Which boxer from "Down Under", is the all time greatest? You can include transplanted guys like Tszyu , because Aussie doesn't have a huge population. Who takes the acclaim? ps Fitz qualifies if you want.
There were so many top fighters from Oz. Offhand I would number among them Rose, Fenech, Famechon, Carroll, Darcy, Mundine. But my number one is by far Hector Thompson. Only two all-time greats like Roberto Duran and Antonio Cervantes kept the crown from him.
How could I forget Dave Sands? Also shout outs to Rocky Gattelari, Jimmy Carruthers, Vic Patrick, George Barnes, Barry Michael and Charkey Ramon. I'll probably think of a half dozen more later. But again, Thompon has always been my number 1. Such dominant wins over the best of his day like Alfonso Frazer, Jimmy Heair, Carlos Gimenez (3 times), Jonny Gant, Pedro Adigue and Nani Marrero had me hanging on for any reports every month from Ring mag. I should mention, I really don't think he deserved that title bout against Duran if you look at his record and rating back then, but gave one really good account of himself regardless. I think if he got the title shot with more seasoning about a year later, that would have been one helluva challenge.
Look at that! I just thought of Peter Jackson, Paul Ferrari, Jeff Malcolm, Anthony Mundine, Jeff White and of course, Michael Katsidis who was never in a dull fight in his life. God only knows whom I left out, but I'm sure there are many.
Darcy for mine.... but Griffo must be close, if he had not been a drunk and trained he would have been the greatest fighter of all time and that is world. Fitz is clearly the greatest Aussie in terms of success, many moderns say he is not an Aussie, well we do have a claim on him as it was here where he learned and began his career and indeed some of his Aussie opponents were better than most of the top Americans, Jim Hall, often overlooked today beat Fitz and is truly one of our true greats. Les Darcy however I believe is the best, most talented and all round best fighter we ever saw, he had it all but I admit freely that Fitz hit the hardest. Griffo has the best resume of any Australian and those who have him at number one I am loathe to argue with. Clearly this question is a race of three, Darcy, Fitz and Griffo... no one else in that league. Dave Sands was a great fighter too but his big wins are just two guys, Turpin and Olsen, the man was just getting started in the big time and then tragedy. Honorable mentions are many... Jimmy Carruthers, Lester Ellis, Tony Mundine,Tszyu, Fenech, the brilliant Famechon, Rose, Jim Hall, Dan Creedon, Bill Lang, Jack Hassen, Vic Darchinyan, Michael Katsides, Colin Bell, Ambrose Palmer, Vic patrick, Larry Foley, Paddy Slavin and perhaps the number four of all Aussies, the great Peter Jackson.... there are many more but none on the level of Les darcy, Young Griffo and Fitz.
Tszyu learned boxing in russia, boxed for russia for years and he wanted to become australian after he won the gold in sydney in the world championships, for russia. In my eyes is Jeff Fenech.
I am surprised that the name of Jack Carroll, whose peak years were during the 1930s, didn't come up when talking about the greatest Australian fighters of all time. While having some setbacks earlier in his career, Carroll had astounding success and was a tremendous drawing card during his peak years before his sudden and surprising retirement during the late 1930s. Carroll was a charter inductee in the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame during 2003. Carroll was a relative late bloomer as a fighter and fought when there weren't that many of the best foreign fighters in his weight class coming to Australia to ply their wares. Moreover, Australia seemed to be much less important in the boxing world after World War I largely due to professional boxing being at the height of its popularity in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. But keep in mind the following: 1. Australia had more professional boxing activity during the years during the period between the two World Wars than it did previously and afterwards. 2. During the last few bouts of his career, Carroll was drawing some of the biggest crowds in Australian boxing history up to that time, reportedly 30,000 for one of his bouts at the Sydney Sports Ground. Note- The Sydney Sports Ground was an open-air venue with a capacity of 35,000 when Carroll fought there. In comparison, Sydney Stadium appears to have had a capacity of about 15,000 at the time that Carroll was active. Les Darcy was a terrific drawing card, but it is very doubtful that he ever drew a crowd even approaching 20,000 with the biggest crowds for his bouts being at Sydney Stadium. - Chuck Johnston
Whats all this Mundine talk? You must be joking. As an Aussie no-one has ever proclaimed him to be a great fighter, he's a good heel and a drawcard but was merely a world title challenger who who a few trinkets. I have never read a single article from the Aussie media even suggesting he is an ATG in the international sense.
Gotta give Rocky Mattioli a mention as well, born in Italy did his boxing apprenticeship here in Australia before heading oversea's and winning a World Title.
I saw Maurice Hope stop him in London,He injured his foot when he was knocked down and his manager said that's why he lost.Mickey Duff the promoter said ,"there's no argument, don't get knocked down".
Actually, Chuck, I mentioned him in post #2. I totally agree with you on Carroll. I believe he was slated to fight Barney Ross for the welterweight title but whether he wouldn't travel or there was not enough funds to entice Ross down under I'm unclear on. Anyone have any knowledge on this one? Jack Carroll was the preeminent challenger back in his day for world honors.
