Background
Dunn was born in the coal-mining town of Millerton on the South Island"s West Coast. His father was a stone-tunneller who bored into the sides of hills looking for seams of coal.
Dunn was born in the coal-mining town of Millerton on the South Island"s West Coast. His father was a stone-tunneller who bored into the sides of hills looking for seams of coal.
He was trained by an Australian boxer and when Dunn was 18 he moved into training for himself. In 1929 he moved his gymnasium from Wellington to the Hutt Valley and eventually set up in Moera’s Railway Workshops, starting off training 100 boys. The gymnasium was open five nights a week and a local policeman used to bring trouble-making boys there in the hope it would give them an interest and to keep them off the streets.
Dick had a simple policy on accepting people.
In the ring there was none tougher or of more determined mind, but outside the ring Dick made it his life ambition to befriend all who had the time to chat. Dunn’s sporting interests extended to soccer, racing, rugby, rugby league and cricket.
He founded a cricket club at the age of 21 and played 52 consecutive seasons of Wellington senior cricket. He also coached men’s and women's cricket in the Hutt Valley for decades, rising to coach the New Zealand women's team
He retired to Bulls in 1974 and founded the Bulls Republic of South Africa Amateur Boxing Club.
Dunn died in Masterton, aged 93. The New Zealand Boxing Association
New Zealand Boxing Coaches Association
Riverside Petone Cricket Club
Stop Out Soccer Club
Wellington and Hutt Valley Boxing Trainers Association.
Dunn was a life member of:
The New Zealand Boxing Association
New Zealand Boxing Coaches Association
Riverside Petone Cricket Club
Stop Out Soccer Club
Wellington and Hutt Valley Boxing Trainers Association.