PETER JOSEPH ‘PETEY’ SARRON

Petey Sarron of Lebanese extraction was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on November 21,1906.  He was 22 and already a veteran of 52 pro fights when he arrived in Australia in April 1929. He had lost just five of them. Sarron, wanted to see the world, what better way to do it than to finance his travels by fighting. His first fight in Australia was on May 11, 1929, at West Melbourne Stadium, against Charlie Glasson, scheduled for 15, Glasson was KO’d in 5.

American, Pinky Silverberg was next on May 25, Sarron winning the decision over 15 rounds. Seven months earlier in the St. Nicholas Arena, N.Y.C. Silverberg had lost an 8-round decision to Cuban legend Kid Chocolate.

Sarron in his next fight suffered his first setback on his sojourn down under. June 22, in Sydney Stadium kiwi Johnnie Leckie beat him on points over 15. On the night, Leckie had the American continually missing the target with his superior speed. Leckie improving his record to 23 – 2 would fight Sarron on another four occasions but would not win again. Sarron had 9 fights in Australia, winning 6, losing 2 with I draw. He lost a 15-round decision to Australian, Billy Grime on Sept 7. like Johnnie Leckie, he beat Grime in there four subsequent fights. English boxer Dick Corbett held him to a draw over 15 rounds on August 14, at Brisbane Stadium.

Sarron travelling with Lou Bloom, another highly experienced American, arrived in New Zealand in November 1929. His first fight here, in the Wellington, Town Hall, on December 2, was against Jack Jones. The Welshman had been fighting professionally since early 1920 and like Sarron had recently arrived in New Zealand from Australia where he had been plying his trade for the previous three years with above average success. The pair were matched at lightweight. Despite his disadvantage in weight Sarron stopped Jones in the 11^th of a scheduled 15 rounder.

Sarron, had two fights in the December of 1929. Both, against Billy Grime. Two weeks after Jones, again in the Wellington Town Hall, he stopped the Australian in the penultimate round of a 15-round bout. Ten days later, on December 27, in the Auckland Town Hall, Sarron dispelled any lingering doubts as to who the better fighter was when he KO’d Grime in 13.

Sarron, liked to keep busy. Four days later, on New Year’s Day, 1930 in Napier’s Municipal Theatre he renewed his rivalry with Johnnie Leckie. Matched at featherweight, both fighters weighed in at 126lbs. Sarron made it 2-1, from 3, taking the decision over 15 rounds. Leckie showed signs that his skills were beginning to wane. Fourteen fights in 1928, ten in 1929, all, apart from one, scheduled over 15 rounds, against the best available opposition on both sides of the Tasman and  his failure to rest up was taking a toll on “Fighting Johnnie Leckie”.

This their first fight in New Zealand, ushered in an historic year for boxing in this country. General sports fans, boxing lovers and the sporting media were about to witness an exciting year. If the 1920’s had been boxing’s golden age, the late twenties and early thirties was this country’s golden age. Following the success of Tom Heeney and Ted Morgan on the world stage sports fans here were about to witness an historic series of fights between Johnnie Leckie, Tommy Donavan and the “Hairy Little Hercules” Petey Sarron, fights that would create huge excitement and draw record attendances.

Sarron and Leckie met again on February 4, in the Wellington Town Hall. Leckie suffered his fourth defeat on the trot, retiring in the ninth round. Sarron and Donovan met in the first of their three-fight series on March 15. Their trilogy that would become part of New Zealand boxing folk lore. Their fights were outdoor events, something of a rarity for boxing fans at that time in N.Z and attracted a total of 32,000 paying spectators, numbers not seen before or since in this country.

 The American was expected to outclass Donovan. A large crowd, 6000 plus, attended the fight held at Western Park, New Plymouth. Sarron started well and took the opening round, Donovan appeared out of sorts. An even round followed, the Kiwi relaxing into his work. Through rounds three to six Donovan scored well behind his straight left, he continually beat the American to the punch.

Referee Dick Meale cautioned Sarron numerous times, low blows and punches around the back of the head. At the start of the seventh, he told the American, “one more and your, out”. Almost immediately Sarron ripped a vicious right hand into Donovan’s mid-section, winded Donovan collapsed to the canvas. Donovan, tough and hard as nails was up at the count of two. A grimace covered his face, his gloves covered where Sarron’s punch had landed.

The referee waived them in, Sarron flew at his wounded foe. Donovan covered up, arms and elbows tucked tight into his body, Sarron switched to the head, a big right and Donovan sank to the canvas again. Up at 8, Donovan looked a sorry sight, still winded. Sarron mercilessly charged at him, this time landing a heavy left to the body, Donovan sank to the canvas a third time. Back on his feet, referee Meale, waved them in again.

After another barrage of blows had Donovan down for a fourth time. Surprisingly, Meale started to count again over the prone Donovan. Even more puzzlingly, at the count of 3 he grabbed Donovan by one of his gloves and helped him to his feet. Meale then turned to Sarron and promptly disqualified him for an alleged punch to the back of Donovan’s head.

Pandemonium broke out, some in the crowd clambered over seats as they attempted to invade the ring, arguments raged, punches were thrown, many disagreed with the referee’s decision to disqualify Sarron. Others argued that Sarron had fouled Donovan continually throughout the fight. While all this was going on a distraught Sarron was draped over the ropes crying over what he considered was an unfair decision.  There seemed to be general agreement among those present that the referee had appeared rattled and had lost control of the situation.

Dick Meale, expressed a very different view to those who thought Sarron had been unfairly treated. He pointed out that prior to round 7 he had issued 4 warnings to the American for punches that had landed around the back of Donovan’s neck. He thought Sarron was ahead on points when the final round began and was adamant that the American in his eagerness to end the fight had thrown a succession of wild and illegal punches, blows that were both behind the neck and below the waistline, this led to his disqualification.

The fights unsatisfactory ending with Donovan in the view of many, well ahead on points. Sarron having punished the Kiwi severely, in the 7^th, sending him to the canvas on four occasions. His disqualification and the heated arguments that erupted between those present, as to the relevant merits of the referee’s decision made a rematch between the pair, desirable and inevitable.

Wellington officials were quick of the mark and secured the signatures of both fighters. Both fighters were keen to prove a point. Fourteen days later, on March 29, outdoors, at Kilbirnie Speedway Stadium, Sarron and Donovan squared off in what would be an historic day for New Zealand boxing. A crowd of just under 18,000 attended the fight, a record for a boxing fight in this country, which still stands today, 91 years later.

Donovan took a well-earned decision after 15 hard fought rounds. The Kiwi kept his cool and plugged away doggedly throughout the fight, there were no complaints this time when the decision was given. A third fight on May 3, at the Speedway Stadium in Dunedin was promoted by the Otago Boxing Assoc. This time in excess of 8000 attended.

After ten hard-fought rounds, Donovan appeared to be the fresher of the two. Over the final five he had the legs and the confidence to take out a convincing decision, with each fight he seemed to have grown in stature.  

Sarron stayed on in Dunedin to take on New Yorker Sammy Shack. Shack another one of the many overseas fighters plying their trade down-under at that time squared off against Sarron in the Kensington Drill Hall, on June 21, Sarron, taking the decision over 15.

His last fight in New Zealand on August 5, at the Opera House, Palmerston North a fifth encounter with Johnnie Leckie resulted in another 15-round decision for Sarron. Taking their five-fight series to 4 – 1 in the American’s favour.

 After 9 months and 10 fights, of which he won 7 and lost 3, Sarron returned home. He had left his mark, an exciting, all action fighter, who gave his all, he drew spectators in record numbers to his fights and for a while at least created interest from the wider New Zealand sporting public in boxing.

Sarron, went onto achieve big things, on May 11, 1936, he defeated Freddie Miller (PTS 15) to win the World Featherweight Title (NBA). He made two successful defenses of the championship before losing it to Henry Armstrong (KO 6) on October 29, 1937. He retired two years later after losing to Sammy Angott, (PTS 10), July 17, 1939.

He featured on the cover of Ring Magazine, Nov, 1936.

He was elected secretary of the Miami Boxing Commission in 1953 and made a member of the IBHOF in 2016.

BOXREC has his ring record at 136 Bouts, 101 Wins, 23 Loses and 12 Draws.

BOXERLIST has his ring record at 145 Bouts.

Petey Sarron died on July 3, 1994, in Miami, Florida, aged 87.