Les Darcy
"The Maitland Wonder"

The true story of the man generally considered, even now, to be the greatest boxer in Australia's history and one of the few genuine sporting legends. A story not only of his amazing sporting prowess, but one of great intrigue and eventual tragedy.

Who was he? Les Darcy was born in 1895 in East Maitland, to a poor and large Catholic family, and left school at 12 to support the family income. The original Darcys had arrived in Australia from Ireland in 1848, having migrated at the time of the great potato famine.

He became a professional boxer as a young teenager, graduating from stadiums around Maitland to Rushcutters Bay in Sydney. At 18 he was Australia's best, at 20 the world's best. From mid-1914 until late 1916, he fought 28 contests in as many months, beating American greats like McGrooty, Smith, Clabby Murray and Chipp. A unique and almost unbelievable achievement.

At the peak of his career Australia became heavily committed to the First World War. Darcy did not enlist. His failure to do so created enormous controversy. As Australian troops fought at Gallipoli, he fought at the stadium. The nation had never been so divided as it was by the issue of conscription. Prime Minister Billy Hughes campaigned around the country for the first of two referendums and Les Darcy stowed away to America. With the help of a savage press, he went from hero to villain.

Stripped of his Australian titles, he sought a world title fight in America. Several states revoked his boxing license until he took out American citizenship and enlisted in the American forces. When training for his first American fight he became ill, developed blood poisoning, peritonitis and septicemia. He died in Memphis, Tennessee, in May of 1917, his fiancée by his bedside. His body was brought home to Australia. So great was his reputation, he was given huge funeral processions in America and Honolulu, before 200,000 people filed past his body in Sydney, and he was eventually buried in Maitland before an estimated 40,000 mourners.

Was Darcy a hero? Was Darcy a coward? Was he betrayed by those for whom he'd made fortunes? Did he try to enlist? Why was he refused a passport to America when others were not? The legend and facts -- how do they correspond?

His is an amazing story!

Running Time: 55 minutes; Australia; 1998
Price: $9.95 VIDEO / $14.95 DVD
Available Formats: NTSC or PAL video

HOME | ZIA CATALOG | ORDERING INFO | CONTACT