Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 10: Two Bouts with Slack, then Green and Episode 11: Making a Splash Down South

 

 

EPISODE 10: TWO BOUTS WITH SLACK, THEN GREEN

 

Herb’s next engagement, set down for 9 March 1927, was with an emerging Newcastle boxer, “Slack” Maher, who had an unimposing record of 4 wins, 5 losses and 3 draws going in (according to boxrec.com).

 

BARKLE TO-NIGHT

Herb Barkle, bantam champion of Queensland, will be giving away weight to “Slack” Maher, whom he meets at the Stadium to-night, but he is confident he can do it and still win.

 

Maher proved to be a courageous and competitive fighter, and the match ended in a hard-fought draw, after fifteen rounds.

 

BOXING

BARKLE AND MAHER DRAW

The programme of boxing submitted at the Stadium last night provided entertaining and exciting contesst for the big crowd in attendance. The principal bout of 15 rounds between Herb Barkle (8.7½) and “Slack” Maher (8.13½) was stubbornly contested, and the referee’s decision of a draw met with approval.

 

BARKLE AND MAHER DRAW

Herb Barkle (8.7½), bantam champion of Queensland, recently decided to seek opponents among the featherweight ranks, but his first venture, which was at the Stadium last night, was not a successful one. Still, he did not lose. “Slack” Maher (8.13) held him to a draw over a 15-round journey: and at that, according to ringside opinion, Barkle was lucky, for, if there was a winner at all, it was Maher – by just a shade. Barkle was the better puncher at long range, but Maher rattled up points in close.  Particularly was this so during the first half of the contest. To that stage Barkle won only one round. But he was putting in the heavy ones at the finish. In fact, Barkle won the last four rounds, the concluding one very easily.

 

The decision, a draw, was well received. Barkle had been the favourite. A re-match was called for, and this was programmed for 30 March 1927, just three weeks after the initial Barkle-Maher bout.

 

BOXING NOTES

It will be Newcastle versus Brisbane at the Stadium next Wednesday night as the leading fighters of the coalopolis in “Slack” Maher, featherweight, Dan Ritchie, welterweight, and “Chick” Conolly, bantamweight, will be opposed by Herb Barkle, Pat O’Keefe, and Ray Milner, respectively.

Maher and Barkle’s previous gruelling fifteen round draw anticipates another good go.

 

STADIUM NOTES

By ‘The Count’

Next Wednesday night will be a regular Newcastle versus Brisbane fight night, as three of Newcastle’s leading boys in “Slack” Maher, featherweight; Dan Ritchie, welterweight; and “Chick” Connolly, bantamweight, will be opposed by Herb Barkle, Pat O’Keefe, and Roy Milner, respectively. Maher has already appeared on a number of occasions in Brisbane, and he has never yet failed to put up a great fight, consequently he is a prime favourite with Brisbane fight fans. His opponent, Herb Barkle, is Queensland’s bantamweight champion and, in view of the gruelling 15-round draw these boys fought a couple of weeks back, mid-week patrons can look forward to seeing another exciting battle when they clash again next Wednesday night.

 

This time, Herb very professionally worked his way to a comfortable points victory, again over fifteen rounds.

 

Barkle Defeats Maher

On Wednesday night Herb Barkle (8.7¾) very easily outpointed “Slack” Maher (8.12½) over a 15 round contest. This fight was full of pep right from the start, and kept the large crowd at concert pitch the whole of the time. Barkle outboxed Maher in every round, and the further they went the more points he piled up. The decision was a popular one, and both boys were heartily cheered by the crowded house at the finish of the fight.

 

BARKLE DEFEATS MAHER

After 15 rounds of willing fighting, crammed with exciting situations, Herb Barkle (8.7¾) was declared the winner on points over “Slack” Maher (8.12½) in the main bout at the Brisbane Stadium last night. The encounter delighted the onlookers, who loudly cheered both fighters at the finish.

 

Barkle at His Best

Decisive Points Victory Over Maher

(By ‘The Gamester’ in the Brisbane Courier)

When Herb Barkle shared a 50-50 decision with Slack Maher a few weeks back, there were many spectators who considered that Queensland’s bantam champion was smiled on by fate, but the outcome of the return match at the Brisbane Stadium on Wednesday night left nothing to cavil at, as Barkle won so decisively that not a single jarring note was heard when the referee handed him the points benediction.

Barkle, profiting from his former experiences, harnesses his right hand and went into the contest with the preconceived plan of out-skilling his pugnacious opponent. Admittedly he used his right hand and to good purpose in the second stanza when he spreadeagled Maher, but on the whole he cleverly subordinated the dexter weapon and relied mostly on good straight left hand reprisals. Maher was a very open target for these punches as he was always boring in with both arms endeavouring to make communication per medium of swings and hooks. Barkle just had to move in smartly and back went Slack’s head from the sinister-hand pokes. It is quite a long while since I’ve seen Barkle box such a well-judged fight. Only once – in the ninth round – did he forsake his policy of safety first and endeavouring to “mix it” he ran into quite a lot of trouble at this stage. Twice Maher stung him to the marrow and for a few seconds I really thought that Barkle had hit the toboggan. However, he pulled round and again took up the trend of his successful story.

Maher as usual showed remarkable aggressiveness and nothing that Barkle did to him lessened his ardour to fight and keep on fighting.

The big house gave both lads a fine reception at the finish, and the referee’s decision sent every man jack of the crowd home thoroughly pleased with the night’s entertainment. The weights were Barkle and Maher (8.12½).

 

BARKLE’S POINTS WIN

A large gathering witnessed the return match between Herb Barkle (8.7¾), bantam champion of Queensland, and “Slack” Maher (8.12½) at the Stadium last night. The former contest ended in a draw, but this time Barkle won clearly, and the decision in his favour met with general endorsement.

Barkle punched straight, especially with his left, while Maher swung his punches. In this way the lighter lad registered a margin of connections, but it was the lighter lad who did the forcing. Twice Maher appeared to have shaken Barkle, and at the end of the ninth round both were dazed. Maher was down in round two from a right cross to the chin. At other times he was forced to smother up.

 

At around this same time, Herb also fought Teddy Green, Australia’s reigning flyweight champion. There is no record of this fight with boxrec.com, but Teddy Green was in Brisbane on 9 April 1927 for a fight with Billy McAllister (which resulted in a win for McAllister).

Herb probably took on Green after his McAllister fight, sometime in late April or early May 1927. There is an undated press clipping in Herb’s album.

 

Paddy Schafer has Herb Barkle in great fettle for his bout with Teddy Green at Brisbane Stadium on Saturday week. As Green is Australia’s flyweight champion it cannot be said that a lemon has been picked for the Queenslander.

 

We have no record of whether Herb won or lost this stoush, but it was probably a win for him. There is no mention in subsequent newspaper clippings of this bout as a blemish on his career (as there is with his other losses). A fight with Green would not have been for the flyweight championship, as Herb would not have been able to make the weight limit of 8 stone.

Herb was certainly in fine fettle by late May 1927, ready to make an impact on the national scene.

 

EPISODE 11: MAKING A SPLASH DOWN SOUTH

 

Herb turned 21 on 16 May 1927, attaining his ‘majority’. At this point, counting amateur and professional engagements, he had compiled a record in Queensland of (at least) 42 fights for 35-37 victories, 3-5 losses and 2 draws. He had not yet been knocked out. Herb now headed south.

He made his first appearances on the big stage of Sydney’s Leichhardt Stadium in two spectacular contests, against well-regarded combatants in Johnny Rolls and Bobby Gray. He was venturing into uncharted waters. For one thing, he left behind in Brisbane his trusted mentor Paddy Schafer. His trainer in Sydney was Al New.

Rolls, first up on 31 May 1927, had a strong pro record going into the fight of 16 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw (according to boxrec.com).

 

AT McHUGH’s

Herb Barkle, bantam champion of Queensland, and Johnny Rolls will box at McHugh’s tonight. Barkle is trained by Al New and Rolls is under Denny Fitzgerald. There will be seven other bouts.

 

STILL ANOTHER QUEENSLANDER

BARKLE TO MEET JOHNNY ROLLS TONIGHT, AT LEICHHARDT

Successful Queensland bantam, Herb Barkle, makes his debut at the Leichhardt Stadium tonight.

He will meet Johnny Rolls over the customary 12-rounds journey.

Both boxers are practically on trial. Rolls will be making his first appearance since losing to Bobby Gray, while Barkle is out to verify his home form, where he defeated Lou Young (k.o., two rounds), “Nipper” Peakes (k.o., two rounds), “Snowy” Hill and Jimmy Warren.

It is rarely that Al New gets “carried away” with a boxer, but Bill Grime’s old mentor thinks so much of Barkle’s ability that he is confident Barkle will be seen in a Friday night main event very shortly.

Tough and game, as well as being able to use both hands to equal advantage, Barkle may become as popular as his brother Queenslander, Wally Tuilipan.

The visitor, however, would be advised not to take Rolls too cheaply. The Newtown scrapper’s record sheet displays only one plot, and probably he learnt enough on that occasion to stand him in good stead in the future.

Rolls is one of the most popular fighters appearing at McHugh’s, which can be put down to the fact that he is always in the ring to do his best. His long record of success is a very commendable one for such a youngster.

Vaudeville acts include Reg Thornton and Doris; Billy Heaton and partner, jazz specialists; and Enid Taylor.

 

The Rolls bout, held on 31 May 1927, was a triumph for Herb. It marked his spectacular entry onto the Sydney scene. He was super-fit, having shed nearly 4 pounds since his last fight in Brisbane.

 

FIGHT TURN UP

BARKLE STOPS JOHNNY ROLLS IN FIRST ROUND

The unexpected is the spice of any sport, more especially boxing. Most unexpected was the result of last night’s main event at Leichhardt, when k.o. king Johnny Rolls (8.2½) became a k.o.’d king about 80 seconds after he squared up to Queenslander Herb Barkle (8.3½). Rolls started off well, but too soon ran foul of some of the opposition’s heaviest deliveries, and was dropped for nine. Up again and practically helpless, he was at the mercy of Barkle, and on being spreadeagled across the middle rope, “Yank” Pearl came to his rescue, and declared for the visitor.

Herb’s next match-up was set down for just ten days later, on 10 June 1927, against the redoubtable Bobby Gray, a veteran of 52 fights. Gray went into the bout with a record of 32 wins, 18 defeats and 2 draws.

At McHugh’s Leichhardt Stadium to-night, two fights should prove attractive. In the first, Herb Barkle, the Queensland bantamweight (who gave a taste of his quality by the manner in which he so easily accounted for Johnny Rolls), tackles one of his own kind, in Bobby Gray, who also owns a mighty thump, for one so light.

 

STADIUM NOTES

Herb Barkle, the Queenslander, is another who finds the benefit of being trained and attended to by Al New. He meets Gray to-night, at Leichhardt, and is in such fine form that he thinks he will add Bobby’s scalp to his list. In such capable hands as New’s, there is a possibility that Barkle will strike championship form, and become yet another good one in the bantam division.

 

Barkle’s Chance

Sydney “Sportsman” this week:

Queenslander Herb Barkle is training under Al New for Bobbie Gray next Friday evening, and is confident he has enough power in his wallop to send Bobbie the way of Johnny Rolls.

Johnny was knocked out in a round by Barkle last week, at Leichhardt, and if the Northerner can double up on the performance, he’ll be well among the bantams here.

 

BARKLE AND GRAY

The second appearance of Herb Barkle, the sensational fighter from Brisbane, should be popular with McHugh’s patrons. Barkle possesses an undeniable cure for insomnia. If Bobby Gray, who will provide opposition to Barkle, has any doubt about the qualifications of the man in front of him, he will only need to put his chin at the end of one of Barkle’s gloves and see what happens.

Of course, the boot may be on the other foot. Gray is rather a good sleep-producer himself. Anyway, matters are sure to be thrilling while either fighter is throwing punches.

 

LEICHHARDT STADIUM

Mixed Programme on Friday

In a fine programme at Leichhardt Stadium on Friday night, two 12-round contests will take the place of the usual 15-rounder. Herb Barkle, the dapper little bantamweight from Queensland, tackles Bobby Gray. Barkle, in his first fight in Sydney (on Tuesday week), knocked out Johnny Rolls in one round. This marked him as a boy of real class. Gray was going along nicely at Leichhardt by defeating Al Price, Johnny Rolls and Les Jackson, but he had the bad luck to be knocked out by Mickey Walker in his last contest, when well ahead on points. These bantams should supply a classy contest.

 

DOUBLE-HEADER BILL AT McHUGH’S

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

Fight enthusiasts will be interested in the double bill to be served up at McHugh’s Leichhardt Stadium on Friday night.

Herb Barkle, bantam champion of Queensland, breaks into the “big money” in this city in opposition to Bobby Gray.

Both events are scheduled for twelve rounds.

The Barkle-Gray battle presents a difficult problem. It is unlikely the fight will go the full distance.

Barkle displayed sufficient good form in his first engagement at McHugh’s to stamp him as a potential star.

However, Gray is also a hard hitter, quite capable of stopping his vis-à-vis.

It looks an excellent night’s sport.

 

LEICHHARDT STADIUM

FRIDAY NEXT – JUNE 10^TH, 1927 AT 8 P.M.

A WINNING DOUBLE! 12 ROUNDS OF BOXING

BOBBY GRAY (NSW) v HERB BARKLE (Bantam Champion of QLD)

SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH HIS SENSATIONAL return to the ring, BOBBY GRAY decided to break the golden rule of caution three weeks ago, and allowed his CHIN to act as buffer to MICKEY WALKER’S right hand.

The result, of course, was deadening to BOBBY’S way of thinking, and he lost all interest in things pertaining to the perpendicular – IN OTHER WORDS – “When the canvas came up and met him,” there remained a sad story to be told of the evils of OVER-CONFIDENCE.

It is generally admitted that GRAY had his recent fight with WALKER practically won, but an utter disregard for his opponent’s ability brought an end to his winning trot. Still, he is quite worthy of a chance to redeem himself and has been matched with HERB BARKLE, bantam champion of Queensland.

As anticipated by many, BARKLE has been rewarded with a big event on the strength of his ONE ROUND win over Johnny Rolls. The masterly fashion in which the Queenslander finished off his man was a revelation to mid-week patrons.

BARKLE will fully test as to whether GRAY has profited by his last set-back. GRAY would be well advised not to allow his chin to stray in the way of BARKLE’S devastating wallops otherwise things will again turn out disastrous.

Of course, with all due respect to the power behind the Brisbane youth’s punches, Barkle will probably find that he will not have things all his own way on this occasion. GRAY has always been ranked as a great hitter, and it is known that YANK PEARL usually fags at his mathematical tables prior to acting as a third man when GRAY is one of the principals.

On form, things somewhat favour BARKLE. Where it took GRAY six rounds to dispose of Rolls, the same task in the hands of the Queenslander did not take longer than the opening session.

 

HEAVY PUNCHERS

GRAY AND BARKLE ON FRIDAY AT LEICHHARDT

The Leichhardt Stadium will be the scene of two 12-rounders on Friday night next, which should provide thrills in plenty. In one event, two solid hitters meet, in Bobby Gray and Herb Barkle.

Fresh from his knock-out win over Johnny Rolls, Herb Barkle is sure to be chockful of confidence when he steps into the ring against Bobby Gray. If he can hit Gray as hard and often as he did Rolls, he is sure to add another win to his already long list.

Gray can punch, without doubt, and he declares that he is not letting his defeat at the hands of Walker to take away any of his determination to make a success of this fight.

After a hard-fought contest over 15 rounds, Herb emerged victorious, on points. ‘Centaur’ provided one of two reports on this fight.

 

KEEN FIGHTS AT LEICHHARDT

BARKLE AND HOLMES WINNERS: THRILLING FINISHES IN MAIN BATTLES

(By “Centaur”)

At the Leichhardt Stadium, on Friday night, a good attendance witnessed a splendid night of fighting.

In the main contest, of 12 rounds, Herb Barkle, bantam champion of Queensland, scored a points victory over Bobby Gray, whilst in the supporting contest, also of 12 rounds, Harry Holmes, staging a come-back, outpointed Herb Acworth. Three excellent preliminaries were also contested.

Each bout was interesting and exciting, especially the endings to both the main events. When the referee crowned Holmes winner over Herb Acworth, the crowd stood on their feet and gave the wily old Harry a great ovation for making a successful come-back. In the Gray-Barkle contest, the Queenslander had his man practically on the verge of dreamland when the bell rang and saved Gray from what appeared a certain knock-out.

GRAY UNLUCKY. Excitement from the Holmes-Acworth fight had the crowd in a good mood for the last bout of the evening, in which Herb Barkle (8.4½) gained a questionable decision over Bobby Gray (8.4½) after 12 good, hard and interesting rounds. Round one dragged – the only punch worth mentioning being a nice right to the body by Gray. Barkle released a hard right to Gray’s jaw in the second, but he missed, and Gray connected with his own right. However, before the session finished Barkle scored well to the body, and also a right to the side of the head. The third, fourth and fifth rounds were uninteresting. But in the sixth round, Gray severely rattled his man with rights and lefts to the head. Barkle sent home a right to the jaw, but this only caused Gray to come back and the round ended with both men exchanging rights and lefts.

GRAY FIGHTS WELL. Round seven was another exciting session, which demonstrated that Gray can fight when he likes. Barkle sent a right to the jaw that sent Gray off his balance. Following this blow, he sent another similar punch, and had his man staggering back in his corner. It was then that Barkle battered him with hard rights. But before the bell rang, Gray came at his man in the gamest manner, and completely turned the tables. He had Barkle in a bad way when the bell rang.

STOOD OFF TOO MUCH. Had Gray gone into his man, in the eleventh round, instead of standing off, it was more than likely he would have won by the short-cut route. In this round both men threw a right hand punch. Gray missed with his, but Barkle connected right on the point of the chin. This had Grey staggering when the bell rang. After both men had done a deal of good work, Barkle rocked his man with a right to the jaw, and for the whole of the next round Gray was unsteady on his feet. Another right from Barkle had Gray out on his feet when the bell rang, and Barkle was declared winner. I thought that Gray had won.

 

BARKLE AGAIN

Outpoints Gray

Speed, a longer reach, and superior ringcraft, carried Herb Barkle to victory over Bobby Gray at McHugh’s milling ground on Friday.

Height and reach are wonderful assets to any boy, and the rangy Herb was able to stand off with extended left paw and successfully keep at bay the stockier Bobby.

There were times, however, when Gray penetrated Herb’s defence, but Bobby made the mistake of allowing his chin to become the parking area for almost everything that Herb hurled.

It wasn’t until the last round that the canvas claimed Bob for eight.

Rounds ten and eleven were sizzling with excitement.

Barkle rushed in, and with sparkling lefts and rights drove Bobby back to the ropes. But although Bobby fought back gamely, it was all he could do to stop them from connecting.

 

At this point, following the win over Gray, the world seemed to be Herb’s oyster. After 27 professional bouts, his record was 22 wins (16 by KO or TKO), 3 losses, 2 draws, he remained bantamweight champion of Queensland and he had made a real name for himself in the big smoke of Sydney.

 

Read all of the episodes of Diamond in the Dust Heap HERE

 

All images provided by Dave Goodwin.

 

 

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