Pugilist

[Murphyfamily]

I am trying to trace my husbands Great Grandfather - Francis Murphy.
The family story is that he was a Pugilist returning from the US in 1897 after successfully winning his fight. Unfortunately he never made it home as he fell from the ships gangplank and drowned.

His home town was Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

Any information regarding his career or where I might further my search would be very much appreciated.

[Sklar]

There was a British fighter called Frank Murphy who went to fight in the States and reportedly died in 1983 as a 30-year-old. Any chance he's the same guy and the dates are a little bit out?

[Murphyfamily]

Thank you for your reply.
I have now checked the information for Frank Murphy died 22 March 1893, unfortunately he died in Birmingham of Pneumonia and I can make no link with any of his family.
I have found a newspaper clipping for Frank which makes very interesting reading. "While in this country Murphy fought twenty=one battles and was never beaten. His battle of eighty rounds in 5 hours and 19 minutes, which was fought in Indiana, is one of the greatest glove fights on record. On that occasion Murphy's opponent was "Ike" Weir the "Belfast Spider"

Having read this newspaper clipping it has made me wonder if Francis Murphy fought under another name. Do you know if there is a list of names like "Belfast Spider" and also if there is a list of deaths fort he year 1897, I now believe the Francis Murphy I am looking for drowned in Cork, Ireland.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

[Sklar]

I mistakenly wrote 1983 in my reply, sorry. You figured out I meant 1893. I'll have another trawl later when I've time. It was not unusual for guys to fight under pseudonyms, so it's perfectly possible that your husband's ancestor did not fight as Francis Murphy at all. Do you know if he boxed in the UK too?

[Murphyfamily]

We must have been on the same wave length as I have just edited my original post with this thought.

I am unable to confirm that he fought in the UK, but the family do talk of him fighting in booths