WALLACE (WALLY) CLIFFORD COE

September 24th, 1937 –

The day Wally Coe was born Dick Dunn, his uncle and his future boxing trainer, wrote in his diary “May’s baby born tonight – Olympic Champion Boxer”. In 1964 with the Tokyo Olympics within his grasp Wally Coe was deprived of his chance to fulfil his uncle’s prophecy. In the preceding fourteen years however, under Dick’s tutelage, Wally displayed the skills and delivered the performances that firmly established him as one of New Zealand’s greatest amateur boxers.

Coe started boxing at 13 in 1950. When he left school, he went to work in his uncle’s wire working business, work that helped develop strength in his wrists and forearms. Dick, cautious and methodical in the way he trained his boxers, worked for three years developing a good left hand before worrying about a hard right. Wally had been boxing eight years and had over 30 fights behind him before he made his first attempt on a New Zealand Championship at Greymouth in 1957. It would be another two years before he would win his first National championship. Having won the welterweight championship in 1959 he went onto win again in 1960, 61, 62, 63, & 64′ establishing a record sequence of six titles. In 1963 he was awarded the Jameson Belt.

Wally Coe was no Cheese Champion. He dominated the New Zealand amateur boxing scene defeating such fine opponents as Brian Maunsell, Graham Finlay, Len Bell and Bobby Davis, all national titleholders. His international record was outstanding, twelve wins from twelve contests. In addition to his six New Zealand titles he was the 1962 Empire Games Gold Medalist at Welterweight and in 1960 &61′ the Australasian Welterweight Champion. For these achievements Wally Coe rightly deserves his place in the NZBHOF.

Coe was selected for the Perth Empire Games on the day of his 23rd birthday. He had not suffered a defeat in his last 30 fights. At the Empire Games Trials held in Timaru he came up against a very tough and big Australian named Dennis Hagen. A hard-right cross from Hagen followed by a flurry of hard punches had Wally on the canvas for the first time in his career, Coe survived to win the fight on points.

Coe went to Perth confident he would acquit himself well. Sure, Perth’s heat and his pale skin could be a problem as would his nervous disposition. Wally was known for being a bit of a worrier. He was confident he would overcome these minor problems and overcome them he did. His nerves were definitely on display in his first-round bout against the strongly built Pakistani, Sharif. For the first minute Wally danced around the ring and took a couple of solid blows to the chin before settling down into a steady rhythm. Despite the start Coe won comfortably on points. The heat and stuffy atmosphere were more of a problem than his opponent. When the final bell rang his throat was terribly dry.

Two days later his semi-final opponent was an aggressive Irishman named Rice. His main tactic seemed to be a concerted attack on Coe’s mid-section. Wally covered up and evaded well, stepping back quickly and picking his opponent off as he came within range. Coe was ahead on points when in the second round Rice after previous warnings was disqualified by the referee for a blatant low blow. Wally’s opponent in the final would provide him with the sternest test of his boxing career.

England’s Johnny Pritchett ABA champion at just 19 and already a veteran of over 100 fights was an extremely tough and shrewd boxer, one whom Coe would need to be at the top of his game if he were to stand a chance against. Coe got off to a good start at the opening bell scoring with clean left jabs. Sixty seconds into the fight Pritchett caught him with a solid right cross to the head and followed up with several stabbing rights. Coe hurt and dazed displayed great courage and skill as he shook of the effects of Pritchett’s punches and toward the end of the round was beginning to bring the English boxer up short as he came in. There was no doubt though that Pritchett had won the round.

Pritchett, short and muscular and in stark contrast to the tall and lean New Zealander, went straight back on the attack in round two. Coe’s nose began to bleed. Displaying dogged determination Wally began to land more frequently. Pritchett was cautioned twice for low blows. Coe kept pressing the attack, he took a few punches before managing to land a hard right to Pritchett’s jaw. He also appeared to evade Pritchett’s more dangerous punches. Close, maybe Coe’s round.

Before the bell for the third -round trainer George Cammick told Coe that he needed to win the final round by a clear margin if he was to win the Gold Medal. Both men came out furiously. In centre ring they traded blows. Coe landed the cleaner shots. Pritchett was holding more frequently. Coe landed another hard right and Pritchett was cautioned for his frequent holding. Coe appeared to be getting the better of his man. Finally, Pritchett’s excessive holding earned him a public warning from the referee. Coe dominated the final minute of the fight rampaging across the ring, Pritchett back pedalling away. Then Coe landed the big one, a savage right to the jaw, Pritchett went down. Mysteriously the referee ruled that it was not a knockdown, he indicated Pritchett had slipped. Whatever, he was dazed when he got to his feet. With only seconds remaining Coe was unable to finish his man off.

Wally Coe had an anxious wait while the judges’ score cards were tallied up. Two judges had them equal the remaining three judges had Coe ahead by just two points, “the winner and Empire Games Champion, Wally Coe of New Zealand”. Coe joined Frank Creagh, Heavyweight 1950, becoming just the second New Zealand boxer to win an Empire Games Gold Medal.

Coe returned home from Perth with his sights firmly set on making the New Zealand team for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. Highly motivated and still improving Coe successfully defended his National welterweight title in 1963 and again in 1964. Along with Brian Maunsell and Paddy Donovan he was nominated for the Games by the New Zealand Boxing Ass selectors. In the gym working on the heavy bag the radio in the background, Lance Cross convenor of the NZ Olympic Selectors read out the names of those chosen for Tokyo. Maunsell and Donovan were named but not Wally Coe. It was a shocking omission, why? For Coe, it was the end of his boxing career, totally deflated he had no desire to carry on. It is reliably told that Coe, that evening, calmly removed his gloves turned to Dick Dunn and said, “You take these Mr. Dunn I won’t be needing them anymore”. With that the career of Wally Coe one of our greatest boxers came to an end, true to his word he never boxed again.

MP. 2020

Ref:

“The Lean and Hungry Look” pages, 26-31.  Silver Fern at Perth by Norman Harris. (Pub,1963).

“Wally Coe Is Now the Best Fighter In NZ” by Brian O’Brien. pages, 27-30. Sports Digest.  (Pub, January, 1964)