Traveling boxing show

Boxing tents may have been on a similar line. They were often up in QLD - Brophy's was a pretty famous one.

I think (someone correct me if im on the wrong track..) that he had a few of his fighters, and they'd travel and knuckle it out with the locals. Betting pools providing the monetary backing for the tents.

 

Sapphire who sometimes posts here used to or still is involved in one.

 

All shows including the royal easter show in NSW had boxing tents until the boxing authority took over boxing banning them

 

You're talking about Fred Brophey's boxing tent. If you google it, there's a program online about it. I've watched it before. Blair "Cowboy" Wilson is a legendary tent fighter that often fights for Fred.

 

lol... anytime. I punch **** out of you for 3 rounds you might leave with a few less teeth but you'll have a great story to tell your mates.

 

hey sapphire are you a pro boxer fighting in the tents just for fun or is tent boxing your job is it fun bashing up drunk hepless guys does it do any thing for you:good

 

I'm not a Pro, and you hardly ever get an easy fight in the tent you earn your money. It feels like I always get the biggest and hardest **** in town. We fight alot of boxers in the tent.

 

oh ive seen your you tube posts it just seems like a ego trip posting video of you belting blokes who to me dont look like boxers if they laid you out would you post it? correct me if im wrong

 

I've posted all my fights I have video taped in the tent. I've never been knocked out in the tent but when it happens I'll post it for you

 

:good

 

Recently read a terrific book about Australian tent boxing that I bought at the ABC bookshop, called TENT BOXING by Wayne McLennan. Here's what the Age Newspaper had to say about the book:

TENT BOXING WAS A REGULAR feature of agricultural shows from the early part of the last century until the late 1960s, when new laws required that tent boxers work under the same conditions as professionals and most of the troupes went out of business. Wayne McLennan, himself an ex-professional boxer, discovered that there were still troupes operating in Queensland and came all the way from his adopted home in Holland to travel with Bells Touring Boxing Troupe.

The sport is still much played by indigenous Australians as it was in the days of Jimmy Sharman; one of McLennan's comrades was one of the guys who dynamited the Imperial Hotel in Moree in 1976 because it wouldn't serve blacks.

McLennan finally climbs into the ring himself, though he doesn't cover himself with glory. As a writer he's no heavyweight either. It's very readable, but not inspired, and he's happy to keep things on the observational surface, never delving too deeply into the people and places he encounters. He writes mostly like someone along for the ride rather than out to get a story.

The material, on the other hand, is so engrossing and so vivid that the book is worth a look. It reminds you that when you read about blacks they tend either to be absolute victims, suicided, murdered or abused, or else transcendent role models. The men of Bells are just doing their damnedest to get by.

It's well worth getting hold of - great read IMO mate.

 

Are you still travelling with a tent show Sapphire? If so, which towns do you set-up in and when are you next on the road mate?

 

It changes year to year. Our main Shows are Mt Isa Rodeo, Birdsville Races and Cracow at Fred's Pub and a few other places like Zellmire and Shirwood... all finnished for this year so 2009 is all I know atm I'll let you know, when I know.