Fight:84531

Ron Richards 168 lbs beat Ray Actis 166 lbs by KO at 0:55 in round 1 of 12

• Date: 1938-05-12
• Location: Redfern Sports Arena, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• Referee: Jack Haines

Ron Richards had one of the swiftest victories of his seven-year boxing career when he knocked out Ray Actis in 55 seconds of the opening round at the arena tonight. Actis came from America with a fine reputation, and this was his first fight in Australia. The match was arranged for 12 rounds. Richards weighed 12 stone and had an advantage of 2 ½ lbs. over Actis. Whatever ability Actis possesses was not known owing to Richards’ quick work. Actis was anxious to attack and connected with a light left lead, to which Richards responded with a left hook to the ear. He followed by connecting with rights and lefts to the head, and before Actis could place another punch Richards landed a heavy right on the chin. Actis fell outstretched on his back and was unable to respond to the count of Referee Jack Haines, who declared Richards the winner.

“I traveled nearly 12,000 miles to step into an open-air ring on a bleak night, and before I had time to warm up I caught that terrific punch,” said Actis afterwards in explanation.

Referee Haines said Richards’s punch was the best he had seen. “It travelled only about 12 inches,” he said. [The Daily Telegraph, May 13, 1938]