Torpedo Billy Murphy

Statistics
Name Thomas William Murphy
Nickname Torpedo Billy
Height 5 ft 6.5 in (1.69 m)
Reach
Weight division Featherweight
Stance Orthodox
Nationality New Zealand
Ethnicity Caucasian
Birth date 3 November 1863
Birthplace Auckland, New Zealand
Death date 26 July 1939(1939-07-26) (aged 75)
Stance
Boxing record [1]
Total fights 164
Wins 91
Wins by KO 78
Losses 51
Draws 22
Professional record [2]
Total fights 112
Wins 65
Wins by KO 32
Losses 15
Draws 22

Thomas William Murphy (3 November 1863 – 26 July 1939) was a boxer from New Zealand. A featherweight, he was the first world champion in any class to come from New Zealand. He was sometimes billed as Australian Billy Murphy [3]

Murphy was born in Auckland and began boxing there before continuing his career in Australia. He arrived in San Francisco in June 1889 aboard the steamer Zelandia.[4]

On 13 January 1890 he fought Irishman Ike Weir in San Francisco to win the world featherweight title. Murphy knocked out Weir in the 14th round, having knocked him down five times in the 13th round. Weir had dominated the early part of the fight. Murphy was considered to have forfeited his title because he left the United States to return to New Zealand. However, Australia and New Zealand continued to recognise his title until he lost to Albert Griffiths in Sydney in September 1890.[2] He later returned to the United States and retired from professional boxing in 1907.

Recognition

Murphy was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990[2]

References

  1. ↑ "BoxRec - Torpedo Billy Murphy". boxrec.com.
  2. 1 2 3 "13 January - NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.net.nz.
  3. ↑ "Ring Magazine: October 1933". boxrec.com.
  4. ↑ "Torpedo Billy Murphy". boxrec.com.

Further reading

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