Les Darcy

**BoomBoom** · 06-19-2007 03:23 AM

I know he is one of the greatest Austrailian boxers of all time. He died at the age of 21, but won the Austrailian Middleweight Title. He was 46-4 but I dont know much else about him. Looking at his record it would seem to me that he could have gone on to be a top ten fighter of all time. Does anyone know any more about him?

**eagle** · 06-19-2007 03:49 AM

Didnt he die of an infection caused by a broken tooth? I just had a look at his record too. Gotta love those 20 round fights!

**BoomBoom** · 06-19-2007 03:54 AM

Originally Posted by eagle

Didnt he die of an infection caused by a broken tooth? I just had a look at his record too. Gotta love those 20 round fights!

I believe so, and yeah thats conditioning. Cant even imagine Shannon Briggs or Hasim Rahman going 20 rounds.

**eagle** · 06-19-2007 04:35 AM

And he won a heavy title weighing 162.

**THE THIRD MAN** · 06-19-2007 04:54 AM

Was certainly a great fighter, perhaps Australia's best. I think Sands was better, he had everyone from Randy Turpin to Sugar Ray ducking him!

**bikersk** · 06-19-2007 05:33 AM

There's a nice conspiracy theory that the American's poisoned him....

Here's the official story
http://www.awm.gov.au/forging/australians/darcy.htm

**Koori Warrior** · 06-19-2007 10:03 AM

There is a boxing video called The History of Australian Boxing (something like that.) The yank government promised him that he could fight and not have to go to war if he became a nationalised American. As an Aussie he had to serve no excuses. He became a yank, never fought as an American because fake promises by the government officials. He then died not long after with the badly infected tooth. He had one of the first public state funerals for a sporting hero in Australia. The streets were packed. He is still arguably one of Australias great sporting heroes. Just imagine if he fought until he was 30.

**Dark Lord Al** · 06-19-2007 04:17 PM

Les wa s hard as nails id put him and Jeff Fenech as Australia's best

**Canvasback** · 06-20-2007 12:08 AM

Want to know about Les Darcy read "Home Before Dark" by Ruth Park and Rafe Champion.

**BoomBoom** · 06-20-2007 01:36 AM

Good Stuff. Thanks for the info. Ill try and check out that book Canvas.

**spanky-banky** · 06-20-2007 04:46 AM

darcy IMO would have gone down in the top ten off all time. he was bull necked, hard as nails middle weight. he was just a tennager beating the crap out of americas top contenders.
but unfortunatly hes greatness was never tested due to his ill fated death. les darcy was elected into the hall of fame 1957. and aparantly there has been alot of unearthed fight footage of him in action, but so far i am unable to find any. i can only go by books, articles and my grandfather who rated him very highly.

but les and fenech are the best specimens australia has produced!

jeff harding was also one tough son of a bitch