South Yorkshire Times, August 25th, 1951
Death Of “Iron” Hague, 65,
Former British Champion
“Iron” Hague the Mexborough boxer who became heavyweight champion of England died on Saturday, at the age of 65 at the home of his sister, Mrs. A. Ruecroft, Byron Road, Mexborough. In a pugilistic career that extended over the 17 years from 1898 to 1915, he had 50 to 60 important bouts. His first contest at the age of 13 was in a fairground boxing booth at Mexborough.
He defeated some of Britain’s best heavyweights at the time and in 1909 took the championship from Gunner Moir by knocking him out in 2 mins. 47 secs (then a record for the heavyweight championship bout) at the National Sporting Club, London.
“Iron’s” later contest with Sam Longford, which he won by a knockout in the fourth round, has, however proved more memorable in the minds of the sporting public. “Iron” held the championship for nearly three years, losing it to Bombardier “Billy” Wells in 1911. Joining the Grenadier Guards in 1914, “Iron” had one or two fights in France, one against Joe Mills (Joe Tampling) at the Artillery Depot, Harfleur, at the end of 1915, ended with Mills dying in hospital from concussion. “Iron” vowed afterwards never again to lace on a glove and so ended his career.
The name conferred on the future champion was James William Hague. He was born at 8, Charles Street, Mexborough, in 1885 of athletic stock. “Iron” he became to his schoolfriends because he was impervious to pain inflicted by the schoolmaster’s strap or cane, or the fists of his schoolfellows.
He ran away with the boxing booth with which he had had his first fight. For two years he had 30 or 40 fights a day – for 12s. a week. Hague had developed a devastating right hand which he called “Dirty Dick” and used with a snappy, half-arm effort. Returning home, he made an impression locally, and in May, 1904, at Doncaster won his first public contest over Dan Lewis of Sheffield. He won the Yorkshire heavyweight championship in August 1905, by a knockout from Albert Rodgers of Sheffield. “Iron” was then 19 yrs. 9 months, 5ft 11 ½ inches tall and went to scale at 13 ½ stones, his best fighting weight throughout his career
Beat “Coffee Cooler”
He had his introduction to the National Sporting Club when he won a competition for heavyweight novice, defeating in the eliminating rounds Frank Craig, known as the “Coffee Cooler”, an American negro. Charlie Wilson the “The Woolwich Infant”, Ben Taylor and Corporal Sunshine He again defeated this trio in a further three contests before winning the championship from Moir.
Immediately he was signed to meet Sam Longford who refused to stay down from a blow by “Dirty Dick” in the second round and won by a knockout in round four. “Iron” suffered at the hands of Petty Officer Curran, a Navy champion, on February 11th, 1910 at Plymouth and later “Jewey” Smith at Sheffield, Cpl. Sunshine at Liverpool, but beat the latter in a return match at Mexborough. He beat Pte. W Smith of the 1st Royal West Kents, Cpl. Brown of the Grenadier Guards, followed by victories over Bill Chase of London in January 1911. After his defeat by Wells, “Iron” won a contest against the Scot, Jim Robb at Mexborough, and lost to the Cumbrian, Tom Cowler, also at Mexborough.
He ceased boxing (1912) but returned to the ring when he joined the Army losing to “Gunboat” Smith and Tom Gummer in this country in 1915. Henry Curzon also defeated him on Chelsea Football Ground before the tragic fight against Mills.
There were few mourners, other than relatives, at the funeral at Mexborough yesterday. A number of “Iron’s” contemporaries. Among them was “Matt” Wadsworth, himself a boxer of some note many years ago. The only other representative of the boxing world was Mr. S. Breeze, a local promoter.