Bill Farnan BORN   September 23 1851; McIvor Diggins, Victoria, Australia DIED   March 13 1891; Kew Asylum, Victoria, Australia HEIGHT 5-9 WEIGHT 182 lbs
Farnan was a fighter of superior ability and the best in Australia in the early 1880s; He possessed the "killer instinct" along with his great strength and lethal punch with either hand; His paralyzing hooks to the body were his best punches He was the first Heavyweight Champion of Australia and many observers thought he would be a worthy opponent for the American Champion, John L. Sullivan

1872
       an unnamed opponent         in Australia                      W   

1873
       Jack Charles                in Australia                      W   
       Jack Charles                in Australia                      L   
       Jack Charles                in Australia                      L   

1873-1877
       Dubbo                       in Australia                      W   
       Jack Thompson               Melbourne, Vic, Aus               W   
       George Green                                                  W  1

1878
       Liverpool Bill              Melbourne, Vic, Aus               W  2
       Jim Smith                   Melbourne, Vic, Aus              KO  1
       -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
       Liverpool Bill              Melbourne, Vic, Aus               W   
       -This bout was held one week after the first
        bout with "Liverpool Bill"
       Mike Bullockey              in Australia                      W   
       -This bout was held two weeks after the second
        bout with "Liverpool Bill"
       Jim Hogan                   Melbourne, Vic, Aus               W   
       Billy King                  Melbourne, Vic, Aus               W   
Oct 26 Bill Blakeley               Melbourne, Vic, Aus               W   

1879
Jun 23 Jim Smith                   Melbourne, Vic, Aus              EX  3
Oct 18 Jack Fergie                 Melbourne, Vic, Aus              KO  1
Oct 18 Mike Bullockey              Melbourne, Vic, Aus               W 25
       -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
        as part of a Jem Mace Tournament

1880
Feb 28 Dick Atkinson               Melbourne, Vic, Aus              KO  1

1881
Feb    Charlie "Darkie" Richardson Melbourne, Vic, Aus              KO  6
          -Heavyweight Championship of Australia
Apr    Peter Newton                Melbourne, Vic, Aus              KO   

1882
       -Farnan went to Sydney to arrange a fight with Larry Foley
        but no arrangements were agreed upon

       -Farnan challenged Larry Foley to a fight; Foley refused

       -Farnan challenged William Miller to a fight;
        Miller never answered

       Larry Foley                 Melbourne, Vic, Aus             SCH   
          -Heavyweight Championship of Australia;
        This bout was scheduled but not held;
        Farnan and Foley disagreed over conditions

       -Farnan again challenged Larry Foley to a fight;
        Foley refused

1883
Jun 16 John M. Christie            Melbourne, Vic, Aus              EX  3
Dec 22 Jack Graham                 Melbourne, Vic, Aus              EX  3

1884
Mar  1 Charlie "Darkie" Richardson Melbourne, Vic, Aus              EX  3
Mar  5 Charlie "Darkie" Richardson Melbourne, Vic, Aus              EX  3
Mar  5 Jack Graham                 Melbourne, Vic, Aus              EX  3
       -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul 26 Peter Jackson               Melbourne, Vic, Aus              KO  3
          -Heavyweight Championship of Australia
Sep  4 Peter Jackson               Sydney, NSW, Aus                  D  6
          -Heavyweight Championship of Australia;
        Some sources report 9/23/84
Sep 13 W.T. Payne                  Melbourne, Vic, Aus              EX  3
Oct  2 Larry Foley                 Melbourne, Vic, Aus             SCH   
       -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Nov 24 Peter Newton                Melbourne, Vic, Aus              EX  3
Dec 10 Tom Lees                    Melbourne, Vic, Aus              ND  3
Dec 11 Peter Newton                Melbourne, Vic, Aus              ND  3

1885
Jan 15 Abe Hicken                  Melbourne, Vic, Aus              EX  3
Feb  7 Tom Lees                    Melbourne, Vic, Aus               D  3
       -Police intervened
       Tom Lees                    Melbourne, Vic, Aus             SCH   
       -This bout was scheduled but fell through
Apr 27 Luke Keegan                 Melbourne, Vic, Aus              ND  4
May 20 Tom Lees                    Melbourne, Vic, Aus              LK 12
          -Heavyweight Championship of Australia

       -Farnan challenged Lees to a "return" fight;
        Negotiations fell through

Jun  6 an unnamed opponent         Melbourne, Vic, Aus              EX  3
Jun 30 Larry Foley                 Sydney, NSW, Aus                SCH   
       -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

1886
Jan 25 Dubbo                       Melbourne, Vic, Aus              KO  2
Apr 19 Tom Lees                    Williamstown, Vic, Aus            D 19
          -Heavyweight Championship of Australia
        Some sources report "Melbourne, Vic, Aus"
Apr 20 Tom Lees                    Essendon, Vic, Aus               LK  4
          -Heavyweight Championship of Australia

1887
Oct 29 Frank "Paddy" Slavin        Melbourne, Vic, Aus              LK  2
       -This was a "private" fight

Record courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization