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Wiremu Kingi Te Rangitake

Te Ati Awa leader Wiremu Kingi Te Rangitake's refusal to give up his land at Waitara led to the outbreak of the Taranaki War. In later life joined the pacifist community at Parihaka

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Today in History

13 January

1890 'Torpedo' Billy Murphy wins the world featherweight boxing title

In defeating the Northern Irishman, Ike Weir at San Francisco, Murphy became the first New Zealander to win a world title in professional boxing.

Thomas William Murphy or 'Torpedo Billy', was born in Auckland in 1862 where he began boxing as a teenager before moving to Australia where he continued boxing. In 1889 he moved to the United States.

Weir dominated the early rounds of the title fight but 13th round proved unlucky for the Irishman when Murphy put him down five times before knocking him out in the 14th.

Murphy returned to New Zealand and was deemed to have forfeited his title, but it continued to be recognised in New Zealand and Australia. He lost the title to Australian Albert Griffiths in September 1890 in Sydney.

Murphy later returned to the United States and when he hung up his gloves in 1907 he had a final record was 112 bouts for 65 wins, 32 losses and 15 draws. He was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.