LES DARCY book by Raymond Swanwick- Excerpts

[McGoorty]

Chapter 6 :-- DARCY Vs HOLLAND

CHAPTER 6 : DARCY Vs HOLLAND

Fritz Holland was eight years older than Les Darcy. Born in 1887 in West ******ia, U.S.A., of English and Irish parentage, he was a lumberman in the Rocky Mountains at the age of twenty, and in 1908 achieved the distinction of winning the Welterweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight Championships of the Spokane Amateur Athletic club. He then turned professional and in six years before he came to Australia, had 49 fights in the U.S.A., losing only four of them, He had never been knocked out. He arrived in Australia from the U.S.A. on 2nd MARCH 1914, in a team headed by former World Heavyweight Champion, Tommy Burns. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Though Burns had lost his title to Jack Johnson at Sydney in 1908, he continued to appear occasionally in the ring. In 1913 he had fought Arthur Pelkey in Canada, a No-Decision contest over just six rounds, and in January 1914 he had knocked out Battling Brant in four rounds in California. Arthur Pelkey was in Burns's team to visit Australia in 1914, with Fritz Holland and Lew Johnson. This team of fighters came to Australia with Burns on their own initiative, hoping to obtain engagements in the big stadiums in the Australian capital cities. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fritzz Holland was one of the most experienced American Middleweights, and one of the cleverest boxers in that class. He was not in the top ten rated amongst the Middleweights, simply because at that time the Middleweight division held a brilliant constellation of stars, including Billy Papke, George Chip, Mike Gibbons, Jack Dillon, Frank Klaus, Jimmy Clabby, Eddie McGoorty, Jeff Smith, Gus Christie, Al McCoy, Billy Murray and several others of such outstanding ability that for three years, 1910 to 1913, the World Middleweight Championship was in dispute with so many contenders claiming it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Klaus beat Papke in Paris in March 1913, and this was claimed but not unaimously admitted to be a fight for the World Championship. Then Chip beat Klaus by a 5th round knockout at Pittsburgh, U.S.A. in December 1913, and AlMcCoy knocked out Chip out at Brooklyn in April 1914, and he claimed the title, but there was no unanimous recognition. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So many brilliant top rankers were anxious to challenge Al McCoy for a title fight, which McCoy ducked on every opportunity. McCoy tied up the title for three years, fighting only No-Contest bouts. Under circumstances like these, Holland was frozen out, and had no chance of a title shot. As a result Fritz had to fight for the smaller purses and was therefore willing to fight anyone, anywhere, on the American circuit. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- But Fritz Hollands name was unknown to the majority of the Australian sporting public. He showed his abilities by beating Tom McCormick on points in twenty rounds at Melbourne, and then by knocking out Jimmy Fitton in nine rounds at Sydney. It was then that Fritz was matched against the Maitland Boy, whose name was scarcely known to Sydney's fight fans either. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Les O' Donnell's confidence in Darcy's ability to stand up to Fritz Holland's far greater knowledge and experience could not be disregarded by the stadium bosses, but it was the financial guarantee by Mick Hawkins of a 500 pound gate that gave Darcy his chance of a "Big Fight", at the Sydney Stadium and at the same time, his first opportunity of a bout against a fighter of Fritz Holland's class. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As soon as it was announced that Les Darcy was booked to fight at the Sydney Stadium, his admires on the northern coalfields began making plans to attend. Baker and McIntosh got their first big surprise when they learned that not one, but two special trains had been booked to bring the Maitland Boy's supporters to Sydney. Some pre-publicity in the Sydney newspapers informed the sporting public that the Maitland boy, though only eighteen and a half, was a champion in the making, and that Fritz Holland was a professor of Fistics who knew every move and trick in the book --- In short, the match would be something out of the bag. And so it proved. The two special trains from Newcastle brought two thousand spectators who swelled the usual Saturday crowd to fill the huge building to its capacity. Fritz Holland, who weighed in at 11 stone, 2 and a half pounds, had in his corner, former heavyweight champ Tommy Burns, with Arthur Pelkey and Lew Johnson ----- all experienced American fighters. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Les Darcy , who weighed in at 11 stone 1 and a quarter pounds, had in his corner Mick Hawkins, Eric Newton and Les Fletcher. Seated close to them at ringside were Father Coady, Les O' Donnell and the Australian Heavyweight Champion, Dave Smith.

Stay Tuned for Darcy's first Major Fight... next !!..... COMMENTS PLEASE.

:ANYWORD:Extravaganz

[McGoorty]

CHAPTER 6 : DARCY Vs HOLLAND

Fritz Holland was eight years older than Les Darcy. Born in 1887 in West ******ia, U.S.A., of English and Irish parentage, he was a lumberman in the Rocky Mountains at the age of twenty, and in 1908 achieved the distinction of winning the Welterweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight Championships of the Spokane Amateur Athletic club. He then turned professional and in six years before he came to Australia, had 49 fights in the U.S.A., losing only four of them, He had never been knocked out. He arrived in Australia from the U.S.A. on 2nd MARCH 1914, in a team headed by former World Heavyweight Champion, Tommy Burns. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Though Burns had lost his title to Jack Johnson at Sydney in 1908, he continued to appear occasionally in the ring. In 1913 he had fought Arthur Pelkey in Canada, a No-Decision contest over just six rounds, and in January 1914 he had knocked out Battling Brant in four rounds in California. Arthur Pelkey was in Burns's team to visit Australia in 1914, with Fritz Holland and Lew Johnson. This team of fighters came to Australia with Burns on their own initiative, hoping to obtain engagements in the big stadiums in the Australian capital cities. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fritzz Holland was one of the most experienced American Middleweights, and one of the cleverest boxers in that class. He was not in the top ten rated amongst the Middleweights, simply because at that time the Middleweight division held a brilliant constellation of stars, including Billy Papke, George Chip, Mike Gibbons, Jack Dillon, Frank Klaus, Jimmy Clabby, Eddie McGoorty, Jeff Smith, Gus Christie, Al McCoy, Billy Murray and several others of such outstanding ability that for three years, 1910 to 1913, the World Middleweight Championship was in dispute with so many contenders claiming it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Klaus beat Papke in Paris in March 1913, and this was claimed but not unaimously admitted to be a fight for the World Championship. Then Chip beat Klaus by a 5th round knockout at Pittsburgh, U.S.A. in December 1913, and AlMcCoy knocked out Chip out at Brooklyn in April 1914, and he claimed the title, but there was no unanimous recognition. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So many brilliant top rankers were anxious to challenge Al McCoy for a title fight, which McCoy ducked on every opportunity. McCoy tied up the title for three years, fighting only No-Contest bouts. Under circumstances like these, Holland was frozen out, and had no chance of a title shot. As a result Fritz had to fight for the smaller purses and was therefore willing to fight anyone, anywhere, on the American circuit. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- But Fritz Hollands name was unknown to the majority of the Australian sporting public. He showed his abilities by beating Tom McCormick on points in twenty rounds at Melbourne, and then by knocking out Jimmy Fitton in nine rounds at Sydney. It was then that Fritz was matched against the Maitland Boy, whose name was scarcely known to Sydney's fight fans either. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Les O' Donnell's confidence in Darcy's ability to stand up to Fritz Holland's far greater knowledge and experience could not be disregarded by the stadium bosses, but it was the financial guarantee by Mick Hawkins of a 500 pound gate that gave Darcy his chance of a "Big Fight", at the Sydney Stadium and at the same time, his first opportunity of a bout against a fighter of Fritz Holland's class. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As soon as it was announced that Les Darcy was booked to fight at the Sydney Stadium, his admires on the northern coalfields began making plans to attend. Baker and McIntosh got their first big surprise when they learned that not one, but two special trains had been booked to bring the Maitland Boy's supporters to Sydney. Some pre-publicity in the Sydney newspapers informed the sporting public that the Maitland boy, though only eighteen and a half, was a champion in the making, and that Fritz Holland was a professor of Fistics who knew every move and trick in the book --- In short, the match would be something out of the bag. And so it proved. The two special trains from Newcastle brought two thousand spectators who swelled the usual Saturday crowd to fill the huge building to its capacity. Fritz Holland, who weighed in at 11 stone, 2 and a half pounds, had in his corner, former heavyweight champ Tommy Burns, with Arthur Pelkey and Lew Johnson ----- all experienced American fighters. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Les Darcy , who weighed in at 11 stone 1 and a quarter pounds, had in his corner Mick Hawkins, Eric Newton and Les Fletcher. Seated close to them at ringside were Father Coady, Les O' Donnell and the Australian Heavyweight Champion, Dave Smith.

Stay Tuned for Darcy's first Major Fight... next !!..... COMMENTS PLEASE.

:ANYWORD:Extravaganz

I haven't the energy for the next part of the story tonight. But some feedback would be nice....... you know, a little encouragement...... every fight Darcy has had so far some description and many have been in detail.......... Anything about the book catch your attention ???

[McGoorty]

Chapter 6 :-- DARCY Vs HOLLAND ;- Part 2

LES DARCY Vs FRITZ HOLLAND I : Sydney Stadium.

The crowd cheered as the Maitland Boy entered the ring, and cheered again when it was noticed that in his corner the Australian flag was displayed (the same one in use today). Mick Hawkins years later reminiscently stated that Les was unruffled at the ordeal of appearing for the first time in the Sydney Stadium to meet a boxer older than himself who was trained and seconded in the ring by the famous Tommy Burns. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The special trains from Newcastle had arrived late, so the fight didn't begin until 8.45 p.m., but while waiting in his dressing room Les had amused himself by playing his mouth-organ (harmonica). He entered the ring, as he always did, completely cool and calm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The referee, Harald Baker, Snowy Baker's brother, introduced the contestants, and their weights. The immense crowd, seething with excitement, settled to a tense silence as the gong sounded for the first round. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eager for results, Les rushed in with a two-handed attack which Holland smartly parried, and then the American socked Les on the jaw with a knockout punch that would have felled a gorilla, but Les only shook his head and smiled, then crowded his man with a right and left hooks to the head. Fritz dodged smartly and then countered with a left and right handed smash on the young Australian's nose and drew first blood. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beyond a doubt Holland was a master, and that he was practically giving the youngster a boxing lesson in public, but it was more than that. The pupil could not surpass the master in skill, but he was superior in strength, in stamina and in toughness. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- All Fritz Holland's skill and experience were of no avail against an opponent who was tireless and could not be knocked out with a pole-axe. The American quickly realised that he would need all his skill in defence to evade the young blacksmith's heavy blows, any one of which could have stretched Fritz on the canvas if it had connected with full force. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the eleventh round, Darcy broke through the American's defence with a right cross to the jaw and knocked him ontto the ropes, dazed but he was saved by the bell. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scenting victory, Darcy moved in for the kill in the twelfth round, with lefts and rights to the body, but Fritz leapt back, then countered with two-hand punches to head and body, and clinched. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As they came out of their corners for the "devils round", the thirteenth, Darcy tried for a knockout with a fierce rush that forced Holland to the ropes, where the American's left kept on jabbing into Darcy's face, scoring points but seemingly doing no damage. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Holland was ahead on points up to the fifteenth round, but thereafter his only concern was to avoid being knocked out, and to cruise along, relying on a points victory from his superior boxing ability. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- These were difficult tactics to apply, as the tireless Darcy was in control from the sixteenth round onwards. Les, thoroughly enjoying himself, in his corner, he said to Mick Hawkins, "Gee, this is great !, I hope it keeps going". ---------- As Mick Hawkins remarked years later, "How that kid loved a fight !". -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darcy's seconds, knowing that he was behind on points, advised him before the eighteenth round to go for a knockout. The result was that in the concluding three rounds the American had to use all his skill and the last of his strength to block and parry, clinch and play for time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This fight was a great lesson for Darcy. It made him realize that there was much he still had to learn, and that simple bash and smash tactics were not enough against opponents in the top ranks of the game. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the eighteenth round, Holland missed a swing and fell to his knees, but recovered immediately and fought on. The crowd could see that darcy was trying with all of his might for a knockout, and they became almost delirious with excitement as he broke through his opponents guard with heavy punches to the head and body. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yet Fritz Holland managed to remain on his pins, boxing with skillful footwork to draw back from the body blows, and covering the head blows carefully, parrying, feinting, and leading with his left to keep Darcy at long range. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As the bell sounded for the end of the twentieth round, with both boxers on their feet, referee Harald Baker without hesitation placed his hand on Holland's head to indicate that he had won. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a correct decision, but a section of the crowd loudly disagreed. They could see for themselves that the Maitland Boy was wnning at the finish, but did not realize that the American had piled up a big lesd on points in the first fifteen rounds. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- A newspaper reported ; "From the bleachers came such a demoniacal howl as the Sydney Stadium has seldom heard. The back-benchers hooted, yelled, stamped on the seats and attempted to set fire to the building by burning newspapers". --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Stadium staff ran out the fire hoses, and extinguished the blaze. The jets of water also dispersed the crowds. Arguments continued out in the street, but by eleven o'clock the crowds had gone and all was quiet again. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Despite the riot, which the sporting papers described as a disgraceful scene, the unanimous opinion of the experts was that a new star (Darcy) had "arrived" in Sydney. From that time onwards he was the idol of the Sydney fight fans, and his name could draw bigger crowds to the Sydney Stadium than that of any other boxer who ever fought there. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A return match between Holland and Darcy was demanded by public opinion, and by the experts. It was rarely that the "Temple Of Stoush" at Rushcutters Bay saw such boxing as the young Australian and the veteran American had provided on that memorable night of Les Darcy's first "Big Stadium" fight there.

End Of Chapter six.... Is this a good read or what ???.

[McGoorty]

Chapter 7 :- return bout.

Chapter 7 - RETURN BOUT.

In JULY, 1914 ;, When Les Darcy succeeded in gaining his first engagement at Sydney Stadium, three of the top-ranking American Middleweights, were in Australia, Jimmy Clabby, Eddie McGoorty and Jeff Smith. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These were famous fighters whose names never failed to draw the crowds. Each of them had a record that enabled him to be considered eligible to challenge Al McCoy for the World Middleweight Championship title. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This was Jimmy Clabby's third visit to Australia, he had fought previously in the Stadiums at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in the summer months of 1910-11, and again in the summer of 1911-12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arriving in Australia in May 1914 Clabby had been beaten on points in twenty rounds at the Sydney Stadium on 6th of JUNE by Jeff Smith, and then had won on a foul in the eighth round by Eddie McGoorty, also at the Sydney Stadium, on 4th JULY, a fortnight before Darcy's fight against Fritz Holland. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CLABBY was in training to fight Australian Light-Heavyweight Champion, Dave Smith, on 1st August at Sydney, with a return bout at Brisbane on 12th August. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eddie McGOORTY, making his first visit to Australia, had arrived in December 1913, and had made a sensational beginning by knocking out Dave Smith in the first round at the Stadium on New Years Day, 1914. In a return bout he knocked him out in the tenth round on 11th APRIL, and had also performed the almost immpossible feat of knocking out the iron chinned Aboriginal, Jerry JEROME, in the sixth round at Brisbane on 4th of MAY. He was now in training for a fight with Les O'Donnell at Sydney on the 28th of AUGUST. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff SMITH, a New Yorker, no relation to the New Zealander, Dave Smith, had arrived in Australia in FEBRUARY 1914, and had had three fights at the Sydney Stadium. He had lost on points against Eddie McGoorty in twenty rounds, won on points in twenty rounds against Jimmy Clabby, and knocked out an Australian top-rater named Pat BRADLEY in sixteen rounds. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The brilliant American boxers were all attracted to Australia by the big prize money to be earned at the Stadiums in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. As a rule the gate money at Sydney Stadium would not be less than 2000 Pounds on a Saturday night, of which the Stadium proprietors took 50 %, leaving 1000 Pounds to be divided by the combatants in the Main Event. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A boxer usually had to pay a commision of 25 %, or sometimes 33 and a third %, of his purse to his trainer or manager, and also salaries or fees to his sparring partners and seconds, besides other training expences such as hire of a gymnasium, fees of a masseur, and his own living expenses. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The huge crowds that attended the stadiums, --- usually between ten thousand and fifteen thousand paying customers, --- made the boxing profession in Australia highly profitable, and attractive to fighters of world wide repute. Prices of admission varied according to the drawing power of the names of the combatants. The normal charges were 10 shillings, for reserved ringside seats, and 5 shillings, to 3 and downwards to the outer seats. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Financial dealings of the fighters were not published, but it may be surmised that Fritz Holland had been guaranteed a bigger share of the purse than Les Darcy on the Maitland Boy's first appearance at the Sydney Stadium. Even so, if Les's share was 250 Pounds ---- less his trainers commission and other expences, it must have seemed to him that such large sums of money vould be earned so quickly by fighting as to make the steady career of a blacksmith lose whatever attraction it may have previously have had for him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As a blacksmiths apprentice he was earning less than 1 Pound a week. As a professional boxer he could earn 500 Pounds or more in one fight, lasting an hour ---- Or less. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After his fight with Fritz Holland, Les and his supporters boarded the night steamer for Newcastle, and were at East Maitland next morning in time for Father Coady to say mass at 6 a.m. --- a service that Les Darcy never failed to attend. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- He gave all his earnings to his mother, to buy clothing and household necessities for the large family, and on Monday morning, as usual, he was back at work in Billy Ford's shop. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXCERPT ;- Les then had an offer to join a touring vaudeville show to give boxing exhibitions, but only within distance of the blacksmith's shop. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At Sydney, Snowy Baker was now more than willing to arrange the return fight between Darcy and Holland that public opinion demanded. While Les was working at the forge and anvil at faraway East Maitland, and training at nights with local sparring partners, he was at a severe disadvantage, which caused his freinds and supporters much concern. They asked Billy Ford to give him a fortnights leave for training before the big fight. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "What ?", said Billy, "And how will I manage without a striker ?". --------- The answer to that was not obvious at first -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[McGoorty]

Here are some newspaper links with articles about Darcy, in regards to Jack Dillon, Georges Carpentier, Mike Gibbons, Jess Willard, Al McCoy, McGoorty, Chip, Clabby and all the others...... I may as well store other Darcy sources on this thread, it will make it easier for us if it's all on the one site. So as I find this stuff it'll go up here on the official Darcy Thread, here are some links for now. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...es+darcy&hl=en -- http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...es+darcy&hl=en -- http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...es+darcy&hl=en -- http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...es+darcy&hl=en -- http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...es+darcy&hl=en -- http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...REIzSOR563tpxw -- http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...dv3nY0DPJEc9xQ

[McGoorty]

LES DARCY Vs FRITZ HOLLAND I : Sydney Stadium.

The crowd cheered as the Maitland Boy entered the ring, and cheered again when it was noticed that in his corner the Australian flag was displayed (the same one in use today). Mick Hawkins years later reminiscently stated that Les was unruffled at the ordeal of appearing for the first time in the Sydney Stadium to meet a boxer older than himself who was trained and seconded in the ring by the famous Tommy Burns. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The special trains from Newcastle had arrived late, so the fight didn't begin until 8.45 p.m., but while waiting in his dressing room Les had amused himself by playing his mouth-organ (harmonica). He entered the ring, as he always did, completely cool and calm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The referee, Harald Baker, Snowy Baker's brother, introduced the contestants, and their weights. The immense crowd, seething with excitement, settled to a tense silence as the gong sounded for the first round. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eager for results, Les rushed in with a two-handed attack which Holland smartly parried, and then the American socked Les on the jaw with a knockout punch that would have felled a gorilla, but Les only shook his head and smiled, then crowded his man with a right and left hooks to the head. Fritz dodged smartly and then countered with a left and right handed smash on the young Australian's nose and drew first blood. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beyond a doubt Holland was a master, and that he was practically giving the youngster a boxing lesson in public, but it was more than that. The pupil could not surpass the master in skill, but he was superior in strength, in stamina and in toughness. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- All Fritz Holland's skill and experience were of no avail against an opponent who was tireless and could not be knocked out with a pole-axe. The American quickly realised that he would need all his skill in defence to evade the young blacksmith's heavy blows, any one of which could have stretched Fritz on the canvas if it had connected with full force. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the eleventh round, Darcy broke through the American's defence with a right cross to the jaw and knocked him ontto the ropes, dazed but he was saved by the bell. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scenting victory, Darcy moved in for the kill in the twelfth round, with lefts and rights to the body, but Fritz leapt back, then countered with two-hand punches to head and body, and clinched. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As they came out of their corners for the "devils round", the thirteenth, Darcy tried for a knockout with a fierce rush that forced Holland to the ropes, where the American's left kept on jabbing into Darcy's face, scoring points but seemingly doing no damage. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Holland was ahead on points up to the fifteenth round, but thereafter his only concern was to avoid being knocked out, and to cruise along, relying on a points victory from his superior boxing ability. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- These were difficult tactics to apply, as the tireless Darcy was in control from the sixteenth round onwards. Les, thoroughly enjoying himself, in his corner, he said to Mick Hawkins, "Gee, this is great !, I hope it keeps going". ---------- As Mick Hawkins remarked years later, "How that kid loved a fight !". -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darcy's seconds, knowing that he was behind on points, advised him before the eighteenth round to go for a knockout. The result was that in the concluding three rounds the American had to use all his skill and the last of his strength to block and parry, clinch and play for time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This fight was a great lesson for Darcy. It made him realize that there was much he still had to learn, and that simple bash and smash tactics were not enough against opponents in the top ranks of the game. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the eighteenth round, Holland missed a swing and fell to his knees, but recovered immediately and fought on. The crowd could see that darcy was trying with all of his might for a knockout, and they became almost delirious with excitement as he broke through his opponents guard with heavy punches to the head and body. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yet Fritz Holland managed to remain on his pins, boxing with skillful footwork to draw back from the body blows, and covering the head blows carefully, parrying, feinting, and leading with his left to keep Darcy at long range. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As the bell sounded for the end of the twentieth round, with both boxers on their feet, referee Harald Baker without hesitation placed his hand on Holland's head to indicate that he had won. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a correct decision, but a section of the crowd loudly disagreed. They could see for themselves that the Maitland Boy was wnning at the finish, but did not realize that the American had piled up a big lesd on points in the first fifteen rounds. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- A newspaper reported ; "From the bleachers came such a demoniacal howl as the Sydney Stadium has seldom heard. The back-benchers hooted, yelled, stamped on the seats and attempted to set fire to the building by burning newspapers". --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Stadium staff ran out the fire hoses, and extinguished the blaze. The jets of water also dispersed the crowds. Arguments continued out in the street, but by eleven o'clock the crowds had gone and all was quiet again. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Despite the riot, which the sporting papers described as a disgraceful scene, the unanimous opinion of the experts was that a new star (Darcy) had "arrived" in Sydney. From that time onwards he was the idol of the Sydney fight fans, and his name could draw bigger crowds to the Sydney Stadium than that of any other boxer who ever fought there. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A return match between Holland and Darcy was demanded by public opinion, and by the experts. It was rarely that the "Temple Of Stoush" at Rushcutters Bay saw such boxing as the young Australian and the veteran American had provided on that memorable night of Les Darcy's first "Big Stadium" fight there.

End Of Chapter six.... Is this a good read or what ???.

Some links in regard to the first Darcy V Holland fight... and other stuff relating to Holland, http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi...0721.2.30.11.2 - http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi...9200522.2.40.4 - http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi...9140725.2.69.2 - http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstra...D9415B848DF1D3

[McGoorty]

Darcy Photo's..

[McGoorty]

Chapter 7 - RETURN BOUT - Part 2

RETURN BOUT - Part 2.

On 1st AUGUST, 1914, Jimmy CLABBY sensationally knocked out the Australian Light-Heavyweight Champion, Dave Smith, in the first round, in a fight at Sydney Stadium for the title. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is nothing that fights fans like less than a K.O. in the first round, which makes them feel that they haven't seen a fight at all, and to want to demand their money back. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave Smith did not like that result either. It made him look like a novice, and he was anything but that. Born in Duneden, New Zealand, in 1886, he had won the New Zealand and also the Australian amateur Heavyweight championships. He had been a sparring partner of of the world champion, Tommy Burns, in 1907, and had turned professional in 1909. His fighting weight, 11 Stone, 10 Pounds, he was above the Middleweight limit of 11 Stone 6 pounds, but he was a long way from being a heavy or tall man in the Heavyweight division. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave Smith had fought Jimmy Clabby three times in Sydney in 1911 and 1912, the contest going 20 rounds each time. He had lost one battle on points and the other two were drawn. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After that, in 1912, Dave had gone to the U.S.A., where he had five fights. On 2nd September 1912 he was unlucky enough to be knocked out by Eddie McGOORTY at the New York Club in the 1st round, but subsequently at Philadelphia he had two fights against on of the best of the American Light-Heavyweights, Battling LEVINSKI, losing one on points and the other being a No-Decision contest, which in America meant that if no one was knocked out or threw in the towel, there was no winner. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- In 1913 Dave Smith went to Paris, trying to arrange a match with the French and European Light-Heavyweight Champion, Georges CARPENTIER, but he was unable to arrange a match, and so had returned to Australia early in 1914, to be promptly challenged and beaten by Jimmy Clabby. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- On 4th AUGUST, seventeen days after Les Darcy's first fight at the stadium, Britain declared war on Germany......... EXCERPT :,.. He goes on to talk about enlistment for the 1st A.I.F...... But for the moment the sporting world continued on it's merry way. __------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On 12th AUGUST, at Brisbane, Dave Smith fought Jimmy Clabby a return bout for the Australian Light-Heavyweight title, this time Dave Smith beat Clabby on points after 20 rounds. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- After that fight Dave Smith went to East Maitland and gave some tuition to Les Darcy in preparation for Darcy's return match against Fritz Holland. Darcy was not allowed time off from work to train for the fight. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- On 29th August, at the Sydney Stadium, Eddie McGoorty knocked out Les O'Donnell, a much heavier and taller man than than Eddie, in the 7th round. These American victories at Sydney set a tense atmosphere for Les Darcy's return fight against Fritz Holland on 12th SEPTEMBER. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- At this time, Les Darcy was not yet nineteen. The age of military enlistment for service abroad was from eighteen to forty five, but minors under 21 were not accepted without the written consent of their parents or guardians. There was at that early stage in the war, no pressure of public opinion on anyone to enlist for war service. Those who did join up were considered to be adventure seekers, but there was as yet no feeling of reproach against any man who had not enlisted. Les Darcy, having practically ni knowledge of political or international affairs, probably never considered, then or later, that he had any duty to enlist. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The only duty that moved him was his desire to earn enough money quickly to provide his parents and their large family. He was the chief bread-winner of the family, and he was intensely devoted to the family's well being.----------- EXCERPT : there is more along this vein...... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Les Darcy's ambitions were channelled entirely into becoming excellent as a professional boxer. His head was not turned by the plaudits of the crowd and by the experts opinions and predictions that he had the makings of a world champion. Like most other Australians of his age and limited education, he could not imagine that the war in Europe would make any real difference to the routines of life and of sport.

Next, the Holland re-match !!!!.. back soon.

[McGoorty]

Les DARCY Vs Billy HANNAN

Excerpt :- On 15th March 1913, Les was matched to fight Billy Hannan at the Adelphi Hall, Maitland, for a purse of 75 pounds . It was amazing that a youth of seventeen was expected to go twenty rounds with a man many years older, who was experienced in professional fighting, and had been regarded for at least six years as the Maitland champion. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Billy Hannan had given Les his first boxing lessons when Les was eleven. Now the pupil was expected to surpass the master. Darcy's second appearance in a public stadium had been in a four round bout with young Donahoe, as a preliminary to a big fight,--- Hannan vs Charlie Raff. Now, twenty months later, Les had made the grade to the top. At this time Billy Hannan was in his prime. He had just returned from a tour of New Zealand, where he had beaten the N.Z. lightweight champion, Tim Tracy. ------------------------------------------------------------------As St. Patricks Day, 17th March, was on a Monday, the annual St. Patrick's Day sports meeting was held at Maitland that year on Saturday the 15th of March. The sports meeting, with a program chiefly of foot-races, was to begin at 11.30 am, so the fight was arranged to begin at 10 am. --------------------------------------------------------------Hannan and Darcy were both of Irish blood, but it was Darcy who got the yells of delight from the crowd when he entered the ring wearing emerald-green boxing trunks. There was heavy betting on the fight, but the odds were in favour of Hannan. One local sport, martin Kingsley, in particular backed Hannan for big money, thinking that Billy would certainly be too experienced for his younger and lighter opponent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- In the first few rounds the points were even, as both boxed cleverly, but Darcy succeeded in landing some strong punches on the body of the older man. As the fight progressed Hannan was noticeably tiring. After the fifth round Darcy was boxing with exceptional speed, and his left was continually worrying Hannan. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the fourteenth round, darcy began to hit Hannan at will, but Hannan refused to give in. The end came in the eighteenth round when the East maitland youngster laid the West Maitland low with a clean knockout that settled the argument, and so won the prize of 75 pounds. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hannan went home to bed after the bout, as he was very knocked about, but Darcy was scarcely marked, and after a bath and rub-down, went on to the Maitland Sports Ground. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The prize money Les earned from the fight, added to his earnings at the Newcastle Tournament and from his fight with Jimmy Burns was enough to enable him to purchase for his parents an old but large cottage at East maitland, which became their home. There they had much better living conditions than they had been able to afford previously.----------------------------------------

Stay tuned, more shortly.

Here is maybe the first report on Darcy outside of Australia, from the New Zealand Truth on 3-5-1913... there is a report on re-match negotiations for a second fight with Billy Hannan. ----- There is a mention on Bob Whitelaw in a separate article..... also featuring reports on Sam McVey, Ad Wolgast and others... good read.... this is the link.. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...oTELDbXathHH5g

[McGoorty]

Chapter 7 - RETURN BOUT - Part 3

Chapter 7 Return Bout - Part 3LES DARCY Vs FRITZ HOLLAND II.

Under Dave Smith's tuition, the Maitlander quickly learned to eliminate some of the faults which had enabled Fritz Holland to accumulate a lead on points in the early rounds of their first contest. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eight weeks had gone by since that encounter. On this second occasion, 12th SEPTEMBER 1914, there were no special trains but a large contingent came from the northern coalfields by the ordinary trains and by steamer, and the Stadium was well filled. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------From the beginning, Fritz realised that the boy had greatly improved in technique. As round after round went by, Darcy took a commanding lead on points by brilliant and tireless boxing and clean punching, against which Fritz Holland's cleverness was of no avail. Yet there were some tricks of the American professional circuit that Australian boxers were aware of. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- :- Editor -: I will add that Darcy was winning the fight well, but Holland had landed a few very hard blows to one of Darcy's eyes in the early rounds, as a result, Darcy's eye was badly swollen and was having difficulty seeing by the fifteenth round. It was a brutal first 15 rounds, Holland fighting with great courage and he was a willing combatant. On the other hand, Les Darcy had busted Fritz up too, beating Holland to the punch and landing with great consistency and Holland was tiring quickly...... Now back to Swanwick's account. -: McGoorty, Editor -: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At the end of the 15th round, Darcy was so far ahead on points that Holland had to do something drastic to claim a win, and time was running out. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- According to some observers at ringside, Darcy in the sixteenth round aimed a swing at Holland's solar plexus, but Holland sprang into the air, and at the same time with his gloves guided Darcy's punch to below his belt, making it appear that Darcy had deliberately struck an illegal blow. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Holland then fell to the floor, groaning in pain, but the referee, Harald Baker, apparently not having seen the illegal blow, began to count him out. Fritz Holland got up at the count of seven, and though gamely limping, gamely faced Darcy and parried his punches until the gong went, leaving Darcy mystified as to what happened. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the seventeenth round, although Darcy was so far on points that he would have won easily by merely sparring, he again hit Holland low, and this time the referee cautioned him that if he did it again he would be disqualified. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the eighteenth round, to the astonishment of everyone, Darcy again hit the American below the belt. Holland appealed, and without hesitation Harald baker crowned Holland the winner on a foul. The verdict was recieved by the crowd with boos and applause ----- depending on the betting ---- and a newspaper report stated, "Darcy was so far ahead on points that he would have won easily had he not committed the foul".** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darcy was always a clever but never a dirty fighter. His methods were as open as his smile. He had no intention of hitting Fritz Holland, or anyone else, below the belt. Yet he had done it ----- not once, but three times, in full view of a large crowd, and the third time after being cautioned. It did not make sense, and the crowd knew it didn't. The Maitland boy had won not only the admiration of the Sydney crowd, but their sympathy too. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the second time Fritz Holland had beaten Les Darcy. The boy who showed promise of becoming a world champion had lost his first two fights at Sydney Stadium. But the crowd who had seen him beaten knew that he had it in him to triumph against any opponent in a fair go. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :- ** Editor ;, From what I've read in one newspaper report, that Darcy's eye may have been closed and that a combination of half-blindedness and the wily tricks of the trade that Fritz had in his bag....... It's the only way that I can understand why Darcy fouled, as all reports confirm that Darcy was enjoying a comfortable points lead and the fight was in the bag. Don't let this report fool you though,.... Darcy out-punched Holland maybe 5 to 1, but that does not mean that this wasn't an extremely rugged encounter, Fritz wasn't a huge ****er but he could and did damage to Darcy in this fight, only problem for Fritz though was that he was very busted up... both fighters had bled at stages through this fight. It was a great fight with an unfortunate ending. -:

END Of Chapter Seven..... back soon !!!