Torpedo Billy Murphy

Thomas William Murphy (3 November 1863 – 26 July 1939) was a boxer from New Zealand. An early World Featherweight Champion, he was the first world champion in any class to come from New Zealand. In his early career, he took the New Zealand Lightweight Championship.

Billy Murphy
Murphy with National Police Gazette Belt
Statistics
Real name	Thomas William Murphy
Nickname(s)	Torpedo Billy Murphy Australian Billy Murphy
Weight(s)	Featherweight
Height	5 ft 6.5 in (1.69 m)
Nationality	New Zealand
Born	3 November 1863 Auckland, New Zealand
Died	26 July 1939 (aged 75) Auckland, New Zealand
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	220
Wins	100
Wins by KO	76
Losses	53
Draws	27
No contests	40

He was a prolific boxer who fought more than two hundred fights, with a few going as long as thirty and forty rounds. He was known more for a powerful punch than an exceptional defense.[1]

Early life and career

Murphy was born in Auckland and began boxing there before continuing his career in Australia. He called his deadly right, his "Torpedo" punch, which also referred to his ring name.

New Zealand Light champ, 1887

On 26 July 1887, he defeated Richard Long in a seventh round knockout at the Opera House in Wellington, New Zealand. The fight was billed as the Lightweight Championship of New Zealand. On 20 August 1887, he defeated John Scotty Fades at the Princess Theatre in a second round knockout at Dunedin, New Zealand, defending his title as Lightweight Champion of New Zealand. On 24 November 1887, he lost a New Zealand Lightweight Title bout with a sixth round disqualification against Ike Fake in Wellington, New Zealand.[2]

He defended the title successfully on 23 June and 1 July 1888 against Joe Molloy and Edward Jones in two fifth round knockouts. These bouts demonstrated the strong punch he had in his early career. In a fourth round knockout, he defeated Jim Saxon in another New Zealand Lightweight Title match on 1 September 1888. On 2 February 1889, he lost to Tommy Williams at the Princess Theatre in Dunedin, New Zealand, in a fourth round disqualification, in what was billed as another New Zealand Lightweight Championship.[2]

Coming to America, 1889

He arrived in San Francisco in June 1889 aboard the steamer Zelandia.[2]

In his first fight in America, he defeated Johnny Griffin, an exceptionally talented featherweight, in a third round knockout at the California Club in San Francisco on 12 July 1889.

In an important bout on 30 July 1889, he fought a twenty-seven round draw against English champion Frank Murphy in what was billed as a World 120 pound title match. The bout was fought at the California Athletic Club in San Francisco for a purse of $1,800 dollars.[2][3] In a close fight, Frank Murphy was down twice in the fifteenth, but had the better of the seventeenth through nineteenth rounds. Frank Murphy was down again in the twenty-second round. The fight was stopped by Referee Cook with the help of the police in the twenty-seventh because neither men appeared to be able to continue the match. Upon examination in their dressing rooms after the match, Billy Murphy was found to have a fracture of the radius of his left arm, and Frank Murphy's wrist was swollen and bruised. Torpedo Billy paused in his boxing schedule for five months to recover.[4] From the twentieth through the final twenty-seventh round, both men appeared fatigued and did far less fighting than the first twenty rounds.[5]

World Feather Champion, 1890

Ike Weir, World Featherweight Champion

Murphey won the World Featherweight title on 13 January 1890 defeating Ike Weir in a fourteenth round knockout at the California Athletic Club in San Francisco, California. In the final round, possibly to show his dominance and contempt for his opponent, Weir did a backflip. Murphey immediately unloaded a serious right as Weir landed, known as the "torpedo punch", which resulted in a knockdown that ended the bout after a count of ten.[6] The purse for the fight was $2,250.

According to one source, Weir, who led through much of the bout, was down repeatedly in the thirteenth round when Murphy rallied.[7] In a rematch, on 2 November 1893, Murphy lost to Weir in a sixth round knockout, which was one of the high points of Weir's late career. In the fourth round, Weir knocked Murphy entirely out of the ring. Weir successfully used his clever ducking and bobbing as a defense in the fight, avoiding Murphy's powerful right which had plagued him in their earlier title bout.[8]

Losing World Feather title, 1890

After the match with Weir, he defeated Tommy Warren, Tommy White, and Eddie Greaney before returning to Australia in September 1890. Murphy was considered to have forfeited his title because he left the United States to return to New Zealand. However, Australia and New Zealand continued to recognize his title until he lost to Albert Griffiths known as Young Griffo in Sydney on 2 September 1890. The bout was recognized as a Featherweight World Title match by Great Britain and Australia. Griffo was knocked down twice in the first three rounds. The fight ended in the fifteenth when a right to Murphy's jaw led him to throw off his gloves and concede the fight.[9]

He would lose to Young Griffo again in 22 July 1891 at the Sydney Amateur Athletic Club in another World Featherweight Title match. The bout would end in a twenty-second round disqualification against Murphy.[3]

Boxing after return to the United States

He returned to the United States in 1892 to continue boxing. On 6 February 1892, he was knocked out by Johnny Griffith in a 122 pound Featherweight Title match in Brooklyn, New York. Both boxers complained of injuries to their hands, not uncommon considering the thin gloves used in most bouts.[2]

On 31 May 1892, he fought Johnny Murphy in San Francisco in a forty round no contest bout that was billed as a 122 pound World Championship. On 28 December 1892, in San Francisco, he had a rematch with Tommy White, whom he had defeated two years earlier, that ended in an epic thirty-four round no contest. The bout was for a $2,500 purse. In the fifteenth, White lost his momentum and was dropped by Murphy in the following round. From the seventeenth, to the twenty-ninth little fighting was done, both boxers to exhausted or disinclined to give or receive much punishment. The referee said he would allow four more rounds, but stopped the fight on the thirty-fourth as there was too little boxing taking place. No blows were landed in the last eleven rounds, and some in the crowd suspected the fight was fixed. All betting was declared off by the third round by the referee.[10]

In an unusual match on 16 December 1893, in Patterson, New Jersey, with George Dixon, Murphy was disqualified in the third round for a blow to the referee. Dixon had the best of the first round. Trying to break the fighters from clinching in the third round, Murphy hit Referee James Stoddard with a right in the face either accidentally or distracted by the heat of the moment, and infuriated, Stoddard retaliated with two quick blows that landed Murphy under the ropes. The house became wild, but the police managed to keep order. Some papers described the fight as a knockout, though the referee, not Dixon put Murphy on the mat.[11]

Losses to champions Dixon, Santry, Forbes, and Harris

He fought George Dixon on 22 January 1897 at the Broadway Athletic Club in Brooklyn, losing in a six round knockout. The fight was billed as a 120 pound World Featherweight Title match. Manager Sam Fitzpatrick had predicted that Dixon would have the edge in the bout.[2][12] As the bout was with a former World Champion, it attracted considerable interest, and Dixon led the betting by odds of 2 to 1. Murphy held his own for the first three rounds, but looked fatigued by the last three, while Dixon remained fresh and unfazed by the blows of Murphy. Murphy was knocked down and out in the sixth by a strong left to the stomach.[13]

On 26 November 1898, he was knocked out by a rising Chicago star, Eddie Santry, who would take the World Featherweight Championship, according to most sources, the following year against English boxer Ben Jordan. Murphy's knockout loss to Santry took place in the fourth round at the Commercial Athletic Club in St. Louis, Missouri.

On 29 April 1899, he lost in a four round knockout to future World Bantamweight Champion Harry Forbes at the Chicago Athletic Association in Chicago, Illinois. On 19 May 1899, he lost to 1901 World Bantamweight Champion Harry Harris in a fourth round knockout at the Star Theatre in Chicago.

Return to Australia in 1904

In 1904, he returned to Australia and continued his boxing career, fighting around fifteen additional bouts. His last battle was with Jimmy Ross in Auckland in 1906.

He died at his home in Auckland, New Zealand, on 26 July 1939 at the age of 75.[3]

Recognition

Murphy was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

Professional boxing record (incomplete)

Professional record summary

202 fights	91 wins	51 losses
By knockout	76	30
By decision	15	21
Draws	23
No contests	37

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
135	Loss	69–27–11 (28)	Young Griffo	PTS	8	May 07, 1894	Casino, Boston
134	Win	69–26–11 (28)	Peter Manning	KO	4 (?)	Apr 23, 1894	Casino, Boston
133	Win	68–26–11 (28)	Johnny Breslin	KO	2 (?)	Feb 19, 1894	Lafayette A.C., Boston
132	Win	67–26–11 (28)	Jack Woods	TKO	2 (?)	Dec 22, 1893	American A.C., Boston
131	Loss	66–26–11 (28)	George Dixon	DQ	3 (?)	Dec 15, 1893	People's Theater, Paterson
130	Loss	66–25–11 (28)	Ed Gorman	KO	9 (?)	Nov 07, 1893	Grand Opera House, Rock Springs
129	Loss	66–24–11 (28)	Ike Weir	KO	6 (?)	Nov 02, 1893	Cribb's Club, Boston
128	Win	66–23–11 (28)	Jack Collins	TKO	2 (?)	Sep 23, 1893	Union A.C., Brooklyn
127	Win	65–23–11 (28)	Jack Grace	TKO	3 (?)	Sep 22, 1893	Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn
126	Draw	64–23–11 (28)	Jack Downey	PTS	4	Aug 31, 1893	Passaic A.C., Passaic
125	Draw	64–23–10 (28)	Dick Listman	PTS	4	Jul 17, 1893	Newark
124	Loss	64–23–9 (28)	Jerry Barnett	PTS	4	Apr 29, 1893	Madison Square Garden, New York
123	Loss	64–22–9 (28)	Johnny Griffin	KO	7 (20)	Feb 06, 1893	Coney Island A.C., Brooklyn
122	NC	64–21–9 (28)	Tommy White	NC	34 (?)	Dec 28, 1892	Pacific A.C., San Francisco
121	Loss	64–21–9 (27)	Tommy Spider Kelly	PTS	6	Jul 25, 1892	New York
120	NC	64–20–9 (27)	Johnny Murphy	NC	40 (?)	May 31, 1892	Pacific A.C., San Francisco
119	Loss	64–20–9 (26)	Jim Barron	KO	3 (20)	Feb 16, 1892	Golden Gate A.C., Sydney
118	Win	64–19–9 (26)	Chris Cunningham	KO	3 (4)	Dec 26, 1891	Olympic Hall, Newcastle
117	NC	63–19–9 (26)	Jim Burge	NC	29 (30)	Nov 13, 1891	Olympic Hall, Newcastle
116	Win	63–19–9 (25)	Bill Jennings	KO	2 (20)	Oct 19, 1891	Sydney Amateur Gymnastic Club, Sydney
115	Loss	62–19–9 (25)	Young Griffo	DQ	22 (30)	Jul 22, 1891	Sydney Amateur Gymnastic Club, Sydney	For lineal featherweight title
114	Loss	62–18–9 (25)	Artie Tully	PTS	8	May 04, 1891	Crystal Palace, Richmond, Melbourne
113	Win	62–17–9 (25)	Nipper Peakes	KO	6 (?)	Mar 23, 1891	Crystal Palace,Richmond, Melbourne
112	Loss	61–17–9 (25)	Jim Burge	KO	30 (40)	Jan 19, 1891	Crystal Palace,Richmond, Melbourne
111	Win	61–16–9 (25)	Pat Carroll	KO	4 (20)	Dec 08, 1890	Crystal Palace,Richmond, Melbourne
110	Win	60–16–9 (25)	Harry Dummy Mace	PTS	8	Nov 10, 1890	Crystal Palace,Richmond, Melbourne
109	Draw	59–16–9 (25)	Nipper Peakes	PTS	10	Oct 25, 1890	Crystal Palace, Richmond, Melbourne
108	Loss	59–16–8 (25)	Young Griffo	RTD	15 (?)	Sep 02, 1890	Sydney Amateur Gymnastic Club, Sydney	Lost lineal featherweight title
107	Win	59–15–8 (25)	Eddie Greaney	PTS	4	May 29, 1890	Occidental A.C., San Francisco
106	Win	58–15–8 (25)	Tommy Warren	KO	4 (?)	Mar 14, 1890	Occidental A.C., San Francisco	Retained lineal featherweight title
105	Win	57–15–8 (25)	Ike Weir	KO	14 (30)	Jan 31, 1890	California A.C., San Francisco	Won lineal featherweight title
104	Draw	56–15–8 (25)	Frank Murphy	PTS	27 (?)	Jul 30, 1889	California A.C., San Francisco	Police intervened
103	Win	56–15–7 (25)	Johnny Griffin	KO	3 (?)	Jul 12, 1889	California A.C., San Francisco
102	Win	55–15–7 (25)	John Simon	KO	1 (4)	May 18, 1889	Waite's Hall, Mt Eden, Auckland
101	Win	54–15–7 (25)	William Tracey	PTS	8	Mar 16, 1889	Princess Theatre, Dunedin
100	Win	53–15–7 (25)	Warren	KO	6 (10)	Mar 16, 1889	Princess Theatre, Dunedin
99	Win	52–15–7 (25)	James Smith	KO	8 (10)	Mar 04, 1889	Princess Theatre, Dunedin
98	Loss	51–15–7 (25)	Tommy Williams	DQ	4 (?)	Feb 02, 1889	Princess Theatre, Dunedin
97	Loss	51–14–7 (25)	Young Griffo	PTS	4	Dec 10, 1888	Apollo Athletic Hall, Melbourne
96	Loss	51–13–7 (25)	Ben Seth	KO	6 (8)	Nov 26, 1888	Apollo Athletic Hall, Melbourne
95	Win	51–12–7 (25)	Jerry Marshall	KO	1 (8)	Oct 27, 1888	Apollo Athletic Hall, Melbourne
94	Draw	50–12–7 (25)	Jack Hall	PTS	8	Sep 29, 1888	Apollo Athletic Hall, Melbourne
93	Win	50–12–6 (25)	Jim Saxon	KO	4 (?)	Sep 01, 1888	Foley's Hall, Sydney
92	Win	49–12–6 (25)	John Scotty Faddes	KO	3 (4)	Jul 28, 1888	Princess Theatre, Dunedin
91	Win	48–12–6 (25)	Edward Jones	KO	5 (?)	Jul 01, 1888	Sloan's Theatre, Invercargill
90	Win	47–12–6 (25)	Joe Molloy	KO	5 (?)	Jun 23, 1888	Princess Theatre, Dunedin
89	Loss	46–12–6 (25)	Frank Newton	DQ	3 (4)	May 25, 1888	Theatre Royal, Napier
88	Win	46–11–6 (25)	Harry Brown	KO	3 (6)	May 05, 1888	Flint's Hall, Wairoa
87	Win	45–11–6 (25)	William Edwards	KO	3 (4)	Apr 28, 1888	Theatre Royal, Gisborne
86	Win	44–11–6 (25)	Frank Newton	TKO	4 (4)	Apr 14, 1888	Theatre Royal, Napier
85	Win	43–11–6 (25)	Tony Hogan	TKO	7 (?)	Feb 04, 1888	Gaiety Theatre, Napier
84	Win	42–11–6 (25)	James Mannix	TKO	3 (?)	Jan 28, 1888	Gaiety Theatre, Napier
83	Win	41–11–6 (25)	Jerry Ford	KO	11 (?)	Jan 12, 1888	Princess Theatre, Wellington
82	Win	40–11–6 (25)	Roy Brooks	KO	1 (4)	Jan 09, 1888	Princess Theatre, Wellington
81	Win	39–11–6 (25)	Ed Parker	KO	3 (4)	Jan 09, 1888	Princess Theatre, Wellington
80	Loss	38–11–6 (25)	Jack Hall	DQ	6 (?)	Dec 23, 1887	Princess Theatre, Wellington
79	Loss	38–10–6 (25)	Ike Fake	DQ	6 (?)	Nov 24, 1887	Volunteer Drill Shed, Wellington
78	Win	38–9–6 (25)	A 13 Stone Maori	KO	? (?)	Oct 04, 1887	Gaiety Theatre, Napier
77	Win	37–9–6 (25)	Ike Fake	TKO	3 (?)	Sep 12, 1887	Opera House, Wellington
76	NC	36–9–6 (25)	Ed Brooks	ND	3	Aug 27, 1887	Oddfellow's Hall, Christchurch
75	Win	36–9–6 (24)	John Scotty Faddes	KO	2 (?)	Aug 20, 1887	Princess Theatre, Dunedin
74	Win	35–9–6 (24)	Bill Mitchell	KO	4 (?)	Aug 13, 1887	Princess Theatre, Dunedin
73	Win	34–9–6 (24)	Ed Burgess	KO	4 (?)	Aug 10, 1887	Princess Theatre, Dunedin
72	NC	33–9–6 (24)	Ed Brooks	ND	3	Aug 03, 1887	Public Hall, Oamaru
71	Win	33–9–6 (23)	Fred Bruce	KO	7 (?)	Jul 28, 1887	Odd Fellows Hall, Christchurch
70	Win	32–9–6 (23)	Richard Allen	KO	7 (?)	Jul 26, 1887	Opera House, Wellington
69	Loss	31–9–6 (23)	Harry Laing	KO	3 (4)	Jun 06, 1887	Princess Theatre, Wanganui
68	Win	31–8–6 (23)	Nat Brooks	KO	9 (?)	May 21, 1887	Volunteer Drill Shed, Wellington
67	Win	30–8–6 (23)	Charlie Taylor	KO	12 (?)	Apr 27, 1887	Agricultural Hall, Auckland
66	Loss	29–8–6 (23)	Young Mitchell	KO	5 (?)	Mar 14, 1887	Foley's Hall, Sydney
65	Win	29–7–6 (23)	Will Brummy Fuller	KO	13 (?)	Feb 23, 1887	Foley's Hall, Sydney
64	Draw	28–7–6 (23)	Bill Burgess	PTS	36 (?)	Feb 19, 1887	Foley's Hall, Sydney
63	NC	28–7–5 (23)	Bill Burgess	ND	4	Feb 15, 1887	Foley's Hall, Sydney
62	Win	28–7–5 (22)	George Mullholland	PTS	4	Feb 05, 1887	Foley's Hall, Sydney
61	Win	27–7–5 (22)	J Pennington	KO	3 (?)	Jan 26, 1887	Parramatta, Sydney
60	Win	26–7–5 (22)	Sam Stewart	KO	18 (?)	Jan 24, 1887	Foley's Hall, Sydney
59	NC	25–7–5 (22)	Stevens	ND	4	Jan 15, 1887	Foley's Hall, Sydney
58	Win	25–7–5 (21)	Bill Scott	KO	2 (?)	Dec 01, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
57	NC	24–7–5 (21)	Willie Brummer Fuller	ND	4	Nov 27, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
56	NC	24–7–5 (20)	George Mullholland	ND	4	Nov 13, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
55	Win	24–7–5 (19)	Jack Fuller	KO	2 (?)	Nov 06, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
54	NC	23–7–5 (19)	Jack Fuller	ND	4	Oct 30, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
53	NC	23–7–5 (18)	Jim O'Brien	ND	4	Oct 23, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
52	Win	23–7–5 (17)	Willie Brummer Fuller	KO	14 (?)	Oct 04, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
51	NC	22–7–5 (17)	Willie Brummer Fuller	ND	4	Oct 02, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
50	NC	22–7–5 (16)	Willie Brummer Fuller	ND	4	Sep 18, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
49	NC	22–7–5 (15)	Kelly	ND	4	Sep 11, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
48	NC	22–7–5 (14)	Will Brummy Fuller	ND	4	Sep 04, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
47	Win	22–7–5 (13)	Will Brummy Fuller	ND	4	Aug 28, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
46	NC	21–7–5 (13)	Will Brummy Fuller	ND	4	Aug 25, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
45	NC	21–7–5 (12)	Sam Stewart	ND	4	Aug 21, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
44	Win	21–7–5 (11)	Bill Burgess	PTS	4	Jul 10, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
43	NC	20–7–5 (11)	Will Brummy Fuller	ND	4	Jul 10, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
42	Win	20–7–5 (10)	Richard Deerfoot Rose	KO	5 (6)	Jun 26, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
41	NC	19–7–5 (10)	Richard Deerfoot Rose	ND	4	Jun 19, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
40	Win	19–7–5 (9)	Bert Johnstone	KO	3 (4)	Jun 05, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
39	NC	18–7–5 (9)	Richard Deerfoot Rose	ND	4	May 29, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
38	Draw	18–7–5 (8)	Nipper Peakes	PTS	17 (?)	May 17, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
37	Loss	18–7–4 (8)	Jack Hall	KO	2 (?)	May 08, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
36	NC	18–6–4 (8)	Davis	ND	4	May 01, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
35	Win	18–6–4 (7)	Frank King	KO	1 (?)	Mar 27, 1886	Masonic Temple, Sydney
34	NC	17–6–4 (7)	Walter	ND	6	Mar 20, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
33	Loss	17–6–4 (6)	Jack Hall	KO	1 (?)	Mar 13, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
32	NC	17–5–4 (6)	Walter	ND	6	Feb 13, 1886	Foley's Hall, Sydney
31	Win	17–5–4 (5)	Hobart Jack Gallagher	DQ	12 (?)	Jan 02, 1886	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland
30	Win	16–5–4 (5)	Johnny The Strangler	KO	8 (?)	Dec 23, 1885	Public Hall, Onehunga
29	Win	15–5–4 (5)	Jack Nicholson	KO	4 (?)	Dec 05, 1885	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland
28	Win	14–5–4 (5)	Andy Dawson	KO	2 (?)	Oct 31, 1885	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland
27	Draw	13–5–4 (5)	Dick Sandall	PTS	3	Oct 05, 1885	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland
26	Draw	13–5–3 (5)	Richard Deerfoot Rose	PTS	6	Sep 21, 1885	Cook Street Hall, Auckland
25	Draw	13–5–2 (5)	William Burns	PTS	4	Aug 29, 1885	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland
24	NC	13–5–1 (5)	Local Amateur	ND	2 (?)	Aug 29, 1885	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland
23	NC	13–5–1 (4)	Richard Deerfoot Rose	ND	4	Aug 19, 1885	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland
22	Loss	13–5–1 (3)	Barney Donovan	TKO	9 (?)	Apr 25, 1885	Theatre Royal, Auckland
21	Win	13–4–1 (3)	Charlie Carter	KO	3 (?)	Mar 13, 1885	Academy of Music, Thames
20	Loss	12–4–1 (3)	Barney Donovan	TKO	7 (?)	Jan 05, 1885	Theatre Royal, Auckland
19	NC	12–3–1 (3)	Richard Deerfoot Rose	ND	4	Jan 05, 1885	Theatre Royal, Auckland
18	Win	12–3–1 (2)	Jim Gardiner	KO	3 (?)	Aug 01, 1884	Auckland
17	Win	11–3–1 (2)	Walter Evans	KO	3 (?)	Jul 01, 1884	Auckland
16	Win	10–3–1 (2)	Joe Guller	KO	2 (?)	Jun 01, 1884
15	Win	9–3–1 (2)	Harry Eccles	KO	2 (?)	May 24, 1884	Theatre Royal, Auckland
14	NC	8–3–1 (2)	Local Amateur	ND	4	Mar 22, 1884	Theatre Royal, Auckland
13	Win	8–3–1 (1)	Tony Hogan	KO	3 (?)	Mar 15, 1884	Theatre Royal, Auckland
12	Loss	7–3–1 (1)	Tony Hogan	DQ	3 (?)	Feb 04, 1884	Theatre Royal, Auckland
11	Win	7–2–1 (1)	Mick O'Brien	KO	4 (?)	Jan 09, 1884	Theatre Royal, Auckland
10	Win	6–2–1 (1)	Frank Burns	KO	25 (?)	Jul 14, 1883	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland
9	NC	5–2–1 (1)	Green	ND	4	Jun 09, 1883	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland
8	Win	5–2–1	William Burns	PTS	4	Dec 04, 1882	Theatre Royal, Auckland
7	Win	4–2–1	Billy Dawson	KO	1 (?)	May 07, 1882	Auckland Domain, Auckland
6	Draw	3–2–1	Micky Kirby	PTS	4	May 05, 1882	Theatre Royal, Auckland
5	Loss	3–2	Hill	PTS	4	May 05, 1882	Theatre Royal, Auckland
4	Win	3–1	Sammy Heckles	KO	2 (4)	May 02, 1882	Theatre Royal, Auckland
3	Win	2–1	Banks	PTS	4	Apr 15, 1882	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland
2	Loss	1–1	Barney Donovan	PTS	4	Apr 15, 1882	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland
1	Win	1–0	Morris	PTS	4	Apr 11, 1882	Lorne Street Hall, Auckland

See also

• List of lineal boxing world champions
• List of featherweight boxing champions

References

1. "Ring Magazine: October 1933". boxrec.com.
2. "Torpedo Billy Murphy". boxrec.com.
3. "Boxing", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 53, 6 August 1939
4. "Frank and Billy Murphy", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri, pg. 8, 31 July 1889
5. "They Stopped Fighting", The Daily Inter Ocean, Chicago, Illinois, pg. 6, 31 July 1889
6. "Ike Weir and Billy Murphy the Star Clowns of the Ring", Trenton Evening Times, Trenton, New Jersey, pg. 8, 13 January 1915
7. "The Spider Done Up", Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Bismarck, North Dakota, pg. 1, 17 January 1890
8. White, Charley, "Inside the Ring with the Great Fighters", The Evening World, New York, New York, pg. 7, 7 August 1911
9. "Fighting Featherweights", Los Angeles Herald, Los Angeles, California, pg. 1, 28 September 1890
10. "Featherweights Do Battle", Lost Angeles Herald, Los Angeles, California, p. 5, 29 December 1892
11. "Billy Murphy Knocked Out", The New York World, New York, New York, pg. 3, 17 December 1893
12. "Box To-Night", The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, pg. 6, 22 January 1897
13. "George Dixon Knocks Out Bully Murphy in Six Rounds", Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky pg. 3, 23 January 1897

Further reading

• O'Brien, Brian F., Kiwis With Gloves On, published 1960, Reed.

External links

• Boxing record for Torpedo Billy Murphy from BoxRec
• "Torpedo" Billy Murphy Cyber Boxing Zone