There’s been a change of plan about completing Dave Goodwin’s series ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’. Read here about how a specific example of newspaper reporting of ‘the sweet science’ has opened a wider enquiry into the literature of boxing as a whole.

In the penultimate Episode of his series ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Dave Goodwin traces the influence of ‘the Fighting Barkles’, and in particular Bobby Barkle, on the careers of several promising young boxers from the Cherbourg Aboriginal community.

The denouement of Herb Barkle’s career in the ring is an all too familiar story. Dave Goodwin summarises Herb’s professional career and recounts his twilight years.

If the signs of ‘the end is nigh’ weren’t there already, both physically and mentally, Herb Barkle’s next several bouts showed all too clearly that the game was up.

In Dave Goodwin’s continuing series ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, the hits keep coming as Herb Barkle finally meets Archie Cowan in the ring before a controversial refereeing results in a disqualification.

The next instalments in Dave Goodwin’s ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’ series reveal more inconsistencies in Herb Barkle’s progress in the ring. An unexpected defeat at home is followed by a great win in Sydney.