Two legends. 15 rounds. I've only seen one Les Darcy fight. The fight against George Chip, who went the distance with Harry Greb. Chip looked to be a rugged southpaw, who used physical strength to get on the inside and maul his opponents...Trouble was Darcy was better on the inside and the outside against Chip. Darcy literally beat George Chip down, from the outside, a very hard smashing jab repeatedly found it's mark and accurate right hands punished Chip's head and body...When Chip did get inside and attempt to hold and hit, Darcy was stronger physically would wrest free and pound Chip's midsection and behind Chip's head with hard blows...That was the kind of rough affair it was, no quarter was asked or given. Darcy systematically beat him until the KO in the tenth. What stands out to me re Darcy, is unlike alot of the old time fighters, Les used the left jab to set up power shots, and his mobile footwork enabled him to close distance quickly. Or fight at a distance. From the book, "Les Darcy, The Legend, Champion of Champions" by Raymond Swanwick. His height had attained it's maximum, 5 feet seven inches, so that his build was burley and 'big in the barrel'. his chest measurement was 39 inches and waist 32 inches. It was the tremendous strenght of his neck, shoulder and arm muscles that enabled him to absorb with out flinching blows that would have knocked out most other boxers. His neck was 16 inches, and this meant that his collar size was 18. his biceps were measured 14 1/2 inches, forearm 11 1/2 inches, and wrist 7 1/2 inches. apart from his thick set and short neck, the most remarkable feature of his build was his reach, which was 74 inches from fingertip to fingertip being seven more inches than his height. Les Darcy's reach was the same as that of Jack Johnson, who was world heavyweight champion from 1908 to 1915, but Johnson stood 6 feet 1 1/4 inches high. It had been claimed and never disproven that Darcy had a longer reach, thicker neck, and bigger biceps than any other middleweight at that time or before or since. His biceps had a measurement the same as those on record of the old time world heavyweight champions, James J. Corbett and Tommy Burns and of later champions Gene Tunney, Jack Sharkey, Max Baer. Rocky Marciano, and Floyd Patterson. Darcy's thigh measured 23 inches, calf 14 1/2 inches and anke 8 1/2 inches His thigh was the same measurement as those of Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Max Schmeling, and Joe Louis, and slightly bigger than the measurement of Tommy Burns, Gene Tunney, Max Baer, Ezzard Charles, Joe Walcott, or Rocky Marciano. That being said...while Darcy wasn't a tall middleweight...He was a large middlewieght. How would a fight between Darcy and Monzon unfold?
DPW, when we consider the lack of scientific schooling that Darcy aquired, as he was such a raw and isolated kid from the country side, away from the city and the tutorage of the well educated trainers, he was simply a magnificent example of a natural fighter. He was known to spar as often as possible, and had advertising signs outside of the local gym requesting 'Sparring'. In Sydney, the man would have been afforded a better quality of sparring and schooling, although, even during his fights with the American imports, he displayed a natural talent. Given his age... his last fight at the age of 20, and what he accomplished in between, against well schooled title claimants with fantastic records, I would have to say he would have OWNED Greb and any other notable M/W of the day. Ketchel, Greb, Papke, Fitz and the likes who were also before and after the era, would have been belted via the fists of a matured Darcy. Dempsey may have been a possible match up also.. as they were both the same age... The world would have been at Darcys feet, had Darcy survived into his late 20s... What an amazing fighter. Regarding Monzon vs Darcy... A nice match up to contemplate. Had Darcy been schooled by a knowledgable trainer, even during his own career, the scratchy tapes might have revealed a more talented fighter ??? He was brilliant for his day, and Monzon may have been in a match with a bull of similar strenght, durability and will. Both men are soooo similar for courage and toughness, although the science of Monzon surpasses that of young Les. However, as mentioned, if Les was around in the modern era, with his physical make up, natural ability and dicipline, only a back foot fighter with great stamina and evasive skills would have beat him...... God knows how good Darcy was.... we can only imagine what we missed..
I agree, Flamengo.... This match-up came to mind after watching Monzon dismantle Denny Moyer. Moyer had his early moments giving Monzon some difficulty at the start. However, Monzon began finding his range with his straight right hand. Monzon was very active in this fight, and it was a tough fight...The stoppage was a bull**** decison by the referee, but Monzon was on his way to the win... Darcy would have presented a similar picture to Moyer, except he would have been able to challenge Monzon's strength on the inside. The film of Darcy/Chip convinces me that while Darcy was only a young man of twenty, he would have more than held his own against Monzon at close quarters. Darcy was a very rough, strong fighter...Carlos would find more than his equal exchanging hard rabbit punches and wrestling inside. Monzon would have to engage from the outside against the bull like Darcy. Darcy would charge and he could close the distance well, but Monzon dictates the exchanges. Alot of Monzon's success relates to his physical strength and size. His style is basic, but his judgement and timing were impecable. Also what sets Monzon apart was his pride....Intense pride. The pick is Monzon. But even the young Darcy gives him a hard fight.
DPW.. I guess it would be foolish to predict any Pre-50s fighter against Monzon, when the callibre and intensity of M/W title fights dramatically changed with the arrival of SRR. ( perhaps the quality of fight visions also allows a better view of fights??) The only classy fighter pre- SRR that deserves an unquestionably serious chance in the betting would be Cerdan. Hard, tough, fluent, granite chinned, and relentless against any takers, snd worthy of a points victory chance. La Motta would have been an incredible opponent for Monzon, yet the willingness of LaMotta to be hit should see the end of him. I believe Monzons patience would have accounted for Walker without question. IMO. The thought of a matured Darcy, against anyone, remains intriging to myself, as a mystery of his personal ability will remain just that, a mystery. He was such a gold nugget, attatched to a giant gold reef, that remains unexposed. DPW, consider the outcome of Darcy vs Greb. I can only ponder that Greb, with such an endless supply of no-dec bouts, even taking into consideration most of the states in the US at the time required a KO, to register a win, was not more than a journey man.... surviver... I MUST state that my view is purely speculation, however, there is a constant show of 'No Dec 10' etc, through his record. He was not a KO puncher with a high ratio of KOs..... I personally believe, that Greb was one of the first TRULY proffessional boxing exhibitionists, who constantly travelled and fighting for the sake of money. As, once again, his record suggests, he would fight numerous times in the month, surviving 10 round bouts, time after time. His skill cant be questioned at all.. Greb was a fighter, and a fighter who faught so often and over soooo many rounds, he must have relied on ring craft to continually win a battle. I just question his attitude when fighting??? Was he there to simply win, without malice??? Or was his punching ability limited?? Another great fight missed.... Darcy/Greb.
Flamengo, Interesting question(s) re Greb. I'd never really considered it actually. I've read various reports where Greb was sometimes caught and surprised for flash knockdowns with Soldier Bartfield for example...but just considering how often he fought, and how much...It would be easy to not 'get up' for each and every fight. You may indeed be correct with your assumption...Many fighters get caught in that trap fighting far less frequently. It would only be human nature not to take alot of those fights for granted. With that being said though, Greb's overall record against great fighters of that era speaks for itself. What i love about Greb, is that he fought everyone...including the tough Black fighters. Greb and Darcy? You bet I've thought about this one! The fight against Chip convinces me that Darcy would have the jab (He owned a smashing jab) strength, and the footwork necessary to beat Greb. I'd speculate on a decison win for Les Darcy! In a vicious fight.
Great response mate, but I have to accept the greatness of Greb also, and realise the talent of the young Darcy. A mature Darcy would have been well into the Heavyweight fighters of the day, by his late 20s. Greb did fight everyone, and the majority of them several times. A phenomenol record, and a record which carries his legacy eternally.
great to see someone else showing deserved respect to the great Darcy. Chip was knocked out in the 9th, you have seen the same Chip fight I saw and I agree with the way you see that fight. The Chip fight I have watched many times and that fight looks like a total shutout, I doubt that Chip won a single round. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think Darcy at 20 gives them all a run for their money, as for Monzon, he is a big favourite on some forums overseas and just saying that Darcy might beat Monzon sometimes ruffles a few feathers, but Les Darcy is a nightmare for any Middleweight ever, before or since. Darcy had it all, he is just so damn fast and good, his abilty to smash a long left or to slip right under monzons long shots, Darcy just lets them glance off his skull while he neatly as he slams alarming body punches and he finds any chin with regularity. Yes, I think Les would get inside, punish then be out again just as quckly........ and don't for get his reach is 74 inches not 66 as most may expect, and Darcy is many calibre's above a Tony Mundine, and Darcy had a ATG chin........ Darcy by TKO late in proceedings.:hat
