BOXING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1098, 27 April 1911, Page 10

BOXING.

THE CAREER OF BILLY MURPHY. LIVELY RING REMINISCENCES. A CHAT WITH THE EX-CHAMPION. Among Auckland’s roll of honour in the world of sport there is one name that the athletic enthusiast will never tire of br.ngingup when trie (conversation turns to stirring contests in which New Zealanders have won fame in days gone by, and that name is Billy Murphy, ex-featherweight champion boxer of the world. Seldom has any boxer, or athlete for that matter, had such a remarkable career as this redoubtable warr Or of the roped arena, who set out with a determination to win championship honours in the fistic world,, and despite a great uphill struggle carr ed out his ardent desires to the very letter. Though placed at a big disadvantage as the resell of a serious injury susta ned to his hand in the early part of his career, Billy Murphy never faltered in his purpose, and his many battles, extending over a period of 27 years, all tell the same story of a fighter, whose skill, gameness and wonderful capacity for taking pun’shment enabled him to climb to the top rung of the pugilistic ladder. For it must, be remembered that Murphy was one of the lightest boxers that ever fought before the public, and so completely did he assert his superiority over opponents in his own class that he was pitted against men of all weights, so that his record is a most meritorious one. There were times when the whirlwind “Billy,” bruised and battered almost beyond recogn tion and to all appearances beaten, would rouse himself like a wounded Ilion, and with a final effort send in his famous, right swing with lightning speed and down would go his opponent, to be counted out, amid a scene of consternation. It was on occasions like this that the fight-lov ng public were able to judge for themselves the real worth of 'his invincible Auckland boxer and over confident supporters of the other man more often than not received a rude shock. In the days when Billy Murphv was in his prime as a boxer, the fistic, business was on a very different footing to what it is now, and instead of the £5,000 purse which :s offered to champions in the lighter classes nowadays, good boxers were then to be found who would willingly hammer one another into a state of insensibil'ty for a paltry £2O- Had the same conditions prevailed with regard to the financial side of the business when Murphy was at the zenith of his career, as are held forth to the presentday boxer, it would be safe to say that the Aucklander would to-day be a wealthy man. Instead, however, Billy Murphy, though in employment, is not too well served with this world’s goods, and there can be.no doubt that such a plucky fellow is deserving of a luckier turn of fortune’s wheel. Billy Murphy first saw the light in 1863, Auckland being his birthplace. When quite a young fellow he joined an engineer cadet corps, of which Capt. White, who now bolds the rank of Major in the territorial forces, was then in charge. Murphy was in the corps for about two years, and it was as a cadet that he gained his first experience with the gloves. A number of the boys had a room set apart for boxing, and their leisure time was spen 1 in sparring with one another, but Murphy was always too clever for his companions, whom he easily outpointed n the friendly bouts in which they engaged. His first fight of any importance was + he result of an altercation which he had one evening in Queen Street with Jack O’Meagher. The row led to the pair arranging to settle their difference by fighting it out at the Auckland Domain- The contest was fought in a shady little spot amidst the trees, there being a fair number of onlookers present. It was a bareknuckle fight, and was fiercely contested, Murphy winning in 45 . minutes. He was then matched against Frank Burns (now the genial proprietor of the Ellerslie Hotel), this being the year 1882, and the contest duly came off at the Lome Street Hall before a packed house. The match is noteworthy by the fact that both men made their first appearance in the ring on this particular night. Burns proved by far the cleverer boxer, but Murphy .gradually wore him down, eventually scoring a knockout in the sixth round. The next man Billy Murphy was pitted against was W. M. O’Brien, the

Parnell boxer, the contest taking place a: the Theatre Royal. After four rounds of fighting Murphy succeeded in rendering his opponent hors-de-combat as the result of a clever knockout. This was in 1883, and following the O’Brien fight he met Barney Donovan for £2O aside at the Theatre Royal, the latter being declared the victor in the eleventh round. He then met Jack Gallagher, a big fellow weighing over 12st., and better known as “Hobartown Jack.” Mr. Dick Matthews referee ng the contest. In the third round Alurphy broke his hand, but continued to fight despite the great handicap. Gallagher leaving the ring in the twelfth round and not getting back in the stipulated 10 seconds, the decision was given to Murphy. Four contests next claimed Murphy’s attention in Auckland, in all of which he was successful. He defeated W. Burt in three rounds. Chas. Carter in three, W. J. Gardner (fought in Alt. Eden Hall) in three, and Walter Evans also in three rounds. Murphy then made the trip across o Sydney, and his first fight in the Commonwealth was with “Brum” Fuiler, who he disposed of by the knockout route in 13 rounds. A return match followed, and agam Murphy was victorious, repeating his performance of putting his opponent to slumber in the unlucky thirteenth- Both of these contests were fought in Sydney at Larry Foley’s. Sam Stewart, one of the best knuckle fighters of that, period, was then matched against Murphy, but he met his Waterloo, being put out in the seventeenth round. The result was a big surprise to Sydneyites, who were confident that Stewart would win. Following this Murphv beat Loth W. F. King and W. B. Johnson, victory in each instance be’ng gained In the third round.

Young Mitchell, of California, champon middleweight of the Pacific Coast, (U.S.), being in Sydney at that time, it was decided to give Murphy an opportunity of testing his boxing ablities against a much heavier opponent, and this he consented to do. Although Murphy sent Mitchell to Che boards for 8 seconds in the first round, after that he hao considerable trouble with his broken band, and as be was getting beaten. Air. Foley, the referee, stooped the contest, Young Mitchell being declared the winner. B llv Murphy then r< turned to Auckland, where he accepted an engagement to fight Chas. Taylor, who had been brought nut from America by Dick Matthews. The contest took place in the old Agricultural Hall, Murphy beating Taylor in 12 rounds. Murphy’s next match was in Wellington, where he met Brooks, whom he put out in 7 rounds- He then fought W. C. Allen, of Petone. and won the match in the seventh round. His next opponent was Harry Laing, a heavyweight who had beaten Joe Goddard, and the contest between the pair was fought at Wanganui and ended in a draw after three rounds’ fighting.

Murphy’s next encounter was at Dunedin, where he met J. Fadders and knocked him out in two rounds. Shortly after a return match took place :n the Otago capital, Fadders succumbing to a knockout in the first round. Billy Murphy then visited Hastings for the purpose of meeting Bill Mitchell, whom he defeated in 4 rounds. A battle with Ike Fake in Wellington followed, Murphy proving victorious in the third round. Murphy was now regarded as a powerful factor in boxing circles throughout New Zealand, and arrangements were made for him to meet Brooks and Parker in the one night at Wellington, the stipulation being that to win the match he had to each man in four rounds. In the event of his opponents standing up to him for the four rounds, the whole of the purse was to be taken by the successful one. However, Murphy accomplished his ends, administering a sleeping ionic to Parker in the third round, and disposing of Brooks in the initial round. Thence he journeyed to Dunedin, where he met J. Ford, a man-’o’-wars-man, whom he defeated in 11 rounds. Murphy then sailed for Sydney, and for several months after landing he was kept extremely busy. He defeated Saxon in four rounds, drew ‘with Jack Hall in eight rounds, defeated Jerry Marshall (who had beaten “Griffo”) in one round, knocked Basket out in three rounds, and beat W. Smith in eight rounds. In 1887 he went up to Melbourne, where Ben Seth, lightweight champion of England, was on the lookout for a likely opponent. There was nobody, however, willing to meet the Englishman, so Billy Murphy elected to fill the breach. Though he succeeded in flooring Seth in the first round with a

right to the side of the head. Murphysuffered defeat at the end of six rounds. An agreement was then entered into for a match with “Griffo,” in which Murphy was to give him £5 if he stayed four rounds. The contest which was arranged with a view of sending Murphy to ‘Frisco, was fought in Melbourne, Joe Thompson, the well-known bookmaker, acting as referee. Before the gong sounded to commence operations, Murphy remarked to his opponent: “You must stay the four rounds, Griffo, or you don’t get the flver!” whereupon the latter left the ring, but the referee called him back and handed him a £5 no x e, and the fight proceeded. Returning to Dunedin via Hobart, B|illy Murphy fought several small contests during a tour through the Dominion.. On his arrival in Auckland he was matched against Simmonds, but the promoters were unable to obtain a hall in the cfity, as the Mayor ha d prohibited boxing within the city limits. However, the difficulty was soon surmoun x ed, the Mt. Eden Hall being engaged for the contest. There was a good gathering of sporting men present, including Jack Chaafe, the veteran trainer, Frank Burns, Barney Donovan and many others- The fight resulted in nothing short of a farce, Murphy sending his man to the floor with a solid punch, and Simmonds absolutely refusing to get up on his feet asain. To reach ‘Frisco, the boxers’ rendezvous, was now Murphy’s chief aim, and lie snipped aboard the Zealandia, working his passage to America with Tom James, the chief steward. It is interesting to note that Billy Murphy went aboard the ’Frisco boat at a little over an hour’s notice. When he landed at ‘Frisco on June 7, 1889, he was sent to a place across the Bay named Saucelatto, an ideal locality for training operations. Warren, who had been engaged to fight Johnny Griffin, backing out of the agreement, Murphy was substituted, and the Aucklander won his first contest in America by knocking Griffin out in three rounds. His next match m ’Frisco was with Frank Murphy at the California Athletic Club. The fight started at nine o clock on the night of July 30, 1889, and the pair fought on till one o’clock next morning. In the th rd round Billy Murphy seriously injured his right hand as the result of a smashing blow which sent his opponent down almost for the count- As early as the seventh round the Aucklander was practically d sabled through breaking his arm across his opponent’s forehead, but nevertheless went on with the encounter. He was ana ole to do any fighting, so. resorted to defensive tactics in the hope that his opponent would tire himself out. In the 20th round the referee ordered Billy Murphy to do some fighting, and it being most important that the decision should not be given against him, as the result would have some bearing on h's future career, he remonstrated with the official, and the contest proceeded. Again in the 2 1 th round the referee, who was still .in ignorance as to the extent of Billy Murphy’s injuries, stopped the fight and repeated his warning, but the Aucklander asked him to make Frank Murphy (who was thoroughly fatigued) to fight also. Eventually as both men were not in a fit state to continue, the referee announced “Gentlemen, No contest!” On learning of his game showing under painful circumstances the Club decided to give Billy Murphy his part of the purse. Despite the injuries received to his hands in his last battle, Murphy fought “Spider” Weir inside of six weeks. It was in this contest that the Aucklander received a terrible battering, reeling helplessly about the ring and ready to drop- Weir, whether through carelessness, or moved by sudden pity for Murphy’s condition, let up in his straight-arm, jab-volley-jing attack for an instant in the thirteenth round, and backed away. He half turned as he did so, and in that single instant Murphy braced himself and sent his right whirling through the air. It landed with a crash on Weir’s jaw, and the “Spider” crashed to the boards Immediately afterWeir cabled to the Police News in Boston after the contest: “Lost fight; this fellow too tough.” This battle was for a 2,250 dollar purse, and the world’s featherweight championsh'p title, the winner to take the whole of the stake, and receive the Richard Fox Challenge Belt. Billy Murphy, therefore, was the first boxer to take the Belt out of the Police Gazette office in New York, and as the beaten man (Weir) was in desperate financial straits he made him a present of £IOO.

Tommy Warren was Murphy’s next opponent, the fight taking place at ‘Frisco on March 14, 1890. Murphy had a 500 dollars bet with Sammy Sacks, a big ’Frisco merchant, that be would stop Warren in four rounds, which he did, the third round see ng the finish. Murphy was then pitted against Tommy White, one of the cleverest boxers in the States, and he put the American out in three punches, the contest lasting only ten seconds. Later on White met and defeated “Griffo,” while he also fought Dixon and the best boxers in New York.

Billy Murphy returned to Auckland on June 28, 1890, but soon found his way over to Sydney, and made a match with “Griffo-” He was not in a fit condition for a hard contest, and was fighting very slow, “Griffo” having all the best of it. Realising that he was a beaten man, Murphy gave up in the fifteenth round. He then went to Broken Hill, where he drew with Dummy Mace in eight rounds, beat Pat Carroll in four rounds, and knocked Nipper Peakes out in six rounds. A contest with Jim Burge, also at Broken Hill saw the Aucklander beaten in the thirtieth round after a hard contest. The r.ng in Sydney next claimed his attention, and in a match with “Griffo” he lost on a foul in the 22nd round

through hitting in a clinch. In a contest at the Sydney Athletic Club he knocked out Bill Jennings in two rounds. His next encounter in Sydney was with Jim Burge, his former conqueror, and after the fight had gone 29 rounds the referee declared it to be no contest. It had been arranged that the fight was to be to a finish, and as neither man was able to knock the other out the referee was obliged to take the course he d d. Murphy then took a trip to Newcastle, where he knocked out Chris Cunningham in two rounds. A match being fixed to take place in Melbourne on January 23, 1.892 between Billy Murphy and “Griffo,” the latter quietly slipped away before the day of the fight, leaving Murphy, who had put in three weeks’ solid training, in the lurch- A couple of months later Billy Murphy sailed for America, and met Johnny Murphy at Boston on May 31. The contest was for a 1250 dollar purse, and resulted in a

draw, the Aucklander breaking his hand again and being unable to stop his opponent. A second meeting with Tommy White at the Pacific Athletic Club,' San Francisco, was Murphy’s next venture. Jn this fighi, which was declared no contest after 32 rounds, proceedings were stopped in the third round and all bets cancelled, the officials reckoning that Murphy was not trying to put his opponent out, and the Aucklander received nothing out of the takings.

On February 6, 1893, Murphy met Johnny Griffin in New York for a 3500 dollar purse, and was knocked out in the seventh round. He next met Ed. Listman at Newark, O.J. on July 17, adding anothei’ victory to his long list of winning battles- After Listman had been allowed to come to after a knockout, he scrambled to his feet, and securing a grip of Murphy threw him to the floor and jumped with his knees on to the latter’s body, breaking two of the Aucklander’s ribs. Murphy then went to Brooklyn to fulfil his engagement with Jack Grace, the Globe Trotter, whom he had out in the third round, but the police interfered, and no decision was given. Before leaving Brooklyn he fought Jack Collins, and scored a knockout in the second round. He then travelled to Boston, and met Ike

(“Spider”) Weir for the second time. Whilst he was making a punch at Weir in the sixth round, the “Spider” sidestepped, with the result that Murphy shot through the ropes, falling heavily on his head, and as he was not back in the ring in the stipulated time the decision was awarded against him. When engaged in a con L est with George Dixon, at Paterson, N.J. on December 15, 1893, Murphy was punching his opponent up against the ropes when he was tackled by the referee, and the police stopped the fight in the third round. His first contest in 1894 was w’th Johnny Breslin, whom he knocked out at Boston on February 10 in two rounds. A few months later he boxed eight rounds with “Griffo,” the latter getting the decision. Many fights followed in rapid succession, and Murphy’s showing clearly demonstrated that he was at the top of his form. At Cincinnati he defeat-

ed Anthony Lefevre' in the second round, while he fought a ten-rounds’ draw in New York with Jerry Barnet. At Philadelphia he knocked out the “Ktentucky Rosebud (who previous to this had beaten Dixon in a four rounds’ contest) in three rounds. On January 3, 1895 he met Frank Machiewski, a German-Pole boxer, at Cincinnati, and put him out in four rounds. Whilst in this city he also knocked out Kid McGraw in four rounds, lost to Kid Hogan on points in a ten rounds’ contest, and drew with Jack Dougherty in a ten rounds’ match- The last-named boxer he met on two other occasions at a later date and in both instances defeated him. At Columbus, Ohio, he fought Tommy White, and had the best of the twenty rounds’ contest, but the decision was a draw. He then 'beat Harry Sheldon at Louisville in five rounds, and in a second match a week later knocked him out in three rounds. His last battle in 1895 was on December 23 when he was beaten by Sol Smith at New Orleans in fourteen rounds-

During January 1896 he had three fights in Cincinnati, knocking out 'Mike Crotty in one round, defeating Harry Dailey in four rounds, and Joe Fink in four rounds. Altogether he was in Cincinnati for twelve months. Other battles during 1896 were: beat

Jimmy Devers in Jackson, Michigan, in 10 rounds; knocked out Paddy Smith (brother to Denver Ed. Smith, who fought Peter Jackson) in nine rounds; knocked out Jas. Connors In four rounds; drew with Johnny Lavack after 20 rounds. In the last named contest Murphy sustained a broken jaw, but continued for the full number of rounds.

During 1896 Billy Murphy took part in four important fights. First he met Geo- Dixon in New York, and was beaten in the seventh round, Murphy had trained for this battle at 20 degrees below zero, and entering the ring with a heavy cold upon him, Dixon caught him in the wind and he was unable to get his breath. At Dayton he met W. Barbeck, who was the only man who fought Murphy at his own weight, both men turning the scale at Bst., and beat him in two rounds. He next drew with Jack Dailey in a ten rounds’ contest at the Harlem Athletic Club, New York, although he had the latter down a couple of t ines. Dailey afterwards fought Joe Gans, ‘but suffered defeat at the hands of the clever negro boxer. His last fight in 1896 was with Oscar Gardner, who beat him in a. 20 rounds’ contest at the Harlem A.C. In 1898 Billy Murphy sailed from New York to London, where he was matched to fight Dave Sullivan, whom he had followed over from America, but Sullivan shuffled out of the meeting with the Aucklander. Murphy arrived in London on a Sunday, and on the Monday night he fought Bill Woods, of Clapton, at the National Sporting Club, the contest being stopped in the third round as Murphy had his opponent out. He was in England for five months, and during that time met Will Curley, of Newcastle. In this fight Bill Smith, a heavyweight who was in Murphy’s corner, gave the Aucklander a glass of wine in the eleventh round, and feeling refreshed Murphy went in to settle his opponent but in jumping back to avoid Curley’s blows he landed on the back of his head, and did not regain consciousness until three o’clock next morning. On March 7,1909, he knocked out Johnny Van Heest at Dayton, Ohio, in six rounds. A match with Pat Wagner some five months later at Sioux City resolved itself into a rough and tumble affair, the police stopping it. While in Sioux City he also met Larry Gleeson, and lost the fight through injuries. Murphy knocked. Gleeson down with a right swing and broke his arm in doing so, and on the latter rising in a tottering condition, the Aucklander hit him with a straight punch and drove the bones of hils ’broken arm right into the muscle. Murphy was taken to the hospital, where he had to undergo two operations. Billy Murphy worked in the Great Northern and Illinois Central railroad for three years, residing in Sioux City during that time. On August 3 1902, he fought his second contest wi x h Johnny Van Heest, a hard-hitting pug'list. The fight took place in the grass across the Missouri River, on the Nebraska side, and was fought on a Sunday, owing to Murphy’s inability to leave his railroad duties on week days. The battle, which was won by Murphy in four rounds, was conducted on the quiet, eye-witnesses of this remarkable encounter having to

cross the river in boats. A rather interesting feature in connection with this fight was the fact that a good number of women were present. A month later Murphy fought Dave Donovan on the same ground, and put him out in two rounds. Murphy then returned to ’Fr.sco, and fought D. Evans, as a preliminary to the Young Corbett-Hanlon contest, the six rounds’ bout being declared a draw. Billy Murphy swung a solid right to the side of Evans’ head early in the contest, after which the latter was terribly frightened and kept out of range of the Aucklander’s blows as -much as possible by running round the ring hotly pursued by MurphyOn returning to Sydney in 1904, it was plainly evident the fighting warrior had had h*s day, but he met Tim Hegarty and Peter Toohey, and in both cases was defeated. Billy Murphy- also boxed Jim Ross at His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland on April -28 1906, the contest ending in a draw. As late as August 8, 1907, Murphy fought Tom Toohey, an American boxer, at New Plymouth, and knocked h m out in the first round. It may not be generally known that it was through O’Rorke’s anxiety to keep Dixon out of Billy Murphy’s path that the bantamweight limit first came into existence, when the ex-champion featherweight of the world was in America. It is also interesting to note that in 1890 Billy Murphy wrired 500 dollars from ’Frisco to Capt. Cook in Boston, with a v'ew of fixing a match w'th Jack McAuliffe, lightweight champion of America, but the latter would not fight him.