10 fights in 8 years- A great Aussie rivalry

[Robinson]

Ron Richards and Fred Henneberry fought each other 10 times in
a bitter and bloody rivalry. A rivalry that goes much un heralded
outside of Australia, and sadly beyond those in their greying years.

It was said that outside the ring, both men hated one another.
Avoiding one another at all costs.

Richards won six of the meetings.
Henneberry three of the bouts.
And the other match was ruled a draw.

Five of the losses was due to the fact that
Henneberry, a vicious mauling brawler was DQ'd.

It is clear that more head butts, elbows and vicious intentions were thrown
in these ten fights beween these two men than in Golota or Tyson's
wildest fantasies.

The tough South Australian Henneberry was from Port Pirie a small
regional town north of Adelaide. He worked in the day no doubt
for ten hours and then abused his body in the gym hardening
it into a machine on a staple of stew and bread.

Ron Richards from Ippswich, NSW was a perfect fighting machine, a counter
punching master who was always nearly in supreme shape. Part
aboriginal this brown skinned warrior was the contrast to the
pale white Henneberry.

The first match between the two was 16 January 1933, Fred was
the Australian Middleweight champion. The bout ended in a draw,
but it was evenly contested and had many exchanges that went
after the bell.

20 March 1933 saw the second meeting of the pair. Fred lost his
title on a DQ in the 13th round. Securing his hatred of Richards.
In 82 fights Fred was only DQ'd 8 times, 5 of them against Ron
Richards.

On June 5th of 1933 Fred got his revenge, KOing Richards in the
tenth and winning his title back.

The fourth bout happened 11 months later in Brisbane, the 'cleanest'
of the meetings it ended in a points win for Henneberry.

In the fifth meeting in August of 1934 tensions flared as Richard
switched form boxer to brawler and discovered he was able to
outfight and man handle Henneberry. Low blows and elbows
were abound, and by the forth round the referee had already been
warning Henneberry for his fouls.

It was a low blow by Henneberry that fell Richards. The Doctor was
called in and it was the father of Ron Richards who was now in the
ring ready to have a go at Fred Henneberry. While his son writhed
in pain...a blow to the groin..no cup. Henneberry was insistent that
he threw the low blows in response to being thumbed, though the
referee never saw any of this.

Now the champion again, Richards went to see Henneberry in his
change room to make peace, offering him a hand shake. Richards
gesture was met with disdain and racial slurs that sent him out of
the room.

November 10, 1934 saw the men meet for a sixth time. Henneberry
won on a points meeting. Richards went to show the new champion
respect, but again he was met with the same dislike.

Two years would pass before each man fought the other again. In
this period Henneberry had faced 12 other opponents, both local
and imported and Richards had faced 28 foes.

The fans demanded another bout, this time it was Richards who
was the new favourite. 21 December 1936 was the date for the
seventh meeting.

The Australian Middleweight title was on the line. It was on his
way to the dressing room before the fight, that Richards heard
Henneberry use the word 'Black' and other vulgar terms in the same
sentence in reference to Richards and his family. The pair then
exchanged words, both vowing to knock the other out.

After the second round both men continued fighting, so entangled
with hatred that both men's corners had to pry them apart.

It was in the tenth round, Henneberry ahead on points, his boxing
and brawling style had worked well for him. But a short, perfect
right hand to the jaw from Richards had sent him crashing hard to
the canvas. Richards was champion, again.

Richards had wins and losses against mostly US opponents thereafter.
His best was against Gus Lesnevich who he thrashed even though
he gave up several pounds.

Henneberry was inactive for seven months after the loss. He made
his return with a KO win over tough Ken Overlin.

Sydney Stadium was to host the eighth contest between both these
men on 26 February, 1939. The fight was for the British Empire
middleweight title.

Henneberry from the opening bell dictated the pace, leading and
driving hard against Richards. Richards though on his back foot was able
to counter and fight of the ropes. The right uppercut on the inside was
taking its toll against Henneberry. His pace slowed after the eighth
round.

It was in the eighth that a right hook sent Henneberry to the floor,
he managed to get up and it was sheer hatred and pride that
no doubt kept him fighting on. From here on out, even though
a brief rally in the tenth Henneberry was on the losing side of
the inside battles. Henneberry began to rely more and more on his
head, driving it into Richards.

The result, disqualification in the eleventh. Henneberry had lost
again. Again Henneberry was insistent that Richards had started
the foul play.

The ninth meeting occured ten months later. This time for the
Australian middleweight title. By the fifth round, Henneberry had
a gaping cut at his mouth and both men looked battered and
swollen. It was clear that neither man wished to succumb to the
other. It was in the twelth however that Henneberry again
with his head, was disqualified. He had been using this weapon
more and more as the fight got tougher and both men spent time
on the ropes.

After the referee had given the DQ the fight erupted again. This
time the rules of boxing had been thrown away. Henneberry was
now on the ground with Richards on top. Both still punching and
fighting hard. This time the police had to break the fight up.

The last meeting occured on the 27 of November 1941, again
for an Empire title. Richards was clearly the superior of the
two this time, but the fouls stil occured. referee Pat Hill was
determined to not stop this fight on a foul. He himself was even
on the recieving end of blows. But still he continued to let it
run its course.

It was in the thirteenth round that Richards had Henneberry
traped on the ropes, volley after volley of well measured right
hands saw Henneberry slump near lifelessly. He still however
fought on. Again though, with one mighty drive, his head smashed
into Richards jaw. The Ref. could only do one thing. Richards had
won again on DQ.

After the bout while in the ring, Richards offered his hand, determined
to bury the hatred. Still too proud, stubborn or perhaps racist,
Henneberry refused to shake his hand.

Henneberry retired that night. He never fought again and became a
succesful businessman.

Ron Richards had a handful of fights. Making a brief come back. He
however was to lose to alcohol, and became so poor and helpless
that he was arrested in 1947 for Vagrancy. While drunk he was
mugged and beaten several times by groups of men, proud to
say that they beat on the great Ron Richards.

Years later Richards made a recovery with help from the
Aboriginal Welfare Board. He went on to live his last years healthy,
drink free and with his memories.

A great part of Australian and boxing history that should not be
forgotten.

Hope you guys enjoyed.

Kym Robinson

[JC]

Nice. Really interesting read thanks thanks Kym.

[Robinson]

Thanks J-C

[jimglen]

Fred Henneberry made big noise here in Britain during his day, he was a Top MW contender, chased after McAvoy's crown, was negotiated to fight Gilroy and some others that never materialised and caused a scene after the McAvoy/Sadd fight by calling out McAvoy & accusing McAvoy of ducking him (source Collyhurst Gym, Trainer & Whip, Ol' Bert Daly).

When the war broke out and title fights were frozen (supposedly), Fred Henneberry said "ta hell with that, I'm not waiting around for a shot that will probably never happen..." (Ring mag profile), and fled to the states in hope of contention States side and world title hopes!

Very good fighter Fred Henneberry.

[Robinson]

One of those tough guys that loves a good blue.

[JDGAFFLIN]

Good stuff. Great story.

One minor critisism, and it's really not even that. Just a minor point...

In 82 fights Fred was only DQ'd 8 times, 5 of them against Ron
Richards.

10% of a persons fights ending in a DQ seems a bit excessive to be called only.

Unless you were pertaining to his style of fighting...As if to say, amazing that he only was DQ'ed 8 times in 82 fights considering he was a dirty bastard fighter...

You know what, I'm half asleep and rambling. Great read, and great story. Thanks.

[Expug]

Great stuff Kym.
I enjoyed that.

[JSA]

Now thats a story and a half.Nice one.Pirie is one tough place.Must be something to do with the lead and the fact theres nothing else to do but drink,root and fight.

[Robinson]

JDG
He was a nasty, dirty, savage fighter. A real hard nosed guy.
The limited footage I have seen on him makes you appreciate
how brutal a machine he was.
Richards was almost a contrast in style and character. Perhaps
a Pep and Saddler, but just two lesser known Aussies.

Pug
thanks mate.

[JDGAFFLIN]

At anyrate, that seems like a rivalry for the ages. It's a great story. I mean, I've witnessed some compelling trilogies in my time, judging from the article, the pure tension and emotion had to lead to 10 amazing fights.

Cheers..

[Robinson]

Ill try and upload some clips from the fights when I can.

Thanks mate

[Expug]

Whats interesting is how after so many fights that bitterness between the two was strong as ever it seemed.
Many times you fight a guy so many times and there becomes a bit of respect and sometimes a bit of a kinship.
Not these two , as evidenced by the fouls , dqs , sh.. talk etc.

[Robinson]

Australians are a weird bunch. I also feel it was a different era too.

Plus Henneberry seems like one mean spirited though talented guy.

Ill try and up load some footage shortly.

I find it hard to keep an anger or 'hate' sustainable over a week
for people let alone, nearly a lifetime.

[bollox]

Nice writeup, thanks. Ron Richards also gave Archie Moore a couple of decent battles down here

p.s. I often wonder how our top Aboriginal fighters of day gone by, were treated. We all know there was a great deal more racism around in those days yet a lot of our top fighters were Aboriginal

[Robinson]

It is a sad reality that they were treated so poorly
even when they wore our nations crown.

I have only seen clips of his fights against a young
Moore. Both looked good.

I would love to see the full fights, one thing I did
note is that Archie was so fast and had a good clean
style.

Richards looks like he has such a well schooled,
disciplined counter fighter style. I can not help
to think when I see film of him that he has a PBF
inside game.

I think alot of that era Aussie fighters had a similar
style and that is why we were able to do so well abroad.

Palmer refined this method I think when he started
coaching, especially with his distance cross defence
style (Famechon is a good example). And on the
inside with ones back to the ropes.

It is safe to say that Richards had Henneberry's number.

[Collins2000]

It is safe to say that Richards had Henneberry's number.

I don't think Fred would have agreed, Kym.

He looked like a pretty tough old buzzard on the great Aussie boxing documentary from the 90's. I assume you saw him on there. Was it called "THAT'S BOXING"?

A bloke called Terry Neasden who was a pro boxer a few years back reckoned Henneberry had a pub in the bush somewhere and Terry reckoned Fred had hands the size of shovels all gnarled and scary. He also reckoned Fred did his own throwing out even when in his 70's.

[Robinson]

Im pretty sure he would disagree too.

That doco inspired me to look into the rivalry,
great doco.