Bill Farnan (23 September 1851 – 15 March 1891) was Australia's second heavyweight boxing champion.
Family The son of Patrick Farnan, and Mary Farnan, née McGuiness, William Francis Farnan was born at Kyneton, Victoria on 23 September 1851.
He married Bridget Winifred Kane (1853-1912).Deaths: Farnan, The Age, (Monday, 1 April 1912), p.1. One of their sons, James Thomas Farnan (1875–1916) played VFL football with St Kilda, and was killed in action, while serving in France with the First AIF.
Boxing He fought the West Indian Peter Jackson in the second Australian heavyweight contest using Marquis of Queensbury rules in Melbourne on saturday, 26 July 1884.Ingram (2012), p.15.
He hit Jackson hard "between wind and water" in the second round and continuing body hits drove Jackson down and out in the third round.Pollack (2006), p.159. A return bout was proposed; and, on the following Monday (28 July) the two men agreed to a return bout.Farnan v. Jackson: They Box for a £200 Trophy: Farnan Wins a Sensational Match in Three Rounds: A Scene of Wild Excitement: They Meet Again, The Sportsman, (Wednesday, 30 July 1884), p.4.
The return bout took place, in Sydney, on Saturday, 19 September 1884. Farnan was by far the better boxer on the day, with his superiority becoming more and more evident round by round; and, as Farnan seemed close to winning the fight by a knockout, in the sixth round, a large group of Jackson's supporters invaded the ring.
The ensuing mêlée was of such intensity, ferocity, and violence that it was an hour before some semblance of order was achieved. The bout was abandoned. A meeting of relevant officials was held on Tuesday, 23 September 1884, which declared Farnan and Jackson should meet on the Thursday (25 September) to arrange a re-match:InterColonial Glove Contest: Farnan v. Jackson: The Return Match: Sensational Encounter: Farnan Wins, but gets Foul Play: Not how Victoria Treated Jackson, The Sportsman, (Wednesday, 24 September 1884), p.3. "It has been decided that Jackson and Farnan are to box again. During the day [viz., Tuesday, 23 September] it was not thought likely that Jackson will come to the scratch, as his seconds state that he wanted to give in after the second round. Farnan does not bear a mark, and is quite well." -- The Sportsman, 24 September 1884.
Death Due to his deranged mental state, he was committed to the Kew Lunatic Asylum in early March 1891.A Pugilist Committed to the Kew Lunatic Asylum, The Argus, (Monday, 9 March 1891), p.7. He died at his home in South Melbourne, later that month, on 15 March 1891.Death of a Well-Known Boxer" Billy Farnan Joins the Great Majority, The Herald, (Monday, 16 March 1891), p.2.Deaths: Farnan, The Herald, (Monday, 16 March 1891), p.2.Deaths: Farnan, The Age, (Wednesday, 18 March 1891), p.1.
Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Bill was the 2008 Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Pioneers category.
See also List of Australian heavyweight boxing champions
Footnotes
References W. Farnan, The South Melbourne Boxer, The Sportsman, (Wednesday, 30 April 1884), p.1.
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