I am saddened to report the passing of one of our great boxers Barry Brown, who died last week aged 73. The following story was written a few years back.
Whatever happened to Barry Brown, golden boy of the 1950's in New Zealand boxing? I am able to report that Barry is fit and well and lives in Henderson, West Auckland.
Barry Brown
I was fortunate enough to see nine of Barry 's contests during those exciting fifties. He was my idol. I thought nothing of travelling 100 miles to see a Barry Brown fight.
Barry Brown from Dannevirke went through 1953 unbeaten in thirteen fights and was rewarded with the 1953 New Zealand Sportsman of The Year award. It was a first for a boxer to be awarded such a title. He beat some top talents in "Ace" Chocolate, the Coloured South African, Al Wilburn from England, Ivor Germaine from the West Indies, and Billy Watson, Bernie Hall, Ken Heydon, and Bert Hornby, all from Australia.
His first pro bout was against tough Auckland boy Tommy Rudolph and he ended 1953 by again beating Tommy Rudolph at Hastings. His first fight of 1954 was for the British Empire Welterweight Title at Wellington 's Basin Reserve.
Barry was matched against Gerald Dreyer, an American domiciled South African, on the evening of Friday, January 5th in what was the first Empire Title bout to be contested in New Zealand Dreyer had won the Olympic Games Lightweight Title for South Africa at Wembley, London in 1948 after which he immediately turned professional and won 15 bouts in a row.
The attendance was not what had been hoped for, possibly because of the choice of Friday night, which was late shopping night. Ten thousand fans turned out to witness a great win by the New Zealander Barry put the South African down three times and in the seventh the referee called it a halt and crowned the new Empire Champion.
At 23 years of age and in his 14th pro fight, Barry Brown had won the Empire Title. Many people said he was rushed into his next fight. He travelled to Australia with his Dad Reg, as his Manager. He was to meet the great American Negro, Freddie Dawson, a man who had come close to winning the World's Lightweight Title, losing on a split decision. Dawson, known as "The Dark Destroyer" had made a habit since 1947 of travelling to Australia and whipping the best they had to offer.
In 1947 he beat Australian Champion, Vic Patrick by a K.O. in 12 and Eddie Miller in 2. In 1950 he K.O'd lightweight Champ Jack Hassen in 7, and on his third visit he K.O' d Len Dittmar in 4.
With fourteen fights under his belt Barry Brown faced up to the great Negro Freddie Dawson with one hundred and eleven fights, at the Sydney Sports Ground on March 20, 1954. It was a tough ask for Barry and the referee stopped the bout in the sixth after Barry had been to the canvas six times. 19,000 fans were on hand to encourage the brave Barry Brown, but it was not to be. Barry stayed on in Sydney for a while and had three more bouts, losing his British Empire Title to the tough as teak George Barnes, another World rated fighter.
1955 and 56 were quiet years for Barry with only three fights, but in 1957 he had eight wins in a row beating Australians Clive French twice, Charlie Beaton and Coogan Brown, and tough New Zealand Samoan Tuna Scanlan in an exciting contest. At Wellington he faced up to Englishman Jimmy Newman and lost on points.
Barry Brown
In 1958, after a win over Dunedin's Ken Anderson, he lost to tough Australian Don Barnes in Wellington and decided to hang up the gloves. Barry's record of 27 wins and 4 losses in 31 bouts was a fine record.
Barry Brown
Barry told me recently that when his Dad was overseas his Mum taught him to knit, and in the spells between fights he used to knit socks and balaclavas. Then he went on to jumpers, and even today is still knitting his own jumpers. Barry pays tribute to his Dad's wisdom in sending him to the West Coast to "Doc" Findlay to spar with the famous Tuck brothers before his Empire Title win.
He said that twelve fights in twelve months was the best training in the world.
Today Barry does some ten-pin bowling, loves his gardening and still does his knitting.
