Les Darcy vs. Tommy Gibbons

reread the past several posts, nobody mentioned a weight decline.

 

What people writing about Darcy often overlook is the fact that when he came to America he could have had any fight he wanted and the govt would have done nothing because it was a while before they even banned him from fighting. The problem was that the promoters wanted to make the biggest matches possible: Darcy-Mike Gibbons, Darcy-Willard, etc. BUT, it was Darcy who was intent on fighting lesser opponents and demanding FAR too much money for his services. It was these tactics by Darcy and Sullivan that delayed a fight from happening until the govt stepped in. By the time he died Darcy had been relegated to the boxing backwater of Memphis and was being promoted by Billy Haack. The fight he was scheduled to have when he died was not against Jeff Smith, or Jack Dillon, or Jess Willard, or Mike Gibbons, or even Al McCoy. It was supposed to be against Len Rowlands of all people. I have used a cartoon in my book that illustrates the growing lack of respect for Darcy in this country whereby he is shown before a line of fighters challenging him, these include Miske, Gibbons, Dillon and others and Darcy is shown picking Al McCoy (obviously considered the weakest and least challenging of the fighters before him) with a huge grin on his face. I have a lot of respect for Darcy as a fighter but I also think hes largely unproven for the reasons I listed above. I would compare him to Georges Carpentier who looked great for a time in France when he had things his own way but when the heat was turned up you really got a look at what kind of a fighter he was and what he was made of and as a result I think Carpentier remains one of the most overrated fighters in history. As for the thousands that viewed his body being loaded into the ship at San Francisco it can safely be said that was due not so much to his popularity (he wasnt that popular here, obvioulsy, given his troubles) it was due to the fact that his legal problems and death had been widely publicized. Those were curiosity seekers akin to the crowds that watch the aftermath of an auto accident. Keep in mind that Darcy was villified in his own country until his death and rightly so to an extent.

 

First class post that kos dissent from "Down Under" ,I think !

 

No they didnt they stepped in straight away get your facts right.

But they made a example of Darcy.

Did you know there were plenty other deserters from England and also Australia that were aloud to fight.

Get your facts straight idiot.

Klompton there were more than 20 Pro fighters in the era of World War 1 fighting in the USA yet Darcy was the only one Banned.

And to say Darcy wasnt that popular he got more new clips in the NY Times than every fighter except Willard.

Can someone shut this Klompton down he is making an ass of himself.

I suppose you still think the Yanks didnt Poison Phar Lap.

 

What may have been?????? Make a comparison gentlemen. Compare the records of both Darcy and Greb up until the age of 20 years and 11 months. Go through your records books and compare them, study them.... and then consider what may have been. You might be shocked at what you see. Klompton, you can use boxrec...

Klompton, yes I am Australian.... a very proud Australian. If you would like an unbiast view point, then DPW417 might be kind enough to offer a few words???? RE: My initial response, which you assumed totally incorrect.

Darcy was branded a slacker, not by our nation, but the men (Baker and McIntosh) who promoted him. They had lost the greatest draw card. Bad publicity was printed, due to McIntosh's involements in the media/press. The media is responsible for 99% of contrived bull**** that people spend thier time talking about daily... so, dont pay attention to that cartoon you have. The hypocritical 'slacker' suggestion is ridiculous for numerous reasons. Yes, he was branded with that label, yet, at the same time, at no stage prior to sailing for the USA, had Darcy been legally obligated to join the armed forces. He tried to enlist on two occassions, yet without parental consent, this was not possible. His mother refused to allow him to enlist.

Whilst in the USA, many states refused to grant him a boxing liscence, due to the negative press. Attempts where finally recognised, after Les swore the oath, became an American Citizen in Chicago, joined the U.S air force in Memphis (on the provisy he be permitted time to engage in several boxing bouts, in order to ensure financial security for his family)....
His liscence was now inplace, and a bout was scheduled. At this stage Darcy was already ill-looking, and became extremerly puffed. The blood poisoning was creating increased weight, fluid retention etc... I had mentioned this in a previous post Klompton. He was dead within two months. Slacker???? What a joke. Anyone able to name a single American boxing champ that went to WW1, and gave their life for their country???????? Slacker????? What a disgracful joke. Baker and McIntosh deserve the white feathers... not Darcy. Loyalty to his families financial security was paramount, and Darcy's willingness to provide for them was the reason for him leaving Australia. Nothing more, nothing less.

Janitor, I agree with the requirements you list in the above post. Every one of these requirements were well established in the make up of Darcy. A level headed kid, rugged, fit, incredibly strong and willing.

 

Just how much was Darcy worth, historically speaking? That question will always linger.

He was burning red hot up until bizarre circumstances cruelly snatched away ring centre, where he used to orchestrate measured pummeling’s. Eddie McGrooty, Jimmy Clabby and George Chip were damn fine fighters, and Darcy beat them handily.

This was not a lucky run of sorts that created the ‘Ibeacbuchi effect’; Darcy was re-matching these guys and taking them up to 20 rounds. He was their master.

A worked body and great aptitude to learn made him a fighter of hybrid quantities. You had the bullish strength of a brawler but weaved into the threads of a classically tuned boxer who took his time and chose his sports, very defensively minded. In fact, on film he is the closest pugilist to resemble Jack Johnson

Gibbons would have proven a step up for Darcy, but ‘The Maitland Wonder’ would definitely have made his presence felt, to what degree is unknown, but Ted Spoon would bank on Darcy making the necessary adjustments if he began to lose the boxing match.

Gibbons had a good jab, hook off the jab and crab like defence; he was very difficult to open up or get to lead. Much jabbing would ensue, but the urgency for Darcy to seek real success would draw cause for him to go sailing in at some point.

With trademark uppercuts and hooks that Darcy could double up on, he would have a great shot at smothering and outworking Gibbons. Although they are linked to different weights, Darcy was the stronger man, and educated pressure is what you need against Gibbons.

A good right hand parry, distancing, strength and the uppercut would show up to spoil Gibbons common foothold in economical savvy.

It would make for a great newspaper read, but Darcy was made of the right stuff to walk away with the victory against a brilliant boxer. A hard, yet well fought decision for Darcy.

 

No observation on my thread about Australian boxers of the 1890s?

 

Janitor, I havent seen your thread of Australian boxers of the 1890's... if you posted one in the classic forum, please let me know. Will have a look, although I wont be searching through the pages if its not to be found.

Edit:.......... Just found the post in Oz forum. Cheers janitor.

 

Since this thread is more about hero worship from the australians than any actual fact based discussion Im just going to say that Darcy would have been knocked out brutally in one round by Gibbons, Dillon, Greb, Gibbons, Fulton, Willard, Dempsey, Kid Norfolk, Sam Langford, and just about anyone else you can think to match him with. There, now my argument is in the same vein as Flamengo and BoppaZoo. Wishful thinking hero worship based on biased reports and distorted truths.

 

Klompton..... why dont you throw Pee Wee Herman into the list???? Knucknlehead.

 

pee wee herman was a featherweight, they fought in different weight classes... duh! :roll:

 

I have 't read thru all of the posts on this thread but the subject title caught my eye. I've been doing a fair amount of research concerning the year 1917 of late and came across a number of articles pertaining to Darcy's arrival in the U.S. George "K.O." Brown, and another fighter who visited Australia named Milburn Saylor, both thought that Darcy was overrated. Brown who had fought both Darcy and Miske said that he'd bet a bundle on Miske in any matchup between the two, and Saylor named Gibbons among a number of fighters that he thoght would clean up on Darcy.