Les Darcy: Boxing greatest tragedy??

Surf-Bat · Oct 16, 2011

Boilermaker said: ↑

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Still, i dont think his record compared with Darcy at this stage. Quite a few early losses and his big wins were pretty Much close fought SDs. Yarosz and Young Corbett are great wins though, as were a few others.
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Thanks Boiler.

Darcy might indeed have the edge. Re: some of those early losses, don't forget that in Pittsburgh they had a "sink or swim" protocol among the trainers and their fighters. That's why you see Pittsburgh fighters like Conn, George Chip, Sammy Angott, etc. being tossed in there with far more experienced opposition at a fairly young age. With only thirty-something fights(a relatively small number for that day) to his name Conn is fighting veteran champs like Fritzie Zivic, Teddy Yarosz, Vince Dundee and Babe Risko.

I don't know much about Darcy's early opponents or if Darcy's people were protecting or guiding him carefully along in the first few years of his career. But I do know that Johnny Ray definitely was NOT protecting Conn!

gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

Surf-Bat said: ↑

Thanks Boiler.

Darcy might indeed have the edge. Re: some of those early losses, don't forget that in Pittsburgh they had a "sink or swim" protocol among the trainers and their fighters. That's why you see Pittsburgh fighters like Conn, George Chip, Sammy Angott, etc. being tossed in there with far more experienced opposition at a fairly young age. With only thirty-something fights(a relatively small number for that day) to his name Conn is fighting veteran champs like Fritzie Zivic, Teddy Yarosz, Vince Dundee and Babe Risko.

I don't know much about Darcy's early opponents or if Darcy's people were protecting or guiding him carefully along in the first few years of his career. But I do know that Johnny Ray definitely was NOT protecting Conn!
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Mate I just tried to post a 400 word reply, but slow connection speed stuffed it and it is wiped..... so I'm just going to say Darcy was thrown in the deep end of many of his early fights from age 14 to 17 and beyond..... I will look for stuff I did from Swanwicks book and cut and paste a little bit on his early tough fights in the next post or two,... I think many here might enjoy that..... especially a surfbat ????.... (what the hell is a surfbat ??).

gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

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---- "Bud Darcy's First Fight" ;- 1910.

- Among the men working there was a jockey named 'Guv'nor Balsa, 28 yo, who had a local reputation as a boxer. Jack Donohue expressed the opinion that "Bud" Darcy could beat Guv'nor Balsa.---------------------------Blsa's backers accept the challenge, for a contest of Ten Rounds, ----
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A big crowd of spectators, mainly "Navvies from the construction camp, and some visitors from Maitland -- saw the fight. After 10 rounds the referee was unable to give a decision on points, so by mutual agreement another round was fought. This was won by Darcy, who was thereupon declared the winner. ----------------------------------------------------------Les's share of the stake, win, lose or draw, was fifteen shillings, which he proudly .gave to his mother.
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gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

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-A local cricketer, Con Irwin discovers Darcy's talent, and suggests Les take up dancing to improve footwork,----------------------------------------Among the dance pupils was Sid Pascoe, a lad from West Maitland, a few years Les's senior and a boxer, Pascoe's dad arranges a fight.
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DARCY vs PASCOE, -- A big crowd saw Les Darcy enter the ring, wearing swimming trunks and sandshoes, with his seconds, Mick Hawkins and Arthur Howarth. There was a special cheer from the East Maitlanders among the spectators, For this was an East Maitland versus West Maitland contest.--------------------------------------------------------------------Good humoured "Chayaking" (jesting) gave way to a silence of astonishment at the perfectly proportioned compact physique and large muscular development of the blacksmith's apprentice, and his phenomenally long reach, broad shoulders, and thick neck, which made his taller opponent seem lanky and awkward. Then came roars of applause as the "little fellow" ----for so the crowd nick-named him there and then -- moved in with skillful footwork and lightning movements of his head body and arms, to land punches on his opponent at will, and dodging the counter-attacks with perfect ease.------------ "Dance Pascoe, dance" the West Maitlander's father roared from his corner, urging his son to speedier work to avoid Darcy's skillfull exebition of every punch and counter in the repertiore; but all that Sid Pascoe could to get a moments respite was to clinch and clinch again.---------------------------------- When the gong -- an empty kerosine tin -- aws struck at the end of the first round, Darcy was so far ahead on points (?) that the result, barring a knpockout was a forgone conclusion. Pascoe senior advised his son to go for a knockout. Darcy was treating the match as a sparring exhibition, pulling his punches as he did in the gymnasium workouts.---------------------------------Pascoe Jnr. rushed in at the sound of the gong like a bull at a gate, taking a vicious two-handed swing at Darcy's jaw, and leaving himself wide open to a right uppercut that lifted him off his feet and stretched him on the matting for the full count of ten and more, two minutes from the end of the round.
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gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

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Several months after his fight with Sid Pascoe, Darcy was given another chance of fighting in a preliminary bout at Maitland. This bout was of 4 rounds against a lad named Dan Donohue, as preliminary to the main fight between Billy Hannan and Charlie Raff, at the Maitland Town hall on Tuesday, 26th July 1911.
LES DARCY vs DAN DONOHUE
A terse report in the "Newcastle Herald" stated : " The prelim was provided by two lads, Donohue and Darcy, who gave a lively four rounds, in which Darcy, showing to best advantage, was awarded the verdict by the referee, Mr. Chapman. A more vividly written report was printed in the "Mitland Mercury" on wednesday, 27th July 1911 and this was the first report of a fight by Les Darcy ever to appear in print :--- Two lads, Donohue and Darcy, provided a four round preliminary, and did it well too, for they 'had all their goods in the window' as the saying goes, and they hustled and slugged gallantly.
'Darcy was the smaller, but he has a good straight left and a persistant rib-seeking right, and he recieved the decision, though Donahue was the stronger
at the finish.
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Surf-Bat · Oct 17, 2011

gregluland said: ↑

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---- "Bud Darcy's First Fight" ;- 1910.
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Sounds like the boy had his priorities straight . Thanks for posting that.

I tend to surf at night, hence the nickname. It's also a song:

http://vimeo.com/24997627

gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

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After much argument Darcy's freinds get Ford to agree to let Les Enter a Newcastle Tournament,.
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Reports of these contests were printed breifly in the "Newcastle Morning Herald". On Saturday, 30th March 1912, Les Darcy was matched against a lad named R. Fairburn from Islington. The newspaper reported :-----"The fight went to the fourth round, at the close of which Fairburn gave the token of surrender.--Darcy is atough hardy little chap who possesses a rare punching ability for a lad of his inches, while his defence-works are very difficult to penetrate." ..
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On the following Saturday night, 6th April 1912,Darcy was matched against a lad named Rhymer for a bout of Eight rounds, which was refereed by the holder of the Australian Heavyweight Championship, Les O'Donnell. At the end of the sixth round, the referee stoppedthe fight and declared Darcy the winner. This time the 'Herald' stated that Darcy was "a miniature Squires'. This was a referance to Bill Squires, a stockily built Heavyweight who fought Tommy Burns Three times in 1907 and 1908 for the Heavyweight Championship and was knocked out each time by Burns.The Herald writer made a keen estimate of Darcy's ability : ---"He is a remarkably neat clean limbed, muscular young fellow, possessed of wonderful hitting power and stamina for a lad of his inches. He always had Rhymer in trouble, and it was a treat to watch him when they came to close quarters. Darcy will have to be reckoned with before the final stages are reached".Asthere were other bouts to be fought in the quarter finals, Les had Three weeks to wait before his turn would come for the semi-final bout on 27th April.
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gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

Surf-Bat said: ↑

Sounds like the boy had his priorities straight . Thanks for posting that.

I tend to surf at night, hence the nickname. It's also a song:

http://vimeo.com/24997627
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You're welcome for that,.... I'll paste some more too,.... I typed all these out somewhere else a few months ago so I'll paste them........ I think many will enjoy them, after all it is about the gradual rise of a champion from very humble conditions.... I can't get my head around a 14 year old, barely a FW beats a 28 year old pug and giving away pounds ??... that's got to be freakish.

gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

gregluland said: ↑

You're welcome for that,.... I'll paste some more too,.... I typed all these out somewhere else a few months ago so I'll paste them........ I think many will enjoy them, after all it is about the gradual rise of a champion from very humble conditions.... I can't get my head around a 14 year old, barely a FW beats a 28 year old pug and giving away pounds ??... that's got to be freakish.
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During this interval, the Maitland Agricultural Show was held. Among the touring sideshows was Sam Norman's Boxing troupe, known from one end of Australia to the other. ...
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In his troupe were Dave Meekin --- one of the best Middleweights in Australia at that time --- and Young Athorne, a hard hitting Welterweight who had won fights at Sydney Stadium.
Sam Norman heard that Les Darcy was the best of the local lads. He wanted to arrange a fight between Meekin and Darcy, but Meekin was too heavy. Sam Norman himself then undertook to stop Darcy in four rounds.------------------------------- A big crowd packed the tent for this contest, but Norman got the surprise of his life when he landed several knockout punches on the young blacksmiths jaw without result. Les shook his head and came up smiling after the heaviest punches that Norman could deliver.The Maitland boy had no chance of landing many punches on such an experienced bobber and weaver as Sam Norman. Les's idea was to earn a pound by remaining on his feet for four rounds. He suceeded in that aim, and in the process gave Sam Norman what Dave Meekin later described as "one of the loveliest shiners ever seen"...
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-Next day Young Athorn tried to stop Darcy in four rounds, but in the third round Darcy "put him to sleep". The Maitland boy was paid Thirty Shillings for that fight.----- On the following day, Dave Meekin and Darcy gave an exhibition of sparring for three rounds, drawing a full house of spectators.-------------- Those three days were helpful for Darcy's development.
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gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

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Darcy returns to the Newcastle Tournament to fight on 27th April 1912, in which he was scheduled to meet one of the cleverest fighters of the Northern Districts, H. Emery.Despite his reputation at Maitland, Darcy was scarcely known in Newcastle, where it was confidently predicted that Emery would have no difficulty in eliminating the country boy.----- The Newcastle Herald reported the fight :----- "Emery was the favorite, and got the shock of his life when the little fellow attacked with the ferocity of a terrier, Never giving his opponent a moments peace.""Emery soon discovered that he had an awkward opponent. Darcy ducked so cleverly to Emery's leads and smothered up so efficiently before Emery even attacked, that Emery was quite at a loss to bring out the right kind of punch". "The contest went the full eight rounds, and the referee's decision for Darcy was greeted with loud applause"" Darcy seemed as fresh as when he commenced. He will fight Tom Page in the final next Saturday".-
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gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

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Les Darcy's weight at this time was 9 Stone 6 pounds, was much less than that of Page, who rated at Middleweight, while Les was a Lightweight. In addition, Page had a long experience in the ring and many victories to his credit in the keenly contested fights in the coalfields stadiums. He lived at Warners Bay, near Newcastle, and was known for his boxing triumphs as "The Pride of the Bay"....
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The final, as usual in these tounaments, was of ten three minute rounds,.... The "Heralds report of the fight stated :----- "Page had a great advantage, in height and weight, over Darcy. The first round saw the men chiefly engaged in measuring up, but as the bout progressed, Darcy had gauged the distance perfectly, and was timing with exactitude. This is a feature of his work in the ring". ------------------------" Darcy simply peppered the stronger man, and piled up the points at an alarming rate.----------"page swung his massive arms in all directions, and occasionly fluked one with his right. At the close of the tenth round, the referee crowned Darcy the winner, He was presented with a gold medal, the gift of Mr. F. Fletcher. The win was a popular one, and the Maitland boy was cheered enthusiastically as he left the ring.-...
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It appears from various newspaper reports that the weight limits in this tournament were not strictly defined. Some mentioned the Heavyweight Division and others the "Ten Stone class",...........................................The Maitland Mercury was naturally proud of the local lads victory. It's report stated :---- "Darcy (East maitland) and Page (Warners Bay) were the two left in the "10 Stone Division. Although Darcy was shorter, he gained the verdict after ten rounds hard fighting, the decision being very popular".-----" Darcy is a remarkably good and game lad for his poundage".
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gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

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Les was not yet Seventeen,.................. It was impossible for Les to find opponents his own age or from any of the local Lightweights, to take him on in the preliminaries........His reputation was actually making it difficult for him to get opportunities. An attempt was made to match the East maitlander against a West Maitlander named Moylan, who fought under the name of "Jimmy Burns"....
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The Maitland Mercury, 9th May 1912 :----"As soon as 'Bud's' Darcy --- The winner of the 10 stone Tournament at Newcastle the other night --- heard that Jimmy 'Burns' wanted him bad ly with the gloves on, for a lump of rubbish weighing twenty-five pounds or so, Darcy, like the little bulldog he is, made all haste for the enemy, and promptly accepted the defu. If these lads get together there will be a cataclysym in punchdom in Maitland town".-------------------------------------------------- But the "cataclysym never happened as apparently 'Burns' couldn't get backers,......... 3 and a half months go by, Les continues his training,............................. Mick Hawkins tells Les that he's got nothing more to teach him, so Jack Donahue, a boxing expert takes Darcy on....
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Les became remarkably muscular from his hard daily work and his evening training. In August 1912 he entered again for the the Newcastle Summer Park Tournament in the Lightweight Division (considered as up to Ten Stone).-------- Even though he had won the previous tournament, he had to fight, like other competitors, in a qualifying match of four rounds. His opponent in this bout was the lad from West Maitland whose family name was Moylan, fighting in the name of (none other than,..) 'Jimmy Burns'.- ..
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-Darcy weighed in at 9 stone 7 pounds and Burns at 9 stone 8 pounds. They had often sparred at the old fire-station at Lorn. The result was a foregone conclusion. The Newcastle Herald reported :- "Neither boxer showed any great fighting ability. Their display was most dissapointing. Darcy, due to his cleaner and better fighting ability, was declared the winner on points.------This bout qualified Les for the quarter finals. His turn came three weeks later, on 14th September in an eight round bout against Harry Richards. This lad came from Boolaroo, a coalmining centre near Lake Macquarie,...............he had fought many contests including a twenty round bout,..
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.. Darcy weighed in at 9 stone 7 pounds and Richards 9 stone 10 pounds. The Heralds sports reporter commented, " The first few rounds were uneventful. The crowd expressed it's disappointment and urged the boxers on. Richards came out of his shell with a fast and clever display of boxing, but the defence of "the little fellow" --- as Darcy is now referred to --- would not be penetrated.--------------------------------------------------------------- ----"Darcy scored most of the effective hits, and his opponents face suffered severely from Darcy's crashing blows,...... Darcy was declared the winner, and so entered the semi-finals',....." Darcy's timing was almost perfect. His head and foot work were admirable. He has the Makings of a champion".
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gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

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On the following Saturday night (21st Sept. 1912), a large crowd of miners went to Newcastle to see the Semi-Finals, in which Darcy was matched against H. Devon, the local Lightweight champion from Abermain, a mining town ten miles to the south-ward of Maitland....
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This was a ten round bout, but in the sixth round, Devon's seconds threw in the towel, and Darcy was crowned winner on a technical knockout.----Again the sporting reporter of the Herald was enthusiastic :-----"Darcy showed the boxing ability of a matured born fighter, that excited the onlookers. It was said by the local boxing men that for a lad of Darcy's height he is a terrific hitter, and whatever he lands on must yield".----------------------------------- -----"Darcy will now fight J. Barnes in the final next Saturday".--------------------------The Maitland Mercury announced :, "The main bout will be between Darcy, 'The Maitland Surprise Packet', as he has been dubbed, a little battler of wonderful merit with both hands, and a worthy foe in Barnes the 'Fighting Wheeler'.
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gregluland · Oct 17, 2011

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The Final :- Les Darcy Vs J. BARNES
;- Les O'Donnell refereed the the final, on 28th September 1912. And the Maitland Mercury proudly reported the result :---------------------------------------------------- "Young Darcy, of Maitland, belted Barnes, of Minmi, so cleverly in the final of the 10-stoners, that Barnes's seconds threw in the towel when the ninth round had not long been in progress".-----------------------------------------------"Darcy is only about sventeen years of age, and is generally acknowledged to be the most promising lad of his weight that has been dug-up in the north for many a long day"
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Sawyers · Oct 17, 2011

And so begins the Darcy phenom? A single Pascoe name on record? No. Not at all.

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