Sydney Morning Herald, 2 December 1913:
'We are not kill-joys. We have not come to decry anything that tends to physical development, for we are believers in healthy sport; but it is plain to us that these so-called boxing contests, which are in reality prizefights, are having an exceedingly baneful effect, and are pandering to the worst passions of human nature.'
In 1913, Sydney was in the grip of a major boxing craze, and the man who did more to publicise boxing than anyone else was Reginald ‘Snowy’ Baker. After winning a silver medal for boxing at the 1908 London Olympic Games, Baker transformed his sporting fame into business success.
With Hugh McIntosh and John Wren as his powerful financial backers, Baker was able to create a major sporting entertainment business, centred on an impressive selection of championship fights, hosted at Sydney Stadium.
Cards featuring stars including Matt Wells and Hughie Mehegan were used to promote bouts and each fighter's record.
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