BOXING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 21, 23 December 1925, Page 7

BOXING.

(By “Flush Left.”)

Last week Tim Sullivan, who recontly returned to Sydney, was quoted in this column as an authority ior pointing out that, in spite ot a cablegram to the contrary, all was still well with Grifiio, the oldtime boxing marvel. Tim (“Sully”) Sullivun has figured as a raccnorso owner in ling-land, and “hu3 seen men of renown in sport and big cities, and big things,” but he will probably find most interest in the eyes of Australian fight fans as the man who succeeded, where others had failed, in persuading wonderful Les. Darcy to make his ill-fated voyage to America. The war was at its height at the time, nnd passport requirements were given no heed. Darcy wns returning homo from Brisbane, where he had just defeated Dave Smith, when he met Sullivan, and, during the long train journey, the subject of the enormous fortune thut was to be made in the United States by Darcy was introduced, and well discussed. No decision was reached, as Darcy had promised to enlist if tho consent of his parents could bo obtained. About a month later Sullivan advised Daroy by ’phone that he could arrange for the pair to bo taken to America for £l5O, and thoy were duly hidden away on the Hatty I.uckenback. In a letter written in American by Darcy, he explains to a friend in Australia the whole manner of the “getaway.” “After meeting Sullivan we took a taxi and drove to Stockton. On arrival at tho wharf we were met by an individual, who smuggled us aboard without any trouble. Ho stowed us away in tho hold under a ton of sails, which almost crushed the life out of us. All through the night we lay in these unsavoury quarters, but I was tired out, and slept well. At 8 a.m. the soldiers came ion board to look for stowaways. They had no chance of finding us, and the hunt made by the officers of tho ship later on proved equally fruitless. Before long we received a visit from our friend on board. He led us to a place they called the pantry, and told us we would be all right there for a day or two, Wo had a little trouble at Tal Tal, as the captain is supposed to put off stowawys at tho first port of call, and of courso he did so with us. However, we were only there for a day and a half when we fixed up with the agent for a big oil company tio take us to New York for £52. Tex. Rickard hired a tug and came out to meot us, and soon tho oil boat was surrounded by tugs filled with fight promoters and vaudeville managers, newspaper men, photographers, and others, all clamouring to see us. We got aboard Tex Rickard’s tug, and very soon I found myself on American soil at last.” Good care was taken that Les Darcy should not profit by finding himself “on American soil at last,” and on May 24th, 1917, he passed away at Memphis, aged 21 yours. On June 26 his body lay in a Sydney mortuary, and during the time it rested there thousands of men, women and children visited and paid it homage, and slowly passed on. One hundred thousand persons stood round tho picturesque cemetery at West Maitland, while all that remained of one of the greatest boxers that ever lived was quietly committed to tho grave. Much for and against may bo put forward regarding his ill-advised journey to the United States. Fame and fortune seemed within his grasp, and the temptation to close on them was more than could have been withstood by many who condemned him.

Les Darcy’s first public appearunce was made on August 8, 1911, at the West Maitland Town Hall, when he was but fiftoen years old. It was in a preliminary bout to tho Billy Hannan-Charley Raff contest, und Les won. (Billy Hannan was afterwards brought over to Now Zealand by tho Wellington Boxing Association to meot popular Tim Tracey). A Newcastle boxing tournament the next year saw Darcy clean up all competitors, and Les O’Donnell, who acted as referee, said then, and repeated it to Sydney boxing writers, that Darcy had the makings of a world’s champion. Fighting often and winning always till October 25, 1913, Darcy thon took on his toughest proposition to date in hard-hitting Billy McNabb, and won on points at the expense of badlyinjured hands. Nine days afterwards, without waiting fior his hands to mend, lie lost on points to Bob Whitelaw, then tho best welterweight in Australia. More victories followed, among the victims being Billy Hannan and Englishman Juck Ularko. At long lust tho i.B-year-old West Maitland youngster was stacked up against crafty Fritz Holland at the Stadium in Sydney and was outgeneralled, losing ion a points decision, .again they met, and just when Darcy appeared to bo putting the finishing touches on his experienced nvul in mu l/in round lie swung an accidental low leit and was instantly uisquaiineii. iNow under Dave Smith’s skilful handling, Darcy whs last snowing remaikaulo improvement, particularly in the delivery oi a Weighty ulow. On August o, lUJ.'t, tne mueii-uuumed French middleweight, "iv.O." rVlarclland, took the count in Uiu light; and uuring tho loilowmg rsovehUier Berman-American Christie, who Had had a ton-round decision m the States over Eddie McGoorty, lost to the W est Maitland youtli. Tne Welshman, Fred Dyer, was tne next victim. Un Junuary 25, IUiO, worid-lumed Jett smith, while being hard pressed by Darcy in the filth, struck low. und Darcy’s second, Davo Smith, threw m the towel when a aoul was relused. American b lank Loughrey was the next compelled to strike nis colours; and on April o, 1915, tho Belgian boxer, Henri Demlin, was beaten in the fifth. Wily Fritz Holland then sued for another contest, knowing full well that in tho loser’s end with Darcy there was more to be gained than in the winner’s with another, and ion May 1, 1915, he lost to tho Australian wonder in tho thirteenth, despito tile exercise of all his lamed skill in ail effort to see out tho twenty rounds. Bofore 12,000 fans Jeii Smith again entered the ring with Darcy at Rushcutter’s Bay, on May 22, 1915; but on this occasion the referee put Smith out on a foul in the second. A fellow countryman in Alick King was next defoated, (It is to bo known that Darcy tried to enlist, but was turned down on account of his age). Tho “Oshkosh Terror,” worldrenowned Eddie Mcdoorty, wus tho next to lose against Darcy. "The succeeding victim was the inuch-boomed American, Billy Murray; and the booming will be understood when it is explained that his manager was Jack Kearns. (Jack, with his usual eye to business, endeavoured to secure Darcy for an American tour). Fred Dyer next took tho sloop potion passed him by Darcy. Then came what may bo considered Les Darcy’s severest task to date in tho form of a contest with Jimmy Clabby, out of which the Australian youtli emerged tho victor. Billy Murray was settled in six. On December 27, 1915, Darcy and McGoorty again met, and tho latter had said that he would boost Darcy as the champion of champions if ho won, und 17,000 people saw McGoorty dazed and beaten in the eighth. The tough Italian from America, “K. 0.” Brown, was tho next to collect tho loser’s end; and Darcy then added popular Harold Hardwick to his casualty fist. It took six to settle any claim Les O’Donnell considered he possessed, and on April 8 “K.O.’’ Brown’s hopes wore again shattered. Others beaten were the Roumanian Gosticu, Buck Crouso (America), Dave Smith and Clabby (second time). America’s classy boxer, George Chip, next proved easy for Daroy, being outed in the ninth. Such was Darcy’s brilliant record.

COLOURED MIDDLEWEIGHT. GOING TO AUSTRALIA. LONDON, Dec. 8. Len Johnson, the Manchester coloured middleweight, had been undefeated for a year when he was surprisingly beaten at The Ring, Black- \ frinj\c.‘ last night, by Jack Hood, i:

his last contest before beginning his Australian tour. Hood was the aggressor from the start. Ho shook Johnson .with two left hooks in the sixth round. Johnson then improved, ana the points wero even, until the 17th, when Hood scored with both hands to the head. Hood finished a narrow but popular winner.