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HARPO’s MARKS
The Hawkesbury has had
a long tradition of producing
top quality boxers and one
of the best of them was
Jim Woods.
Jim campaigned as
a light-heavyweight in
the late 40s and early
50s and was good
enough to challenge the
great Dave Sands for his
Australian Championship
belt.
As good a boxer as he
was, Jim Woods was an
even better man.
Sadly the old pugilist
has gone to that great
boxing ring in the sky
where no doubt he is
swapping yarns with a
perhaps an even better
Hawkesbury-bred exponent
of the Sweet Science, Colin
Clarke.
Riverstone’s Brian Doolan
knew both men well and ‘twas
he who told me a bit old Jim
who passed away in March,
aged 89.
Brian worked with Jim for
more than 40 years at the
sadly-departed Riverstone
Meat Works where the big
man operated the giant saw which
split carcasses down the centre in the
Beef House.
A noted fight trainer, Brian
operated out of the old Riverstone
Boxing Gym where one of his charges
was a teenage Colin Clarke whom he
proudly claims to have taught how
to throw a punch.
And man-oh-man, could )