Lee's daughter knocks 'em out . . at 94

Published on Tuesday 16 September 2008 10:15

AGNES LEE MURPHY stole the show at the bi-annual Scottish Hall of Boxing Fame induction ceremonies in Glasgow – at the age of 94.

Mrs Lee Murphy is the sole surviving child of legendary Leith flyweight and featherweight James "Tancy'' Lee and she travelled from North Carolina to ensure she could pick up her late father's induction award.

"I have lived for the last 40 years in Hendersonville, North Carolina," she explained, "but when a relative of mine who lives in Joppa alerted me to the article in the Evening News appealling for members of my late father's family to attend the Boxing Hall of Fame Induction ceremony honouring my Dad I was determined to come across the Atlantic and be there.''

"Tancy" Lee was honoured by Mrs Lee Murphy being presented with a gold signet ring by another Edinburgh ring legend – former World, European and British lightweight champion Ken Buchanan in recognition of her father's achievements – and there were plenty of those.

He was the first Scottish boxer to win a Lonsdale Belt at flyweight, the first to win two Lonsdale Belts – one outright at featherweight – and also for his achievements as an Olympic boxing coach. Lee guided Leith Victoria welterweight Alex Ireland to a silver medal and his own nephew, George McKenzie, to bantamweight bronze at the 1920 Games in Antwerp.

Fourteen other members of "Tancy" Lee's family were on hand for the induction.

Other boxers to be inducted were Edinburgh-raised Vernon Sollas, holder of the British featherweight title in the 1970s, 1970 Commonwealth Games light-middleweight gold medallist Tom Imrie, and Hugh Roddin from Musselburgh, winner of the 1908 Olympic featherweight bronze.