Les Darcy

Born	James Leslie Darcy (1895-10-28)28 October 1895 Stradbroke, near Woodville, New South Wales, Australia
Died	24 May 1917(1917-05-24) (aged 21) Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Nationality	Australian
Other names	The Maitland Wonder Bub
Statistics
Weight(s)	Middleweight
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Reach	71 in (180 cm)
Stance	Orthodox

Boxing record
Total fights	56
Wins	52
Wins by KO	32
Losses	4

James Leslie 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 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

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

Darcy became embroiled in the politics of conscription during World War I, 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. His brother Frank, also a boxer who showed many of the attributes of his brother, including pluck, died on 9 May 1919 from influenza, and was buried in the Catholic Cemetery, East Maitland.^[3]

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.^[4]

Professional boxing record

52 Wins (32 knockouts, 19 decisions, 1 disqualification), 4 Losses, 0 Draws[5] 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) 1915-02-27 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 [6] 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[7] Win 18–0 Dave Depena TKO 9 (20) 1912-11-04 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales[8] 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[9] 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[10] 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[11] KO (11) 10 1912-02 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales Win 8–0 Peter Cook[11] KO (10) 10 1912-02 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales Win 7–0 Harry Emery[11] KO 6 (10) 1912-01-10 Summer Park, Newcastle, New South Wales Win 6–0 Les Althorne[11] KO 3 (4) 1911-09-12 Maitland Showground, Maitland, New South Wales Win 5–0 Sam Norman[12] Decision (4) (4) 1911-09-12 Maitland Showground, Maitland, New South Wales Win 4–0 Sid Pascoe[11] KO 2 (10) 1911-08-08[13] Andrews Ascot Stadium, West Maitland, New South Wales Win 3–0 Tom Donohue[14] Decision 4 (4) 1911-07-26 West Maitland Town Hall, West Maitland, New South Wales[15] Win 2–0 Young Texas[14] Decision 4 (4) 1911-04-07[16] West Maitland Town Hall, West Maitland, New South Wales Win 1–0 George 'Governor' Balser Decision 11 (10) 12-1910 Thornton, New South Wales

References

^ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), Sat 26 May 1917, Page 20 "Death of Les Darcy" Retrieved 12-02-2018
^ FitzSimons 2007, p. 187.
^ "Frank DARCY dead". The Sun. No. 2761. New South Wales, Australia. 8 May 1919. p. 7. Retrieved 4 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Peter FitzSimons, The Ballad of Les Darcy
^ 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.
^ 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 / 32.7401167°S 151.5623278°E / -32.7401167; 151.5623278.
^ Now defunct; current address 196 High Street, Maitland. 32°44′23.76″S 151°33′49.22″E / 32.7399333°S 151.5636722°E / -32.7399333; 151.5636722
^ 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 / 32.9274917°S 151.7651528°E / -32.9274917; 151.7651528
^ Also listed as 'Hugh Devon' (Power, p. 125
^ Alternatively spelled as 'Rymer' (Power, p.159; Maitland Tourism, p.1.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Carr, Matt (11 February 2010). "Extra bouts win for Darcy grave plan". Newcastle Herald. Newcastle: Fairfax Media. p. 11. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
^ Swanwick, p.30
^ Popling, J. V. (20 December 1946). "Boxing Recollections". Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Queensland. p. 12. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
^ ^a ^b 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).
^ Park and Champion, p. 31.
^ 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.

Reference sources

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