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Active Tasmania

Ron Gower

Member 1992 - Born 6 March 1929 - February 2018

Seventeen year old Ron Gower burst onto the boxing - scene by winning the 1946 Tasmanian Flyweight Championship. The following year, coached by the legendary Leo Winch, Ron won the Australian Flyweight Title.

His outstanding boxing brought him to the attention of the Australian selectors and he was named No 1 boxer ahead of the great Jimmy Carruthers in the team for the 1948 London Olympics.

Gower again wore the green and gold singlet at the Auckland Empire Games in 1950 where he performed most courageously, going down to a rugged Scotsman in a fiercely contested bout.

Ron was Australia's No 1 boxer for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, being selected in front of Tony Madigan who is regarded by many as Australia's greatest amateur boxer. It took the Polish and European champion Henryk Nieswiedzki to stop Gower - the only time it occurred in his boxing career.

A determined yet modest champion, Gower finally retired in 1955, leaving behind a reputation as one of the all time greats of Tasmanian boxing. Since retiring he has been a very generous supporter of the Olympic movement and many young Tasmanian sportspersons have been grateful for his significant financial support in their quest to represent this country.