Les Darcy

James Leslie "Les" Darcy (28 October 1895 – 24 May 1917)[1] was an Australian boxer. He was a middleweight, but held the Australian Heavyweight Championship title at the same time.

Les Darcy
Statistics
Real nameJames Leslie Darcy
Nickname(s)The Maitland Wonder Bub
Weight(s)Middleweight
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Reach71 in (180 cm)
NationalityAustralian
Born(1895-10-28)28 October 1895
Stradbroke, near Woodville, New South Wales
Died24 May 1917(1917-05-24) (aged 21)
Memphis, Tennessee, US
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights56
Wins52
Wins by KO32
Losses4
Draws0
No contests0

Les Darcy was the 2003 Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Old Timers category and was the first to be elevated to Legend status in 2009.

History
Darcy, ~1917

Les Darcy was born near Maitland, New South Wales. He started boxing as an amateur at age fifteen and quickly turned professional. He won his first sixteen fights before challenging the veteran Bob Whitelaw for the Australian welterweight title. Darcy lost the twenty-round decision but, in a rematch, knocked Whitelaw out in five rounds.

Darcy graduated from regional bouts to fighting in Sydney Stadium, in Rushcutters Bay, and promoters began to import talent to challenge him. He lost his first two fights in Sydney, one by decision and one by foul, to America's Fritz Holland. The next year Darcy faced another American, Jeff Smith, in what was considered a contest for the Australian world middleweight title. When Darcy complained of a low blow at the end of the fifth round, the referee believed that Darcy did not want to continue and awarded the decision to Smith. In a rematch, Darcy was awarded the victory when Smith punched him in the groin.

As Australian world middleweight champ, Darcy defeated such top-flight visiting Americans as Eddie McGoorty, Billy Murray, Jimmy Clabby, George Chip, George "KO" Brown, and Buck Crouse, as well as knocking out Smith and Holland in rematches. Darcy's opponents are said to have admired his courage, stamina, and punching power. In 1916, Darcy knocked Harold Hardwick out to capture the Australian heavyweight title.

Darcy became embroiled in the politics of conscription during the First World War, and left Australia for the United States to avoid the aggravation. He died on 24 May 1917 from septicaemia and medical complications, which was speculated to be from dental work he received to replace teeth that had been knocked out during a bout.[2]

After his death, Darcy's embalmed body was returned to Australia, where an estimated half-million people paid their respects.

Legacy

Darcy was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993, the World Boxing Hall of Fame in October 1998, and the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.

In 2001, Raffaele Marcellino's opera The Flight of Les Darcy, with libretto by Robert Jarman, premiered at the "10 Days on the Island" festival in Hobart. The character of Darcy has no singing role but is portrayed by a dancer, and draws on the story that he played the violin to prepare himself for fights.[3]

Professional boxing record
52 Wins (32 knockouts, 19 decisions, 1 disqualification), 4 Losses, 0 Draws[4]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd. Date Location Notes
Win 52–4 George Chip KO 9 (20) 1916-09-30 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For world middleweight title (Australian version)
Win 50–4 Dave Smith TKO 11 (20) 1916-08-16 Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland For Australian heavyweight title
Win 49–4 Dave Smith KO 12 (20) 1916-06-24 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For Australian heavyweight title
Win 48–4 Buck Crouse KO 2 (20) 1916-05-29 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales
Win 47–4 Alex Costica TKO 4 (20) 1916-05-13 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For world middleweight title (Australian version)
Fight stopped by police inspector after Costica had been badly beaten
Win 46–4 George "K.O." Brown Decision 20 (20) 1916-04-08 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales
Win 45–4 Les O'Donnell TKO 7 (20) 1916-03-25 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For Australian heavyweight title
Win 44–4 Harold Hardwick TKO 7 (20) 1916-02-19 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For Australian heavyweight title
Win 43–4 George "K.O." Brown Decision 20 (20) 1916-01-15 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales
Win 42–4 Eddie McGoorty TKO 8 (20) 1915-12-27 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For world middleweight title (Australian version)
Win 41–4 Billy Murray TKO 6 (20) 1915-11-01 West Melbourne Stadium, West Melbourne, Victoria
Win 40–4 Jimmy Clabby Decision 20 (20) 1915-10-23 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For world middleweight title (Australian version)
Win 39–4 Fred Dyer TKO 6 (20) 1915-10-09 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For world middleweight title (Australian version)
Win 38–4 Billy Murray Decision 20 (20) 1915-09-04 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For world middleweight title (Australian version)
Win 37–4 Eddie McGoorty TKO 15 (20) 1915-07-31 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For world middleweight title (Australian version)
Win 36–4 Mick King TKO 10 (20) 1915-06-12 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For world middleweight title (Australian version)
Win 35–4 Jeff Smith DQ 2 (20) 1915-05-22 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For world middleweight title (Australian version)
Win 34–4 Fritz Holland TKO 13 (20) 1915-05-01 West Melbourne Stadium, West Melbourne, Victoria
Win 33–4 Henri Demlen TKO 5 (20) 1915-04-03 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales
Win 32–4 Fritz Holland Decision 20 (20) 1915-03-13 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales
Win 31–4 Frank Loughrey Decision 20 (20) 1915-03-13 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales
Loss 30–4 Jeff Smith DQ 5 (20) 1915-01-23 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales For world middleweight title (Australian version)
Win 30–3 Fred Dyer Decision 20 (20) 1914-12-26 Baker's Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland
Win 29–3 Gus Christie Decision 20 (20) 1914-11-07 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales
Win 28–3 Victor "K.O." Marchand KO 5 (20) 1914-10-05 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales
Loss 27–3 Fritz Holland DQ 18 (20) 1914-09-12 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales
Loss 27–2 Fritz Holland Decision 20 (20) 1914-07-18 Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales
Win 27–1 Billy McNabb TKO 4 (20) 1914-04-23 Andrews Ascot Stadium, West Maitland, New South Wales[5]
Win 26–1 Bob Whitelaw KO 5 (20) 1914-03-21 Andrews Ascot Stadium, West Maitland, New South Wales
Win 25–1 Young Hanley TKO 5 (20) 1914-01-30 Olympia A.C., Newtown, New South Wales
Win 24–1 Jack Clarke TKO 9 (20) 1914-01-05 Olympia A.C., Newtown, New South Wales
Loss 23–1 Bob Whitelaw Decision 20 (20) 1913-11-03 Victoria Theatre, Newcastle, New South Wales For Australian welterweight title
Win 23–0 Billy McNabb Decision 20 (20) 1913-10-25 Andrews Ascot Stadium, West Maitland, New South Wales
Win 22–0 Joe Shakespeare TKO 7 (20) 1913-09-27 Andrews Ascot Stadium, West Maitland, New South Wales
Win 21–0 Reg Regio Delaney TKO 8 (20) 1913-07-19 Andrews Ascot Stadium, West Maitland, New South Wales
Win 20–0 Billy Hannan TKO 18 (20) 1913-03-15 Andrews Ascot Stadium, West Maitland, New South Wales Police intervened
Win 19–0 Jim Burns KO 11 (20) 1912-12-14 Adelphi Hall, West Maitland, New South Wales[6]
Win 18–0 Dave Depena TKO 9 (20) 1912-11-04 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales[7]
Win 17–0 Peter Barnes TKO 9 (10) 1912-09-28 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales Final, 10-stone competition
Win 16–0 Peter Devon[8] TKO 6 (8) 1912-09-21 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales Semi-final, 10-stone competition
Win 15–0 Harry Richards Decision 8 (8) 1912-09-14 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales
Win 14–0 Jim Burns Decision 6 (6) 1912-08-24 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales
Win 13–0 Tom Page Decision 10 (10) 1912-05-04 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales Summer Park tournament, 10 stone division, final
Win 12–0 Harry Emery Decision 8 (8) 1912-04-27 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales Summer Park tournament, 10 stone division, semi-final
Win 11–0 Tom Rhymer[9] TKO 6 (8) 1912-04-06 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales Summer Park tournament, 10 stone division, round two
Win 10–0 Roger Fairbairn TKO 4 (6) 1912-03-30 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales Summer Park tournament, 10 stone division, round one
Win 9–0 Harry Ford[10] KO (11) 10 1912-02 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales
Win 8–0 Peter Cook[10] KO (10) 10 1912-02 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales
Win 7–0 Harry Emery[10] KO 6 (10) 1912-01-10 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales
Win 6–0 Les Althorne[10] KO 3 (4) 1911-09-12 Maitland Showground, Maitland, New South Wales
Win 5–0 Sam Norman[11] Decision (4) (4) 1911-09-12 Maitland Showground, Maitland, New South Wales
Win 4–0 Sid Pascoe[10] KO 2 (10) 1911-08-08[12] Andrews Ascot Stadium, West Maitland, New South Wales
Win 3–0 Tom Donohue[13] Decision 4 (4) 1911-07-26 West Maitland Town Hall, West Maitland, New South Wales[14]
Win 2–0 Young Texas[13] Decision 4 (4) 1911-04-07[15] West Maitland Town Hall, West Maitland, New South Wales
Win 1–0 George 'Governor' Balser Decision 11 (10) 12-1910 Thornton, New South Wales

Notes
  1. The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Sat 26 May 1917, Page 20 "Death of Les Darcy" Retrieved 12-02-2018
  2. FitzSimons 2007, p. 187.
  3. Peter FitzSimons, The Ballad of Les Darcy
  4. Table information is compiled from "Les Darcy – Boxer"; Maitland Tourism, p. 1; Park and Champion, pp. 354–355; and Power, p. 159. Any conflicting data is footnoted.
  5. Andrews Ascot Stadium, also known simply as Andrews' Stadium, was an open-air arena in Abbott Street, West Maitland, behind the Currency Lass Hotel. It measured 75 feet (23 m) by 90 feet (27 m), and held about 1000 people (Power, p. 132). Billy Hannan, one of Darcy's opponents, describes it as a 'ponced-up dump' (Park and Champion, p. 30) 32°44′24.42″S 151°33′44.38″E.
  6. Now defunct; current address 196 High Street, Maitland. 32°44′23.76″S 151°33′49.22″E
  7. Summer Park Stadium was built in 1905 and was originally known as Rowes Running Track, later as Newcastle Athletic Pavilion (Power, p.151). It was located 'directly opposite Honeysuckle Station, Hunter St West, Newcastle, where the present Waterboard Offices now stand' (Power, p.111) 32°55′38.97″S 151°45′54.55″E
  8. Also listed as 'Hugh Devon' (Power, p. 125
  9. Alternatively spelled as 'Rymer' (Power, p.159; Maitland Tourism, p.1.
  10. Carr, Matt (11 February 2010). "Extra bouts win for Darcy grave plan". Newcastle Herald. Newcastle: Fairfax Media. p. 11. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  11. Swanwick, p.30
  12. Popling, J. V. (20 December 1946). "Boxing Recollections". Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Queensland. p. 12. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  13. Leo James Lonergan fought Darcy twice, first under the name of 'Young Texas' in April 1911, then under the name of 'Tom Donohue' (listed as 'Dan Donohue' in Power, p. 159) in July 1911. Darcy fought the April bout under the name of 'Pat Donohue', and the July bout under his real name (Park and Champion, p. 31).
  14. Park and Champion, p. 31.
  15. This match was a preliminary to the fourth match-up between Peter Cook and Billy Hannan (Park and Champion, p. 159), which, according to BoxRec, was held on 7 April 1911.

References
  • "Les Darcy – Boxer". BoxRec.com.
  • Maitland Tourism (2008). Les Darcy: The Legend: 1895–1917. [Brochure]. Maitland, New South Wales: Maitland Tourism & Maitland City Council.
  • Swanwick, Raymond (1965). Les Darcy, Australia's golden boy of boxing. Sydney: U. Smith.
  • Park, Ruth; Champion, Rafe (1995). Home before dark. Ringwood, Victoria: Viking. ISBN 0-670-85739-4.
  • Power, Bob (1976). Fighters of the North: A saga of early battling days on the Northern fistic front. Newcastle, New South Wales: Bob Power [self-published].

Reference sources

Pictures held and digitised as part of the Arnold Thomas boxing collection by the National Library of Australia

Further reading
  • FitzSimons, Peter (2007). The Ballad of Les Darcy. Sydney: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 9780732286361.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Fenton, Peter. Les Darcy.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Park, Ruth; Champion, Rafe. Home Before Dark: The Story of Les Darcy, a Great Australian Hero.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Power, Bob. The Les Darcy American Venture.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Titles in pretence
Preceded by
Jeff Smith		 World Middleweight Champion
22 May 1915 – 24 May 1917
Died		 Vacant
Title next held by
Randolph Turpin
BBBC recognition
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.