Regarded by most boxing experts as Australia's greatest-ever pugilist, Les Darcy was a legend in his lifetime. In a short but spectacular career he fought 50 fights and won 46, competing in both the middleweight and heavyweight divisions. Among those he defeated were high ranking Americans boxers Eddie McGoorty, Billy Murray, Jimmy Clabby, George Chip, George 'KO' Brown, and Buck Crouse (he knocked out Smith and Holland in rematches). Darcy's opponents are said to have admired his courage, stamina, and punching power - the result, many believe, of having spent much of his early youth as a blacksmith in Newcastle. In 1916, Darcy knocked out Harold Hardwick to capture the Australian heavyweight title.
Darcy's reputation was eventually tarnished, however, when his mother twice stopped him from joining the Australian Imperial Forces during World War I. He was subsequently accused of cowardice. In 1917 Darcy travelled to America to escape the controversy. He fought several bouts, and volunteered to join the US army but in late April that year he was admitted to hospital suffering from septicaemia, the result of an infected tooth. He died a short time later aged 21 years after the infection brought on pneumononia. His body was returned to Australia and a funeral arranged - some estimates putting the crowd at 700,000. Darcy was buried in East Maitland Cemetery.
