Matthew Curran

Petty officer Matthew 'Nutty' Curran (1882–1938 (aged 56)) born in Lisdeen, Kilkee was an Irish professional cruiser/heavyweight boxer of the 1900s, '10s and '20s, who won the Irish heavyweight title, British heavyweight title (as this bout didn't take place at National Sporting Club premises at 43 King Street, Covent Garden, London, this and subsequent British heavyweight title bouts featuring Matthew 'Nutty' Curran were not recognised by the National Sporting Club (NSC), nor retrospectively by the British Boxing Board of Control), and British Empire heavyweight title, and challenged for the British Boxing Board of Control British heavyweight title, his professional fighting weight varied from 178 lb (81 kg; 12 st 10 lb), i.e. Cruiserweight to 199 lb (90.3 kg; 14 st 3.0 lb), i.e. Heavyweight. Matthew Curran's nickname of 'Nutty' came about because "he would foul you early on or he went so crazy that he railroaded you into fouling him",^[1] 'Nutty' being slang for a crazy person, i.e. one who suffers from insanity.

Boxing career

Professional

Matthew 'Nutty' Curran's first professional boxing bout was a disqualification defeat by Seaman Jim McDonald at Royal Naval Barracks Gymnasium, Devonport, Devon on 9 October 1908, this was followed by fights including; six wins, a draw, and then a points defeat by James Doran for the Royal Navy Heavyweight Title,^[2] two wins, and then a knockout victory over Jack Ripper for the Irish heavyweight title at Antient Concert Rooms, Dublin on 20 October 1909, three wins, two defeats, and then a knockout victory over James William 'Bill' "Iron" Hague for the British heavyweight title (not recognised by the National Sporting Club (NSC)), a knockout victory over Fred Drummond defending the British heavyweight title, a disqualification victory over 'Ex Gunner' James Moir defending the British heavyweight title, a knockout victory over Seaman Grant defending the British heavyweight title, a knockout victory over Jem Roche defending the Irish heavyweight title at Empire Theatre, Dublin on 18 August 1910, a knockout victory over Peter Rice defending the British heavyweight title, a no contest and a knockout victory over Jewey Smith defending the British heavyweight title, a retirement victory over Gunner Harry Hewitt defending the British heavyweight title, a defeat, and then a disqualification victory over Bill Lang (Australia) for the vacant British Empire heavyweight title,^[3] two wins, a defeat, and then a no contest with Fred Storbeck (South Africa) defending the British Empire heavyweight title, a knockout victory over Herbert Sinnott (Ireland/Australia) defending the British Empire heavyweight title, following two wins, two defeats, Curran then travelled to France, with a draw against George Gunther at Cirque de Paris on 25 November 1911, the bout was temporarily halted in the 16th round when the elastic waistband in Curran's shorts broke, two wins, and then a disqualification defeat by Fred Storbeck (South Africa) defending the British Empire heavyweight title, Curran then travelled back to France, with points defeats by both Charles Kid McCoy and George Gunther at Palais de la Jetee, Nice on 21 February 1912 and 27 February 1912, Curran knocked down McCoy near the edge of the ring in the 12th round, McCoy drank a brandy and soda that had been placed on the edge of the canvas, beat the count, and went on to win the fight by points,^[4][5] one win, three defeats, and then a knockout victory over 'Ex Gunner' James Moir defending the British heavyweight title, one defeat, and then a technical knockout victory over Herbert Sinnott defending the Irish heavyweight title, one defeat, and then a disqualification defeat by Dan Voyles defending the Irish heavyweight title, following one win, Curran then travelled to Australia, with two points defeats by Bill Lang at Sydney Stadium on 3 May 1913 and 16 August 1913, and a disqualification defeat by Pat Doran at Melbourne Athletic Pavilion, Melbourne on 25 August 1913, following three wins, Curran then travelled back to France, with a knockout defeat by Sam Langford at Luna Park, Paris on 24 January 1914, four wins, two defeats, and then a technical knockout defeat by Con O'Kelly for the vacant Irish heavyweight title, one defeat, and then a knockout defeat by Bombardier Billy Wells for the British Boxing Board of Control British heavyweight title at Cosmopolitan Gymnasium, Plymouth on 31 March 1916, following four wins, eight defeats, a draw, Matthew 'Nutty' Curran's then travelled to Australia for his final professional boxing bout, a retirement defeat by Colin Bell at Hippodrome, Sydney, Australia on 29 August 1921.^[6]

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Matthew Curran from BoxRec
• Photograph 'P. O. Curran' I at digitalgallery.nypl.org
• Photograph 'P. O. Curran' II at digitalgallery.nypl.org
• Boxer McTigue Was Kilnamonas King Of The World