| Based On: | play The Square Ring by Ralph Peterson |
| Director: | Raymond Menmuir |
| Country: | Australia |
| Language: | English |
| Runtime: | 90 mins |
| Company: | ABC |
| Network: | ABC |
| Released: | (Sydney, live)[1] |
| Released2: | (Melbourne)[2] |
The Square Ring is a 1960 Australian TV play based on a stage play by Australian Ralph Petersen which had been successful on the stage in England and been filmed in 1953.
It was recorded live in Sydney.[3]
The story of six fighters who wait for their turn in the ring one night at a boxing ring in England. Ex champ Docker Starkie is trying to make a comeback; Eddie Burke is a new boy on the way up; Harry Coombers is a certain future champion; Rick Martell is planning on throwing a fight; Sailor Johnson is a broken-down has-been; Rawlings likes to read books before a fight.
Mixing with them all is the dressing room attendant Danny Felton who has seen fighters come and go and understand them. There is also associated characters like a stadium manager.
Sydney boxing trainer Ern McQuillan was the technical advisor for the story. Joe Jenkins, who appeared often on television as a dancer, makes his acting debut as Rowdie Rawlings.[5] He would later go on to appear in several Australian TV dramas such as The Emperor Jones, Two-Headed Eagle and The End Begins.[6] [7]