Harry Laing?

Hi Russell, Harry Laing, a New Zealander, was the Australian Heavyweight champ in 1894... He won the title from Joe Goddard ko 12... in Melbourne. He never defended the title, as he sailed to the united states not long after ... I can tell you also that he tragically lost both legs in a 'shunting' accident whilst on the railways.... And, from memory he died not long after. I had a fanastic pic of Harry a long time ago. Anyway, the information I have on Harry at this point is limited to what I have told you..... Im sorry to not offer more.

 

Russell, I have fight reports on most of his big fights. Lost early to Slavin and broke about even with Australian Billy Smith and of course he had the win over Goddard which was well deserved. A top level fighter.

 

hi guys i am also after any additional information on Harry Laing or any other photos. He was my mothers great grandfather but she Knows little about him. I have a great uncle who lives in wanganui New Zealand who is in his 80s who is Harrys Grandson who has a belt of Harrys , but I dont Know him well.being a amatuer fighter i am very interested in finding any thing on him thanks Matt.

 

hi matt,
have researched Laings record.what info. do you need.
The belt you mention is the Waganui champions belt,for the champion of N.Z.
Had to be defended for 2 years than became holders.
Would there be any chance of getting a photo. of it.
Cheers--J.D.

 

Matt, a good mate of mine would like to chat with you. He's actually of to N.Z this coming week, Friday in fact. I have a photo of Harry in a boxers stance, the original I gave to my mate, which he incorporated in his book "Heroes of the Fancy", covering the early years of Australian boxing. 1870-1930. Get back to me mate, and we'll organise a chat somehow. Cheers.

 

6t=p-\5430
now that sounds like a interesting book, is it published?

 

"Heroes of the Fancy"???

Yes, its published.

 

Wanganui Herald. Jan. 12
BOXING.

The Laing-Goddard Fight. Laing Victorious. (Special to Herald, by Cable.) Melbourne, January 12. There was a very large attendance at the Cumberland Hall on Now Year's night to witness the boxing contest between Harry Laing, Champion of New Zealand, and Joe Goddard, Champion of Australia. The match was to be decided by tho best of 20 roands and was for 150 sovs and the Championship of Australia. Laing weighed 13st and Goddard 13st 61b. In the first round Goddard commenced very cautiously, abandoning his rushing tactics. In the next two or three rounds Goddard did the leading business and had somewhat the best of the fight, but Laing was smarter on his legs, and got in some good two-handed blows. In tho fifth round Goddard made a heavy onslaught and Laing appeared done, but he rallied aud had the best of the fight. In the ninth round Goddard made anothor effort to down his antagonist, but he made no show, and at the end of tho twelfth round Goddard (who did not appear in good condition) held up his hand in token of defeat. Goddard afterwardß excused himself on the score of want of condition, and complained thaf Laing did not fight fair, and that he was abusing him throughout the fight.

 

The Herald again, April 28, 1888
Athletic Mems.

(BY HUTCH.)

What a change has taken place in the pugilistic atmosphere sinco my last notes i At that time Harry Laing was in the pink of condition, and fit to stand before any man in the arena. Last Tuesday, however, when everything seemed perfect for the encounter of the following day, a most acute attack of diarrhoea suddenly set in, and completely altered the aspect of affairs. Every thing that could be done to pull Laing together was tried, but failed, and Wednesday morning brought no abatement of the complaint, our "pug's" appearance being quite altered, a very care-worn look denoting tho weakness to which he had so soon been reduced. A conference was held as to the advisableness of allowing him to enter the ring, and to place matters on a satisfactory footing medical advice was called in. The doctor distinctly stated that Laing's health quite unfitted him to enter the ring, and those most concerned requested Harry to forfeit, but he firmly declined. The conference adjourned till later in the day to see if our champion would, in the meantime, alter his mind. They met again later on, but Laing remained invincible, and said he was determined to execute his portion of the contract. Nothing else was to be done now but to get ready for the encounter,and ten minutes to 3 p.m. witnessed the arrival of the gladiators, and 3.10 o'clock saw them in the ring at opposite corners, Laing looking very jaded. Slavin, on the other hand, looked confident, and stripping for the fray, exhibited a pink,healthy skin which betokened first-class condition. A good deal of "ducking" on the part of Laing was indulged in in the opening round, and both men retired to their "corners" little the worse for the brush; but in the second round, heavy work was successfully negotiated on both sides, Slavin having considerably the worst of it; and if Laing had been in anything like his proper form, Slavin must have received his coup de grace in the next round. Slavin's condition stood him in good stead at this juncture, and he recovered in a miraculous manner; while Laing, on the other hand, fell away. By this time the New Zealanders " ducking "was thoroughly mastered by Slavin, whose octopus-like reach enabled him to get home on some part of Laing's anatomy, no matter in which direction he bobbed. From the third round till the conclusion of the battle, science is completely laid aside, and nothing but arm-slinging and heavy slogging indulged in, Laing getting considerably the worst of it. Slavin scored the only two knock-downs, if they were worth calling such. Considering Laing's condition he made a wonderful stand, and had he been fit, I have no doubt the termination would havo been otherwise; and should another meeting be arranged, I will still pin my faith, as I said before, on the New Zealander.

 

Sorry, no time to edit the mistake in the OCR but you will get the ghist if you want to!
This was Laing's third major fight.
The Herald, Jan.13, 1891.
THE CHAMPION OF NEW ZEALAND.

He Arrives Back from Sydney. Description of Fight 'with Owen. Sullivan. Everyone will be glad to hear that Harry Laing the Champion Boxer of New Zealand has arrived back in Wanganui after having met and beaten the Barrier Champion Owen Sullivan, on Now Year's Eva. The cotest was won by Laing after a stubborn figbt of 43 rounds, lasting a little over three hours. When the men went into the ring, Laing weighed 12st 61b, whilst his opponent scaled 12st 101 b. Sullivan was favourite at three to one, freely given, whilst very few seemed inclined to baek the New Zealand Champion, The fight opened very carefully on both sides until the fifth round, when Sullivan got one on to Laing which woke Harry up and he thereupon made the peace a bit warmer, and Sullivan had to look to his laurels, from this out Harry had the best of the fight, his oppoent showing signs o£ dodging away. Harry then had to do all the fighting, his opponent not caring to come to close quarters, This continued until the twelfth round, when Sullivan showed signs of fatigue on one occasion he slipped through the ring at his own corner and his seconds just raised him in his corner in time to meet hia opponent. Sullivan was then given copious draughts of champagne, and one of Harry's backers was kind enough to proffer some of the stimulating ligvud which was accepted with thanks. The "fiz" had no beneficial effect on the Barrier Champion, who looked exceedingly groggy, while blood was slowly trickling from his mouth and face, the effects of some left handed stabs from the dusky Now Zealander. In about the thirtieth round Sullivan made a most vicious lush at Laing with the right, but the latter cleverely ducked, and his opponent slipped clean over him on all fours. Up to the fortieth round Laing simply played with lim, giving him occasional reminders that he was in the ring by visiting him with some rib-ticklers. By this time Sullivan's head was beginning to drop, and iv the v^irty-third round Nicholson told Laing to / go in and finish him. With this object in view Harry punched him ' all rouud the ring in the face and body, and luring only desisted when the referee called him off and awarded him the fight. It was generally conceded that the fight could not possibly have lasted another two rounds, and applause was freely bestowed on Laing after he had been declared the winner, numerous admirers striving their hardest to shake hands wHh the champion. Sullivan presented a bruised appearance on retiring, but he complimented the victor on bis pluck, Laing had only a slight contusion over the left eye, and was so fresh at the finish that general surprise was expressed at his condition, considering that ho was only training six weeks. Laiag coniiders that Sullivan can stand a lot of punishmont, and will beat more men than will beat him. He is perfectly satisfied with the fair treatment which he received at the hands of the Australian "sports," whom, he considers all good men. Laing intends to visit the South on a sparring exhibition, and during the winter will probably visit " the other side " again.

 

great posts!