Les Darcy

Template:Short description Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox boxer

James Leslie Darcy (28 October 1895Template:Spaced ndash24 May 1917)<ref>The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), Sat 26 May 1917, Page 20 "Death of Les Darcy" Retrieved 12-02-2018</ref> was an Australian boxer. He was a middleweight, but held the Australian Heavyweight Championship title at the same time.

Les Darcy was the 2003 Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Old Timers category and was the first to be elevated to Legend status in 2009.

History

File:"Les Darcy at the blacksmith shop door", East Maitland, ca. 1910 - Victor Studios (3583440997).jpg

Les Darcy in the door of a blacksmith shop door", East Maitland, ca. 1910.

Les Darcy was born near Maitland, New South Wales. He started boxing as an amateur at age fifteen and quickly turned professional. He won his first sixteen fights before challenging the veteran Bob Whitelaw for the Australian welterweight title. Darcy lost the twenty-round decision but, in a rematch, knocked Whitelaw out in five rounds.Template:Citation needed

Darcy graduated from regional bouts to fighting in Sydney Stadium, in Rushcutters Bay, and promoters began to import talent to challenge him. He lost his first two fights in Sydney, one by decision and one by foul, to America's Fritz Holland.Template:Citation needed The next year Darcy faced another American, Jeff Smith, in what was considered a contest for the Australian world middleweight title. When Darcy complained of a low blow at the end of the fifth round, the referee believed that Darcy did not want to continue and awarded the decision to Smith. In a rematch, Darcy was awarded the victory when Smith punched him in the groin.Template:Citation needed

As Australian world middleweight champ, Darcy defeated such top-flight visiting Americans as Eddie McGoorty, Billy Murray, Jimmy Clabby, George Chip, George "KO" Brown, and Buck Crouse, as well as knocking out Smith and Holland in rematches. Darcy's opponents are said to have admired his courage, stamina, and punching power. In 1916, Darcy knocked Harold Hardwick out to capture the Australian heavyweight title.Template:Citation needed

File:Les Darcy Suit.jpg

style }}

Darcy became embroiled in the politics of conscription during World War I, and left Australia for the United States to avoid the aggravation. He died on 24 May 1917 from septicaemia and medical complications, which was speculated to be from dental work he received to replace teeth that had been knocked out during a bout.Template:Sfn

After his death, Darcy's embalmed body was returned to Australia, where an estimated half-million people paid their respects. His brother Frank, also a boxer who showed many of the attributes of his brother, including pluck, died on 9 May 1919 from influenza, and was buried in the Catholic Cemetery, East Maitland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Legacy

Darcy was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993, the World Boxing Hall of Fame in October 1998, and the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.
Darcy was the subject of an episode of the 1950 radio series Famous Sportsmen of the Past<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Darcy was the subject of a 1950 radio feature<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
He was the subject of a 1952 episode of the radio show They Were Champions<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
His life was dramatised in the 1955 Australian radio serial The Life Story of Les Darcy
His life was dramatised as an episode of the 1988 Australian television series Mike Willesee's Australians where Darcy was played by Peter Phelps
In 2001, Raffaele Marcellino's opera The Flight of Les Darcy, with libretto by Robert Jarman, premiered at the "10 Days on the Island" festival in Hobart. The character of Darcy has no singing role but is portrayed by a dancer, and draws on the story that he played the violin to prepare himself for fights.<ref>Peter FitzSimons, The Ballad of Les Darcy</ref>

Professional boxing record

References

Template:Reflist

Other resources

Template:Refbegin

Template:Cite web
Maitland Tourism (2008). Les Darcy: The Legend: 1895–1917. [Brochure]. Maitland, New South Wales: Maitland Tourism & Maitland City Council.
Template:Cite book
Template:Cite book
Template:Cite book

Template:Refend

Reference sources

Pictures held and digitised as part of the Arnold Thomas boxing collection by the National Library of Australia

External links

Template:S-start Template:S-pre |- Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl
Died Template:S-vac |- Template:S-end

Template:Authority control

Les Darcy

Contents

History

Legacy

Professional boxing record

References

Other resources

Reference sources

Further reading

External links

Navigation menu

Les Darcy

History

Legacy

Professional boxing record

References

Other resources

Reference sources

Further reading

External links

Navigation menu

Search