Ranold (Ron) Richards (1910-1967)

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A former resident of the Purga Mission, Ron Richards became a highly respected boxer honing his trade in the tough arena of the fighting tent. His career from 1928 to 1945 included 140 bouts with more than 60 knockout victories. He claimed numerous titles including the British Empire middleweight and the Australia middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight crowns. Ron Richards’s career was celebrated by his descendants and wider community at the Purga Mission on 8 May 2010 on what would have been his 100th birthday. A memorial plaque was unveiled in his honour. Source: Ipswich 150: 1860-2010

Ron was born at the Deebing Creek Aboriginal Presbyterian Mission on 8 May 1910. He received some schooling and at the age of fourteen he was timber cutting with his father (Richard Richards) and he became a superb axeman. His father was a bare-knuckle fighter and Ron followed in his footsteps, starting boxing at the Ipswich and Boonah shows.

Having never fought outside of Australia, Ron was a serious contender for world honours in two divisions, middleweight and light-heavyweight. In 1938 he was ranked number three by the Ring Magazine in both divisions.

A number of Ron's career highlights include: wins like 'the 60 second' knockout of Ray Actis, the number two light-heavyweight in the world, the convincing 12 round win over Gus Lesnevich who went on to win the light-heavyweight world title and held it for seven years. The two fights with the legendary Archie Moore, having put Moore down for a nine count with the first right hand he threw, only to lose in the tenth round via cuts. The second fight Moore won a close decision having being taken to the full 12 rounds for the first time in his career.

The battles with the greats of the Australian ring, Jack Carroll, the four fights with Ambrose Palmer, the 10 fierce fights with fiery Fred Henneberry, with the Australian middleweight and British empire titles at stake which will be unsurpassed in Australian ring history. Ron Richards died in 1967 aged 56 at Dulwich Sydney and is buried at Rookwood cemetery, New South Wales.