Skip to main content

Story: Boxing and wrestling

Boxing match, New Plymouth, 1930

The 1920s and early 1930s were boxing's heyday as a spectator sport in New Zealand. This 1930 bout between New Zealander Tommy Donovan and US boxer Pete Sarron drew the largest-ever crowd for a boxing match in New Zealand – almost 18,000.

Using this item

Puke Ariki - Taranaki Museum & Library

Reference: PHO2009-334

by Thomas Charters

This item must not be copied or reproduced in any print or electronic media without the prior permission of Puke Ariki Museum and Library. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Joseph Romanos, Boxing and wrestling – Professional boxing, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/37955/boxing-match-new-plymouth-1930 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Joseph Romanos, published 27 April 2012, updated 1 January 2015.