Brophy organises and then referees the tent boxing bouts between the boxers that travel with the troupe and willing local participants at such events at the Birdsville Races and the Mount Isa Rodeo.
Born in Perth and growing up in Queensland, Brophy is a fourth-generation showman. His father was a sideshow operator while his mother was a trapeze artist. Brophy claims to have been boxing since he was a young as four years old when his father and his uncle toured with their own boxing tents.
As a young man, Brophy served jail time, in both Pentridge and Fremantle Prisons. Brophy was inducted into the Queensland Boxing Hall of Fame in Brophy was awarded with a Medal of the Order of Australia in for his efforts in raising money for charities in Birdsville through his tent boxing work, and for services to the entertainment industry.
The stories were typed up by a former secretary who once worked for politician Bob Katter as Brophy believed she was the only one who could decipher his handwriting. Williams then assisted Brophy in compiling the material into a book. As part of her research for the book, Williams visited Brophy's boxing tent and took part in a fight. Brophy has said he has allowed women to fight in his tent following the women's liberation movement.
Brophy's boxing tent made news in when Senator Pauline Hanson was seen making an appearance as a ring girl before a fight at the Birdsville Races. While Brophy's tent boxing has continued to be a popular attraction at Birdsville and Mount Isa, Brophy does take his troupe to other events throughout Queensland.
