Another "lost" fighter.
As listed in the thread on the enigmatic Woolf Bendoff, he fought for at the time the highest stake ever in 1889, as is stated in various sources including versions of the Police Gazzette Sporting Annual (earlier ones cite $4,500, though some later versions cite it as $22,500). Couper won the fight in either 26 or 27 rounds.
What is on his record shows him fighting a lot of larger opponents, including in his fight with Woolf
http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/165664
He also, weighing 144lbs, won the heavyweight title of South Africa against a 240lbs Joe Coverwell
After losing his eyesight, and suffering with insomnia, he commited suicide
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti ... rchLimits=
James Robertson Couper
Re: James Robertson Couper
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti ... rchLimits=
He wrote a book called Mixed Humanity.
It's hard to find anything outside of obituaries and his fight with Woolf.
He wrote a book called Mixed Humanity.
It's hard to find anything outside of obituaries and his fight with Woolf.
Re: James Robertson Couper
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti ... rchLimits=
Some information here.
Here's an interview with him after he retired, talks about him being very against fixed fights etc., and the large amounts of money in S.african boxing at the time.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/227731059
This talks about him a bit, said he left Britain 20 years ago (it was 1891)
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co. ... 8/074/0004
Describes him as a gentlemen
Some information here.
Here's an interview with him after he retired, talks about him being very against fixed fights etc., and the large amounts of money in S.african boxing at the time.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/227731059
This talks about him a bit, said he left Britain 20 years ago (it was 1891)
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co. ... 8/074/0004
Describes him as a gentlemen