OLD-TIME BOXING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 187, 9 August 1941, Page 4 (Supplement)

OLD-TIME BOXING

When Dick Forgie Beat Jack Nicholson A 'TTENTION to errors in the refet-- • ence to the boxing contest in ' 1893 between Dick Forgie and Jack Nicholson, in the course of the ; article last Saturday on Auckland boxing history, has been drawn by Mr. Henry Forgie. It was incor- 1 rectly stated that Nicholson won,' whereas the verdict went to Forgie on a foul in the 35th round. i Mr. Forgie states that the winner, who was his brother, had promised his father that the bout with Nicholson would be his last. The day after the bout the two brothers were on the baker's run, but young Forgie (he was 21) became ill and died on April 24, thirteen days after the fight. The deceased boxer was named Richard Campbell Forgie, but fought under the name of Campbell. The "Star" of April 12, 1893, referred to the bout as follows:—"A glove contest took place in the Zealand ia Rink last night between R. 'Campbell' and Nicholson for £25 aside. Though the prices of admission were four shillings and two shillings, the building was packed to its utmost capacity, many having to be turned away, some even climbing on the rafters for vantage spots. It would perhaps be as well if the police enforced the by-laws respecting crowded houses on such occasions After a protracted fight of 35 rounds lasting till 1 a.m., Campbell was awarded the win on a foul About tGO was wagered in the building upon the result, the betting starting at 10 to l on Nicholson This quickly fell to 3 to 1, and on the conclusion of the fourth round was even money." Mr. Henry Forgie savs that there was £100 aside at stake. The Last Round The evidence at the inquest showed that in the last round Forgie wns knocked on to the ropes. Nichoi-1 son put his hand on his opponent's shoulder and pulled him off. Frank Burns, one of Forgie's seconds immediately sang out "a foul," which the referee, Mr. Lindsay Cooke allowed, and awarded the fight to F orgie.