Jimmy Carruthers
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" William Carruthers (5 July 1929 – 15 August 1990) was an Australia
n boxer, who became world champion in the bantamweight
division.
in London
. In his first-round match of the bantamweight competition
, he fought Fred Daigle of Canada
and won on points. He defeated Arnoldo Parés of Argentina
in his second match. However, he had sustained an eye injury during his bout with Parés, and had to withdraw from the quarter-final match with the up coming gold medalist Tibor Csík
of Hungary
.
He won the Australian Bantamweight title in 1951, the British Commonwealth title in 1952, and was regarded by the National Boxing Association as the World Bantamweight Champion. Carruthers became Australia's first universally recognised boxing World Champion. Great Australians of the past--including Young Griffo
, Mick King
, and Les Darcy
--had all won world titles, but they had not received international acceptance at the time of winning their respective crowns. After defending his newly-won title against Vic Toweel
in Johannesburg
, and then against the American Henry "Pappy" Gault in Sydney, it was found that Carruthers was carrying a 30-foot-long tapeworm.
He was matched for a world title bout against the New Zealand Bantamweight Champion Lyn Philp
.For reasons unclear the fight never went ahead.
After a non-title bout in Sydney, and a further title defence against Chamroen Songkitrat in Bangkok
, Carruthers retired on 16 May, 1954. Among the fighters he defeated were Vic Toweel (twice); Pappy Gault; Bobby Sinn and Chamroen Songkitrat. He made a brief comeback in Melbourne and Sydney in the early sixties in non-title fights, with his last fight in Wellington New Zealand in 1962 where he lost to Jimmy Cassidy.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n boxer, who became world champion in the bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
division.
Amateur career
Carruthers's boxing career started as an Australian representative at the 1948 Summer Olympics1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In his first-round match of the bantamweight competition
Boxing at the 1948 Summer Olympics - Men's bantamweight
The men's bantamweight event was part of the boxing programme at the 1948 Summer Olympics. The weight class was the second-lightest contested, and allowed boxers of up to 54 kilograms...
, he fought Fred Daigle of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and won on points. He defeated Arnoldo Parés of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in his second match. However, he had sustained an eye injury during his bout with Parés, and had to withdraw from the quarter-final match with the up coming gold medalist Tibor Csík
Tibor Csík
Tibor Csík was a bantamweight professional boxer from Hungary, who won the gold medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics....
of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
Professional career
Carruthers joined the professional ranks in 1950, and was an immediate success. By then, he was being managed by Dr. Jim McGirr, and trained by "Silent" Bill McConnell.He won the Australian Bantamweight title in 1951, the British Commonwealth title in 1952, and was regarded by the National Boxing Association as the World Bantamweight Champion. Carruthers became Australia's first universally recognised boxing World Champion. Great Australians of the past--including Young Griffo
Young Griffo
Albert Griffiths , better known as Young Griffo, was a world featherweight boxing champion.-Professional career:...
, Mick King
Mick King
Mick King was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Castlegar and with the Galway senior inter-county team from 1923 until 1935. King is regarded as one of Galway’s greatest-ever players.-Club:...
, and Les Darcy
Les Darcy
James Leslie Darcy was an Australian boxer. He was a middleweight, but held the Australian Heavyweight Championship title at the same time....
--had all won world titles, but they had not received international acceptance at the time of winning their respective crowns. After defending his newly-won title against Vic Toweel
Vic Toweel
Victor "Vic" Anthony Toweel was a South African boxer and former undisputed World bantamweight champion.Toweel was the first South African to hold a world title.-Personal:...
in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, and then against the American Henry "Pappy" Gault in Sydney, it was found that Carruthers was carrying a 30-foot-long tapeworm.
He was matched for a world title bout against the New Zealand Bantamweight Champion Lyn Philp
Lyn Philp
Lyn Philp was a New Zealand professional boxer, and New Zealand's Bantamweight Champion from 1947 - 1954.*Ranked fourth best bantamweight New Zealand all time greats....
.For reasons unclear the fight never went ahead.
After a non-title bout in Sydney, and a further title defence against Chamroen Songkitrat in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Carruthers retired on 16 May, 1954. Among the fighters he defeated were Vic Toweel (twice); Pappy Gault; Bobby Sinn and Chamroen Songkitrat. He made a brief comeback in Melbourne and Sydney in the early sixties in non-title fights, with his last fight in Wellington New Zealand in 1962 where he lost to Jimmy Cassidy.