BOXER WHO MADE GOOD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 115, 20 May 1918, Page 1

BOXER WHO MADE GOOD.

(Sergeant Dick Burge, former , lightweight- boxing champion «>f England, •died at Golder's Green, London, from pneumonia after less thjiji a week's 111— • nass. Combining great powers of hitting •'with remarkable quickness, Burge, when he boxed l at his proper weight, was never beaten. When Kid Lavigne, tho American, beat him in tho 17th round of a most strenuous content tor the world's ■ ' championship at tlje National Sporting Club in 1895., Burge. had 1 wasted hard to ,-■• get down to the weight, and his strength. . gave 1 out before his spiiit.. In 1902 Burge was sentenced to 10 years for taking part with Goudie in. the Tivprpool bank frauds. When ho "rame out' after serving 71 years his friends gave him a helping hand. Hebecame chief proprietor of The Ring, Blackfriars and did well. (Early in thewar he enlisted in the Curvey Rifles and, becoming a sergeant, did valuable recruiting work. About," 4000 people attended H.he .funeral Mai'vlcbmie Church was crowded, and llieiv" was a large attendance, ao 'Holders Green, where / tho ashes were buried with military honours. .Followin"- tho coffin, :Mf. Tom ATaenaughtan, tho variety artist, led, Burge s dotf "Betty." An escort was provided, »>y his comrades of the Military Foot Police The 21st Londoit Regiment, to which he was formerly attached, w Tlso represented. About 250 wraths were sent. Burge's widow received a , Home of Commons a low daw ago. Ho i,S 9 a«« from the King and Qiteeri •expressing sympathy with her in her ber.ea vemeut.