BoxRec

Dynamite Murphy was my great great uncle. Not that you care, but here is a good story about him that my granfather who is still alive and saw him fight a few times told me.

His real name is Phonse Lazzari. But he fought under the name Joe Murphy because he wanted to conceal his Italian heritage for whatever reason, I don't know. (I saw a picture of him tonight and it was pretty obvious that he wasn't Irish, so I don't know who he thought he was fooling.) Anyway, I would like to know if anyone knows how I could obtain pictures of any of his fights/training or anything with him in the ring. Any help would be great. Thanks. Now on with the short story.

Phonse Lazzari, a 70 year old man, was on his way up the front steps of his home in downtown Sacramento after a lovely evening with his wife. Upon reaching the front door they were confronted by a man with a gun who intended to rob them. Lazzari threw one punch and knocked him out cold. True story. 70 year old man vs. Thug with Gun. I'd put my money on the guy with the gun. But I suppose it's possible Don King paid him to take a dive.


Mods: Feel free to jump in here. Or not.

Good story mate. I have a few news reports if you want them, they talk about the odd choice of name etc. Found some details regarding his fights also. We have only one listed at present so I will add the details.

If you can provide any more and photo etc that would be good to add to a bio.

the details are

wed 2 March 1932 at the New Reno Boxing Club
won 10 round decision over Paul Tauson - also known as Young Dado

other fights

Frankie Klick
Tony Caberillo
Benny gallop
Charlie Miller
Fay Kosky
Johnny Farr

no details regarding the results on these

robert.snell1 wrote:We have only one listed at present so I will add the details.

Make that 84

Yes realised that I looked at the wrong record

Thanks guys. If you could post that news story or send it to me or let me know how to obtain it, that would be great. Thanks again.

Hi Boz Skaggs!

I have done alot of research on pre-1940s boxing in
California and can tell you that Dynamite Murphy
was a very active fighter during the 1920s. If
you want to ask me any questions, I will be more
than happy to answer you.

- Chuck Johnston

Boz Skaggs- Dynamite Murphy came down to Los Angeles for some bouts during the early 1920s. I can get some items pertaining to him from the
online version of the Historical Los Angeles Times.

Dynamite Murphy was induced into the Oakland Boxing Hall of Fame a decade or two ago.

I know that the Oakland Public Library has some good boxing photographs.

- Chuck Johnston

Boz Skaggs- Dynamite Murphy came down to Los Angeles for some bouts during the early 1920s. I can get some items pertaining to him from the
online version of the Historical Los Angeles Times.

Dynamite Murphy was induced into the Oakland Boxing Hall of Fame a decade or two ago.

I know that the Oakland Public Library has some good boxing photographs.

- Chuck Johnston

Damn. Thanks Chuck. I appreciate it. Oakland Public Library huh? That's not too far from where I live. My grandfather will love this stuff. He has a few pictures of Phonse, but none were of him in the boxing ring or doing anything remotely related to boxing.

BozSkaggs- Let me say that there aren't that many photographs of old-time fighters. In other words, don't be surprised if you don't find good photos of Dynamite Murphy posing while wearing boxing gear, let alone
action photographs of his bouts.

- Chuck Johnston

I won't be surprised in the least.

BozSkaggs wrote:Thanks guys. If you could post that news story or send it to me or let me know how to obtain it, that would be great. Thanks again.

sorry about the delay in the reply.will see about posting or sending it to you when i feel a bit better than i have been in last few weeks

I want to thank Rob once again for digging up the archived articles about Joe Murphy. And thanks to eveyone who runs this forum. You guys have an amazing database of fights.

no problem mate it is what this site is all about

I'm just going to post this thread to the top in case anyone else who happens to stumble across this forum has any further info. So far, there is one man at my place of employement who had a grandfather who boxed during the same time/knew Phonse, and another man at my job who's great uncle was a boxer and fought a guy named Joe Dynamite Murphy (maybe not the same Joe Murphy I'm related to).

if you post the names we may be able to find some other information on them. its worth a try

I've already begun. One of the guys at my work is a descendant of Johnny Farr. He says he has one of the fight posters from when Farr fought Murphy and it has a picture of both guys. I already printed out his record for him and everything.