EDWARD (TED) MORGAN.

April 5th, 1906 – November 22nd, 1952.

Ted Morgan’s induction into the NZBHOF was a mere formality. The 1928 Olympic Games welterweight Gold Medallist remains the only New Zealand boxer to win an Olympic title. He was also the first Kiwi, competing for N.Z. as a stand-alone nation to win an Olympic title in any sport. The story behind his Olympic success remains one of the most outstanding examples of triumphing over adversity, yet it remains one of the least known in our country’s Olympic history.

Morgan was born in East Ham, London, his family moved to NZ in 1907 when Ted was barely one year old. He attended Te Aro School and Wellington College. It was at Wellington College that he was introduced to boxing. Physical fitness was very much part of the ethos of the school and boxing was a major sport there. Morgan, a southpaw, showed immediate promise. In 1921 aged 14, he was runner-up in the college bantamweight championship, the following year as a lightweight he was again runner-up.

Ted, left school at the end of 1922 and commenced working as an apprentice plumber. He joined Tim Tracy’s Boxing Gym on Willis Street. Under Tracy’s guidance, he rapidly gained a reputation as a two-fisted fighter who kept the pressure on his opponents bustling them into errors. At 5’9″ Morgan carried a heavy punch in both hands, this, and his southpaw stance made him a difficult man for his opponents to figure out.

In 1925 he won the Wellington Provincial Lightweight title, later that year in Christchurch he won his first National title. Morgan suffered a rare defeat the following year in Napier when he was beaten in the final of the New Zealand Championships by Harold Kindley a very good boxer from Otago. Morgan, in outstanding form, regained his National Lightweight Championship the following year in 1927. His form was so impressive that he gained selection for the Olympic Games to be held in Amsterdam the following year.

Also selected was Ted’s friend, light heavyweight Alf Cleverley. Unlike Morgan, Cleverley’s selection was marginal. Hence Cleverley had to work his passage to Europe. The small NZ team set sail for England on board the S.S. Remuera in mid-April, 1928. The ship’s captain refused to allow passengers and crew to mix so Morgan and Cleverley could not spar together, a major setback for both men. The captain’s one’s concession was to allow a punching bag to be set up on deck so that both boxers could train separately. When the ship finally berthed at Southhampton on June 3rd, Morgan had gained 1.4 kg’s in weight.

The team spent the next two months in London prior to departing for Amsterdam. While in London Morgan was finally able to get in some decent sparring. He sparred regularly with professional Ernie Rice the former British and European lightweight champion. Rice was making a comeback and was in preparation for a September 17th, fight with Sam Steward in a bid to regain the British title. This was invaluable preparation for Morgan until disaster struck, he dislocated the first knuckle of his left hand. For a southpaw, it was a major setback. A week out from the Games punching caused him severe pain.

Lack of sparring on the voyage from NZ, the extra weight gain, having to move up a division to contest the Games as a welterweight, where his opponents would be much heavier and his left-hand still severely damaged and showing no sign of improving. This was the situation Ted Morgan found himself in when he arrived in Amsterdam a week before the Games commenced on July 28th. It was then that Morgan showed the mettle he was made from. He resolved to minimize the use of his left hand and would beat them with skill, determination, and his very good right hand.

His first bout was against Sweden’s Selfrid Johansson. Ted dispatched him by 2nd round ko. In his quarter-final bout, he beat the Italian Romano Caneva by decision. Through to the semi-final, Morgan faced his sternest test, pre-tournament favourite Frenchman Robert Galataud. With another decision going his way, he was establishing a reputation as one of the best fighters at the Games, this despite not being able to throw many left-hand punches. On August 11th, Morgan faced 18-year-old Argentinian Raul Landini in the gold medal bout. Again, Morgan boxed superbly, going after his man constantly and forcing him into errors. At the final bell, Landini embraced Morgan, moments later the referee raised the New Zealanders hand.

After the Games Morgan received many offers from British and American promotors to turn pro. The best of these was $2000.00 a tidy sum at the time. Perhaps unwisely he turned them down. Ted instead returned to New Zealand and resumed his plumbing work. He did not box again as an amateur. His record stands at 28 fights, 26 wins and 2 losses. His defeats to Harold Kindley and Blenheim’s Jack Rodd were both avenged. Research does show that he had more fights than those that are listed, the exact number is not known.

 Eleven months after his Olympic success in July 1929, he took out a professional license. His professional career never reached the heights of his amateur success. In 1930 he beat Billy Grime and Tommy Fairhall, two well-performed fighters. Highs such as these though were interspersed with poor performances. In 1931 he tried his hand in America winning three minor bouts in New York. The same year he won the New Zealand welterweight title knocking out Reg Trowern in the 2nd round. Ted retired in 1934 after losing his welterweight title by stoppage in six rounds against Don Stirling. His pro record was patchy, 13 wins and 11 losses from 26 bouts. In later years he regretted his decision not to have turned pro overseas, stating that with proper training and good management he could have enjoyed much more success.

After hanging up the gloves Morgan returned to plumbing, establishing a successful business on Cuba Street, Wellington. In April 1933 he married athlete Norma Wilson, they had met while at the Games in Amsterdam, they divorced in 1938. Morgan remarried on 10th November 1945 to Jannat Elizabeth Reynolds, they had a son and a daughter.

Ted was just 46 when he died. Although a non-smoker the lung cancer that shortened his life was no doubt caused by the inhalation of fumes during his time as a plumber. He is buried in Karori Cemetery, Wellington City, Plot Section Public 3, Plot, 623F.

The Ted Morgan Cup is awarded annually to the winner of the senior men’s welterweight title at the NZ Amateur Boxing Championships.

In 1975 a plaque was unveiled in his honour at Wellington College.

In 1990 Ted Morgan was elected a foundation member of the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.

Ted Morgan is NZ Olympian #21.

MP 2020.

Ref: Kiwis with Gloves On. (Pub) 1960.  By Brian O’Brien.

NZ Railways Magazine. Vol 13, issue 8, (Nov 1st,1938)