BoxRec

IMO the obvious choice for the biggest fight to ever happen in Australia is Johnson vs Burns, its crazy to think such an important part of boxing & sports history took place in Australia.

What are some other big/important fights that have happened in Australia. Frazier Ellis deserves a shout as well

Even though he was way past his best, having Roy Jones fight here was special. Mundine v Green was the big money fight.

Fenech v Nelson was obviously massive with Jeff fighting for 4th world title in separate weight class.

Depends on how you term the biggest, eg. title/boxer status; crowd attendence, gate takings, TV coverage etc.

A contender for the biggest crowd would be when Jimmy Carruthers defended his title in defeating the American Henry `Pappy’ Gault in November 1953. The bout, promoted by the Federation of New South Wales Police-Citizens Boys’ Clubs, drew an Australian record boxing crowd of 32,500 at the Sydney Sports Ground. While some of the takings went to charity, Carruthers received £8,625 ($17,250 and much more today adjusted for inflation), the largest purse earned by an Australian boxer to that time.

Beltane wrote:Depends on how you term the biggest, eg. title/boxer status; crowd attendence, gate takings, TV coverage etc.

A contender for the biggest crowd would be when Jimmy Carruthers defended his title in defeating the American Henry `Pappy’ Gault in November 1953. The bout, promoted by the Federation of New South Wales Police-Citizens Boys’ Clubs, drew an Australian record boxing crowd of 32,500 at the Sydney Sports Ground. While some of the takings went to charity, Carruthers received £8,625 ($17,250 and much more today adjusted for inflation), the largest purse earned by an Australian boxer to that time.

Great post. I really hope one day some footage of that fight surfaces. The little footage we have of Jimmy, he looks superb.

In terms of significance it's impossible to look past the Johnson-Burns bout, it's mind boggling to think possibly the most important bout of all time took place on these shores.

In hindsight Larry Foley's bouts with Sandy Ross and Abe Hicken also had a massive impact on Australian boxing, the run-off effect led to Foley producing the greatest stable of fighters from that era

Beltane wrote:Depends on how you term the biggest, eg. title/boxer status; crowd attendence, gate takings, TV coverage etc.

A contender for the biggest crowd would be when Jimmy Carruthers defended his title in defeating the American Henry `Pappy’ Gault in November 1953. The bout, promoted by the Federation of New South Wales Police-Citizens Boys’ Clubs, drew an Australian record boxing crowd of 32,500 at the Sydney Sports Ground. While some of the takings went to charity, Carruthers received £8,625 ($17,250 and much more today adjusted for inflation), the largest purse earned by an Australian boxer to that time.

32,000 is amazing. These days some reputedly big fights draw crowds in the low hundreds.

Fenech v Nelson

I wont even try and suggest any fights I know nothing about. So the following are pretty recent, and I think very significant and sometimes forgotten about:
Green v Mundine...yeah I know, crap fight but hey...
Harding v Andries 2
Fenech v Nelson 2
Fenech v Zarate
Fenech v Coffee
There are so many and I think its a great topic because everyone will hold many different fight in high esteem for different reasons. I remember in my late teens seeing Russia v Aust at Challenge stadium in Perth. Dean Waters v Eliseev, Lou Carfaro v Okhrey, Shane Riley v Yadykin, Tony Miller v Sinepupov. I stand corrected but I think it was about the time Russia was allowed to fight prof. and one of there major, first stints. The majority of the aussie boys were ranked and the only one to have a win was Shane Riley....that to me was a major card in Aust boxing history that found very little publicity or fanfare...the card was in 1991.

Archie Moore vs Ron Richards does anyone know if that fight was big at the time?

green vs jones jnr?

most thought there was zero chance of such a fight happening. even an older version of roy.

Mark pawsey wrote:Archie Moore vs Ron Richards does anyone know if that fight was big at the time?

Moore was still making a name for himself at this stage of his career, so at the time i dont know how big it was. I do know that Moore's perfomances against Richards made him very popular in oz. They obviously made an impression on each other too, they became good friends i believe.

just a couple for the list,PatrickVBurns, Patrick vDawson, Sands v Brimm, Sands v O,Neill Bell,Burns v O,Neill Bell,Curruthers v Bennett,Barnes vDawson,in Richards era there was some great fighters and matches, the tv has put a stop to the big crowds,these were fights that captured the imagination of the public, the 50,s was a great decade for good imports, all the best

Tinnie wrote:

Mark pawsey wrote:Archie Moore vs Ron Richards does anyone know if that fight was big at the time?

Moore was still making a name for himself at this stage of his career, so at the time i dont know how big it was. I do know that Moore's perfomances against Richards made him very popular in oz. They obviously made an impression on each other too, they became good friends i believe.

Moore had 45 fights before he fought Richards.

...and Moore had still not gained a world ranking at that stage. Richards on the other hand was a top rated MW when they fought, it was a very good win for Archie.

Many of Moores early fights were at small shows, travelling anywhere to fight anybody, to basically put food on the table. No-one can say Archie took the easy road in his career.

Brute wrote:

Tinnie wrote:

Mark pawsey wrote:Archie Moore vs Ron Richards does anyone know if that fight was big at the time?

Moore was still making a name for himself at this stage of his career, so at the time i dont know how big it was. I do know that Moore's perfomances against Richards made him very popular in oz. They obviously made an impression on each other too, they became good friends i believe.

Moore had 45 fights before he fought Richards.

but the guy had 219 fights. so thats the equivalent of someone like floyd fighting down here after 10 or 11 fights

Sure he finished up with 219 fights, but a fighter with 45 fights behind him is hardly a novice. Moore beat Richards twice, which is pretty impressive.

Jack Johnson v. Tommy Burns is still the benchmark.

Brute wrote:Sure he finished up with 219 fights, but a fighter with 45 fights behind him is hardly a novice. Moore beat Richards twice, which is pretty impressive.

Jack Johnson v. Tommy Burns is still the benchmark.

yes Brute, he wasn,t a bad novice,beaten on points 4 times and fought 21 10 rounders in 45 fights,all the best

Moore beat Fred Henneberry on that trip as well. Not many fighters could say they beat Richards and Henneberry.

wlad and his team r talking about fighting down here hopefully.

its possible.

Keep dreaming buster.... if your looking to get bummed by wlad your going to have to travel my friend.... he aint coming here.... certainly not to fight anyway....

cheers for bumping this thread though...

... i wonder what happened to brute??

don't know how u figured I want to get bummed by wlad from that tbh. maybe its just cause you're an idiot.

Tinnie wrote:

... i wonder what happened to Brute??

Brute's man-crush on Mark De Mori bought him so much embarrassment he hasn't been sighted in the Aussie forum in a long time.

De Mori is still fighting bums by the way Brute

Johnson V Burns

Fenech V Nelson II (nice old crowd of 35,000 or so)

Carruthers V Gault

Then basically the rest

I see Roy Jones fighting down here is being mentioned...that's a joke, right?

surely rose must have had some big fights or did he fight mostly fight abroad ? on a side note watched fenech v grove for first time other day absolutely cracking finish by grove, sent a right shiver through me !