Sorry that I didn't read your post #2 thoroughly. Jack Carroll seemed like he didn't want to go to the United States. At the same time, it seemed that the gates of even the biggest Australian bouts of the time were relatively modest. It appears that the biggest gate that Carroll drew on one of his bouts was about six thousand pounds, which was about $30,000. in American money. Under the circumstances, I can see why a promoter would be reluctant to put up a guarantee of $50,000. or more to entice Barney Ross to come down to Australia to defend his world welterweight title in a bout with Carroll. - Chuck Johnston
I'm wondering also why he and his management didn't just take the show on the road and head to New York for a few months with some fights lined up. The furthest he traveled was a couple of fights in New Zealand. Which is like a fighter from Chicago traveling to Milwaukee. Maybe travel just wasn't in his plans. I know another Aussie - George Barnes who came along in the '50s - was locked into the welterweight tourney to succeed Carmen Basilio at 147, but he too wouldn't come to the US. I understand he wanted about $4,000 to fight Virgil Akins or Vince Martinez, but the promoter offered less and Barnes refused. Really dumb when you could be looking at the world title.
Scartissue- At the time of his retirement as a professional boxer, Jack Carroll said he was advised by a doctor to call it quits. Why Carroll didn't travel to the United States to get a shot at a world title, I don't know enough to make a definite judgement about it. Of course, it seemed relatively few Australian fighters went to the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. Those who did often didn't have that much success there. A huge number of Australian fighters went to the U.S. during the period from 1880 to 1915. I think that the impact of Australians on boxing during that period is highly underrated. How else can one explain why Larry Foley has not been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame? - Chuck Johnston
I think the general feeling among the Aussie boxing community was that no Aussies would get a fair go in the USA and I see nothing that can oppose the view. The idea that the Americans of that time would ever let a world title go overseas to the other side of the world seems out of touch with the reality of the times.
Non Americans that won world titles in the 1930's include. Sixto Escobar Kid Chocolate Baltazar Sanchilli Marcel Thil Ceferino Garcia Max Schmeling Panama Al Brown Primo Carnera So was it just Australian boxers that would be robbed in US rings? Out of touch with reality seems very a apt expression here.
Only one Aussie got even a title shot... Australia is more than twice as distant as anywhere in Europe or south america or Phillipines so on e a title went downunder its a hell of a long trip to try win it back. Fact remains this was how Aussies felt, the poor treatment handed out to Darcy was never forgotten.
I've given you 8 non Americans that won world titles during the 1930's. How Aussies felt /you feel is not a fact ,it is an emotion. When you make a statement like this. "I think the general feeling among the Aussie boxing community was that no Aussies would get a fair go in the USA and I see nothing that can oppose the view. The idea that the Americans of that time would ever let a world title go overseas to the other side of the world seems out of touch with the reality of the times." Give one example of an Aussie fighter being robbed in the US? You need facts to back up such statements , and you haven't given any. What was to stop the best Australian fighters going to the US in the 1920's and 30's? Later on ,why didn't Fred Henneberry and Ron Richards go to the States? If you want to be in the game ,you have to be where the game is played !
Fred Henneberry DID go to the United States for one 8-round bout with a fine American middleweight, Georgie Abrams, at Madison Square Garden, which ended in a draw. It appears that Henneberry got penalized a number of times for fouls in the bout. According to his record on the BoxRec website, Henneberry lost by disqualification a total of EIGHT times. In fact, Henneberry lost five bouts by disqualification during the last twelve bouts of his career! - Chuck Johnston
I wonder if he was considered at the time as a dirty fighter or an 'errant' fighter. You know, sort of like a Terry Norris who would get excited when he had a man hurt and wasn't too mindful of where his shots were flying. Norris was notorious for hitting a man when he was down or anywhere else. I don't know, but 8 times is considerable.