Famous Western Boxer Knocked Out Only By Gene Tunney

Connacht Tribune, March 15, 1930.

Bartley Madden, a West of Ireland boxer, who fell down thirty feet of steps at the Treasury Buildings in Washington, succumbed to his injuries. Madden was on his way from Miami to New York to see his little son. He had attended the Scott—Sharkey fight. His death removes a notable figure from boxing, and his demise will be mourned by many on both sides of the Atlantic.

Bartley was born in Caltra, Co. Galway, in 1890. He learned to box while in the British Navy, on leaving which he settled in the U.S.A. He took part in over three hundred fights, two hundred of which he won. He met all the famous cruiser—weights and heavy—weights in America, and on only one occasion was he ever knocked off his balance. This was by Gene Tunney in the third round in 1925. The following year Tunney beat Dempsey for the world's championship. Madden's most notable contest was against Harry Wills, the negro, in 1924. This went the full fifteen rounds, and the big Irishman was a narrow loser on points. That fight brought Madden well up in the top class of heavyweights, and proved that men were all alike to him in the boxing game.

When Madden fought Tom Heeny (New Zealand) at Croke Park in August, 1926, he was eleven years older than his opponent but he made Heeney go all the way for the verdict. Heeny's end of the purse provided the New Zealander with an outfit and a passage to America and twelve months later the "man from down under" had made £20,000. Half of which was his share of a bout with Tunney for the world's championship.

Bartley Madden was a County Galway man by birth. Previous to his visit to the United States he spent practically all his life in Roscommon. His father, Mr. T. R. Madden, was owner of a successful nursery at Ballymurry, having transferred from Caltra, where Bartley was born. He was only a schoolboy when he accompanied his parents to their new home. He took a prominent part in Gaelic football in County Roscommon, in which he became so proficient as to be transferred to the county team, for which he plans to play in the Connacht Championships. While Madden was a member of the team, Roscommon became Connacht champions. He was subsequently picked to represent Connacht in provincial matches, he was connected with Ballygar by his mother, who was a sister of the late Mr. F. Symth, of the Hotel.

When a mere boy he and two other Roscommon lads in the spirit of adventure sought to join the British army, Bartley was selected for the Navy, and it was in the physical training he received there that he learned much of the stagecraft which stood to him in his pugilistic career. It was while on leave from the navy that he married Miss Somers, of Mote Park, Roscommon, by whom he had one son, who survives him. Mrs. Madden pre—deceased her husband by only three weeks. On quitting the navy he took up boxing seriously, and soon became prominent in the ring. He was a clean, game fighter.

He frequently revisited Roscommon, and not many years ago he gave an exhibition bout at a boxing tournament in the interests of charity. His old homestead in Ballymurry is at present occupied by Mr. Donnelly, N.T.