The Godfather of Australian Boxing

Not sure mate, i did think it was a member of the push. Looking into it :good

 

It was the thought of meeting McLean in a dark alley that led to the invention of the adult diaper

 

THE SYDNEY GLOVE FIGHT.
[By Telegraph.] Sydney, May 29th 1883


The glove fight between Professor Miller and Lawrence Foley took place this afternoon at the Academy of Music. The hall was crowded to excess by all classes of the community, and there was great excitement over the contest, hundreds of people crowding the outside of the building to get any information. Inspector-General Fosbery was in charge of a large body of police, who were scattered throughout the hall. He inspected the gloves before the men donned them and expressed satisfaction. William Forrester acted as referee, and George Adams, of Tattersal’s Hotel, was timekeeper. Some delay occurred through the ring not being completed in time, but the spectators remained very orderly while the arrangements were being completed. Jack Thompson spun the coin at 2.45 precisely, and Christie, naming it correctly chose the north-cast corner for the Victorian. A few minutes later Foley underwent his toilet in presence of the spectators, looking remarkably well and showing that excellent care had been bestowed upon him during his preparation. Foley appeared in his buff, the muscles of his back showing to great advantage. Miller soon afterwards showed out from a side room, wearing a guernsy. He looked the picture of health and bore a very confident expression. There was a remarkable contrast between the two in regarded size, Miller's weight being thirteen stone nine pounds and Foley's eleven stone. The men having shaken hands, Foley addressed the audience, asking them to be impartial in their criticism, and hoping they would give Miller fair play. At ten minutes to 3 the combatants stood up for the fight.

Round 1—Foley immediately forced the fighting, but Miller got home first, the rouud ending slightly in favor of Foley, not much harm being done. In the second round Foley got on to Miller's breadbasket, Miller hitting heavily in the same place. After several good exchanges the round closed.

Round 3—Foley still forced the fighting, getting heavily on to Miller's ribs, Miller replying with a smart tap on the nose. Round 4—After smart exchanges in favor of the "little un" Miller scraped out, drawing first blood from Foley’s nose, Larry rallied, putting in some good work, when the men came together and “off” was the cry from the referee, the round closing with claret flowing freely from Foley.

Round 5—After a deal of finessing Miller hit Foley again on the nose, causing the blood to flow freely. Foley was very busy, but a bit out of temper. This round closed much in favor of Miller. Round 6—Both men were quickly up to time and sparring well. After some smart exchanges Miller tapped Larry on the nose, when Foley sparred for wind.

Round 7—Foley was first at work, but was well stopped. After a bit of sparring Foley became very busy getting heavily on Miller's jaws, and sparring all round, amidst great excitement. This was a good round, and was in favor of Foley. At this stage 2 to 1 was offered on Foley. Round 8—Little work was done.

Round 9—Foley's physog (physique??) showed marks of Miller's punishment. After a short rally Miller lunged out again, drawing the ruby. A good round, in favour of Miller. Round 10—Miller got on to the breadbasket, Larry returning on the conk and ribs, and doing some excellent fighting, getting all over the big fellow. This was the best round yet fought, and was in favor of Foley.

Round 11— Good fighting on both sides. Miller getting home three times. After continually coming together time was called, ending in a smart well fought round. Round 12—Foley pounded away at Miller's stomach and ribs, Miller getting in to his opponent's forehead.

Round 13—This was well fought, and was in favor of Miller, knocking Foley on his knees, mainly through water being spilt at Foley's corner. Round 14— Miller got three times into Foley's mouth, Larry returning on Miller's head. Some good give-and-take work was done, the round ending in favor of Miller. Round 15—After a deal of sparring. Miller got on Larry's nose, when the latter did some good fighting.

Round 16—Foley forced the fighting, hitting short, and Miller rattled in a couple of heavy blows, getting well away. Round 17—Both men did good work, Miller being heavy on Larry's neck and head, and Foley returning hard on the forehead and fighting manfully. An excellent round for both men.

Bound 18 — The combatants sparred for wind. Round 19— Foley led, getting on to the head and ribs, and Miller returning on the side of Foley's head, the latter hitting straight and twice getting home. Round 20—Smart exchanges, Foley doing most of the work- Round 21—Foley was especially active, forcing the fighting ; Miller's left was hanging low as if he were tired. Foley dashed in, hitting straight on the mouth amidst great excitement

Round 22—Foley followed upon the stomach, dodging all over the ring, and very chatty. This round finished in favour of Foley amidst great applause. Round 23—Foley was again first to begin, following his man up, when some heavy exchanges took place in favour of Miller. Round 24—The men came together quickly, and separating sparred for breath, when some rough exchanges took place in favor of Miller.

Round 23—After rapid exchanges they came together, and separating Miller hit Foley heavily on the neck, and following it up knocked him clean off his pins by a heavy blow under the right ear, Foley narrowly escaping falling off the stage. Round 26—This was a quiet round and was finished in 1 hour and 53 minutes from the start. Tne betting now veered to 6 to 4 on Miller.

Round 27 began by sparring for wind. Miller rushed at Foley, who ducking got well away, and turning smartly hit Miller heavily on the head, the hitter taking matters quietly. The round finished in favor of Foley. Round 28—Miller hit Foley heavily on the ear with his right, Foley replying on the head, and Miller popping in one on the mouth. Round 29—foley hitting short, Miller quietly getting away. The latter now hit Foley hard on the nose with his right. The fighting was now much in favour of Miller.

Round 30— Larry was showing signs of the work done, and sparred for wind. Miller here forced the fighting, getting on to Foley'd head, piece three times in succession, following it up with some heavy work. When time was called Foley was very much distressed. Round 31—Foley very busy, but with no power, the heavy weight of Miller having told it’s tate. Miller hit heavily on the neck, closing the round. Round
32—Miller punished Foley severely, drawing the claret freely. At this stage the referee recommended a stoppage of the contest, but no notice was taken of the suggestion. Round 33— Foley led without any result, Miller landing heavily on Larry's frontspiece, and again turning the tap on. The round was much in favor of Miller, Foley being all to pieces. Round 34—A slack round, Foley. sparring for time; Miller taking matters easily.

Round 35 —Foley'a hands very low from exhaustion. Miller put in good work amidst cries of "go it Miller” Foley then calling on Miller to toe the mark and fight it out. Round 36—a slack round. Round 37—Miller was soon at work, knocking Foley all over the ring, when the crowd became very excited.

Round 37— Rapid exchanges, Foley rushed at Miller, him down against the ropes amid great cheering. Round 39—Miller led off, Foley getting away and sparring for wind the round finishing quietly. Round 40 and last Foley had to be assisted by his second to the centre. He then sparred all round the ring. Miller following up well and finding an opening knocked Foley clean under the ropes.

Thompson, Foley's second, then assisted his man up, eliciting an appeal from Christie, Miller's second, for a breach of rule 5. Before the referee could give a decision the crowd rushed the stage and the men were at once removed by their seconds, the referee leaving the building. The time from the commencement was 2 hours 50 minutes. Foley was terribly punished, Miller escaping with scarcely a mark. At Tattersall's, in the evening, the referee, in presence of a huge crowd, and in answer to Miller's claim (personally delivered) to the stakes on account of a breach of rule 5, announced that be would give his decision at 10 o’clock the following morning.

 

This is the only breakdown of the fight that i've come across atm, it does give me the impression though that maybe Miller was handier with the gloves than given credit for, im sure he used his weight and youth as an advantage to smother Foley, but the article does report some good exchanges and im starting to doubt whether Miller's skills primarily lay in wrestling alone. Foley conceded defeat which is good enough for me and i dont consider it a stain on his record when the age/weight/height/activity factors come into play and even by this account an old Foley punished Miller enough to show he made a fair fist of it. I agree that age probobly lost it for him.

McAullife still remains a scalp for Griffo in my book despite what the record books show, a half pissed Griffo to me seemed to get the upperhand on Dixon twice too despite them being declared draws, as with many of his other bouts. His defeat of Murphy makes him a title holder too in my book despite what the record books say.

Will try and get some Jackson and Griffo articles up too.

 

Abe Hicken who Foley beat to officially become champion of Australia.

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Mate i wouldnt have a clue!

 

Mate i have no idea in the slightest where the belt and cup are

As for the script i cant make out either, if i was to have a stab at it possibly some sort of signature???

Either way i think it's fair to say that i could be blindfolded with a broken wrist, 5 broken fingers and a bottle of rum under my belt and still make a more legible attempt at whatever that is meant to be