Charlie Purdy

Charlie Francis Purdy
Born	Charles Francis Purdy 12 December 1905 Auckland, New Zealand
Died	25 January 1982 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality	New Zealand
Other names	"Charlie"
Statistics
Height	154
Boxing record
Total fights	80
Wins	49
Wins by KO	1
Losses	21
Draws	6
No contests	4

Charles Francis Purdy (12 December 1905 – 25 January 1982) was a New Zealand boxer who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.^[1][2]

In 1924 he was eliminated in the first round of the lightweight class after losing his fight to Frenchman Arnold Tholey. The result of the fight was controversial, Purdy, the crowd and one of the judges believing Purdy had clearly won the fight; the other judge and the French referee giving the fight to Tholey.^[3][4]

After the Games he travelled to Dublin where he won the Irish welterweight title.^[3]

He later moved to Australia; in 1929 losing the welterweight championship of Australia to Wally Hancock in Sydney by being knocked out for the first time; he was 10 st 21⁄2 lb (58.3 kg).^[5]

On 7 January 1930, Purdy married Vera Garnett.^[6] Her drunkenness and infidelities led him to divorce his wife on 18 April 1935.^[7][8] During his time with Vera, he partnered with past athlete Anthony William Winter in a billiard saloon in Sydney.^[8]

He is remembered by the Charlie Purdy Cup of the Auckland Boxing Association, and for his weaving:

• Ralph Aitken "weaved and ducked like a Charlie Purdy."^[9]
• Billy Parris "used Charlie Purdy’s famous weave."^[10]

References

1. New Zealand Olympic Committee: Charlie Purdy
2. "Charlie Purdy". Olympedia. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
3. Ron Palenski & Terry Maddaford: The Games Auckland: Moa Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-908570-62-7
4. "The Story So Far: 100 Years of Boxing New Zealand" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
5. Evening Post (Wellington), 8 June 1929 p. 10
6. "Almost lifetime of crime—and likes it!". Truth. No. 2211. New South Wales, Australia. 22 May 1932. p. 15. Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
7. Evening Post (Wellington), 18 April 1935 p. 11
8. "Boxer K.O'd. Five Times". Truth. No. 2363. New South Wales, Australia. 21 April 1935. p. 20. Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
9. Evening Post (Wellington), 1 May 1936 p. 14
10. Auckland Star, 14 October 1944 p. 3

External links

• "Charlie Purdy". boxrec.com. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
• "Charlie Purdy". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
• Kiwis With Gloves On by Brian F O'Brien, published 1960, Reed.