The Boers in Sport and Pastime  

One of the largest structures in the camp, known as the “Recreation Hut”, was used for boxing practice at all hours of the day. Among the prisoners was an Irishman, Jim Holloway, who was the champion boxer of Pretoria previous to his capture, and had also won for himself a name in the boxing circles of the world. He found lucrative employment in giving lessons in the manly art to the Boer Officers and men at 10 shillings a lesson.

An endeavour was made to send an Africander Boxing Team, consisting of Holloway and two youngsters who had been trained by him in the Camp at Diyatalawa, to tour England and the States. One of them, Spencer Dryer, who was to come of age on his next birthday, as a middle-weight; and the other Jan Vanstaden, 28 years old, was a heavyweight. Both were considered by their trainer and comrades to be well able to make an impression. Although the presence of the ex-South African, who was prepared to throw out a challenge of £1000 sterling to any boxer of 9 stone 13 lbs. for the light-weight championship of the world, was sufficient to assure the success of the proposed venture from a financial point of view, they could not gain their release in time, and the project fell through.

Source: Boere Krygsgevangenes in Ceylon