Top 5 Australian fighters all time. Rank them!

[BlueBaureit99]

We got Jeff Fenech, Lionel Rose, Dave Sands, Les Darcy, Kostya Tszyu (although he is Russian born) etc.

How do you rank the top 5?
Not easy since 2 of them left this world too early.

[Scott9945]

We got Jeff Fenech, Lionel Rose, Dave Sands, Les Darcy, Kostya Tszyu (although he is Russian born) etc.

How do you rank the top 5?
Not easy since 2 of them left this world too early.

Johnny Famechon deserves to be rated at least equally with Rose.

[Anthony342]

Is is true Les Darcy beat everyone he fought, avenged ever loss and draw. I think I remember looking at his record a while back.

[McGoorty]

We got Jeff Fenech, Lionel Rose, Dave Sands, Les Darcy, Kostya Tszyu (although he is Russian born) etc.

How do you rank the top 5?
Not easy since 2 of them left this world too early.

Les Darcy undisputed number one Aussie fighter unless you make a claim that Bob Fitzsimmons was an Aussie (half true but also Kiwi and Pom). 1. Les Darcy - 2. Kostya Tszyu - 3. Jeff Fenech - 4. Dave Sands - 5. Jimmy Carruthers. -------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think Famechon was number 6 as I believe he is a bitter better than Rose who I have at 7. Jimmy Carruthers gets forgotten a lot these days but the guy was one of the best ever Bantams and was undefeated during his prime, retiring undefeated only to make a comeback years later that destroyed his amazing record. Kostya was simply sensational and so was the great Dave Sands. I think Lionel had the talent but he wrecked his career and can't blame anyone, it was Lionel who wanted to smoke two packs a day and loved the grog too much. ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ some of my ranking is influenced by the opinions of old timer fight fans who are great for conversations in clubs, it was from those old blokes I first heard the stories of the legendary Darcy and also Dave Sands. Yes I am old enough to have been able to have a drink with WWI veterans and men who had regularly attended Les Darcy's fights, they all said exactly the same thing, that Darcy was simply the best fighter they had ever seen fight in the flesh, Australian, American English all included. Not every great USA boxer has fought downunder but MOST of them have. It is hard to srgue with those whe were there. They said of Sands that he was a machine, brilliant and deadly and they all wanted to see Sands Vs Robinson but the sugar man did not want any part of a fight with Sands, with the great Sugarman saying that he thought Sands one of the best he had ever seen. Some older blokes though Rose was better than Fenech but I can't just ignore the stats that say otherwise. Famechon was a brilliant stylist but I rate Carruthers higher because I feel the only thing really separating the two is the simply lightning hands of Carruthers who must be right up there with the ranks of the fastest punchers of all time, Jimmy was greased lightning. --------------------------------------- ---------- There have been many really good fighters in Australia, many were robbed of shots for world titles back in the 30's and 40's, there were thousands of pro boxers back then in OZ.

[McGoorty]

Is is true Les Darcy beat everyone he fought, avenged ever loss and draw. I think I remember looking at his record a while back.

Yes, Les Darcy lost to Bob Whitelaw for the Australian Welterweight title when Les was only 16, a few months later he knocked Bob out. at 17 he lost to Fritz Holland on points in a highly controversial decision and Fritz won the second in what was thought by the crowd to be a pure robbery (they destroyed Sydney Stadium setting it alight).. Les fought Fritz a 3rd and 4th time but they were completely one sided with Les destroying Holland in both, Darcy was not yet 19 I think. By the time Darcy had his first fight with McGoorty he was a great fighter. His last loss is still argued about, the Jeff Smith loss is the most controversial of Darcys 4 losses, a disqualification of which he had 2 (he was almost disqualified in a 3 against Holland). -------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So the answer to your question is right, Darcy avenged every loss in his career, in the 2nd Jeff Smith fight it looked to many that Smith might get killed in there, Darcy was a quiet and friendly bloke but he really hated the bragging Smith and he basically wanted to repaint the walls of Sydney Stadium with the blood and guts of Jeff Smith. Whatever happened in those two fights one thing seems very clear, they quickly became a bloodbath and the feeling between the two just like La Motta and Robinson, Greb and Walker and Zale v Graziano. Darcy V Smith II was the only real grudge fight that darcy ever had. Darcy was never knocked out and never knocked down (by any blow above the nutsack at least).

[McGoorty]

Is is true Les Darcy beat everyone he fought, avenged ever loss and draw. I think I remember looking at his record a while back.

He has no draws on his record Anthony..... cheers mate.

[BlueBaureit99]

Les Darcy undisputed number one Aussie fighter unless you make a claim that Bob Fitzsimmons was an Aussie (half true but also Kiwi and Pom). 1. Les Darcy - 2. Kostya Tszyu - 3. Jeff Fenech - 4. Dave Sands - 5. Jimmy Carruthers. -------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think Famechon was number 6 as I believe he is a bitter better than Rose who I have at 7. Jimmy Carruthers gets forgotten a lot these days but the guy was one of the best ever Bantams and was undefeated during his prime, retiring undefeated only to make a comeback years later that destroyed his amazing record. Kostya was simply sensational and so was the great Dave Sands. I think Lionel had the talent but he wrecked his career and can't blame anyone, it was Lionel who wanted to smoke two packs a day and loved the grog too much. ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ some of my ranking is influenced by the opinions of old timer fight fans who are great for conversations in clubs, it was from those old blokes I first heard the stories of the legendary Darcy and also Dave Sands. Yes I am old enough to have been able to have a drink with WWI veterans and men who had regularly attended Les Darcy's fights, they all said exactly the same thing, that Darcy was simply the best fighter they had ever seen fight in the flesh, Australian, American English all included. Not every great USA boxer has fought downunder but MOST of them have. It is hard to srgue with those whe were there. They said of Sands that he was a machine, brilliant and deadly and they all wanted to see Sands Vs Robinson but the sugar man did not want any part of a fight with Sands, with the great Sugarman saying that he thought Sands one of the best he had ever seen. Some older blokes though Rose was better than Fenech but I can't just ignore the stats that say otherwise. Famechon was a brilliant stylist but I rate Carruthers higher because I feel the only thing really separating the two is the simply lightning hands of Carruthers who must be right up there with the ranks of the fastest punchers of all time, Jimmy was greased lightning. --------------------------------------- ---------- There have been many really good fighters in Australia, many were robbed of shots for world titles back in the 30's and 40's, there were thousands of pro boxers back then in OZ.

very interesting. If we would rank after accomplishments, it would be Tszyu 1 and Fenech 2 I guess, but the fact that Sands and Les Darcy are regarded as the greatest in Australia (by Australians) should count for more I would say.

[McGoorty]

very interesting. If we would rank after accomplishments, it would be Tszyu 1 and Fenech 2 I guess, but the fact that Sands and Les Darcy are regarded as the greatest in Australia (by Australians) should count for more I would say.

I think the accomplishments of Darcy were at least as good as those two, like today there was more than one world middleweight title during the tens (only two though). Darcy fought some tough, talented and remarkable fighters and to think of how good he was at such an incredibly young age, the fact the he fought 20 rounders and in those days you couldn't duck anybody. I also take into account things like his amazing chin, he was fast on his feet, smart, never knocked down, his reach was just incredible and for a middleweight he was very big. Darcy had the type of reach (7 inches longer than his height) that ranks him among the top 3 or 4 who were built like that. Opponents said the thing that they struggled with in fighting Darcy was that they all described his strength as off the charts, Les could literally throw them around the ring. Last of all Darcy was a boxer/puncher/fighter and could adapt to situations fast. from what I have read Les had an amazing workrate , he threw hundreds of punches and when he wanted to he could knock guys out with one shot with either hand, a complete fighter and from what I saw of Fenech and Tszyu I don't know if they could be called that.

[BlueBaureit99]

I think the accomplishments of Darcy were at least as good as those two, like today there was more than one world middleweight title during the tens (only two though). Darcy fought some tough, talented and remarkable fighters and to think of how good he was at such an incredibly young age, the fact the he fought 20 rounders and in those days you couldn't duck anybody. I also take into account things like his amazing chin, he was fast on his feet, smart, never knocked down, his reach was just incredible and for a middleweight he was very big. Darcy had the type of reach (7 inches longer than his height) that ranks him among the top 3 or 4 who were built like that. Opponents said the thing that they struggled with in fighting Darcy was that they all described his strength as off the charts, Les could literally throw them around the ring. Last of all Darcy was a boxer/puncher/fighter and could adapt to situations fast. from what I have read Les had an amazing workrate , he threw hundreds of punches and when he wanted to he could knock guys out with one shot with either hand, a complete fighter and from what I saw of Fenech and Tszyu I don't know if they could be called that.

Didn't know about his long reach. As for Tszyu - as far as I am concerned, he is one of the most complete fighters I ever saw. He also happens to be one of my all time favorite fighters, he had it all: high ring IQ, power, great skills, basically everything. Watching Tszyu box is to me like watching Mayweather or Pacquiao - it is just amazing to watch somebody like that.

[McGoorty]

Didn't know about his long reach. As for Tszyu - as far as I am concerned, he is one of the most complete fighters I ever saw. He also happens to be one of my all time favorite fighters, he had it all: high ring IQ, power, great skills, basically everything. Watching Tszyu box is to me like watching Mayweather or Pacquiao - it is just amazing to watch somebody like that.

I agree with all that apart from the chin, Darcy's was made of iron (seemingly) and Kostya had a pretty good chin but he had suffered being KO'd in the ring, of course that first loss was stopped by the ref as far as I can remember but Kostya was in serious trouble. That shock loss was due to from what I saw as a single mistake in a fight he was cruising comfortably in where Phillips rocked him then kept rocking him. It was one loss and I didn't read much into it, I felt Kostya was going to come back hard and felt that the guy was going to be twice as good as he was before and I was right, Tszyu is a legend. I do think he had quite a few Darcy like qualities especially in the power dept. Kostya was a KO expert as well as a great boxer, man did he have some awesome skills, he was better than Fenech and just about all Australians thought so at the time.