Brighton’s Golden Boy

Back in 1997 I was studying photography at the Mass. College of Art. My subject at the time was barber shops. One day I stopped in a barber shop on the Leo M Birmingham Pkwy right across the street from Channel 38. Tony Priest was the barber who owned it and he was just fine with me hanging around taking pictures. I probably went there three or four times to photograph and give those guys prints of the picture I had made of them. On the first day I was there I was looking at all the stuff he had hanging on the walls when I noticed something that stopped me dead in my tracks. A picture of my great uncle Bobby Murphy was hanging on the wall next to an article announcing his recent death. “A tribute to Brighton’s Golden Boy” was the headline. It quickly told me more about his history than I’d ever known.

I had actually met him once about 7 or 8 years earlier. Through some girls I met at who worked at the swan boats in Boston’s Public Garden, I found out that Bobby still worked there. I had heard from my father for years that his uncle, the famous boxer, worked at the Swan Boats but I always thought it was long ago. So with my youthful enthusiasm I went down there one day asking for him. He was at lunch so I went over to a bench nearby and waited. Soon a skinny older man in a scully cap walked over and asked me who I was. I perked up and announced myself, telling him that his brother Edward (the oldest of the ten Murphy children, whom I never actually met) was my grandfather. I’m not really sure today what his actual response was but it wasn’t the reaction my extreme optimism had prepped me for. After that we spoke briefly before he said goodbye and pretty much walked away. Definitely not the feeling I had come looking for. It was also compounded by the fact that some of those girls were there that day and observed how it went. That look of paralyzed sympathy is anything but comforting.

Anyway, when I ran into Bobby again at that barber shop I was sad to hear about his death and took this picture of him on Tony Priest’s wall of fame. When I first announced to those guys, “hey uh, that’s my great uncle on your wall” Tony walked away from a guy in his chair, mid haircut and studied my face next to Bobby’s. After a few seconds he and the other barber felt satisfied it was true and told me I looked like him. That made me feel good.

The next time I went by Tony told me that he knew Bobby’s ex-wife Barbara and that he wanted to introduce me to her. I think she was a little apprehensive and I can understand that. We never connected. I know that Bobby and Barbara had two children, Bobby Jr. and Susan. I wish them well and hope they’re doing fine.

Here is a transcription of the framed article above written by Jim Twomey.

A tribute to Brighton’s “Golden Boy”

The term “Golden Boy” is, for the most part, reserved for those in the field of sports. The requirements for this accolade are youth, excellence in their chosen field, and if the package is complete, they are endowed with good looks, which help increase their drawing power with the adoring public.

Bobby Murphy possessed all three, and in abundance. He was Brighton’s “Golden Boy.”

Bob Murphy passed away a few weeks ago from a motor vehicle accident, and sad to say, many of his friends and admirers (and they were legion) were unaware of his death.

Still, there were many who did receive the sorrowful news, and they filled St. Columbkille’s Church in Brighton to pay their last respects to Bob and the rest of the Murphy family.

Bob first displayed his athletic ability playing baseball and football at Brighton High as a member of the class of ’51. Before he graduated, he found time to win countless trophies and medals throughout New England as an outstanding amateur boxing champ.

One of Bob’s biggest wins as an amateur was also an emotional one when he drew as his opponent his friend and neighbor, Bill “Bucky” McHugh. They were finalists in the New England Tournament and the winner would decide who was the champ in their weight division.

These two warriors put their friendship on hold and went at it hell bent for leather to jaw in a Pier 6 brawl that had the crowd on it’s feet from bell to bell with nary a clinch in the contest. Both fighters had to climb off the deck for this one, and when the final gong sounded they embraced one another in the center of the ring.

Bob Murphy was awarded the decision, but anyone who was there that evening will tell you that Brighton was the winner, as they were witness to the best fight in the whole tournament. As a result, Bob Murphy was voted the honor as the best fighter of all the contestants.

It wasn’t too long before fight managers and promoters called on Bob to join their forces, but a force much stronger and more demanding beat them to the punch: Uncle Sam. Before you could say “You’re in the army now,” Bob was.

With his outstanding amateur credentials preceding him, Bob was soon climbing through the ropes representing the U.S. Army Boxing Team, performing for thousands of GI’s, both here and overseas in Korea. It was his Army stint that honed Bob into the polished ring craftsman that he was soon to become.

He boxed the best of the servicemen in all branches here and overseas, and when he completed his service tour, the offers came pouring in for Brighton’s “Golden Boy.”

His professional record was a very good one, and peaked with wins over top welterweight contenders such as Vic Cardell and Fitzie Pruden. His comeback against the nationally-known, and TV headliner Chico Vejar gave Bobby some of the well-earned accolades he so deserved. He had to come on strong against the New York favorite, dropping Vejar twice in the late rounds to garner the split.

Those outstanding outings were duly noted by Nat Fleischer, editor of the boxing bible “Ring Magazine.” Bobby gained more national prominence as “Ring” voted him “Rookie of the year.”

It was shortly after this honor that Bob began his battle with the energy-draining and feverish germ, mononucleosis. A hiatus from the ring schedule was ordered until Bob could return to the gym.

Many fans and friends thought he came back too soon, but Bob insisted he was fine and signed on to meet the talented but vastly underrated Walter Byars. Byars turned the tables on Bobby and defeated him in back to back fights. Bob took another time out, this time to reflect on his ring future. Should he go back the drawing board and try to reverse his loses to Byars, or should he listen to the fight promoters throughout New England who still wanted him to headline their fight cards?

There were strong rumors that Bobby was offered a TV fight on the west coast against the highly touted Art Aragon. So many things to weigh, but only one decision to make, so Bobby opted to try a couple of tune-ups for the answer.

He was not happy with either performance, and hung them up for good.

He had no second thoughts about the decision, and for the most part, his departure from the ring left no void in his life. He won every possible honor as an amateur from his championship days as a Park Dept. medalist, Golden Gloves winner, and, on two occasions he was voted the best fighter in New England.

He won countless awards as a member of the U.S. Army’s Boxing Team then, as a professional, whipped some of the best welterweights around. He was truly Brighton’s “Golden Boy,” and we shall never forget him. He was a class fellow inside and outside the ropes, and to the very end, the most humble man regarding his ring craftsmanship. Rest in peace Bob, you have given us all some golden years.

Jim Twomey

Brighton