It’s rarely a direct linear path to success in the game of boxing. Herb’s next three fights, for a points loss and two wins, tested his resilience and ability to rebound.
EPISODE 8: A SETBACK
Having exhausted the field of local bantamweights, Herb looked around for new opponents. It was reported in the Brisbane Courier that
Teddy Green refused to come to Brisbane to fight Barkle. According to the Brisbane Stadium management, the flyweight champion made all sorts of excuses. Some people, however, think that Barkle’s “wallop” caused Teddy to “crayfish”.
His next fight was to be against a talented southern fighter, Eddie Watson, who was brought to Brisbane for the express purpose of testing Herb’s capacity to contend nationally.
The strategy underlying this match-up was described in a column in one of the Brisbane newspapers.
So impressed was Mr Doughty with Herb Barkle’s display against “Snowy” Hill last Wednesday night, that he has decided to go right ahead with the development of the Queensland bantam champion, and Barkle’s next appearance will be a main Saturday night contest, most likely on October 16. The Stadium manager is not going to fly at too high “game” at first, and will dodge such top-notchers as Stan Thurbon, Jimmy Kelly, Billy McAllister, Les Jackson and company. At the present time Mr Doughty is negotiating with that clever bantamweight, Eddie Watson, and also with Australia’s flyweight champion, Patsy Kelly, with a view to inducing one of these boys to meet Barkle in Brisbane.
It was a huge achievement for a bantamweight to be invited to headline a Saturday night card at the Brisbane Stadium. The pre-publicity for this fight (which took place on 16 October 1926), indicates that on the back of his outstanding performance against “Snowy” Hill, Herb had attained celebrity status in Brisbane.
NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT
AT 8.30 O’CLOCK SHARP
INTERSTATE BANTAMWEIGHT CONTEST
HERB BARKLE (Queensland’s Sensational Punching Bantam Champion)
v EDDIE WATSON (The Brilliant Sydney Bantamweight)
Herb Barkle, Queensland’s sensational punching bantamweight champion, has had a meteoric rise to fistic fame during the past few months. Barkle’s last battle when he defended his title of Bantamweight champion of Queensland against “Snowy” Hill was one of the most thrilling affairs ever witnessed at the Brisbane Stadium, from which Barkle emerged with flying colours, as Hill put the acid test on him with a vengeance. Local boxing enthusiasts are keenly interested in Barkle’s next attempt to climb the fistic ladder for on Saturday night next he will be opposed to one of the cleverest bantamweights in Australia in the brilliant Sydney boy, Eddie Watson. The latter is a beautiful boxer and has had a world of experience, consequently if Barkle can defeat such a tried opponent his future promise is exceptionally bright.
Barkle v Watson
Next Saturday’s Bout
Queensland’s brilliant champion, Herb Barkle, will box the clever Sydneyite, Eddie Watson, at the Brisbane Stadium next Saturday night. It will be Barkle’s first appearance in a main Saturday night bout, but friends are remarkably confident that he will knock out Watson.
Watson had a fair run of success in Brisbane two or three years ago, and in the meantime has scored a number of wins over leading Southern bantams and flyweights. A classy little boxer, Watson ought to make a good showing against Barkle, although I would not be surprised if the latter won by the short-cut route.
It is doubtful that there is a harder puncher than Barkle among Australia’s 8.6 brigade. A few weeks ago he sent the smart Sydney bantam, Lou Young, to sleep in the second round with a heavy right to the chin and a couple of weeks later he outpointed “Snowy” Hill, a seasoned fighter, in a sensational contest. Although, personally, I do not think Herb will ever wear the Australian bantam crown, I will concede that it will take a pretty good fighter to beat him, and if Watson shows a partiality for mixing it Eddie should look out for ‘squalls’. Barkle is very wrapped up in the boxing game, and trains conscientiously. Paddy Schafer has Herb in the pink of condition, and regards his charge as certain to beat Watson.
TO-MORROW NIGHT
AT 8.30 O’CLOCK SHARP
INTERSTATE BANTAMWEIGHT CONTEST
EDDIE WATSON (The Brilliant Sydney Bantamweight) v
HERB BARKLE (Queensland’s Sensational Punching Bantam Champion)
Eddie Watson, the brilliant Sydney Bantamweight, will make his re-appearance in the Brisbane ring after an absence of over 2 years, when he fights Queensland’s bantamweight champion, Herb Barkle. When Watson fought here before against such top notchers as the late George Mendies and Dick King, he was a frail flyweight, but he has now filled out into a sturdy bantamweight, and very few boys of his poundage in Australia would be considered certainties to beat him. Watson has been brought to Brisbane for the purpose of testing whether Queensland’s sensational punching bantam, champion Herb Barkle, is the “goods” or not, consequently tomorrow night Barkle’s fistic future will be in the melting pot.
BOXING
The contest to be decided at the Stadium to-morrow night between Herb Barkle, bantamweight champion of Queensland, and Eddie Watson, the clever Sydney bantamweight, will feature Barkle’s most important contest to date, and also his first appearance as a Saturday night entertainer. Barkle is a boy of wonderful promise, a great puncher, and is tough to an extraordinary degree.
In his inimitable style, ‘The Gamester’ spruiked up the fight.
ALL EYES ON BARKLE TO-MORROW NIGHT
Pugdom will see the rise of another pugilistic star to-morrow night, when Brisbane’s newest fist sensation, Herb Barkle, faces brilliant Eddie Watson of Sydney. The latter is unquestionably the best class boy yet tackled by Schafer’s little comer, and if he can stow Watson away in convincing fashion there is indeed a bright future in store for Barkle. That the lad is gallant, strong and a puncher has already been proved to us.
It remains with Herb to show us just how good he is when opposed to a real little scientist. If Herb connects, it will be good night Mr Eddie Watson, but will he? That’s it in a nutshell.
Herb lost this bout, on points over 20 rounds. Presumably these were two-minute rounds. Subsequent newspaper reports convey that Herb was “easily beaten” by Eddie Watson, and that this was an “overwhelming defeat”. It was also said that he “lost some popularity”. The unsuccessful move to a Saturday night slot was a setback. Herb may still have been feeling the effects of his gargantuan outing against “Snowy” Hill, only three and a half weeks previously.
EPISODE 9: RE-CONSOLIDATION
Herb now needed to rebuild his reputation with the patrons of the Brisbane Stadium. His next two opponents were carefully selected.
A couple of months after the setback against Warren, a fight was arranged at the Brisbane Stadium over the Christmas-New Year period of 1926 against Ted Moroney, a promising fighter from Cessnock, south of the border. The bout was set for Wednesday night, 29 December 1926.
BOXING
The main event – fifteen rounds – next Wednesday night should be a humdinger for it re-introduces that thrilling little puncher, Herb Barkle in opposition to the well accredited Cessnock (NSW) boy, Ted Moroney. The latter must be a kiddy of distinct promise as only lately he took a clean-cut decision from Jimmy Kelly, the ex-National flyweight crackajack.
STADIUM NOTESOn Wednesday night Queensland’s bantamweight champion, Herb Barkle, will make his reappearance and will have for his opponent the Cessnock bantamweight, Ted Moroney. Moroney is an exceptionally well-credentialled boy, and in his last contest defeated Patsy Kelly, the ex-flyweight champion of Australia.
The bout with Moroney saw Herb’s standing re-instated, following a solid display. He worked hard to achieve a 15-round points decision.
BARKLE DEFEATS MORONEY
The Queensland bantam champion Herb Barkle (8.7) gained a points verdict over Ted Moroney (8.7½), of Cessnock, in a 15-round contest at the Brisbane Stadium last night. It was a good encounter, but the Queenslander’s punching was the more effective, the visitor being floored on several occasions.
BARKLE COMES AGAINMoroney Convincingly Outpointed
(By ‘The Gamester’ in the Brisbane Courier)
The overwhelming defeat of Herb Barkle by Eddie Watson a few months back jolted the fistic ambitions of the local boy considerably, and some were of the opinion that we had seen the last of Barkle as a drawcard. However, on Wednesday night, Paddy Schafer’s featherweight took the success trail once more, and scored a very meritorious victory over Ted Moroney, the well-performed Cessnock boy.
Moroney came to us with a reputation for cleverness, but against Barkle on Wednesday night he failed to reproduce anything to enthuse over. He certainly demonstrated that he has not the semblance of a stop or getaway for a straight left, as this punch from Barkle’s battery played havoc with him all night. He also revealed a great weakness “downstairs” and was on the canvas several times from the visitations of these reprisals. However, in flashes, the Cessnock lad showed a very pretty “one-two” and also an occasional effective upper-cut.
WIN FOR BARKLEAn interesting and exciting contest was provided by Herb Barkle (8.7) and Ted Moroney of Cessnock (8.7½) at the Stadium last night.
It was interesting because the boys were well matched, and exciting when Moroney would stagger Barkle only to go down later to body punishment.
The visitor made six visits to the canvas, but the last one was from a blow that missed him altogether. The referee would not put the count on Moroney this time. Instead he ordered him to get up. This was in the fourteenth round, and Moroney, who obeyed the referee, got up and boxed fairly strongly. Barkle gained the decision, which was well received, but there was not much between them on points.
“Snowy” Hill challenged the winner, and has lodged a side wager of £25.
MID-WEEK CONTESTSBarkle Beats Moroney
Herb Barkle (8.7) and Ted Moroney (8.7½), of Cessnock, featured in the main contest at the Brisbane Stadium last Wednesday night, and the former received a points’ verdict at the end of the scheduled 15 rounds. Both lads were rattled on several occasions, but the Queenslander proved the harder puncher, Moroney paying several visits to the canvas. Barkle has now regained some of the popularity he lost through being easily beaten by Eddie Watson a few months back. “Snowy” Hill has expressed a wish to meet Barkle for £25 a side.
Several weeks later in one of the Brisbane newspapers there was a “Stadium Note”.
“Snowy” Hill is very disappointed at not getting Barkle again. When he heard the match was made he trained assiduously, and is in great nick.
Next up was Harry Fitzgerald from North Queensland, who had compiled an impressive record up north. This fight was set for Wednesday, 2 February 1927.
STADIUM NOTES
By ‘THE COUNT’
The piece de resistance on next Wednesday night’s programme will be the 15-round clash between Herb Barkle, Queensland’s bantamweight champion, and Harry Fitzgerald, the hard-punching North Queensland champion. Harry comes to Brisbane with a great reputation, having defeated such well-known boys as “Snowy” Hill, Billy Yates, and Vic Albrecht. Although lean and wiry in build, Fitzgerald’s opponents state that he is the strongest bantamweight they have ever met, and many good judges who have seen the North Queensland champion in action are confident he will convincingly defeat Herb Barkle. The latter is, however, a tough two-handed fighter, with a hard punch in either hand, and if Fitzgerald, who will be at a slight disadvantage in weight, can defeat Herb he will prove himself to be an 8.0 boy right out of the ordinary.
BOXINGBARKLE v FITZGERALD
Herb Barkle, Queensland’s bantamweight champion, will try conclusions with Harry Fitzgerald, flyweight and bantamweight champion of North Queensland, at the Stadium this evening. Although Barkle’s title will not be at stake, owing to the fact the rounds will only be of two minutes’ duration, instead of three minutes as required of a championship contest, this battle will really decide who is the best bantamweight in Queensland. Barkle is a colourful little fighter, with a punch in either hand, but in Fitzgerald he will meet a boy who is reported to be abnormally strong for his weight. In addition to which he is a vicious puncher. Fitzgerald has defeated such well-known boxers as “Snowy” Hill, Billy Yates and Vic Albrecht. The Barkle – Fitzgerald contest will be of 15 rounds’ duration, and in addition two exceptionally fine 10-round contests will be staged.
This was a short, sharp contest. It was all over in the first of fifteen scheduled rounds. Herb knocked Fitzgerald out.
BOXING
BARKLE’S RIGHT
What was almost a capacity crowd witnessed a fine programme at the Stadium last night.
Herb Barkle (8.6½) and a Northerner, Harry Fitzgerald, (7.12) provided the main item, but it was all over inside one round. After getting the visitor’s measure, Barkle snapped a right to the chin, and Fitzgerald sank to the counter, to be counted out. Fitzgerald, who is a lightly built lad, was not sturdy enough for the Queensland bantam champion.
Late BoxingBarkle Wins Quickly
The Queensland bantam champion, Herb Barkle (8.6½) quickly settled the pretensions of Harry Fitzgerald (7.12), of North Queensland, in the principal contest at the Brisbane Stadium last night, a right to the jaw ending matters in the first round. Fitzgerald made a brave but futile attempt to beat the count.
A Great PunchHow Barkle Surprised Fitzgerald
(By ‘The Gamester’ in the Brisbane Courier)
Wednesday night’s top-liner was so short in duration that it would be wrong to size Harry Fitzgerald up on the strength of his couple of minutes’ opposition to Herb Barkle. The fight was practically decided in a punch. Barkle landed it just before the terminal bell of the first round, and Fitzgerald took the long sleep of defeat.
Harry Fitzgerald came to us thoroughly recommended as a flyweight well above the average and that he was strong at 7.12 is revealed in the fact that at a similar weight he has beaten such sturdy bantams as “Snowy” Hill. However, despite his reputation he looked weak against Barkle (8.6½) on Wednesday night and the fact was revealed in the tone of the betting which favoured Barkle at 5 to 2 on.
The fight had hardly started when it was all over. Barkle’s finishing punch was practically a replica of the one that skittled Sydneysider, Lou Young. It was a fairly long right and was placed flush to the chin with all the noted venom of Barkle’s punching powers.
In the early finessing it was noticeable that Fitzgerald displayed the nasty habit of dropping his head after leading and this fact, in my opinion, lent greater weight to Barkle’s finishing blow than it would have received had Fitzgerald carried his head piece well set on his torso. I would like to see Fitzgerald in action again before passing a final opinion on his worth as a boxer.
Herb was ‘back in town’ – but he had his eye on bigger prizes, down south.
BARKLE WANTS OPPORTUNITIES
Herb Barkle is reckoned to be Brisbane’s best midweek drawcard. The fact that he was to perform was, in no small measure responsible for the near-record attendance at the Stadium last Wednesday night. He knocked out Harry Fitzgerald, a slim northerner, inside half a round. He is popular because of his punch. Really there are many spectators who do not see Barkle often enough for their liking. He has held five fights in 15 months, his trainer, Paddy Schafer says, and he finds that does not pay him. So Barkle is considering trying his luck in the south. He is bantam champion of Queensland, and just at present the game in Brisbane cannot afford to lose an attractive performer. To get further matches in Brisbane he is prepared to concede weight, and will fight Slack Maher, Jimmy Warren or any of the nine stoners.
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About Dave Goodwin
Dave Goodwin is a Queenslander by origin. He was born in the country town of Kingaroy but he’s been based in Melbourne for the past 40 years which makes him a fish out of water. Along the way he’s developed a passion for the Hawthorn Football Club. His musings on Aussie Rules (including applying nineteenth century bush ballad forms to sports reporting) were part of The Footy Almanac editions from 2007 to 2015. As a cricketer he played in four losing grand finals in Melbourne’s Mercantile Cricket Association for the Yarra Park Club -– albeit he's taken four career hat tricks, bowling leg spin. He’s an appreciator of athletics and of the noble art of boxing.
The Gamester, like Herb, never lets us down.
I do like the name of another correspondent, The Count.
Dave, have you found out anything about who these writers actually were?
John, we are now starting to get introduced to the leading Sydney boxing columnists of the late 1920s. In today’s episode 11 we meet ‘Centaur’. And in next Tuesday’s installments we will encounter ‘Straight-Left’ (which would not be a bad concise moniker for some amongst the Almanac cohort!) and ‘Solar Plexus’.
And yes, I have managed to crack the code of ‘who was the Gamester’? His true identity will be revealed in the final article of this series.