silvano Jamito wf 3 Jerry Sullivan
18 Dec Eugene Criqui ko 16 Bert Spargo
18 Dec Jack Hilt ko 2 Billy Black
26 Dec Sid Godfrey ko 9 Arthur Wynns

"Digger" Evans

2010-11-10T17:25:00.008+11:00

Name Digger Evans
Real Name Albert Evans
Nickname Digger
Place Of Birth Cobar NSW
Date of Birth 1895-06-26
Titles Australian Flyweight

Record won 17 (KO 4) + lost 18 (KO 10) + drawn 1 = 36 rounds boxed 387 KO% 11.11

Stadium Span 1920 -1924
Career Span Retired 1925

Fights At Stadium

Digger Evans pts 20 Jackie Green 07 Feb 1920

Digger Evans pts 20 Silvano Jamito 28 Feb 1920

Sid Godfrey ko 2 Digger Evans 20 Mar 1920

Digger Evans pts 20 Silvano Jamito 03 Apr 1920

Digger Evans pts 20 Rug Macario 02 May 1920

Joe Symonds ko 8 Digger Evans 22 May 1920

Jerry Sullivan pts 20 Digger Evans 19 Jun 1920

Digger Evans ko 12 Andre Dupres 29 Jan 1921

Digger Evans pts 15 Jimmy Ryan 14 Apr 1923

Digger Evans pts 20 Jimmy Summers 14 Jul 1923

Digger Evans pts 20 Jock Niven 24 May 1924

Billy Grime ko 5 Digger Evans 14 Jun 1924

RANDOM JOTTINGS

· Over 200 fights in the UK

· Lost controversial points decision to Jimmy Wilde at an inter-services tournament in the Albert Hall in 1919.

· Unknown as a fighter before he enlisted in the A.I.F.

· When Bill Dibley called on one of the soldiers to box an exhibition with him at Liverpool camp, Digger, then known as Moses Evans, belted him around the ring.

· First fight on returning to Sydney was against Jackie Green.

Report of his fight against Jimmy Wilde

Probably the most publicised bout of the Empire series was Digger Evans (A.I.F.) - Jimmy Wilde scrap in the inter-Allies tournament at the Albert Hall, London in 1919 it was in 1918). Wilde was the world’s flyweight champion.

Evans, a native of Cobar, was unknown in boxing prior to World War 1. He was discovered in an A.I.F. division tournament. Evans, a boxing will-o’-the-wisp, made every use of the ring. He jabbed, held artistically and ran. Wilde made the pace, led all the time with a flurry of punches.

At the end of the third round a vocal Australian mob reared in Stentorian tones during the minutes spell. Welsh battalions sang national airs. In an electric final round, Wilde threw hundreds of punches in a jungle display.

The Australian troops chanted “Dig,” “Dig,” “Dig,” as the M.C. collected the judges’ cards. When the verdict was announced, the Australian barrackers reached tops in noise and invectives. Wilde told me (who’s me?) several days after the fight he was amazed at the hostile demonstration. He formed the opinion he had won rather comfortably.

Last week Evans recalled that hectic night. He has mellowed with the years and now admits he was shaded, that Wilde was a bit up on him.

The following is an article written by referee Joe Wallis in a series of articles written pre 1939

One of the most romantic figures in the Australian boxing era which I am surveying in these articles was “Digger” Albert Evans. He was romantic because he burst from the clouds upon boxing in the World War of 1914-1918. Had it not been for the War, possibly “Digger” Evans would have been born to blush unseen and waste his ability as a boxer on the desert air of oblivion. He would never have been known. The war gave him his opportunity.

In the ranks of the Allied armies he was plain “Digger.” Then like a meteor he that shot across the sky, the name of “Digger” Evans was flashed from one end of the world to the other, emblazoning the head-lines of every daily newspaper with his amazing exploits as a boxer.

He was first heard of when he won the bantam championship of the Allied Armies at the Pershing Stadium in France, and a little later in 1918[1], he was the hero of a thrilling contest with world flyweight champion Jimmy Wilde at the Albert Hall in London.

Although the decision was given against Evans it was the unanimous opinion of the critics that he won. The story of the fight and of his rise to fame was featured in nearly every newspaper in the British Empire.

Mr. Charlie Lucas, who was in those days a clever, astute and energetic manager of boxers, heard of Evans, and took a run out to the camp at Sutton Veney, where the soldiers were engaging in light skirmishes with the boxing gloves. Evans immediately caught his eye.

“I say Digger” remarked Lucas, “Where do you come from?” “Cobar,” replied Evans. “And where did you learn your boxing?” he was next asked. “It just came to me” was his reply. “Well you had better come with me,” rejoined Lucas. “I think we can make a world beater out of you.” So Evans joined Lucas.

Evans was not long in justifying his manager’s opinion, and, when the time came for his re-turn to Australia on the troopship, Lucas decided to accompany him. Before the troopship ar-rived at Freemantle Lucas sent a wireless message to Jack Munro, suggesting that Evans should fight Jackie Green. The match was made. Green came from a fighting family. His un-cle the late Teddy Green, was bantam champion of Australia in the days when Charlie Camp-bell ran the old Gaiety. Teddy took over his nephew, and nursed him until he won the featherweight championship of Australia.
Lucas took his boxer out to Sir Joseph Banks Hotel, Botany, the rendezvous of many famous boxers. Public imagination was so fired that 20 to thirty car loads of people were seen to be arriving every afternoon to observe the “Digger” in his work outs.

Green trained at the Stadium and had as his main sparring partner his brother Theo. I think Theo would have made history for the family had he not been a martyr to rheumatism.

Well, the great night arrived. The Stadium was packed. Everywhere one looked was khaki. There must have been 5000 diggers among the vast crowd. It was such a night only to be re-peated later by the Criqui - Godfrey sensation.

When the Digger made his entrance down the passageway that historic night the applause was deafening. The Diggers rose to him as one man. They all seemed to know him. He was their pal. Green also met with thunderous applause. It was a mighty battle, in which the fortunes of each combatant swayed first from one, then to the other. First Evans, then Green took the lead.

Green found “Digger” Evans an awkward boxer. For the latter was a southpaw - the technical term for an unorthodox boxer. A southpaw is a “left hander.” That is, with his right arm and right foot forward. The “Digger’s” left hand was 4½ inches shorter than his right, which he kept popping straight out. His short left worked to the jaw and the body. The pace they set was remarkable, and few onlookers ever thought the fight would go the full distance of twenty rounds. But it did. In the last round Green tried frantically for a knock-out, but he could not land the decisive blow, and the “Digger,” was given my decision.

A sensation arose over the weights in connection with the fight. Green’s party wanted a for-feit of £200, but it was ultimately agreed to fix the amount at £50, should either man come in over the stipulated limit. Since Charlie Lucas came in for a withering attack at the time, it may be as well for him to complete this story in his own words.

When Evans fought Jimmy Wilde he explains, he was 8.4½. But when he landed in Australia, after nine weeks aboard a troopship his weight was 8.12. It was reckoned that, after a period of intensive training at Botany, Evans would reduce weight, but to the astonishment of every-body, Evans put on more weight, due no doubt to his return to normal conditions of living. On the night of the fight he came in at 8.12½ or six pounds over the limit. A long argument ensued in the dressing room, but it was agreed to forfeit the £50 and proceed with the fight. Thereafter, Evans always fought as a featherweight.

The nasty recriminations that arose over this weight question need not be enlarged upon here, but it is sufficient to add that year, when Evans defeated Green, was “Digger’s” greatest. Twice he outpointed Salvino Jamito, he defeated Pug Macario, Teddy Uren, Havilah Uren, and Jack Jannese. He retired from the ring in 1925.

[1] The following details are taken from Soldiers and Sportsmen published by the AIF Sports Control Board in 1919.

British Empire and American Services Boxing tournament at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 11 and 12 Dec 1918. The tournament was promoted by the Imperial Services Boxing Association.

Amongst the boxers were Private Art Tierney, 4^th Battalion (welterweight) and Private A.Evans (Digger Evans), A.S.C. (bantamweight).They did not win a single final, although they scored fairly well in the opening bouts.

The bantamweight representative was Digger Evans, the hero of many good fights in France. In the second round he met Jimmy Wilde[1], (Sgt. Instructor), of the British Army. Wilde won a controversial point's decision. In the final, Wilde was beaten on points by Pal Moore, of the US Navy.

Main points from an interview given by Digger Evans to J.M. Rohan

· A bunch of young fellows from Cobar NSW enlisted in the AIF. One of them a bantam who wore a perpetual smile. Fought more than a hundred fights before he got out of khaki.

· He wanted to be a boxer from the age of seven.

· Broke his left arm at 7, (fell out of a tree)11 (football) and 14 (football). Had three inches of bone taken from it, which turned him into a southpaw.

· His father died when he was a baby. Became a blacksmith to help the family.

· His mother wouldn’t allow him to box.

· His first ring fight was at Dubbo camp. Fought a preliminary fight to Silver Jackson and Paddy Regan.

· Won a boxing tournament on the troopship to England.

· Had 45 fights at Larkhill Camp, Salisbury Plains, without defeat.

· Transferred to Sutton Veny camp, had several more fights without loss.

· Charlie Lucas appeared on the scene and issued a challenge on behalf of a Billy Murray to fight him six rounds. Billy Murray turned out to be Billy Eugene, a Sydney featherweight.

· Went to Bristol to fight in the Inter-Army Championships Of The Southern Command. He was asked to fight as a featherweight as the AIF team included a bantam.

· Charlie Lucas was in charge of the AIF team.

· Transferred to Aldershot and had a few fights there. Sid Burns was also at the camp.

· He became tired of boxing and made an application to go to France. Instead he was ordered to London to fight in the American and British Tournament at the National Sporting Club. Won the bantamweight championship.

· Went with Lucas to Hurlcott to fight in the Australian and New Zealand Tournament.

· The tournament was finished in one day. To win the bantamweight championship he had to win six fights.

· Fought Jimmy Wilde for the King’s Trophy at the Albert Hall. The King and Duke of Windsor were present.

· Charlie Lucas interested C.B. Cochran, a theatrical manager and promoter in his record, and Cochran offered in the event of him getting a decision, a guarantee of £5000 win, lose, or draw, for a 20 round fight with Jimmy Wilde.

· Against Wilde, Evans had a weight advantage of 14lb.

· At the time of the fight he was feather and bantamweight champion of the AIF, featherweight champion Southern Command, bantam and featherweight champion of the British Empire and American Forces Tournament.

· Sparred with Arthur Cripps at Norbury.

The following articles are taken from “Digger” Evans life story as told to J. M. Rohan in a series of newspaper articles.

Evans The Digger With the “Wingy Arm”

A batch of young fellows from Cobar, NSW, enlisted in the A.I.F. to fight for King and country. One of them was a bantam who wore a perpetual smile.

This lad was destined to do more fighting than the average soldier; in fact, he fought more than a hundred fights before he got out of khaki.

“Digger” Evans won tourneys against representatives of Great Britain and allied nations.

Early ambitions of many lads are never realised, but mine were. From the age of seven I wanted to become a boxer. I fell from a tree when birdnesting and had my left arm broken and my first remark was that I hoped my arm would mend so that I could straight left my schoolmates. It was an unlucky arm, my left, as it was broken three time altogether, twice playing football at 11 and 14, and as a result three inches of bone were taken from it, leaving me with a “wingy” arm.

My accident turned me into a southpaw.

My dad died when I was a baby, so I had to go out early in life to help the family. A flyweight, I took to blacksmithing in my home town. Can you imagine me - a flyweight - swinging the big hammer? It made me tough.

My workmate, Don Nicholson, was a fight fan. He went to Sydney to see the final of the

Olympia £600 tourney, won by Fred Kay. On his return he sparred with me and told me I

would develop into another Fred Kay, as I used my right hand in a similar fashion.

I might mention that the only experience I had, had to this time was a few spars at Rudges Hotel Cobar, where the well known country fighter Dick Peterson used to give the winner of a spar threepence. I f I collected a black eye, or a bleeding nose, I told my mother I was bowled over playing football.

My mother tried hard to get me to give up football; she said it was too rough. Had she known I was fighting there would have been ructions.

Put Them Under The Copper

One day, I bought home a pair of boxing gloves with the idea of educating my mother to the sight of them, but I had the misfortune to break the nose of the nipper I was sparring with and mother was so upset she put them under the copper. I tried to reason with her and told her I felt that fighting was the game out of which I would make enough money to buy her a home.

“I hope no son of mine will ever have to fight to keep a roof over my head;” was her retort.

Mother stood like a brick wall between me and my ambition, but I got my chance when the war broke out.

George Chip and Art Magirl who came to the camp to entertain the troops. The referee asked if any bantam in the crowd would come forward and take a glove with Billy Dibley an old-timer. I accepted the invitation. After a few rounds Dibley asked me my name and when I told him he declared I was a ring-in.

My record before embarking for the war was not as you will agree an imposing one. I look back now and wonder how I got so far as I did - me with my “wingy,” arm and weighing no more than 7 stone 10.

The Lieutenant’s “soft-soap”

A BOXING tourney was arranged on the troopship going over and Lieut. ”Darky” Smith with a bit of “soft-soap” got round all the Cobar boys to enter. “If you enter, I will,” he would say to each fellow he approached. When we found his name missing from the entries, we reckoned we had been tricked. It appears it was against army regulations for officers to fight with the men. “Darky” knew this of course and he had the laugh on us.

Four wins put me into the final of the bantam division and I defeated my opponent, a 13^th Battalion boy named Totten, who was killed in France. My trainer for the tourney, “Smiling Jim Budge,” was also killed.

At the Larkhill Camp Salisbury Plains, I was sparring one evening with a mate when Sergeant “Snowy” Brigden (Sgt-Cook of the Battalion) came along, asked a few questions and put a proposition to me. he would make me cook’s offsider if I would go into training under him. I readily accepted. Barbering potatoes, chopping up melons with an axe, and issuing coffee and rum was the kind of soldiering that would get on the average fellows nerves, but it kept me out of parade ground work and I was quite happy.

It was then that Charlie Lucas, promoter and matchmaker came into the picture. He issued a challenge on behalf of a Billy Murray, 9st, to fight me six rounds. Murray looked a likely sort. The fact that I was to give away 9lb didn’t worry me, as I had often given away more, but I found my opponent a handful as the fight wore on. When I went to my corner at the end of the fifth round I asked Brigden if he had any idea who the other fellow was. “It’s Billy Eugene, a Sydney featherweight,” he answered.

As we shook hands before the last round I said “Say, Sonny as Billy Murray you’re not worth a cracker, now let’s see what you can do as Billy Eugene.”

I landed the bets for my supporters, who would not have wagered so heavily had they known Eugene’s record.

Chosen for Inter-Army Titles

My fight with Eugene won me selection to go to Bristol to fight in the Inter-Army championships of the Southern Command. When we got there I was asked to fight in the featherweight division as the A.I.F. team included a bantam, while they had no featherweight representative. I had to do as I was told.

Charlie Lucas was in charge of the AIF team, and said he would look after me.

When I had fought my way through to the final, I found that my opponent was Corporal Hinchcliffe, the light-weight champion of the Southern Command. Lucas roared like a lion, and demanded that Hinchcliffe be put on the scales.

There was quit a scene over it. Hinchcliffe weighed 9st 6lb.

After much argument I allowed Lucas to let the fight go on. We boxed four rounds, and the judges ordered another two rounds. The extra rounds having been completed, he got the decision, in spite of the fact that he never landed a punch.

Australian With A Punch

At Aldershot I had a few fights. The well-known English welterweight Sid Burns, who fought Johnny Summers, Matt Wells and others in Australia was there delivering rations and blankets for the Australian detachment of boxers. In the Australian team at Aldershot was heavyweight, Billy Teale. I think he would have been a champion had he not been stricken down with appendicitis. He could bowl opponents over in quick time with one of the best wallops I’ve seen. to Australia, won a few tourneys and was runner up to Colin Bell in another, after having Bell down for nine sec-onds on two occasions. In the Aldershot heavy-weight division Teale met Joe Beckett and had him down a few times before Beckett won the decision.

I had had so much of boxing, I was getting a bit tired of it, so I made an application to go across to France, but in-stead I was told to go to London to fight in the American and British Empire tourney at the National Sporting Club. The late Mr Douglas, fa-ther of the famous crick-eter , refereed the bout in which I won the ban-tamweight champion-ship.

One month later, I won the featherweight ti-tle and was presented with medals by the late Mr Peggy B……I recall Charlie Lucas saying, “Well Digger, you’re fighting like a champion and not even getting peanuts, but it wont al-ways be that way.

I had to serve further apprenticeship in the camps. I was detailed with Lucas to go to Hurlcott to fight in the Australian and New Zea-land tourney. That was a hurry-up affair if you like. The tourney was finished in one day. To gain the bantamweight championship I had to win six fights; and when I complained of its being a big days work, Lucas said, “Never Mind, Dig-ger, you’re a stayer.”

Rafferty’s rules prevailed in some tournaments. At the time of which I write, Billy Eugene and I were both being looked after by Charlie Lucas. In one tournament I won four bouts to get into the final. Eugene won three fights but could not go on because of a cut eye.
I asked to be allowed to take his place. The request was agreed to and I won to get Eugene into the final with me. The final was an exhibition spar. The referee asked Charlie Lucas which one he wanted to win. Charlie told him to please himself.

The armistice signed, Lucas took me to London, seeking professional fights.

£5000 For A Win Over Jimmy Wilde

COUNTLESS victories in army fights won for “Digger” Evans the honor of meeting the world famed Jimmy Wilde while the little Welsh wizard sat on the highest pedestal of pugilism.

The present King, the Duke of Windsor and thousands of fans cheered the boys on in a whirlwind bout, which the majority thought Evans won.

When it was known that I was to fight Jimmy Wilde in the bantam division of the King’s Trophy at the Albert Hall, London, in 1919, a three round affair, I was asked if I feared the greatest little fighting machine the world has known, I laughed. What was there to fear? It was a privilege to meet Wilde. Opponents had to be in the first flight before being considered for matches with him. And looked at in that light, I suppose I should have felt honoured.

Few knew the incentive I had to win that bout. Charlie Lucas interested Mr C. B. Cochran, theatrical manager and promoter, in my record, and Mr Cochran offered in the event of my getting the decision, to guarantee me £5000 win, lose, or draw, for a 20 round fight with Wilde.
I knew that I would have a weight advantage of at least 14lb, and I set about fitting myself for the bout as I had not done for previous contests. Charlie Lucas arranged for a few ten rounders for me.

Planned To go Flat Out

At that time I was bantam and featherweight champion of the A.I.F., featherweight champion of the Southern Command, and bantam and featherweight champion of the British Empire and American Tourney held at the National Sporting Club, London.

Mr “Peggy” Bettinson was evidently so pleased with my efforts at his famous club that he arranged matches for me. In turn, I defeated Stoker McMorris and Tommy Spearman, and I got into good trim when I went to Norbury to spar with Arthur Cripps

I anticipated that Wilde would pepper me with straight lefts; but I had taken hun-dreds of punches for medals and I could take a good deal more for the chance of crowding Wilde out of a decision that would earn me £5000.

It must not be thought, however, that I was underestimating the little Welshman. What I mean to convey is that I intended to take every advantage of the poundage I had in my favor. I was extremely happy that it wasn’t the other way about.

With my southpaw stance I expected to have Wilde wondering for half a round un-til he sized me up. My condition was good and three rounds was not far to go, and so I planned to set the pace and go flat out all the way.

Wilde evidently figured on making an early start, as he whacked me a beauty on the nose that made me see stars. The claret started to flow. The Mighty Atom hit with terrific force. I went for him after that first punch and didn’t allow him to get set for another.

It was a sizzling affair. We unleashed more punches than are usually thrown in a short bout.
The pace was on from start to finish and it had the packed hall thrilled with excite-ment. The cheering was deafening. In be-tween rounds I could not hear what my seconds were saying.
There was quite a demonstration when the referee gave the decision to Wilde. Some people evidently did not agree with it.

I felt quite satisfied that I had made a good scrap of it with the world’s premier midget. Naturally I was sorry the decision went against me, but my disappointment was short lived.

Referees Were Changed

The American team for the King’s Trophy contests was a very strong one and included that great fighter Mike O’Dowd, and also Harry Greb, Augie Ratner, Ritchie Mitchell, bantam Joe Lynch and Pal Moore, another of the bantam brigade.

After my fight with Jimmy Wilde, the Americans objected to the referees. (the next part of the text is missing, but the referees were change and in the final, the referee gave the decision to the American Pal Moore over Jimmy Wilde). My opinion was that Wilde won every round.
Thus Moore received the Cochran £5000 for a match against Wilde that could easily have been mine.

So much has been written about Wilde that every fight fan must be well ac-quainted with him. I can vouch for all that has been said of him. He had everything but weight. He fought whoever his man-ager matched him against. Jimmy’s motto was, “Any weight, anywhere, any time.”
Wilde was only once asked to make a weight. When matched to fight Dick Heas-man, an English flyweight, Jimmy was un-der a £500 forfeit to make 7.4. Some of Jimmy’s friends feared he would be unable to do it, but Jimmy hopped on the scales in his singlet and weighed 7½ stone.
A few months later he was matched against Joe Conn, featherweight champion of Europe and Lonsdale belt holder. Conn’s manager insisted on weighing-in at 2 p.m. Which meant that at ringside Conn would be every ounce of 9.4.it took Wilde two rounds to dispose of Heasman and 12 to put Conn down and out. And it was right on top of those per-formances that the little Welsh wizard spilt the blood of yours truly.

After the Army championship competi-tors, their trainers, the organisers and dis-tinguished officers were invited to a dinner at the Savoy Hotel, at which the main topic of conversation seemed to be the final of the bantamweight championships.

Reversed Decision

One speaker said that the hardest punch of all in a fight was to hear the decision going to the other fellow. All eyes were turned on Jimmy Wilde. Jimmy smiled and said that he felt sure that Pal Moore would give him a chance to reverse the decision later. They met in America and Wilde outpointed his Army opponent with ease.

The present King handed each competi-tor a certificate to mark the occasion of the big military tournament at the Albert Hall.

When I took my bow to him he asked me how I managed to keep smiling throughout a hectic bout. (next part of text is missing. but this an account of his fight with Mike Blake)

Jimmy Wilde asked Evans, “how do you think you’d stand up to a man who did eve-rything but bite?” asked Wilde, who went on to say that English promoters liked to try every bantam, and quite a number of featherweights out with Blake. “You’ll get hurt whether you win or lose.” He added.

Wilde’s prediction came true. After fighting a fifteen round draw with Chris Langdon at the National Sporting Club, Mr Bettinson asked me if I would fight Blake. I agreed as I knew there would be a nice cheque from it.

I found Blake the roughest customer I’ve ever met in a ring.

He bumped, butted, thumped. I burst out laughing at his audacity. I tried to advise him to cut out the rough stuff which would not be appreciated by the short fronted gentry, but my reward was another butt on the chin.

Nearly Put Out For Laughing

As Mike came in with his head down, I let go an uppercut, which caught him flush on the jaw and sent him back on his heels.

I laughed and the late Mr Douglas, who was referee threatened to put me out of the ring for it.
At the National Sporting Club, the refe-ree is outside the ring, and I don’t think Mr Douglas saw what Mike was doing to me in close.

Actually, I had nothing to laugh about, as Mike was hurting me as I had never been hurt before, but his style was so funny.

Mike was a Cockney who trimmed all the bantams. Once they sent for him to spar with Wilde, but when handed big gloves while Jimmy had small ones, Mike objected and left the gymnasium, saying, “When anyone has to be hurt with gloves, it’s got to be the other bloke.”

Mike won our bout. When he met me the next day he said, “Digger, If I visit Austra-lia you’ll have to take me home to meet your people. I’m a nice little chap.”

He was a real tornado and fought like a wildcat. The rules he observed could not by any stretch of the imagination be called Marquis of Queensbury. He was cunning enough to do most of his butting and rough stuff when he had me between him and Mr Douglas.

Some time after my bout with Blake, I met Jimmy Wilde and he inquired how I got on with gentle Mike.

“He didn’t do a thing to which I could take exception,” I answered without a smile.
Wilde looked puzzled and said that Mike must surely have mended his ways.

After knocking out Seaman Williams in three rounds at The Ring, London, I was notified that I had to go to Clerkenwell to fight for the British Empire bantam Cham-pionship. This I won and was presented with a medal by the present Duke of Win-dsor.

With the Armistice signed I wanted to have a few fights for money, but I was still a soldier and the order came for me to go to France to represent Australia in the Al-lied Armies Championship.

Fighting ‘Digger’ Makes A Comeback

The same fighting spirit shown by “Digger” Evans in the A.I.F. and in his great fights at the Syd-ney Stadium after the war, allowed him to make a comeback after an absence of two years from the ring with an athletic heart. The holiday grated on the nerves of the smiling Evans, who thought nothing more exhilarating than a good scrap.

In this concluding story Evans reviews boxing and tells of the champions he has met and seen. “The importation’s of today cannot rank with those of other days,” he says.

ONE hundred odd fights in the A.I.F., and six fights in the first three months after my return to Australia found me panting for breath with the slightest exertion. My six appearances at the Sydney Stadium were against Jackie Green, Sid Godfrey, Pug Macario, Joe Symonds and twice against Silvano Jamito and it required quite a bit of energy to match the cleverness of those chaps.

My doctor took such a serious view of my condition that he told promoters that it would be dangerous to match me. I had an athletic heart. A short holiday was benefi-cial, and I took the first opportunity of a job so that I would keep in some sort of fet-tle.

For two years I worked at silo building and other jobs until I forgot that I had a heart. I felt fit enough now to pop the ques-tion to promoters and was given a fight with Jimmy Ryan. Charlie Lucas was away in England with George Cook and so I was taken in hand by Pat McHugh. And I think that Pat was the only person other than myself who thought I had a chance of vic-tory.

Licked Three Bantam Champions

IN out-pointing Ryan, I upset one of the good things of the season.

My come-back was a surprise to the manager of the Stadium who straight away matched me Jimmy Semmens, a clever Victorian bantam, Semmens could not adapt himself to my southpaw stance and I won the decision.

That made three bantam champions I had licked - Green, Jannese and Semmens, but I never held the title as on each occa-sion I was over-weight.

My next fight was with Macario Villon, who would have given in, but for his sec-onds who kept him at it. Seeing how things were, I got careless, and was trying to knock him, when he let fly a wild swing from behind his heels. He pegged me on the clothes line like a shirt. At this stage fights were only a side-line with me. I was working at my (text missing)

I retired from boxing with a record that was unusual - I did not win or lose a fight on a foul.
When I look back on my fighting days I always think of the Uren family - three brothers and all fighters above the ordi-nary. I fought Ted and Havilah in New Zealand.

Tommy Uren was in my opinion, one of the best fighters I’ve seen, irrespective of weight. He held the Australian lightweight, welterweight and middleweight titles in an era when great fighters from all parts of the compass were in Australia.

All importations went under to him at some time or other, which is a record to be proud of.

When a welter Uren defeated three of the world’s greatest middleweights - Eddie McGoorty, Jimmy Clabby and Fritz Hol-land - and I doubt if any other welter in the world could have accomplished such a feat. Both Clabby and McGoorty had knock-out victories over Dave Smith, who was heavyweight champion, but Uren was able to stay the distance with them each on at least one occasion, to win points deci-sions.

Beautifully moulded, strong and with a fighting heart, Uren’s footwork was good, while he was the best in-fighter in the game. As a fighter he could be classed as next to the late Les Darcy.
I have told you something of Jimmy Wilde. I have never met a man who timed punches so well as the little Welshman. That was the main factor in his many suc-cesses.

Greater Incentive For Lads Needed

MANY have asked me why boxing has its ups and downs in Australia. The reason sticks out like grandma’s only tooth. Those running the sport are doing nothing to at-tract the lads to don a glove. The promoter who puts on a good tourney with big cash prizes could make the proviso that winners of the various divisions would fight under his banner for a year or so
The winners would not only be recom-pensed for their efforts, but…(text missing) If the men from overseas are good they help to build up the standard here, as the lads who assist them in training must learn something from them. Such men as Jack Johnson, Jimmy Clabby, Jeff Smith, Kid Lewis, Eugene Criqui, and Llew Edwards were responsible for the uplift of the sport to a degree.

This was the boxer’s Mecca, but things have changed. The first class fighters of America cannot be induced to come to Aus-tralia, as they can get dollars where they would only get pennies in this country. The consequence is that we are only getting second, third and fourth rate fighters. From them our boys cannot expect to learn a thing. In fact Jack Carroll, Mickey Miller and a few others could teach the importa-tion’s quite a lot.

My experience is that there is good money in boxing for promoters when there is a boom. The Stadium people nearly cracked their faces laughing at the manner in which the fans turned up to see fights in which I took part, but they cannot take any credit for having discovered me. I was sold to them by a boxing salesman - Charlie Lucas. I was ready-made, the product of many tournaments.

Importation’s Should Be Of Good Standard

IF Stadium managers made their prize worth while they could attract boys from the outback for a Golden Glove Tourney. Boxing fans would watch them climbing the ladder, and would pay homage as they have done down the years to Bill Squires, Bert Spargo, Kid McCoy, Hugh Mehegan, Les Darcy and a host of others.

In my opinion promoters should not en-tertain an importation unless he is hall marked.
Some of the fighters who have shown up from abroad in recent years would not have been allowed to swing a towel at the Stadium 20 years ago.

Well-advertised fighters who fail to de-liver the goods are no good to boxing. The fight game in Australia would have been better off today had we not seen some of the “boomed” matches of the last year or so. Some of the men we have seen couldn’t even be classed as showmen.
Many champions are unearthed by trav-elling boxing booths. Albert Lloyd, George Cook, Mickey Miller, Jackie Green and Billy Grime being a few who have devel-oped their talents in the sawdust.

Whenever a boxing troupe came to Co-bar, my home town, they found dozens of lads waiting to take a glove. When the troupe moved on, the desire for a scrap remained, and scarcely a Sunday morning passed without there being a bare knuckle fight.

The Heart Of A Lion

THE best laugh I got out of a fight was when a pupil of mine was put in the ring as a substitute at short notice. He stopped a right swing with his chin and was sent sprawling. It was the final bout and the band played “God save the King,”soon af-ter he went down I told the lad to get up. “No----fear,”he answered, “I’m sitting this one out.”

For an outstanding ring performance I hand the belt to Harry Greb, of America. On his way to the Albert Hall, where he was to fight for the light-heavyweight championship of America and the British Empire, he was knocked down by a motor car. He had very little skin on him when he arrived at the dressing room; he was shaken badly as well. We all thought he would give his opponent a walk-over, but not he. He insisted on going into the ring and he was a mass of sticking plaster when he climbed through the ropes

His two opponents had reason to regret that the motor car had not made a better job of it’s victim.

Greb fought twice that night and won on each occasion. He made me laugh when he said that motors could hit hard but without direction.

A great fight that sticks in my mind was that between Eugene Criqui and Cabanello Dencio. The Frenchman had a great wal-lop that had toppled many opponents, while Dencio was a great little scrapper, with a record that included a one round victory over Sid Godfrey. Criqui and Den-cio fought like demons.

Criqui looked all in. Odds were bet against him seeing out the distance, and some were making for the exit, when he caught the Manila boy with a right upper-cut. It was a punch similar to the one with which he knocked me out in Paris, and it was curtains for Dencio.Criqui won the world title from Johnny Kilbane.

Writing of Criqui reminds me of another great little French fighter - Charles Le-doux. But when I saw Ledoux he was op-posed to the best featherweight I’ve seen - Jimmy Driscoll. Driscoll was making a come-back. He gave masterly exhibition until his strength gave out. He had not the strength to stand up to a Ledoux battery and fell over from sheer exhaustion.
American Mike O’Dowd was a great middleweight I saw in action. He defeated Bombardier Billy Wells and other heavy-weights. Good judges told me that he would have been a grand match for Darcy. He resembled Darcy in physique and fight-ing heart.

Of referees I can say much in little. Abroad I fought under Eugene Corri, the late Mr Douglas and Alf Bridges. In Aus-tralia the third man was either Joe Wallis, ValQuirk, Tim Tracey, “Dowder” Wardell or E. Elliot. I accepted their decisions without demur, even though they didn’t fa-vor me. They were all fine referees.

I would like to be starting out on my boxing career again, and I would not ask for a better break than I got as a fighter. I have thrown off all effects of an athletic heart, and can do a hard day’s work and like it. I have taken no ill effects with me from the ring and still maintain my grin.
The boys who use their heads and feet, as well as their hands in boxing have the chance of enjoying later days as I am do-ing.

Bill Squires vs Tommy Burns August 1908

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Report of The Fight From Sydney Morning Herald August 25, 1908

* BURNS WINS

* WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP

* A CLEAN WILLING CONTEST

* OVER 15,000 PRESENT

* 24,000 OUTSIDE THE ENCLOSURE

* SPLENDID STRUGGLE BY SQUIRES

* CHAMPIONS METHODS A REVELATION

Tommy Burns retained the boxing championship of the world yesterday, when he knocked out Bill Squires, the champion of Australia, in the thirteenth round, surrounded by the doleful countenances of 15,000 Australian spectators.

The fight was one of the most exciting that Australia has seen for many years. From start to finish it was full of movement, bright and willing, and both men fought with a punctilious fairness that won the admiration of adverse barrackers. The fortunes veered to and fro, and though Squires prevailed during the first ten rounds - at times almost overwhelmingly - Burns showed such marvelous recuperative powers that at no time did the contest appear one-sided.
As he stripped off, Burns did not look too well facialy. He was pale and the statement that he’d been under medical attendance suffering from a cold was easily realized. Squires, much whiter in the skin than when he left, seemed fully fit, but on the light side.

The stadium was well filled, over 15,000 people being present. A crowd numbering almost 24,000 persons cluttered outside the enclosure, and on the eminence’s near by, from where glimpses of the ring could be obtained. On the apex of the telegraph poles near by stood three men, silhouetted against the skyline, enjoying a view equal to that obtained from the five guinea seats. Dozens of American officers were present, as well as many leading citizens of Sydney and other Australian capitals.

The issue leaves no doubt as to the respective merits of the two men. Barring accident, Squires would be beaten by Burns every day in the week, and that in spite of the fact that the Australian prevailed during nearly the whole of yesterdays fight, and at every stage was the undoubted winner on points. The difference between the two men is that Squires is a pugilist - a pugilist who has developed his powers to a high degree, but still only a pugilist. Burns is a scientist who has applied his brain to solving the problem of the knock-out. That he did not become an eminent bacteriologist or chemist is merely the accident of circumstances.

The factors that have made him a champion fighter might have won him the Rumford medal - all but one. Added to his scientific precision of boxing is a capacity for taking punishment which is almost superhuman. It may be possible to hurt Burns with a battle-ax, but most of those who witnessed his performance yesterday would be inclined to doubt it. Squires rained upon the apparently soft, boyish, face of the champion sufficient blows to satisfy any three followers of the game whom Australia can remember. But they did not trouble Burns.

After the nervous shock following the first impact, they seemed to pass entirely out of his mind, and two minutes after the spectators expected him to fall in a state of collapse, he was entering into the fight with a cheerful vim of a man answering the crash of the first gong.

The contest between Squires and Burns was the contest between the Bull and the matador-with this exception. The Latin countries have yet to produce a matador willing to tire out the bull by allowing it to toss and gore him for half an hour. This is what Burns did. When he stopped to deliver the final stroke Squires was already a beaten man - beaten by the awful exertion of banging his fists against the basalt countenance of Mr. Noah Brusso. True it is that there was another matter which passed unnoticed by many, but which was apparently brought under the notice of Squires in a marked manner. Every time they hit in holds Burns continued to invest his blows with the preponderance of weight. And to direct them on more vulnerable points.

Squires might make much with the showy artillery of his straight left and swinging uppercuts, but Burns was confident in the resistant powers of his Harveyised jaw, was content to pound away with the unostentatious infantry of the half-arm jabs until it was time to bring up the cavalry.

Up to the end of the tenth round the Australian crowd was happy. Though the fight was well contested throughout, Squires was so much in the ascendant that it looked extremely probable that Colma and Paris would be avenged.. Then Burns - the Burns who had been battered unmercifully for half an hour - seemed to mysteriously develop a faculty for hitting Squires. Up to that time he had hardly delivered a long blow, and most of the short ones had passed unseen. On the other hand, Squires who had spent a glorious half hour inflicting the blows, suddenly and just as mysteriously grew weak. It was not the short jabs of the clinches that did it. It was simply that Squires was exhausted by the hard work he had done. He was in the same state of collapse as any other athlete after strenuous exertion and when the twelfth round opened it was just as if the runner who had just breasted the tape after a ten mile race was pitted against a boxer straight from the training room.

The concourse of spectators suddenly made the acquaintance of a new Burns. Not only did he accept the few blows which Squire still inflicted with a smile on his face, not only did he continue to jog blows with a bent elbow in Squires in the clinches, but he showed a new faculty - the faculty of standing off his opponent and sending in long well-aimed hits that went straight to their marks like the thrusts of a lance. When Squires came forward for the thirteenth round there was scarcely an Australian in the crowd that did not realize that the day was lost. There was an exchange and a clinch, in which Burns jabbed heavily; then a scuffle, in which Squires made a final desperate attempt at a knock-out.

The men clinched again, and more from exhaustion than the effects of any of the blows, the Australian sank to the floor. He rose at the end of nine seconds to the cheers of his countrymen, but Burns with cool confidence struck, struck Squires three times. At the third, Squires fell. He did not sink this time. Eight seconds were counted before he came up this time. The final blow was scarcely a second later. Burns chose his spot, sent in a left hook, and Squires, crumpling up like a sheet of wet paper, fell face downwards. His second threw in the towel in token of surrender, but it was not until long after the expiration of the ten seconds limit that Squires was able to stand.

Briefly, the fight belonged to Burns from beginning to end. Despite the fact that Squires was “all over” him for several rounds, there is not much doubt that had he seen the necessity, Burns may have applied aggressive tactics at any period, though his method was plainly to let Squires tire himself out before making his effort.

As a spectacular boxer, Burns is a failure. He wins fights, but his is the art that conceals art. He has almost resolved pugilism to the art of touching buttons.

As for Squires, his boxing was never seen in Australia to better advantage. He has developed tremendously since leaving Australia. All the same, possibly through continued attacks of rheumatism, he has lost his punch. Heavy as were many of the blows that landed on Burns yesterday, they were far less destructive than those which won him his fights before he sought honors abroad.

The management of the fight had a telephone at ringside and through the whole thirteen rounds, Mr. McIntosh communicated the varying phases of the battle to Mrs. Burns, who stood at the other end of the wire, waiting to learn of her husbands' fortune. As Squire was counted out, the receiver was handed to Burns, who was heard to say, “Is that you jewel? This is Tahmy. It’s all right.”

One salient factor of the contest was the American method of fighting adopted by both men, which is new to this land. Under such interpretation of the rules hitting in holds is not only permissible, but permissible to a degree astonishing to Australian followers of the sport. Throughout clinches the men hit one another wherever an opening showed, and even when the referee drags the reluctantly apart, they continue to swing in a variety of blows, until they are out of range. Under these conditions of boxing the position of the referee is certainly no sinecure, and Mr. Nathan who officiated yesterday, had several narrow escapes. One of these days when the referee is knocked out in the middle of a hot fight, the high court of pugilism will have a difficult point to settle.

THE CONTEST

In Squires corner there was Arthur Cripps, William McColl, J. Russell, Charles Frost and in Burns’s corner Arthur Scott, J. McDonald, O’Keefe and Kelly his manager. Mr. Nathan was referee and Mr. W. Kerr timekeeper.

Squires appeared first and was heralded by a tremendous outburst of applause, which terminated in three ringing cheers. Burns was also accorded sufficient applause to dispel any idea that Australians were unsportsmanlike.

The champion won the toss for the selection of corners, a matter of considerable importance, considering the bright sun that was shining on the ring, and which caught the Australian full in the eyes at each advance.

The Opening Rounds

In the first round Squires prevailed all the time, hitting Burns ten times with his right and getting home a good right cross on the jaw. He also got in an effective blow on the solar plexus.
In the second round Squires hit heavily and brought blood from Burns’s nose. He finished the round with a nasty blow on Burns’s jaw, and the round ended in favor of Squires.

Squires Aggressive

The third round saw much sparring on the part of both contestants. The two men were very wary, and Squires fighting coolly, was contented with giving the champion a few light body blows.
At the conclusion of the exhibition of sparring the two men clinched and Squires managed to land a heavy hit before the breakaway. He also succeeded in getting in a splendid uppercut during the clinch. Burns shortly afterwards managed to send home a fine punch on Squires jaw and then warming to his work, he made the running, attacking splendidly, and placing Squires on the defensive.

The fourth round opened in clinches. Both men hit heavily. Burns brightened up considerably, and put more vigor into his fight than ever. He brought blood from Squires mouth and going in again Squires dropped down from a right on the jaw. A few seconds later Squires hit Burns with a right uppercut.

Burns’s Recuperative Powers

In the fourth round Burns brightened up considerably. He fought with more vigor, and brought blood from Squires mouth. Squires with a right uppercut gained the ascendancy again, and after a hot rally landed a solar plexus blow which doubled Burns up. A moment later the champion seemed as though he were going out, but his marvelous powers of recovery, which were manifest throughout the whole fight, were seen at their highest in this round. Towards the conclusion, Squires punished him severely, and though he seemed groggy towards the end, the moment the gong sounded he sprang to his corner with the agility of a fresh man.

Fighting in holds characterized the first minute of the fifth round. Squires prevailed in the out-fighting, but Burns got in several effective hits at close quarters, and at one breakaway just missed outing Squires with a left swing at the jaw. Squires made amends towards the end of the round, and a succession of blows seemed to leave Burns weak again. The round on the whole was a very even one.

Squires Has A Narrow Escape

Just as the sixth round opened, and the men broke from their first clinch, Squires had another narrow escape, an upper-cut from Burns just grazing his jaw. Burns was fighting better thanks to a few solid jabs on Squires body in the clinches. Squires, however, contrived towards the end to get home a right cross, which made Burns fall forward on to his shoulder, and clinch to save himself

Spectators Expect Squires To Win

The seventh round opened with Squires landing heavy blows, right and left on the champion's jaw. Spectators imagined that Burns was about tot collapse. There was a scene of wild excitement. People rose and cheered, the din increasing as Squires followed Burns again, punching him right and left. Just as they expected Burns to receive a knock-out blow, he pulled himself together, and fought for a seconds like a tiger. Both men were weak at the call of time.
Burns Takes Punishment Well

The eighth round was even and willing, but Squires prevailed, landing repeated blows on his adversary’s jaw. The effect of these however, was only momentary, for the sound of the blow scarcely died away before Burns was as sound as ever.

Both Men Score

Both men were obvisouly weak from heavy fighting. Burns had the better of some hot exchanges in the south east corner. Squires turned the tables a few seconds later with an upper-cut, seemingly of great weight, but beyond driving Burns back for the moment, it affected him little.
Squires opened the tenth round with a number of light blows on Burns’s head. The champion took these without wincing, and waiting for his chance, shot in a nasty one on Squire’s body, following it up with several heavy punches in holds. A second left swing on the solar plexus left Squires so weak that the gong practically saved him from collapse.

Beginning Of The End

Squires rushed upon Burns, apparently fully recovered, when the twelfth round opened. A few willing exchanges followed, and though at one period both men fought more wildly than at any other time of the contest, Burns was apparently awaiting his chance. At last he saw it. His left shot out without warning and though Squires countered well, the champion had all the better of the scuffle that followed at close quarters.

Squires Unlucky Number

Burns lost no time in getting to business when the thirteenth round opened. He landed repeatedly on Squires’s body in holds, and led when they broke away. Within a minute of the gong there was a rally in which Squires, who was manifestly weak in the knees and groggy, fell from sheer exhaustion. He rested for nine seconds and rose to the accompaniment of loud cheering. The respite was short. Burns came towards him and now landing long length hits, punished the Australian severely. A heavy left swing on the side of the head sent him to the floor again. He took the count of eight seconds, but was scarcely on his feet before his merciless adversary was on him. A left hook took the Australian on the jaw, and he fell with his face flat on the floor. His seconds at the same time cast in the towel.

BURNS INTERVIEWED
“One of the hardest fights of my life.”

The champion, when seen after the contest, said - “I had one of the hardest fights of my life. I was not well; the climate has affected me, and I have been suffering from a heavy cold. Indeed, last Saturday morning they called in a doctor to see me. I’ve not been myself at all, and have felt slow and tired. My right arm is not too good, as I wrenched it while sparring and could not use it as I would like to. You can take it from me, Bill is one of the gamest and strongest fighters I have ever met. He is certainly no “false alarm,” as the American press called him, and he could beat most of the heavyweights in the world. I want to thank Mr. McIntosh for the magnificent manner in which he has organized this fight. Everything was perfect, and I never want to fight before a fairer audience, or have a better rival. I did my best, and I hope the public were satisfied.”

SQUIRES STILL CONFIDENT

“I did my best.”

“I did my best,” said Squires, “I had a bit of bad luck. If I had my old punch back, I would make him sit up. What I want is two or three more fights, and then if I don’t win, my name’s not Bill Squires.”

He said he did not feel very much distressed as a result of the punishment he had received, and expected to be all right in a few days.

Les Darcy - Australian icon, died an American soldier

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Place Of Birth. Woodville NSW
Date Of Birth. October 31, 1895
Date Deceased. May 24, 1917
Height. 5’6”
Weight. 147 - 165 lbs
Divisions. Middleweight, Heavyweight

Titles. Australian World Middleweight. Australian Middleweight, Australian. Heavyweight Champion

Record Won 46 Lost 4 (2f)

Stadium Career. 1914 - 1916
Career Span. 1910 - 1916

Fights At Stadium

Fritz Holland lpts 20 18 Jul 1914
Fritz Holland lf 18 12 Sep 1914
Henri KO Marchand ko 5 05 Oct 1914
Gus Christie pts 20 17 Nov 1914

Jeff Smith lf 5 23 Jan 1915
Frank Loughrey pts 20 27 Feb 1915
Fritz Holland pts 20 13 Mar 1915
Henri Demlin ko 5 03 Apr 1915
Jeff Smith wf 2 22 May 1915
Mick King ko 10 12 Jun 1915
Eddie McGoorty ko 15 31 Jul 1915
Billy Murray pts 20 4 Sep 1915
Fred Dyer ko 6 9 Oct 1915
Jimmy Clabby pts 20 23 Oct 1915
Eddie McGoorty ko 8 27 Dec 1915

George KO Brown pts 20 15 Jan 1916
Harold Hardwick ko 7 19 Feb 1916
Les O'Donnell ko 7 25 Mar 1916
George KO Brown pts 20 8 Apr 1916
Alex Costica ko 4 13 May 1916
Albert Buck Crouse ko 2 03 Jun 1916
Dave Smith ko 12 24 Jun 1916
Jimmy Clabby pts 20 09 Sep 1916
George Chip ko 9 30 Sep 1916

Career Record

Guv'nor Balsa. pts 11 1910 Thornton, Australia
Sid Pasco ko 2 1910 Maitland Australia
Tom Donohue pts 4 26 Jul 1911 Maitland, Australia
R. Fairbairn ko 4 30 Mar 1912 Newcastle Australia
Rhymer ko 6 06 Apr 1912 Newcastle Australia
Harry Emery pts 8 27 Apr 1912 Newcastle Australia
Tom Page pts 10 04 May 1912 Newcastle Australia
Jim Burns pts 4 24 Aug 1912 Newcastle Australia
Harry Richards pts 8 14 Sep 1912 Newcastle Australia
Peter Devon ko 6 21 Sep 1912 Newcastle Australia
P. Barnes ko 9 28 Sep 1912 Newcastle Australia
Dave Depena ko 9 04 Nov 1912 Newcastle Australia
Jim Burns ko 11 14 Dec 1912 Maitland Australia
Billy Hannan ko 18 15 Mar 1913 Maitland Australia
Reg Delaney ko 8 19 Jul 1913 Maitland Australia
Joe Shakespeare ko 7 27 Sep 1913 Maitland Australia
Billy McNabb pts 20 25 Oct 1913 Maitland Australia
Bob Whitelaw lpts 20 03 Nov 1913 Newcastle Australia
Jack Clarke ko 9 5 Jan 1914 Newtown Australia
Young Hanley ko 5 30 Jan 1914 Newtown Australia
Bob Whitelaw ko 5 21 Mar 1914 Maitland Australia
Billy McNabb ko 4 23 Apr 1914 Maitland Australia
Fritz Holland lpts 20 18 Jul 1914 Sydney Stadium Australia
Fritz Holland lf 18 12 Sep 1914 Sydney Stadium, Australia
Henri KO Marchand ko 5 05 Oct 1914 Sydney Stadium Australia
Gus Christie pts 20 17 Nov 1914 Sydney Stadium Australia
Fred Dyer pts 20 26 Dec 1914 Brisbane Australia
Jeff Smith lf 5 23 Jan 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Frank Loughrey pts 20 27 Feb 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Fritz Holland pts 20 13 Mar 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Henri Demlin ko 5 03 Apr 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Fritz Holland ko 13 01 May 1915 Melbourne Australia
Jeff Smith wf 2 22 May 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Mick King ko 10 12 Jun 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Eddie McGoorty ko 15 31 Jul 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Billy Murray pts 20 4 Sep 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Fred Dyer ko 6 9 Oct 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Jimmy Clabby pts 20 23 Oct 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
Billy Murray ko 6 1 Nov 1915 Melbourne Australia
Eddie McGoorty ko 8 27 Dec 1915 Sydney Stadium Australia
George KO Brown pts 20 15 Jan 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Harold Hardwick ko 7 19 Feb 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Les O'Donnell ko 7 25 Mar 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
George KO Brown pts 20 8 Apr 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Alex Costica ko 4 13 May 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Albert Buck Crouse ko 2 03 Jun 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Dave Smith ko 12 24 Jun 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
Dave Smith ko 11 16 Aug 1916 Brisbane Australia
Jimmy Clabby pts 20 09 Sep 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia
George Chip ko 9 30 Sep 1916 Sydney Stadium Australia

Australia’s Greatest Fighter And His First Real Boxing Lesson

It is almost inconceivable that the greatest boxer Australia produced in many decades should have ever had to sue for a match - should have had to go down on his knees to promoters, so to speak, and plead that he be given a chance to show his mettle. But even the great Les Darcy had a hard battle to obtain consideration and way back in June, 1914, The Referee published the following plea from Mick Hawkins, the Newcastle boys mentor. Can you give me any reason why Les Darcy isn’t given a chance by the Stadium people to prove his worth? He has done everything we have asked him to so far in a manner that leaves no doubt that he is a coming champion…. Darcy has won two tournaments in one of which he gave away over a stone, and has had eleven contests for ten wins and one defeat on points after twenty rounds to Bob Whitelaw, whom afterwards he knocked out in five rounds. I am willing to put him against any middleweight in Australia at the present time, and I am sure he will do himself justice.

Darcy at that time was what might be termed a half-time boxer. He was still following his calling as a blacksmith, and for most part did his training after working hours. He had certainly done all that was said of him, and although he had not been able to break into the big money in Sydney, the northern coalfields of New South Wales were behind him to a man. They did not think they had a champion in the making: they were insistent that they had a champion who would jump right to the top of the tree in one fight. But that is a way they have in Newcastle and Maitland. There are no more loyal communities in the world when it comes to boxing and the miners and their friends could see no defects in their champion. Consequently when Darcy at 18 years of age was matched to fight

Fritz Holland at the Sydney Stadium on July 18, 1914, the male population of two towns came to Sydney en masse. Special train services had to be provided, as was ever afterwards the case when Darcy fought in Sydney, to cope with the traffic and the crowd at the Stadium was one of the greatest that the arena was ever called upon to accommodate. It was even bigger than that which attended the famous Burns-Johnson fight and after the building had been jammed by experienced “packers” over 2000 gathered in the street outside and waited breathlessly for any news of the contest as it progressed. What a shock that crowd received! Essentially a Darcy gathering and one that could not see their man doing any wrong, the boxing lesson Darcy was given that night was anything but palatable.

They cheered their man’s untiring but relatively crude efforts; they hooted everything Holland did. But that did not get away from the fact that, strong and all Darcy was, his lack of experience made him an easy target in the hands of the crafty old general opposed to him. Despite that he was uncommonly tough, game and cool, Darcy was never quite up with his task. After the initial rush, Holland always kept him at a safe distance and more or less made him do what he wanted him to do. Now and again Darcy shook him with heavy punches, but using his left with precision and timing with wonderful accuracy, Holland was able to keep him at a distance most of the time. Damaging his nose early in the piece he pasted it with a stinging…..rounds, but although he landed many telling rights that were sent out with the idea of finishing the contest there and then, Darcy proved too tough for them to do any damage. Towards the finish Darcy knew he required a knock-out to win, but try as he did, he found the opposition too elusive. No matter how he crowded his man, Holland out-generalled him and although the Maitland boy finished up the stronger of the pair, Holland was a long way ahead on points.

Of course the coalfields crowd would not have that their idol had been beaten., but the fact remained that not only had he been beaten, but he had been given the boxing lesson of his young life. Certainly by a wonderful boxer and one who knew every trick in the game backwards, but beaten all the same. That setback, with the experience that went with it, did Darcy a world of good, although he was still handicapped by having to work in his smithy by day and do his training at night after a hard day’s work at striking. Still he was a very different fighter. There was more snap in his work; he moved with greater freedom, and was more aggressive and determined to get to close quarters. On top of this Holland had a keener appreciation of his mettle and fought with greater caution - too cautiously in fact for his own well being. For Darcy was determined to get close at all costs and a little more assertiveness on the part of the American might have enabled him to effect the strength of the opposition. Still he knew his man and was aware of his improvement since the previous meeting and it is quite possible that in all the circumstances he was content to see the journey through.

That there was never any real safety for him was obvious at every stage. Darcy outfought Holland just as convincingly as Holland had out-generalled and outboxed him in their first fight, and the American had to have all his senses alert all the time to prevent his youthful opponent landing a knock-out. Unfortunately Darcy lost that fight……not having been anything else for he was the fairest of fair fighters-that prompted his fouling Holland on at least three occasions during the eighteen rounds they were in the ring. As early as the third round he swung his left to Holland’s groin, and although the punch must have hurt the American made no complaint and the referee, despite that he could hardly have missed seeing it, took no action. Then again in the sixteenth session, he swung his left low without incurring the displeasure of the referee, but when in the eighteenth round, he repeated the performance for the third time a particularly unfortunate, but nevertheless glaring infringement, the contest was stopped and Holland declared the winner.

Darcy showed wonderful improvement in that contest and there is little doubt that had he kept his left glove away from Holland’s groin he would have earned a points decision and might have won with a knock-out, a happening that was a possibility at any stage of the later rounds of the battle. Even if the Maitland boy’s friends were satisfied with that showing - apart, of course, from the fouling - Darcy was not. He realised that he still had a lot to learn, and when an opportunity occurred for him to join Dave Smith’s training camp, he jumped at it.

His boxing with the ex New Zealander rounded off a lot of his rough edges, and when he again took the ring with Holland on March 13, 1915, the further improvement was most noticeable. His speed had increased, he hit more quickly and with greater precision and there was a material difference in his defence, with the result that Holland’s footwork and cleverness in fighting a rearguard action went for nought. The new Darcy simply overwhelmed the old Holland. All the wiles and all the tricks that had stood him in such good stead previously were offset by the aggressiveness of the Novacastrian and after the first round Holland realising that he had met his master, fought solely on the defensive.

With that wonderfully happy smile that was a characteristic of Darcy’s fighting at almost every stage of the game, he reveled in his work like a schoolboy at a picnic. It was a real pleasure to him and any move on the part of the opposition only spurred him…… Holland realising that there was a remote hope of winning with a knock-out, let go a punch capable of ending matters, but the harder Darcy was hit the harder he fought back.

This was a pleasing peculiarity of all Darcy’s subsequent battles and many a great fighter had cause to remember that it was not a paying proposition to hit him too hard. The master and the pupil almost became the pupil and the master that night and it was a wonderful tribute to Holland’s cunning that he was able to see the distance out. Youth, strength, aggressiveness and skill were all pitted against him and it was only his knowledge of the finer points of the game that made it possible for him to weather a fight that was one big storm from the start to finish.

The fourth and last of the Darcy-Holland series I did not witness. It took place in Melbourne on May 1, 1915, and resulted in another victory for the Australian. But strangely enough, although it was apparently upto the standard of their Sydney engagements, it did not please the good folk of Melbourne. As a matter of fact the referee almost accused them of not trying, yet when I saw Holland in Sydney two or three days afterwards, he was still showing signs of two blackened eyes, his mouth was cut and a bruise on his chin indicated where there had been a good sized “mouse” at the termination of hostilities. Whatever Darcy did afterwards a lot of credit must be given to Holland. He gave the lesson while he was still in his teens.

It showed him his shortcomings and prompted him to make those corrections and seek the improvement that developed him into the greatest middle and light-heavyweight Australia has seen for many, many years.

The following article is taken from an undated newsclipping, written by Jack Gell.

When a fight was made for Darcy

A Practical Joke and Its Consequences There is always an element of danger about a practical joke. There is no telling what the consequences may be. But about some, although the result to the individual may be more or less drastic, there is sometimes a laugh, although the humour of the situation may not be obvious at the time. And behind the farcical fight between the famous Les Darcy and Alex Costica on May 13, 1916, were the machinations of three confirmed practical jokers, who, as a result of their raillery of an otherwise sound boxer, sent him into the ring the finest sample of a cold-footer the Australian ring has probably ever seen, and were responsible for one of the greatest fistic fiascoes staged during the boxing boom that followed the Tommy Burns-Jack Johnson world’s championship fight in 1908.

A tall, olive-complexioned well-built young fellow, with a crown of jet-black hair that gave him an almost sinister appearance, Costica arrived in Sydney in April, 1916, along with Harry Stone, Buck Crouse and Eddie Moy, under engagement to the Stadium and as he had excellent performances to his credit in America and England and on the Continent, there appeared every prospect of his sojourn being a profitable one to employer and employee alike. A shrewd publicity agent gave it out that he had defeated such men as Johnny Summers and Johnny Basham in London, accounted for Albert Badoud, the welterweight champion of Europe, and held Mike Gibbons over ten rounds in America, and although this was not correct the atmosphere was created that he was a boxer likely to cause a whole heap of trouble in the middleweight ranks of Australia.

Now, at that time, the Stadium applied an extremely sound business principle to an importation - he was pitted against the best man of his class right away, so that after the fight the management was in a more or less safe position as far as his guarantee was concerned. They did not want doubtful profit-earners to fight longer than was absolutely necessary, and if they could gather in the reward promised the visitor, out them for nothing for the remainder of his contract. So it came to pass that Costica was at once matched to fight Darcy.

The Maitland middleweight was a sure guarantee of a bumper house, and the day and night of a contest in which he was one of the principals the Railway Department had to put on special trains to and from the coalfields. Measurements Although it would not have been safe to have suggested that anybody had a chance against the invincible Darcy, the men were fairly evenly matched - physically at any rate.

But there the eveness ended - on paper - although, on his performances abroad, Costica should have been able to have given a reasonable account of himself. The Roumanian, who had been working on shipboard and was fairly well, went into training right away, as he had only a couple of weeks to get himself properly attuned. And then the fun commenced. Eddie McGoorty, the great American middleweight (who took a lot of money out of Australia as a result of his fights with Darcy and other top notchers) was at the height of his popularity, and one afternoon along with “Red” Watson (a devastating little fighter, who sacrificed his training to the flesh-pots of Sydney, and suffered in earnings and popularity accordingly) and Tom Cubbit (erstwhile manager of Dave Smith, and still a popular figure in Sydney’s sporting world) visited the Roumanian at his training quarters. After Costica had “done his stuff” they remained behind for a yarn. “Know anything about this fellow Darcy?” McGoorty asked innocently.

Costica admitted his innocence, but hoped that he would be fit enough to make a decent showing. “Do you know what I think you ought to do?” Watson commenced. The Roumanian pricked up his ears, thinking he was about to get a useful tip as to the line of action to pursue, when Watson continued: “---------order a coffin!”

Costica smiled, but it was the smile of a man who did not appreciate the joke. “Yes,” interjected Cubbitt, “This fellows a terrible puncher. Killed a couple of men, and that sort of thing.” Hits All Over Costica Blanched, but said nothing “Yeh,” grunted McGoorty; “he’s got a fist as big as a ham” (which was perfectly correct), “and he doesn’t hit a man on the jaw - he hits them all over the face. I know because I fought him and my head’s still aching from where he got me.”

And so the kidding went on for half an hour or more, with “Red” Watson delivering the parting shot as they left the gymnasium: “What kind of flowers do you like?” he asked adding: “The boys are sure to ask when they’re ‘touched’ to put in for a wreath.” Costica’s enthusiasm regarding his prospects with Darcy ended there and then. The more he inquired of the prowess of the Maitland boy, the more he brooded over the hiding he was in for. He said nothing, but when Jack Munro visited his quarters to look him over, he saw that everything was not all right. He asked Costica if there was anything wrong, but the Roumanian assured him that he was doing well, and that he would be sparking on all cylinders on the night of the contest. Munro knew that something was being kept from him, but he could not fathom it. He suspected that Costica was scared - there was nothing out of the ordinary in that, seeing that almost every man who met Darcy worked himself into a similar condition - but the Roumanian had himself terrorised. Still, as he asserted that he was going along nicely, Munro could do nothing but wait and hope for the best.

Meantime he visited Costica fairly often, and did his best to cheer him up - told him what a nice fellow Darcy was, and tried to assure him that he had every chance of at least making a showing that would ensure good money for following fights. But the seed McGoorty and Co. had sown had taken too deep root, and when Costica called at the Stadium on the afternoon of the Saturday on which he was to fight, to be weighed, it was discovered that the Roumanians condition was the reverse of satisfactory. He was only 4 ounces over 11st, whereas he had expected to have difficulty making 11st 6lb, and under cross-examination it was discovered that he was suffering from bowel trouble. A doctor was sent for immediately, and when the trouble was explained, he gave him a mixture which brought him back to normal.

Carefully handled all the afternoon, Costica was almost human again when he returned to the Stadium at night. In his dressing-room he talked fairly cheerfully to his attendants, and was even capable of raising a smile when McGoorty, Watson, Cubitt and a couple of others sneaked into the room looking like professional mourners. “Well good-bye, Alex,” said McGoorty, gloomily, “You can’t say I didn’t warn you, can you?” “Good-bye, Alex old chap,” sobbed Watson, “it’s a pity you have to be taken so young.” “Good-bye,” whispered Cubitt, “I hope for your sake, that he gets it over quickly,”

And the procession filed out of the room, with heads bowed. Costica was his old self again - scared stiff, trembling all over, and in deadly fear that there might be something in what he had just been forced to listen to. And so it was that when a few minutes afterwards, he came out to face the smiling Darcy and a crowd of about 8000, he was the picture of misery - pale, drawn, care-worn, and scared of his own shadow. His olive skin was almost white with fright, and dark rings under his eyes threw his almost emaciated features into bold relief. A frightened rabbit would not have looked a daring cut-throat alongside him. There was not an ounce of fight in him. As a matter of fact, he was not fit to fight. Fright had done it’s work in deadly fashion.

The contest itself was a farce. Darcy had only to look the way of his opponent to get Costica on the jump, and the Roumanian did not land a decent blow while he was in the ring. He gave one of the finest exhibitions of cuddling ever seen at the Stadium and did his best to get himself disqualified for going down without being hit Every time Darcy came within reach he grabbed one or both arms and for the first round the Maitland boy treated his attentions as a joke. He laughed at the crowd over his opponents shoulder, and made not the slightest effort to free himself. But in the last ten seconds of the opening session he let himself loose, and Costica went to his corner with his nose damaged and bleeding freely.

Costica continued his cuddlesome tactics, and was content that these were keeping him out of harms way until Darcy with Costica clinging desperately to his right arm, slammed him on head and body and then, that arm tired, dragged his right from its vice-like grip and repeated the dose with that member. It was a pitiable spectacle to see the ease with which Darcy, handled him, and the pathetic efforts of the visitor to do nothing. Towards the end of the second round, Darcy chopped his right down on the opposing head and Costica dropped for the count of seven; but Darcy imagining that his man had been counted out, lifted him up and helped him to his corner. Darcy continued to drive, jolt, swing, and rip almost everything in his repertoire on to the pitiable object in front of him, and once when he swung a series of hard rights and lefts to the body and head, the Roumanian doubled in two, staggered back a few yards, and then, fully three seconds after the last punch had landed, sank to the floor within a second or two of the gong sounding. That heralded the finish.

One minute and 14 seconds after the fourth round commenced, Costica, after receiving two heavy batteries of punishment, went down twice for nine seconds, and the police ordered a cessation of hostilities.

On the night, Costica displayed none of the prowess or ability with which he must have been possessed. But he was doubly unfortunate - firstly in having an imagination and, secondly, in being selected by McGoorty and Co., as the subject of a practical joke. And it was only fun they were after, for Darcy was always too strong a favorite in the betting for them to hope to gain anything by frightening the opposition so that they could back the champion with greater safety. There was no need for that - there was never much risk attendant on giving the odds about the Maitland wonder

The following article is taken from, The Daily Telegraph dated May 10, 1946. It is an interview with Les Darcy’s fiancee, Winifred Hannan, (nee O’Sullivan)

For one woman in Sydney comparisons of boxing champion Vic Patrick with the great Les Darcy revive poignant memories of Darcy’s lonely death aged 21, in America 29 years ago. She is a charming grey-haired widow, Mrs. Winifred Hannan of Bennett Street, Bondi. As Winifred O’Sullivan, she was Darcy’s fiancee. She was with Les when he died in Memphis, Tennessee on May 24, 1917.

Mrs. Hannan is the sister of the New South Wales Transport Minister Mr. Maurice O’Sullivan and Mr. Jim O’Sullivan of Marrickville, both of whom were Darcy’s closest friends. The O’Sullivan brothers were among the 14,000 who packed Sydney Stadium eight nights ago to see Patrick knock-out Tommy Burns. Mrs. Hannan did not go to the fight because she has never been to a boxing contest in her life. But after the contest Mr. Jim O Sullivan joined her and her family at supper. The conversation inevitably swung to a comparison of Patrick with Darcy. Mrs. Hannan never went to the Stadium. “It wasn’t considered the right thing to do” she says. “But with Les’ mother and his other friends I used to go to training matinees held at the Stadium on the Thursday before he fought.

“I don’t know anything about boxers or boxing. Patrick and Burns may be champions, but to my mind there will only be one Les Darcy, only one person with all the wonderful qualities he possessed.”

Mr. Maurice O’Sullivan who was in Darcy’s corner for all of his big fights is just as emphatic. He says, “If Vic Patrick is as good in his class as Les Darcy was in his, I don’t think there is anyone in the world who will beat him.” Mr. Jim O’Sullivan says, “Vic Patrick is the best proposition as a non stop fighter since Les Darcy. “But how good was Darcy? No one knows.

He was 20 when he had his last fight. No one knows what a mighty man he may have been had fate spared him. “In the Burns-Patrick fight the huge crowd roared for Burns to knock Patrick out in the seventh round, and then stood and cheered for five minutes when Patrick knocked Burns out in the ninth. “Les was never in the position where he risked defeat at the hands of a fellow Australian. “All his greatest fights were against America’s best boxers. To the crowds which flocked to see their idol, defeat for Darcy was out of the question.

“On the afternoons of his big fights the bookmakers at Randwick bet on the fight - not who would win - but on how many rounds Darcy’s opponent would last. “After the fight the crowd used to wait for Les outside the Stadium and then carry him about shoulder high. “The only time Les was not favorite was in his second fight for the championship of the world with the American Eddie McGoorty, known as the “Oshkosh Terror” “Darcy won their first fight by a knock-out in fifteen rounds. For some extraordinary reason the impression got around that McGoorty did not try in this contest. “For this reason McGoorty was made favorite for the return fight.

“I was with Les just before he went into the ring for the second fight. I don’t think I ever saw him more determined. “His last words were: ‘Every one says McGoorty didn’t try the last time. Well, I’ll make him try tonight!” “Darcy won by a knock-out in eight rounds.

McGoorty had arranged a great victory party, but when the fight ended his handsome face was bruised and bleeding. “Instead of going to the party, he went from the Stadium to St. Vincent’s Hospital.” Over a cup of tea, the years were rolled back to 1915 and 1916, when Darcy was the idol of every Australian sportsman and schoolboy.

To Daily Telegraph reporter Merton Woods this week Morry, Jim and Mrs. Hannan harked back to the old days. Mrs. Hannan disclosed for the first time her death-bed meeting with Les in Memphis, told of the great boxers last tragic moments. Morry and Jim disclosed for the first time that they were confidants of Les in his decision to stow away on an American bound ship.

Darcy was the second son in a family of 11, a devoted son and brother. It was his sense of responsibility to his family that set him on the path which ended in his tragic, untimely death. As a boy of 19 and 20 he defeated the best American boxers who could be bought to Australia. He was proclaimed the middleweight champion of the world. He was offered huge sums if he would go to America and fight there.

Because he was of military age, the Australian Government refused to let him go; maintained this attitude even after Darcy offered a £5000 that after six months in America he would return and enlist or go to France and join the A.I.F. On his 21st birthday (October 28, 1916), Darcy stowed away on a ship leaving Newcastle. He worked his passage as a stoker, but received a welcome fit for a king when he landed in New York. Tex Rickard, the great promoter, who “made” Jack Dempsey, and other leading US promoters vied with each other to place Darcy under contract.

His popularity slumped after a few weeks. Public resentment at the manner in which he left Australia spread to America. He was barred from boxing in New York, Chicago, and other US cities. When America entered the war, in April, 1917, Darcy took out US naturalisation papers and enlisted in the US air Corps. He was then granted permission to have five fights during his training as a pilot.

A few weeks before Darcy died, Mrs. Hannan (then 19 year old Winnie O’Sullivan) arrived in Hollywood on a holiday visit with Australian actress Lily Molloy then hailed as “Australia’s Mary Pickford,” And Miss Molloy’s aunt, Miss Mary Dwyer. Miss Molloy was Australia’s leading film star of the day. She played with Reg L. (“Snowy”) Baker in “The Enemy Within” and other Australian films of the last war years and the early twenties. They were in Hollywood when Mrs. Hannan received a telegram from Mick Hawkins, Darcy’s trainer, which read; “Les is sinking fast in a private hospital in Memphis. Please come at once.” Within two hours Mrs. Hannan and Miss Dwyer were on a trans-continental train.

The journey to Memphis took three days. They arrived two days before Darcy died. “It was a dreadful experience for me,” Mrs. Hannan says. “Even now, after all these years it upsets me to think about it. “When Les enlisted the US Air Corps Doctor who examined him described him as the most perfect man physically he had ever seen. “But when I reached the hospital he had been so ill and lost so much weight that he looked just like a little boy. “He was thrilled to see me and asked about his mother and his friends. After my visit he seemed to pick up, and the doctors gave him a chance of recovering.

“Next day, when Miss Dwyer and I called on him, his condition was worse, and the sisters at the hospital pressed us not to stay too long. “We said good-bye and told Les we would call next day. We were just walking out of the ward when the sisters called us back. Les died just after we reached his bedside.” Mrs. Hannan travelled back to Australia on the “Ventura,” the ship which brought Darcy’s body back to his homeland.

Americans who in life had ostracised and reviled him, honored him in death. Mounted police, bands, and hundreds of cars followed his flag-draped coffin through San Francisco streets before it was placed on the ship. Mrs. Hannan and her brothers, Morry and Jim, were with Darcy just before he sailed to America. Darcy said good-bye to them at the O’Sullivan’s Lord Dudley Hotel, Woolahra, where Darcy made his home while in Sydney.

He stowed-away at Newcastle the next day. Describing the parting, Mr. Jim O’Sullivan says: “Les used to play the fiddle a bit. Just before he left to catch the night boat to Newcastle he played us a few tunes. “Then he handed me the fiddle and said, “I’m going away for a while, Jim. Will you keep my fiddle for me?” “That’s all he said, but I knew what he meant. I shook hands and wished him good luck

Article on Les Darcy dated January 12, 1945, newspaper not known

Michael Evans, a second hand dealer, was cleaning out some junk from an attic storeroom. The frame of a battered water colour was the only item worth salvaging. He ripped off the brown paper back of the picture. Wedged beneath it as padding were two yellowed newspapers. One was a Stadium “blurb” sheet dated November 1916.

The item was a vicious 1200 word attack on Les Darcy, “The flappers ideal and the schoolboys hero.” “It can be fairly said that Les Darcy has evaded the military authorities, set aside his kinship with the gallant men of Gallipoli, scorned his obligations to his King, his flag and his country and answered the call of his god - the god of Mamon in America.” “Darcy was needed. One Darcy in a battalion, and that battalion would march to the battlements of hell, if need be, to distinguish it as Darcy’s battalion

“Last Thursday, Darcy in a published interview said he had no intentions of going to America while the war was on. However, on that very day he left Sydney ostensibly for Newcastle. It is peculiar, but nethertheless true, that an American tramp steamer the Hattie Lickombale left Newcastle for Inique, Valpariso or some other Chilean port.

“One story is that a well known ‘Shanghaier’ put the acid on Darcy and got him aboard as a stoker. The ship is supposed to have sailed out of port on Thursday, which means that Darcy according to reports, just missed being called up by the Commonwealth Defence Act, by two days, as he came of age (21) on Saturday 28 October.[1] “Although he has forfeited practically all claim to being called an Australian in the future, in the true sense of the word, every Australian will continue to watch his career wherever he is and when he fights they will almost to a man put their money on him.

Other points in this article:-
· Travelled under the name of James Dawson
· Thousands of blurb sheets were sent to the US, resulting in Les Darcy being branded a slacker. · This particular extract was thought to be the only copy in existence. · The author of the article was never identified.

[1] This contradicts a previous article which claims he stowed away on his birthday.

Unidentified report summary of the Darcy/McGoorty battles.

…So deadly was the McGoorty hook, that he was known as the “Oshkosh Terror,” The first time that they fought McGoorty hit Darcy more heavily than any opponent had done previously, but Les did not feel more than a little dazed. Darcy whipped him so severely stopping him in the 15th round, that some spectators said McGoorty did not do his best. This was disproved when they fought again.

McGoorty was in perfect condition and 17,000 people wedged into the Stadium to see the fight. Darcy smashing away to the body had McGoorty hanging on from the first round. Darcy blocked the hooks and the contest swung along at a terrific rate. In the 4th round a deadly hook exploded on Darcy’s jaw, but appeared to have no effect. In fact the battle swung the other way, for it was Darcy who became the , hooker and he dropped McGoorty for six in round eight. The towel came from McGoorty’s corner. The “Oshkosh Terror” had been most brilliantly outclassed by the Australian.

Random Jottings

• Had a superstition when fighting at Sydney Stadium. He would walk into the little office with his cap and sweater on and talk with Jim Taylor for a few minutes. The night he fought Harold Hardwick he entered the office after he had knocked him out in seven rounds. He was holding his two front teeth by the roots, which Hardwick had knocked out with a crashing right. Hardwick asked if he could keep the teeth. Darcy said he would like to consult a dentist to see if he could put them back. He did.

• Offered a £1000 guarantee he would enlist.

• Before he died he joined the Tennessee National Guard as a thank you for the kindness he received from that State. Shortly before he died, the US War Dept. Federalised the unit, therefore he died an American Soldier.

• Always fought with the Australian Flag in his corner.

• Margaret Darcy died 1929. Buried in same vault.

• Ned Darcy died 1936

• Jack Darcy became a main event fighter. In 1994 he was 92.

• Winnie O’Sullivan married in 1922. Her husband died five years later. She did not marry again and died in 1974. Age 76.

• Frank Darcy died in 1919 from influenza whilst preparing to fight Tom Uren.

• Mick Hawkins trained fighters including George Mendies. Worked on the wharves at Newcastle and Sydney. Died in June 1959, he was in his mid seventies.

• Snowy Baker faced a committee of inquiry in Maitland in 1917, that officially cleared him of any implication in Darcy’s American problems. Died in 1953 age 69.

The above information came from various sources including newspaper clippings and Ruth Park’s “Home Before Dark”.

Unpopular, insolent and arrogant - but Tommy Burns was a champ

2010-09-09T20:05:00.004+10:00

Eugene Corri, the famous English boxing referee, once described Tommy Burns as being unpopular, insolent and arrogant; his attitude earning him the titles “Emperor Burns.” or “Napoleon.” However, whatever personal qualities he may have lacked, for two years he reigned as heavyweight champion of the world.

For a heavyweight who stood only 5’7” and weighed just 175 pounds (79 kg), Burns had a remarkable record. In a career spanning twenty years, Tommy Burns (real name Noah Brusso,) lost only five times; winning forty-five of his fifty-nine bouts. He won the title in 1906, in Los Angeles, by outpointing Marvin Hart* , who before becoming champion in 1905, had earlier outpointed Jack Johnson.

Burns was born in Hanover, Canada, on June 17 1881. His father being French and his mother German, he became the first world heavyweight champion who was not of English, Irish or American descent.

Young Tommy was a first rate, all round sportsman, excelling at lacrosse, football, skating, swimming, basketball, and hockey. Burns took up boxing by accident. One night, he was a spectator at a special boxing night arranged by The Detroit Athletic Club, of which he was a member. One of the entrants failed to turn up and Burns volunteered to help out by taking his place. He went on to win his first public fight in the fifth round.

Spurred on by his success, Burns decided to concentrate on boxing. His first two official fights were against Frank Thornton, whom he knocked out on both occasions.

For a couple of years Burns continued to win, suffering his first defeat in Detroit in 1902 at the hands of Mike Schreck, who was considered a future world champion. Burns went undefeated in his next 18 fights and it was nearly two years before he suffered his second defeat against “Philadelphia” Jack O’Brien. Burns continued his winning ways, losing only to “Twin” Sullivan in 1905. Incredibly, he would lose only two more fights before he retired in 1920.

After Hart won the title, Burns began clamoring for a fight with the new champion. Hart considered Burns an easier opponent for his first title defence, than the likes of Jack Johnson and Gus Ruhlin, who were also pressing their claims. Hart paid the price for underestimating Burns and Tommy won easily on points.

Between February 1906 and August 1908, Burns defended his title 11 times. As well as two knockouts over Bill Squires, he also claimed the scalp of British champion Gunner Moir and knocked out the Irishman Jem Roche in one round.

After beating Bill Squires at Sydney Stadium, Burns went to Melbourne, accounting for Australia’s Bill Lang in six rounds. It was the last time Burns successfully defended his title. He returned to Sydney for his historic Boxing Day encounter with Jack Johnson. How Johnson taunted him and methodically pounded him to defeat, will be told later.

After his defeat by Johnson, Burns did not fight again until April 1910, when he was given a controversial points' decision over Bill Lang at Sydney Stadium. Over the next ten years, Tommy fought only five more times, before retiring in 1920. Of those he won three and fought a no decision contest with Canadian Arthur Pelkey. In London, in July 1920, he was knocked out in seven rounds by Britain’s Joe Beckett. Though Burns would later beat Beckett in a brawl, in a hotel corridor in Leeds, his official fighting career was over.

He became a manager, taking Jack Lester and Arthur Pelkey under his wing. Pelkey was beaten by Bill Lang at Sydney Stadium in 1914. He retired after Luther McCarthy died as a result of his bout with him.

Lester had several fights at the Stadium with mixed success. On one occasion he was billed to fight at the Stadium, whilst Burns was in Melbourne. At this time the Stadium was unroofed. Concerned about the size of the gate, Burns asked Lester to wire him as to how the crowd “rolled up." Soon after 8 o’clock, Tommy received a message from Lester that just said, “Thousands turned away.”

A delighted Burns retired to contemplate his percentage of a full house. Next morning he read in a newspaper, that a last minute thunderstorm had caused the postponement of the fight and that “thousands had been turned away.”

Burns tried his hand at many other ventures. At various times he owned a string of hotels in the north of England, became an insurance agent, a lacrosse promoter, café proprietor, a hockey player and owner of a New York “speakeasy.”

In the early thirties, Tommy became plagued with arthritis and thought he would never walk again. He turned to religion for comfort and gradually his legs strengthened Drifting to the West Coast, he became a Pastor with the Church of Brotherhood of Universal Love, and began preaching in a little church in Seattle.

In 1946 Burns moved to California. He met a woman he had first fell in love with, 43 years earlier in Detroit. Their love was rekindled and they married in July that year.

Tommy Burns died from a heart condition in Vancouver, in May 1955. He had travelled to Vancouver from his home in California two weeks earlier, to enter a religious order.

*There has been some considerable discussion concerning Hart’s claim to the title.

When Jim Jeffries retired as champion in March 1905. He named Marvin Hart and Jack Root as leading contenders and agreed to referee their fight in Reno, Nevada., on July 3, 1905, with the stipulation that he would term the winner the champion. Hart, knocked out Root, in the 12th round.

Jeffries right to make such a stipulation has been called into question by many boxing writers, but at the time, Hart was generally considered world champion.

Pipe Bands To Title Fights

2010-09-09T19:52:00.002+10:00

In August 1908, Sydney was a hive of activity and excitement. On August 20, the US Navy steamed into Sydney Harbour. Dockside crowds gave the visiting US sailors an enthusiastic welcome and thousands more lined the streets to watch the crews take part in a welcoming parade. That night, the stadium opened its doors to its first audience, for a performance by the Scottish pipe band, “The Kilties.”

Adding to the excitement was the fact, that in four days time, Sydney would stage its first world heavyweight title fight. The Burns - Squires fight, however, was not the first fight to be held at the stadium. That honor fell to two North Sydney brothers, Harry and Charlie Raff. The fight was a preliminary to the main bout between Sid Russell and Peter Felix, for the NSW heavyweight championship.

Harry and Charlie were both popular lightweights and arguments raged over who was the better boxer. At the special request of fight fans, McIntosh agreed to stage a six rounds fight between the two. He stipulated that he would not allow a points decision to be made., and that any bets on the result would be decided by a majority newspaper decision. At 3pm on Friday August 20, Harry and Charlie Raff came out of their corners and began an era that would last for sixty two years. The assembled journalists made Harry an unanimous winner.

The main event was scheduled for 4pm. To help promote the forthcoming world title fight, McIntosh engaged Tommy Burns as referee. A large crowd looked forward to an exciting bout between the two well-known heavyweights.

Felix (photo) aged 42, was a veteran boxer who had been fighting for fourteen years. Born in 1866 on the West Indian island of St Croix, Felix stood 6’ 3” and weighed 12½ stones (79½ kg). In 1899 he became Australian heavyweight champion by beating Bill Doherty in seven rounds. During the course of his career he fought most of the top Australian heavyweights of the time.

His biggest moment came in February 1907. Jack Johnson had arrived in Australia with the intention of fighting Bill Squires. However, Squires had made his way to America in pursuit of Tommy Burns and Felix stepped into the breach instead. The fight took place at the Gaiety Athletic Club in Castlereagh Street and was billed as “The Colored Heavyweight Championship of The World.” Johnson demolished Felix in less than a round, having sent the unfortunate challenger to the boards three times.

The 23 year old Russell was considered a valuable standby in the days of the Gaiety Athletic Club and National Sporting club. Russell had earned a shot at

the state title by virtue of wins over leading heavyweights of the day, such as Jim Griffin and Billy McCall.

The fight was scheduled for twenty rounds and the much younger Russell was declared the winner on points. The first title fight fought at the Stadium had been decided.

Less than 18 months after beating Felix, Russell would be dead. He went to England and France, and became popular amongst fight crowds. It was in France, that a promising career, was cut tragically short. In Paris, Russell contracted cerebral meningitis and died in 1910 aged only 25.

Felix won only one more fight after his encounter with Russell and retired in 1909. In 1915 at the age of 49, he made a comeback at Broken Hill. He was knocked out in two rounds by Bill Turner and never fought again. In 1926, aged 60, he died of heart failure at his home in Sydney’s Palmer Street.

*
“The Burns Boom Is On,” declared the newspaper ads, and it certainly was. Within a few days of going on sale at Paling & Co’s Music Warehouse in George Street, almost half the tickets had been sold. Demand for tickets was also heavy in Newcastle, Melbourne and even Auckland. Reserved seating cost £5, £3, £2 and £1, whilst a limited number of unreserved seats were available at 10 shillings.

Hugh D. McIntosh, Governing Director of Scientific Boxing and Self Defence and Managing Director of Sports And Amusements Ltd, had found another money spinner. From his office in Challis House, Martin Place, he planned a campaign that made Tommy Burns and Bill Squires household names, even amongst those who were not sports minded. Twenty thousand people would pay to see his “two man show.”

Jimmy Clabby - From Golden Days to a Sad, Lonely Death

2010-09-06T19:59:00.006+10:00

Out of all the boxers who fought at Sydney Stadium in the early part of the 20th century, the charismatic, skillful and tragic Jimmy Clabby, would have to be one of my favorites.

A charmer with the ladies, dreadful with money, an inspiration to troubled kids who he encouraged and tried to set on the right path.

I wont attempt any formal structure in this post, his story can be told by various news articles. The idea of this post - and indeed the whole blog, is that it will be like rummaging through boxes in an old shop - you never know what you may find.

Place Of Birth: Norwich, Connecticut, USA
Date Of Birth: 14 July, 1890
Date Deceased: 18 Jan 1934
Height: 5’8”
Weight 158 lbs
Divisions: Middleweight, welterweight
Titles: Claimed world welterweight title (1910 -1911). Australian middle and heavyweight champion

Record:
Stadium Career Span: 1910 - 1921
Career Span: 1906 - 1923

Misc.: Known as the Lochinvar or Prince Charming Of Boxing.
Irish-American.
Managed by Emil Thiery.

Fights at Sydney Stadium

Bob Bryant ko 7 02 Nov 1910

Mark Higgins ko 8 07 Dec 1910

Ed Williams ko 11 21 Dec 1910

Dave Smith lpts 20 17 Jan 1911

Arthur Cripps ko 15 18 Nov 1911

Tim Land ko 10 23 Nov 1911

Dave Smith drew 20 09 Dec 1911

Dave Smith drew 20 24 Feb 1912

Hughie Mehegan pts 20 10 Apr 1912

Jeff Smith lpts 20 06 Jun 1914

Eddie McGoorty wf 8 04 Jul 1914

Dave Smith ko 1 01 Aug 1914

Les Darcy lpts 20 23 Oct 1915

Fritz Holland pts 20 20 Nov 1915

Mick King pts 20 01 Jan 1916

Fritz Holland pts 20 04 Mar 1916

Dave Smith pts 20 20 May 1916

Les Darcy lpts 20 09 Sep 1916

Fred Kay lpts 20 27 Oct 1916

Tommy Uren lpts 20 17 Feb 1917

Tommy Uren pts 20 28 Apr 1917

Dave Smith ko 10 26 May 1917

Albert Lloyd drew 20 11 Aug 1917

Albert Lloyd lpts 20 01 Jan 1918

Fritz Holland pts 20 12 Jul 1919

Tommy Uren lpts 20 31 Aug 1919

George Cook pts 20 27 Sep 1919

Billy Shade lf 13 09 Apr 1921

Frank Burns koby 15 10 Sep 1921

Random Jottings

• Started boxing at the age of fourteen at the request of his father.

• In the USA he defeated Mike Gibbons, Eddie McGoorty, Sailor Grande, then toured England, Australia, New Zealand.

This information was taken from New York Police Gazette. (Clabby in fact made four trips to this country.)

• Involved in argument with Snowy Baker after “Cyclone” Johnny Thompson fought Tim Land.

• Also involved in weigh in incident “Cyclone” Johnny Thompson fight with Hughie Mehegan.

• Won many titles that he never assumed.

• In 1914 when Mike Gibbons, Jeff Smith, Frank Klaus and others claimed the title, it was generally conceded by boxing writers that Clabby was the uncrowned champion. (1)

• Spent all his money. When he last left Australia and returned to Milwaukee, he had only $10 in the bank, which a bank clerk suggested he left deposited.

• Worked with a crew of concrete workers on a road gang.

• Enlisted in AIF but never left Australia.

• Immensely popular and highly regarded by other boxers and fight fans.

• Fred Kay tells a story of how when he was playing cards with Clabby, he suggested he put some money away for when he was “old and grey”. Clabby replied “Son, I ain’t going to live to be old and grey”.

• “Solar Plexus” (Will Lawless) was critical of his fighting style. Other boxers conceded he was tricky, but they still held him in high esteem.

• When asked how he twice managed to last twenty rounds with Les Darcy, he replied that he wasn’t stupid enough to hurt him.

1. This is at variance with the meticulous boxing historian Bert Cox, in his account of George Chip and Cyclone Johnny Thompson

Article from publication. Title and date unknown (approx 1934)

JIMMY CLABBY Knew His Gloves

With the exception of Mike Gibbons Jimmy Clabby was about the fastest and smoothest worker in the middleweight division in the days of not so long ago.

Gibbons was always a thorn in Clabby’s side and one niche in the pugilistic Hall of Fame that Clabby just couldn’t squeeze into.

But that doesn’t mean that Clabby wasn’t a good boy. He was, and a very good boy at that.

And Clabby, himself said and knew that he was good - so good, in fact, that following the death of Stanley Ketchell, Jimmy ballyhooed himself as the logical successor to the crown. But he was not alone in this respect. No indeed, for no less than four or five other middleweight performers thought themselves of championship caliber and forthwith began to tell the world about it.

So Clabby had to join Klaus, Gibbons, McGoorty, Darcy and Chip, in the elimination contests to see who should justly wear the crown that was taken from the great Ketchell by death.

Clabby soon found that reaching the coveted goal was no easy matter. It was a tough grind and one filled with ups and downs for Clabby - mostly downs, as this little narrative will show.

Through a long and tedious process of elimination, which lasted until the spring of 1914, the boxers see-sawed up and down on the records of various clubs throughout America and Australia. Chip cleaned up Klaus twice, and won over Papke and Jimmy Gardiner.

Clabby had won over McGoorty and then went to the West Coast. While there the fast travelling Al McCoy broke right out in front with his sensational victories over such notable fighters as Noah Brusso (Tommy Burns), Willie Lewis etc., and it was McCoy who was matched with Chip for an alleged middleweight championship title. His knock out of Chip in one round in Brooklyn, April 7, 1914, remains vivid in the memories of thousands of fans today.

The most popular Mike Gibbons was a stumbling block in the path of Clabby. In their bout on January 21, 1915, in Milwaukee, upon Jimmy’s return from the coast, the older of the two famous Gibbons boys, then in his prime, tied Clabby into seventeen kinds of knots with the thirty minutes of electrical speed that the St. Paul boxer turned on.

Following this bout with Gibbons, the records of Clabby show that none other than Young Ahearn was the next boy to slip him the rollers. In six rounds in Philadelphia the same year Ahearn battered Jimmy to a happy day.

Having been made the subject of considerable discussion over his apparently poor showing in numerous bouts at that time, Jimmy protested through the columns of the press. In his opinion Mike Gibbons was the obstacle he was forced to overcome and towards this end he offered to place a side bet of anywhere from $5000 to $25,000 that he could defeat Mike over the long route - from twenty to forty-five rounds. No championship battle should be decided in a short distance bout was Clabby’s contention.

This bout however, was never arranged for one reason or another, and the next time we hear of Clabby he had been easily outpointed in a terrible encounter with his former rival, George Chip. This was of course, after Chip had lost to McCoy.

But there was no discouraging Clabby. A match between him and Al McCoy was finally consummated. It was at the Broadway Sporting Club in Brooklyn on May 4, 1915. It was a ten round affair, and for nine rounds McCoy stood like a hitching post and kept Jimmy on the hop as he jabbed him freely. In the closing round both of them mixed it hotly with everything but the kitchen stove, and when the fracas was over and the smoke of battle and cheap cigars had cleared away, the best that Clabby pulled down for his bother was an even break.

There is an oft repeated and now ancient adage which says that “A stitch in time saves nine.” If Jimmy had minded this in 1914, about the time he defeated McGoorty, Chip and Dave Smith, he might have been a champion. He was slipping that is sure, and he must have known it too. That was the time for him to take a rest and brush up a bit. That was the time for him to take the stitch in time. Be he didn’t.

It is seldom that a boxer of any real prominence is ordered out of the ring for a stalling. Seldom have they been brought before boxing boards for obtaining money under false pretenses, which is only a direct way of stating the fact. But this happened to Jimmy Clabby and George Chip.

In the eighth round of this bout, at the St. Nicholas Athletic Club in New York, May 12, 1915, Referee Billy Roche a veteran of the ring, virtually threw Clabby and Chip out of the ring after having warned them for stalling twice. The sensation this created in boxing circles was a lasting one. The New York State Boxing Commission sat on the case, with the result that both Clabby and Chip were suspended for one month.

Not that this interfered with Clabby’s progress in the ring. Suspending his boxing for one month in New York State meant nothing. His next match was in Oshkosh with Frank Framer. His reputation had been dealt a lasting blow from which no reputation can quickly recover, even in the prize ring. Whether or not Clabby was guilty of stalling will never be known. It would be strange if a boxer would admit a charge like that. But the confidence of promoters is shaken and other boxers have reputations to maintain.

We in Australia took kindly enough to Jimmy and he again became a busy middleweight boxer. Among the boys he met here were Fritz Holland, Tommy Uren, Les Darcy, Dave Smith, Albert Lloyd, Fred Kay. Darcy was his first opponent. In twenty rounds Les, who was then heavyweight champion of the Antipodes, handed James a nifty trimming, but did not stop him.

In 1916 Clabby defeated Fritz Holland and Dave Smith each in twenty rounds in Sydney, after which he knocked out Holland in six rounds in Melbourne. This elevated him a notch or two in the estimation of the fans, so that a bout was arranged for December with Fred Kay, one of the best men we had. Kay won over Clabby in twenty spaces, drawing the draw curtain over his record for that year.

It was against Tommy Uren that Clabby fought his first battle in 1917. Twenty rounds they boxed and Uren won the decision. Then in April all of Australia was aroused over the widely exploited and loudly heralded contest which was to bring together Uren and Clabby. Jimmy was advertised here as the American champion, and when the gates were closed there were many folk present in the role of witnesses. Clabby won in twenty rounds.

With his victory he went out and knocked out Dave Smith in ten rounds, met Uren again for twenty and won again, and foolishly made the mistake of taking him on again too soon. This was the same policy he had followed in the United States and was sure to spell ruin for him. It did. Uren defeated him in their last battle of twenty rounds. Subsequently, though unimportant by this time, Clabby met Lloyd twice to a draw and a win, and then knocked out Fred Kay, who had beaten him in twenty rounds a year before.

Shortly after this engagement, in 1921, he was defeated by Billy Shade in twenty rounds. From then on he was on the down grade. In the same year he was knocked out by Frankie Burns in fifteen rounds. During 1922 he failed to chalk up a win, his best showing that year being a draw with Joe Egan in ten rounds. In 1923 he staged his last battle of any importance and for his efforts in this tussle he was rewarded by being knocked out in two rounds at the hands of Morrie Schafler in Chicago.

That was about the last act in the drama of fisticuffs in which Jimmy played an important role.

It was only recently that poor Jimmy Clabby was reported dead. It is said that he died of starvation.

Article From Unknown Publication.

Jimmy Clabby A Fast Worker!

THE CONNECTICUT YANKEE WAS FASTEST MIDDLEWEIGHT IN GAME, SAVE MIKE GIBBONS.

HE FOUGHT BETTER ON FOREIGN SOIL THAN IN THE STATES.

By OBSERVER

The “Connecticut Yankee” did not cause half as much disturbance at the Court of King Arthur as did Jimmy Clabby, a genuine Connecticut Yankee, when he betook himself to the King’s Domains in Australia on a far more modern date.

This calls to attention a peculiar fact regarding Jimmy’s record: while in this country he established himself as a leading figure in the most elite middleweight orders, but always something would happen at the psychological moment to check his progress toward a really outstanding position.

Yet, as soon as he arrived in the Antipodes he embarked upon a busy career which carried him onward and upward to the championship of the lands down under. True enough he did not hold the diadem very long, but one thing must be said in his favour - he was a real fighting champion while he lasted, giving the former title holder two return bouts in short order, the latter of which saw the title return to the ex-champion from whom Jimmy had taken it.

The quick passage of the title from the hands of the Connecticut man bespeaks his greatest falling. Jimmy - oh that the gods would give us a few like him these days - liked to fight too much. He burned himself out by working too hard in his too frequent matches, and just at the times he should have taken vacations to rest and recuperate from the strenuous exertion of his many battles, he would foolishly dig up a bout with some dangerous battler, and trouble aplenty would be forthcoming immediately for Mr. James Clabby

It was his utter disregard of common-sense procedure which prevented him from winning the world’s championship. In 1914, after he had beaten McGoorty, Chip and Dave Smith, he should have rested a bit before attempting further progress. Instead, however, he tackled Mike Gibbons early in 1915, and the things Mike did to him did not help his mental or physical condition at all.

Young Ahearn next gave him the rollers and a bit later George Chip handed him another like dose. Not at all discouraged, Clabby met Al McCoy, recognised title holder, for the championship, May 4, 1915. Had Jimmy been in the condition he knew at the time of his victories in the previous year he doubtless would have won the title, but as it turned out, the best he could earn was a draw. That fight was his noblest effort against the world’s middleweight crown.

Eight days after drawing with the champion, Jimmy took on his old rival, George Chip in New York, but the fight was not so hot. The referee threw the men out of the ring in the eighth round for stalling, and the commission suspended them for a month. Clabby headed west and met Frank Farmer at Oshkosh, Wis., but his reputation had been greatly lowered by the New York incident.

Jimmy then sailed for Australia and once there became the busy boy of old. His first battle was with Les Darcy, and James came out an indisputable second. That was a poor start, but the following year, 1916, Clabby beat Fritz Holland and Dave Smith each in twenty rounds, and later knocked out the former in six.

These victories increased his stock a few points and he was matched with Fred Kay, one of Aussie’s best. Kay won in twenty rounds. The year 1917 saw Darcy forsake his native shore and Australian title in favor of the States, leaving Tommy Uren as his logical successor. Tommy took a twenty round decision from Clabby early

that year, but in April they were rematched “for the Australian title.” The public seemed to like the idea all right, for they turned out nicely to see the American win the battle.

Clabby, fighting man that he was, went out in short order and knocked out Dave Smith in ten, beat Uren again in twenty, and - foolishly - gave the former title holder an immediate second return bout. This time Tommy took him for a ride over the twenty round decision route, and the defeat spelled curtains for the American.

Of course, Clabby later fought - and defeated - some other men, but his sun had set with Uren’s final victory, and such other showings as the Connecticut Yankee made were but faint reflections of the once considerable glory and brilliance with which he had shone.

Clabby, born in Norwich, Conn., July 14, 1890, had begun fighting at the age of sixteen, and at the time Stanley Ketchell passed from the picture in 1910, leaving the middleweight crown vacant. Jimmy was one of the leading contenders for it. But there were other claimants Klaus, Gibbons, McGoorty, Chip being the leading ones - and Clabby lacked just a little in the final analysis of being the best of the bunch. But he was a good man, a fighter and a credit to the sport.

Only one cloud remained in the sky after Clabby’s active career finally came to a close in Australia, and that was the charge of stalling with Chip in their New York bout. That one blemish is well nigh hidden from sight by the brilliance of his active, fighting record of some fourteen years

Extract From “Tommy Uren’s Life Story” (Bert Cox Collection, book 39)

· “Clabby never fought with “devil”. He was not the killer type. After a hectic rally he would pass some remark, generally paying his opponent a compliment for a good punch or cleverness.”

· “He could take an adverse decision as well as anyone I know.”

· “He was a likable fellow out of the ring. I consider he was responsible for the big boom in boxing more than any other. Not only was he the complete artist in the ring, he imparted his knowledge to many young fellows in the gymnasium.”

· “He assured every boy who sparred with him that he would not hurt. And he went to a lot of trouble to teach local sparring partners moves they had never dreamt off.”

· Clabby could grip the imagination of young fighters. He was the idol of hundreds. He did not worry about decisions or money. I have seen him giving away his money with a freedom that he showed he never thought that there was a tomorrow.

· Wherever he went, he radiated happiness and lifted the tone of boxing. He was never known to run anyone down in the game. He could say nice things about people when they were saying nasty things about him.

· Although Will Lawless, (“Solar Plexus”), trounced Clabby for some of his tricks in the ring, Clabby always declared that Mr. Lawless was a fine old gentleman who knew boxing.

· It was useless to argue with him on decisions. All Clabby would say would be, “Sonny, if you don’t think the referee an honest man, object to him before the fight.”

Extracts of Letter From Jimmy Clabby To Jim McDonald “The Referee” app. 1933

It’s freezing here and there’s a blizzard blowing…What would I give to be on Bondi Beach today with the sun shining and the warm sand and blue sky, and the boys shooting the waves…I’m coming back.

Article date 21 Jan, 1934, from the “New York Times” by Nathan Simms.

JIMMY CLABBY DEAD, ONCE NOTED AS BOXER
Fought Here, in London and in Australia -
Squandered Earnings of $500,000
HAMMOND, Ind., Jan 19 (AP)-

The body of Jimmy Clabby, a quarter of a century ago recognised as the uncrowned welterweight champion of the world, and later one of the greatest middleweights, was found dead in a dilapidated hovel on the edge of Calumet City, near Hammond his home town. He died of starvation and exposure. He was 43 years old.

He had lived in this shack since his complete downfall two years ago, after the death of his father, a former saloonkeeper here.

Clabby had dissipated the fortune estimated at $500,000 earned in the ring. He fought from New York to Sydney, Australia, and in London. He made a trip around the world in 1910.

He achieved fame in Australia, returning there again in 1914 and winning several twenty round engagements. He won the Australian middleweight championship in 1917 by defeating Tommy Uren in twenty rounds and fought the same opponent three other twenty rounders that year.

In this country he fought middleweights and light heavyweights alike. Among his opponents were Mike Gibbons, Eddie McGoorty, George Chip, Dixie Kid, Paddy Lavin, Jimmy Gardner, Dave Barry, the Chicago referee who decided the Dempsey-Tunney fight at Chicago; Mike (Twin) Sullivan and all comers regardless of weight.

Clabby proudly boasted that he had never been knocked down or out. He violated all rules of training and his usual preparations for a fight was “A shave and a drink,”.

He is survived by his mother and three brothers, also his widow and three children, whose whereabouts are not known.

The following article is taken from The Hammond Times Jan 19, 1934 and obtained from the Indiana State Library, Indianappolis, USA.

CLABBY ONCE RING KING DEAD
HAMMOND MAN WON FAME AND FORTUNE

However, Death Found Him Today In Pennilless Circumstances

James “Jimmy” Clabby, welterweight boxing champion of the world about twenty years ago, died suddenly at 10.15 o’clock this morning in a squalid, ill-furnished buildingat 217 Plummer Avenue, Calumet City.

He passed away in the arms Dr. Alva A. Young, of Hammond, one of Jimmy’s early backers.

Broken in health, dependent for a livelihood on the charityfriends and suffering from the ravages of disease caused by under-nourishment and liquor, Jimmy was only a ghost of the young man who took the world by storm with his consummate mastery at boxing more than two decades ago.

CAREERS SAD ENDING

It was a sad ending for a man who had won thousands of dollars in the prize ring - a man who had once owned a string of thoroughbread racing horses and who was the toast of a doting nation.

Jimmy was unconscious when Dr. Young arrived at the place in response to a call from other “down-and-outers” living in the building.

He died without recognizing Dr. Young or any of his old pals surrounding him.

Jimmy was born in Norwich Conn., 42 years ago. His father, well-known in Hammond as “Pop” Clabby, was an iron worker and came to Moline Ill. In 1898 on a job. The family followed him. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Minneapolis.

The family finally settled in Est Chicago in 1901 where “Pop” Clabby, went to work for the Republic Iron and Steel company. A few years later they took up their residence in Hammond.

PLENTY OF ENCOURAGEMENT

About that time, Jimmy began to show considerable proficiency as a boxer. He was encouraged by Dr. Young and other sportsmen of the city.

Jimmy finally reached the zenith of his career in 1910 when he was crowned the welterweight champion after defeating Jimmy “Dixie Kid” Gardener.

There followed a triumphal tour through the United States. Clabby soon amassed a fortune. Then he went to Australia where he became the middleweight champion and won another fortune. He purchased a string of race horses at that time and also set up his dad in the famous Hammond saloon which became famous throughout the country as “Pop Clabby’s Place,” Some of the leading sports lights of the United States paid visits to the saloon.

Jimmy finally returned to the United States with a beautiful Australian bride and after a short tour of the principal cities in the west, he came to Hammond where he was acclaimed as Hammond’s own.

AGE AND LEGS

Age and the inevitable end of boxers - aging legs - soon forced Jimmy from the ring. He lost considerable money on his race horses. That was the beginning of his adversity. From then on, the once-famous idol of millions of boxing fans began to decline in health. His fortune diminished rapidly.

In recent years, Jimmy finally went broke. His wife left him and he suffered the humiliation of being forced to beg from his friends.

About two years ago “Pop Clabby” was killed in an automobile accident at East Chicago. Jimmy was so affected by the tragic loss of his beloved father that he never was the same.

His last two years were pitiful things for the former boxing king. He scarcely managed to exist, depending on food and liquor on the kindness of his friends. His death today brings to a close a career that covered far-flung wealth and abject poverty.

The following article is taken from The Hammond Times dated Jan 20, 1934, and obtained from the Indiana State Library, Indianappolis, USA.

FRIENDS GALORE FILE PAST CLABBY BIER

Death did not rob James “Jimmy” Clabby of the host of friends he made while he was the welterweight and middleweight champion of the world over 20 years ago; for they filed past his bier in Burns’ chapel on South Hohman Avenue, Hammond throughout the day, drying tear-stained eyes.

The Body will lie in state at the chapel until 2 o’clock Monday afternoon when funeral services will be held. Burial will be in Ridgelawn Cemetery. The funeral will be public and is expected to be attended by many of the famous people whom Jimmy knew initmately in his prime.

Surviving are the widow, Phylis; three children, James Patsy, and Phylis; four brothers, John Richard, and Lawrence of Hammond, and William of Chicago, and two sisters, Mrs James Bambrough, of Hobart, and Mrs Herman Homan of Hammond.

Jimmy died yesterday morning in Calumet City at 42 years of age. He was born in Norwich Conn. During his colourful life, he ran the gamut of riches and want.

Many of the persons whom he befriended and aided in his days of prosperity, remembered him in death with touching floral tributes. Others , unable to buy flowers, paid their respects in person. They shed loving tears over his silent form.

Jimmy was one of the greatest welterweight and middleweight boxers of his day. He fought them all and defeated most of them with ease. He appeared in aboxing exhibition before a king, fought in virtually every principal nation in the world, and was primarily responsible for popularising the sport in Australia.
While in the latter country, he won the middleweight championship and amassed a

fortune. He ran astable o thoroughbred horses and entertained lavishly.

Adversity overtook him in later years, until at last he knew want and deprivation. He was found dead yesterday morning by Dr. Alva A. Young, one of his early backers.

SIMPLE SERVICES FOR CLABBY

Simple funeral services for Jimmy Clabby, Hammond’s bid for fame in the prize fightworld, drew a crowd of about 300 relatives and friends this afternoon at the Burns funeral home.

Organ music and vocal selections by Berger Wedberg, night club and radio entertainer, were followed by the funeral sermon which was delivered by Rev. Frank Watkin, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene.

Recognized in the crowd were: Tom Sheehan, fight promoter; Johnny Coulon, former bantamweight cahmpion and Ollie O’Niell, well known fight fan of South Chicago.

Pall bearers were old friends the dead ring champion, John F. Laws, Walter Green, Tom Croak, Harry Kennedy, Art Kiestler, Joe and Ed Cross. Internment was in Ridgelawn cemetery.