Jimmy Carruthers

Infobox_Boxer
name = Jimmy Carruthers


imagesize = 150px
nationality = Flagicon|AUS Australian
realname = James William Carruthers
nickname =
weight = Bantamweight
birth_date = 5 July, 1929
birth_place = Paddington, New South Wales
death_date = 15 August 1990
death_place = Sydney, New South Wales
home = Sydney, New South Wales
reach = 67"
height = 5'6
style = Southpaw
total = 25
wins = 21
KO = 13
losses = 4
draws = 0
no contests = 0

James ("Jimmy") William Carruthers (July 5, 1929 — August 15, 1990) was an Australian boxer, who became world champion in the bantamweight division.

Amateur career

Carruthers's boxing career started as an Australian representative at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. In his first-round match, he fought Spencer Driver and won on points. He defeated Arnoldo Pares of Argentina in his second match. However, he had sustained an eye injury during his bout with Pares, and had to withdraw from the quarter-final match with Tibor Csik of Hungary.

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, 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 to fight the New Zealand Bantamweight Champion Lyn Philp.

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.

Honors

He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in Los Angeles in 1995.

Personal

He was married to Myra (née Hamilton) until his death and is survived by four children - Boyd, Ginna, Dimiette and Lukas. There are also a number of grandchildren. During the 1950s Jimmy owned the colourful Bells Hotel in Sydney's Woolloomooloo. After that he had a number of businesses, including several vegetarian takeaway and juice bars in Sydney.

Death

He died after a long battle with lung cancer and Parkinson's disease.

References

*"Complete Book of the Olympics" - (Olympic Information)