Charlie Purdy

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Charlie Francis Purdy
Personal information
Nickname
"Charlie"
NationalityNew Zealand
BornCharles Francis Purdy
(1905-12-12)12 December 1905
Auckland, New Zealand
Died25 January 1982(1982-01-25) (aged 76)
Height154
Boxing career
Boxing record
Total fights80
Wins49
Win by KO1
Losses21
Draws6
No contests4

Charles Francis Purdy (12 December 1905 – 25 January 1982) was a New Zealand boxer who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.[1][2]

In 1924 he was eliminated in the first round of the lightweight class after losing his fight to Frenchman Arnold Tholey. The result of the fight was controversial, Purdy, the crowd and one of the judges believing Purdy had clearly won the fight; the other judge and the French referee giving the fight to Tholey.[3][4]

After the Games he travelled to Dublin where he won the Irish welterweight title.[3]

He later moved to Australia; in 1929 losing the welterweight championship of Australia to Wally Hancock in Sydney by being knocked out for the first time; he was 10 st 212 lb (58.3 kg).[5]

On 7 January 1930, Purdy married Vera Garnett.[6] Her drunkenness and infidelities led him to divorce his wife on 18 April 1935.[7][8] During his time with Vera, he partnered with past athlete Anthony William Winter in a billiard saloon in Sydney.[8]

He is remembered by the Charlie Purdy Cup of the Auckland Boxing Association, and for his weaving:

  • Ralph Aitken "weaved and ducked like a Charlie Purdy."[9]
  • Billy Parris "used Charlie Purdy’s famous weave."[10]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ New Zealand Olympic Committee: Charlie Purdy
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b Ron Palenski & Terry Maddaford: The Games Auckland: Moa Publications Ltd. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Evening Post (Wellington), 8 June 1929 p. 10
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ Evening Post (Wellington), 18 April 1935 p. 11
  8. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ Evening Post (Wellington), 1 May 1936 p. 14
  10. ^ Auckland Star, 14 October 1944 p. 3
[edit | edit source]
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Kiwis With Gloves On by Brian F O'Brien, published 1960, Reed.