A strapping young man born in New York City into a poor Irish family, following a successful amateur career Jim Braddock turned pro at the age of 21, fighting in the light heavyweight division. Three years later in 1929, his performance earned him a chance to fight for the championship but he narrowly lost to Tommy Loughran in a 15-round decision. This was followed by another loss to Maxie Rosenbloom and for the next six years he struggled to earn a living as the Great Depression took hold and income opportunities in the boxing business were limited for most mid-ranked fighters.

However, he was given a fight with the highly touted John "Corn" Griffin. Although Braddock was intended as a stepping stone in Griffin's rise, Braddock scored an upset victory. After defeating another highly regarded heavyweight contender, John Henry Lewis, he was given a title fight against the World Heavyweight Champion, Max Baer. Considered no more than a journeyman fighter, Braddock was chosen by the champion's handlers because he was seen as a guaranteed easy payday for the champion. In one of the biggest upsets in championship boxing, on June 13, 1935, in Long Island City, New York, Braddock won the heavyweight championship of the world as the 10 to 1 underdog. The fight showed a dogged Braddock taking heavy hits from the powerful champion but who kept coming until he wore Baer down. At the end, the judges gave Braddock the title with a unanimous decision.

Jim Braddock suffered from problems with his hands after several injuries and in 1936 his title defense in Madison Square Garden against the German, Max Schmeling had to be cancelled. When ready to fight, the 32-year-old Braddock chose to defend his title against the then 23-year-old star, Joe Louis. Realizing that Louis would be a heavy favorite and being an astute businessman, Braddock negotiated an agreement whereby he would receive 10% of Louis' future earnings. Braddock knocked Louis down in the first round of their June 22, 1937 bout, but Louis recovered and dominated the bout, earning an 8th round stoppage.

Braddock fought one more fight in 1938, winning a decision over a top ranked opponent, but time had caught up with him and, wisely, he retired. In 1954, he was given the James J. Walker Award in recognition of his long and meritorious service to the boxing industry.

On his passing in 1974 in New Jersey, Jim Braddock was interred in the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Englewood, New Jersey. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001. A park in the city of North Bergen, New Jersey is named in his honor.

Anthony Byrne, more commonly common known as Tony Byrne or Socks Byrne(born in 6 July, 1930 in Drogheda, Ireland) is a former amateur boxer. Byrne won a bronze medal for Ireland at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia in the lightweight division.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Byrne

Simon Byrne (1806 – 2 June 1833), nicknamed "The Emerald Gem", was an Irish bare-knuckle prize fighter. The heavyweight boxing champion of Ireland, he was drawn to England by the larger sums of prize money and his hopes to become the heavyweight champion there as well. He became one of only six fighters worldwide to have been involved in fatal fights as both survivor and deceased since records began in 1741.[1] His death was a factor contributing to the improvement of safety standards in English boxing.

Byrne fought in an era when English boxing, though illegal, was patronised by many powerful individuals. Its patronage and popularity did not, however, free it from corruption, heavy betting, and staged fights. Byrne fought just eight recorded matches. His career and notability can be evaluated by just three of those contests: his fights against Alexander McKay, Jem Ward, and James Burke. In the fight with McKay, McKay was killed; in the following fight against Ward, Byrne lost and was said to have been unfit to fight; and in his final bout against James Burke, Byrne himself was killed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Byrne

John H. Clark
Nickname(s) Professor
Lightweight
Nationality Irish American
Birth date May 18, 1849
Birth place Galway, Ireland
Death date July 26, 1922 (aged 73)

He was born in County Galway, but spent most of his childhood in England before moving to the United States. Clark was a clog and jig dancer before pursuing a career in prize-fighting. He was the Lightweight Champion of America for two streaks before losing to Arthur Chambers in 1879 following a 136 round bout. He owned a billiard hall and boxing school in Philadelphia. [1]

His record

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Clark_(boxer)

Michael Carruth
Olympic Gold Medailist - Boxing

Michael Carruth’s unbelievable achievement of winning a Gold Medal for Ireland in boxing, may never again be experienced in our lifetime. The Dubliner will be forever remembered as the man who won Ireland’s first Gold in boxing. The Barcelona Olympics bought the whole of Ireland to a standstill as Carruth, one of triplets, reached the pinnacle of success in the Welterweight final.

The Irish man beat the great Cuban Juan Hernandez who was the reigning Junior World Champion, a Latin American Champion and a Pan American Champion. Therefore it is one of our greatest honours in Terrace Talk Ireland that Michael Carruth so willingly came on the show to share with us one magical moment of one of Irish sport’s greatest successes.

Mike Cleary
Middleweight
Nationality Irish American
Birth date May 19, 1858
Birth place County Laois, Ireland
Death date September 5, 1893

Mike Cleary (born May 19, 1858 in County Laois, Ireland – September 5, 1893 in Belfast, New York) was an Irish-American boxer.

Cleary was born in County Laois, and emigrated to the United States. He was known as a quick and "scrappy" fighter. On October 18, 1882 he defeated the Middleweight Champion of America, John Rooke, in 3 rounds. Rooke had promised to knock Cleary out before the fourth round. [1]

Cleary suffered an accident which resulted in the amputation of a foot in 1893. He developed tuberculosis and died the same year. He was buried in Belfast, New York, but his body was moved next to his mother's plot at New Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Cleary His record

Joe Coburn


Coburn was an intelligent, crafty battler who was quick and agile; His footwork was good and he hit with two fast hands.

BORN: Jul 29 1835; Middletown County, Armagh, Ireland
DIED : Dec. 6 1890; New York, NY
HEIGHT : 5-9 1/4 WEIGHT : 154-190 lbs

For Coburn's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/coburn.htm

Jim Coffey
(the "Roscommon Giant")

Steve Collins

William David Conn (October 8, 1917 in Pittsburgh-May 29, 1993), better known in the boxing world as Billy Conn, was a boxer who was world's Light-Heavyweight champion.

Conn debuted as a professional boxer on June 28, 1934, losing to Dick Woodard by a decision in four rounds. His first win came almost a month later, on July 20, against Johnny Lewis, by a knockout in three rounds.
Conn is now a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.
He had a professional boxing record of 63 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw, with 14 wins by knockout. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Conn"

• For Conn's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/conn.htm
• Articles on Billy Conn
• BIlly Conn Website

Gerry Cooney

Cooney's Bio - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Cooney
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/cooney.html

Gentleman Jim
James John Corbett, born September 1, 1866 in San Francisco, California, United States – died February 18, 1933 in Bayside, New York, was a heavyweight boxing champion. He coached boxing at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Dubbed by the media as "Gentleman Jim Corbett," he was college educated and in addition to boxing, pursued a career in acting, performing at a variety of theaters. He has been called the "Father of Modern Boxing" because of his scientific approach and innovations in technique that changed prizefighting from a brawl to an art form.

On September 7, 1892 at the Olympic Club in New Orleans, Louisiana, Corbett won the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship by knocking out John L. Sullivan in the 21st round. His victory made him the first heavyweight boxer to win a championship under the Marquess of Queensberry rules which, amongst other things, established that a fight consist of three-minute rounds and required the fighters to wear leather boxing gloves.

Jim Corbett lost his championship to Bob Fitzsimmons on March 17, 1897 in Carson City, Nevada.

Following his retirement from boxing, Corbett returned to acting, appearing on stage and in film. He authored his autobiography under the title The Roar of the Crowd that was serialized by The Saturday Evening Post in six weekly installments during October/November of 1924. The following year, G.P. Putnam's Sons, published it in book form, marketing it as the "True Tale of the Rise and Fall of a Champion." In 1942, the story was made into a Hollywood motion picture titled, Gentleman Jim, starring Errol Flynn as Corbett.

On his passing in 1933, Corbett was interred in the Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. On its creation, he was elected posthumously to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

For Corbett's fight record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/corbett.htm

Peter Corcoran was born in 1740 at Athy Co. Kildare, Ireland. He was the son a Farm Labourer, and from an early age he too worked on local farms. In the early 1760’s he fled Athy to escape the law. It is alleged that Corcoran killed a local man in a drunken brawl about a woman. Corcoran left Athy, and he never returned.

For more on his life - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/corcoran.htm

William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey (June 24, 1895-May 31, 1983), was an Irish-American boxer who won the world heavyweight title. During the 1920s he was involved in many famous fights.

Born in Manassa, Colorado, by age 16 Dempsey had begun hopping on trains and travelling west to fight as a professional. He would go into saloons and challenge for fights saying "I can't sing and I can't dance, but I can lick any man in the house". His exact fight record is not known because sometimes he boxed under the pseudonym, Kid Blackie. This practice continued until 1916. In between, he first appeared as Jack Dempsey in 1914, drawing with Young Herman in six rounds. After that fight, he won six bouts in a row by knockout (as Jack Dempsey), before losing for the first time, on a disqualification in four to Jack Downes. During this early part of his career, Dempsey campaigned in Utah frequently. He followed his loss against Downey with a knockout win and two draws versus Johnny Summerland in Nevada. Three more wins and a draw followed and then he met Downes again, this time resulting in a four round draw.

In '26, Dempsey fought former US Marine Gene Tunney in Philadelphia, losing his title on points in ten rounds in front of a record crowd announced at 120,557.

Legend says that one time, an elder Dempsey was mugged by a couple of teen thieves, whom he knocked out and held until the police arrived. He made friends with Wills and Tunney after retirement, and had many books written about his life. Dempsey even campaigned for Tunney's son John when he ran for the US Senate. One of Dempsey's best friends was Judge John Sirica who presided over the Watergate trials.

He had a record of 62 wins, 6 losses, 8 draws, 5 no decisions and 1 no contest, with 50 knockouts.

He is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.

In 2003, Dempsey was named the seventh best puncher of all time in boxing history by Ring Magazine.

Jack Dempsey is buried in the Southampton Cemetery, Southampton, New York.

For more info on Jack Dempsey - http://www.cmgww.com/sports/dempsey/index.php

"Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey

BORN: John Edward Kelly, Dec 15 1862; Curran, County Kildare, Ireland

Paddy Duffy (Welterweight Champion)

BORN: November 12 1864: Boston, MA
DIED: July 19 1890; Boston, MA

HEIGHT : 5-7
WEIGHT : 135-142 lbs

Considered the first welterweight champion, Paddy Duffy, like John L. Sullivan, was an Irish-American from Boston. His first fight, at age nineteen, was a knock-out victory over Skin Doherty in 1884.

Duffy won his first four bouts before fighting three draws with Paddy Sullivan. After one loss in a bout with Jack C. McGee, Duffy never lost again. He fought in Baltimore, Washington, and Philadelphia in 1886 and 1887 before returning to Boston, where he entered a four-fight series with Jack McGinty. Their first two fights ended in draws. Duffy won a six-round decision in the third fight and solidified his reputation by knocking out McGinty in the ninth round of the fourth fight.

At this point, Duffy sported a record of 21-1-11, which earned him the right to face William McMillan, the English welterweight champ. Fighting at Fort Foote in Vancouver, Canada, Duffy knocked McMillan out in seventeen rounds to claim the world title.

In Duffy’s next fight, he faced Tom Meadows, the Australian champion, in San Francisco. At the time, the welterweight division had an upper weight limit of 142 pounds. Duffy tipped the scales for this bout at 140 while Meadows came in at 143. The two battled for 45 rounds before Duffy won on a foul. Duffy never fought again and died in 1890 at the age of 25.

Source: http://www.ibhof.com/duffy.htm Excerpted with permission from 'The Boxing Register' by James B. Roberts and Alexander G. Skutt, copyright © 1999 by McBooks Press. All rights reserved. The 3rd edition of 'The Boxing Register' will be published in June 2002.

For Duffy's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/duffy-p.htm

Elliott was a strong, tough, and aggressive boxer who was unfair and tricky. He had great ability, but never trained seriously. Because of his unrestrained anger, he was twice arrested and sentenced to jail for armed robbery and assault and battery with intent to kill.

On March 1, 1883, he was shot by gambler Jere Dunn in a Chicago saloon and died shortly afterwards. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery.

Finucane was a scrappy fighter who was clever and carried a stiff punch; He fought many top contenders at the turn of the century.

BORN : Aug 10 1882; Limerick, Ireland
DIED : May 26 1951; Chicago, Illinois
HEIGHT: 5-6
WEIGHT: 120-130 lbs

George Gardner

Michael John "Jack" Gibbons
1912-1998
Saint Paul Light Heavyweight

Born: Mike J. Gibbons, July 20, 1897 St. Paul, MN
Died: August 31, 1956 St. Paul, MN

Height: 5-9
Weight: 148-154 lbs
Manager: Edwin Reddy
Professional Record: 62-3-4 (38 kayoes) 58 ND
Inductee International Boxing Hall of Fame: 1992
Ring Boxing Hall of Fame: 1958

Gibbons was an outstanding Middleweight of the teens. Despite never winning the title, he is regarded by some historians as one of the greatest Middleweights of all time. Indisputably, Gibbons was a great defensive fighter, mainly because of his tremendous footwork. Gibbons used this style to perplex much bigger fighters such as Jack Dillon. Harry Greb was quoted as telling his manager upon facing Gibbons "From now on, match we with one guy at a time." Gibbons retired because of failing vision. He entered business at St. Paul and became a member of the Minnesota Atheletic Commission. His brother was Tommy Gibbons

For more on Gibbons - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/gibbons-m.html

Born: March 22, 1891 St. Paul, MN
Died: November 19, 1960 St. Paul, MN
Manager: Eddie Kane
Professional Record: 57-4-1 ( 47 kayoes) 43 ND, 1 NC
Inductee International Boxing Hall of Fame: 1993
Ring Boxing Hall of Fame: 1963

Tommy Gibbons was an outstanding fighter who contended in the late teens and early 20's from Middleweight to Heavyweight. Gibbons, like his older brother Mike Gibbons, was a very clever fighter that knew every trick in the book and was very difficult to hit. Gibbons' most famous moment came in defeat, when in 1923 he challenged Jack Dempsey for the Heavyweight crown. Gibbons who was desperate for a title shot agreed to take the fight while only being paid expense, while Dempsey was paid $200,000. During the fight Gibbons made Dempsey look bad, but ultimately lost the 15 round decision. Gibbons fought on till 1925 when he was stopped by Gene Tunney. In retirement, Gibbons was elected to the post of Sheriff four times, and remained a pillar of his community till his death.

Tommy and Mike Gibbons Preservation Society

Mike Glover
BORN : Michael J. Cavanagh, Dec. 18 1890; Lawrence, MA
DIED : Jul. 11 1917; Middleboro, MA
HEIGHT : 5-9
WEIGHT : 135-150 lbs

MANAGERS : Dave Daugherty (1908-1910), Al Lippe (1910-1916)


Glover's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/glover.htm

Johnny Kilbane
(John Patrick Kilbane)

Kilbane was a clever, scientific boxer who did not hit with power but had plenty of ring "savvy." He held the Featherweight Championship for 11 years. After he retired from boxing, Kilbane refereed boxing contests, operated a gym, served in the Ohio State Legislature, and worked as the Clerk of the Cleveland Municipal Court.

Nat Fleischer ranked Kilbane as the #5 All-Time Featherweight; Charley Rose ranked him as the #7 All-Time Featherweight.

BORN: April 18 1889; Cleveland, Ohio
DIED: May 31 1957; Cleveland, Ohio

Johnny Kilbane Website
For more on Kilbane - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/kilbane.htm

Jake Kilrain
(John Joseph Killion)

Kilrain was a bouncy, durable fighter with a solid punch and great stamina

He was recognized by Richard K. Fox (of the Police Gazette) as the Heavyweight Champion of the World in 1887.

BORN: February 9, 1859; Greenpoint, New York
DIED: December 22, 1937; Quincy, Massachusetts

For Kilrain’s record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/kilrain.htm

Tommy Loughran
(Thomas Patrick Loughran)

1927-29 Undefeated Light-Heavyweight Boxing Champion

Loughran was a master boxer with a perfect stance; He was quick on his feet and possessed excellent ring savvy.

Both Nat Fleischer and Charley Rose ranked Loughran as the #4 All-Time Light Heavyweight.

BORN : November 29 1902; Philadelphia, PA
DIED : July 7 1982; Altoona, PA
HEIGHT : 5-11
WEIGHT : 140-192 lbs
MANAGER : Joe Smith

From the BoxingTimes.com Website:
Tommy Loughran World light heavyweight champion 1927 to 1929. "The Phantom Of Philly" a scientific boxer with an educated left hand, he expertly jabbed and stabbed his way over the best of his day. "They have to hit me to hurt me," said Tommy. "And they can't hit me." Few did.
For more info on Tommy Loughran visit http://www.tunney.org/loughran/
For Loughran's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/loughran.htm

Joe Lynch
Born Joseph Aloysius Lynch on November 30, 1898 in New York, NY. During an era replete with talented bantamweights, Lynch was one of the standouts. He turned pro in 1915 following a brief six-month amateur career. Tall for a 118-pounder, the 5'7 ½", Lynch appeared frail but was anything but. He possessed a hard right hand that was often set up by an effective left jab. An extremely active fighter, he fought as often as two or three times a week. Bouts with Memphis Pal Moore, Frankie Burns, Monte Attell, Johnny Ertle, Charles LeDoux, Abe Goldstein, Jack Sharkey, Kid Williams and Pete Herman propelled him to the top of the talented division. While in the Navy, Lynch boxed two bouts with flyweight Jimmy Wilde (Exh. L3, L15) in 1918 and 1919 respectively. Upon returning home in 1919, he was soon poised to box for the bantam title. On December 22, 1920 he defeated Pete Herman for the world championship, only to lose it back in 1921. Following a win over Midget Smith, he regained his lost laurels with a 14th-round TKO over Herman's conqueror, Johnny Buff. After a successful title defense over Smith he dropped the title to Abe Goldstein in 1924 in his next defense. Lynch continued to box, including two draws with rival Moore, before retiring from the ring in 1926 having competed in nearly 160 bouts (71-17-12, 57 ND (38KOs). In retirement he lived on a small farm in New City, NY, where he served as postmaster for many years. Lynch was also appointed a judge by the NYSAC. On August 1, 1965, Lynch died from accidental drowning in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY.

Lynch's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/lynch-j.htm

Jack McAuliffe
"Napoleon of the Ring" (Lightweight Champion)

McAuliffe, who fought out of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, was one of the best lightweights ever; He was a wonderful two-handed fighter who depended upon straight blows, a left-right being his best combination; He was also very quick on his feet; Nat Fleischer ranked him as the #5 All-Time Lightweight in his early ratings.

BORN: March 24 1866; Cork, Ireland
DIED : November 5 1937; Forest Hills, New York
HEIGHT : 5-6
WEIGHT : 128-141 lbs
MANAGER : Billy Madden (Some sources name Arthur Lumley as manager and backer)

For McAuliffe’s record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/mcaul.htm

Dominick McCaffrey (Heavyweight Champion)

McCaffrey was a popular and sociable man; He was a first class boxer who moved quickly and boxed well; He often fought heavyweights much larger than himself.

BORN : September 24 1863; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(Some sources report September 9 1863)
DIED : December 30 1926; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
HEIGHT : 5-8 1/2 (Some sources report 5-9)
WEIGHT : 160-168 lbs
MANAGERS : Billy O'Brien, George Brotherton

August 29, 1885 - Boxing's 1st heavyweight title fight with 3-oz gloves and 3-minute rounds fought between John L Sullivan and Dominick McCaffrey

For more on McCaffrey - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/mccaffry.htm

Charles "Cal" McCarthy

McCarthy was quick and "cat-like" in his movements and possessed a great left-hand jab. He used a cautious, deliberate syle of fighting but quickly took advantage of openings; In his day, he was called a "Wonder" and the most accomplished little man since Dick Hollywood. He fought two great fights with George Dixon -- a 70-round draw followed by a hard fought 22-round loss. McCarthy has been vastly underrated over the years.
BORN : 1869; McClintockville, Pennsylvania
DIED : November 27 1895; Hoboken, New Jersey

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/calmcc.htm

Mike McCoole
(the "Deck Hand Champion")

McCoole was big and strong but slow and clumsy.

BORN : March 12 1837; in Ireland
DIED : October 17 1886; New Orleans, Louisiana

HEIGHT : 6-2 WEIGHT : 200 lbs
BACKER : Harry Hill

For McCoole's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/mccoole.htm

Wayne McCullough
"Pocket Rocket"
Wayne McCullough was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in July 1970. He grew up on the Shankill Road in a family with six brothers and sisters.

His two older brothers boxed (even though neither brother made a name for himself in boxing) and Wayne followed them to the Albert Foundry Boxing gym at the age of 8. At first, boxing was not his favourite sport, preferring to play football but, after a while, he realised he enjoyed the one-on-one aspect of boxing and decided to take it to the next level.

Wayne became one of the top fighters in the history of boxing in Ireland, North & South. He fought over 50 International tournaments for Ireland fighting a total of 319 contests, losing only 11.

http://www.pocketrocketbox.com/

Packey McFarland
"Pride of the Stockyards"
"Chicago Flash"
McFarland's record -   http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/mcfarland.html
http://www.ibhof.com/mcfarland.htm
PACKEY McFARLAND ... "The Champ That Never Was" By Tracy Callis

Barry McGuigan

Bantamweight/Featherweight
Major Titles: All Ireland Amateur Champion (1976)
Commonwealth Champion (1978)
British Featherweight Champion (1983)
European Champion (1983)
WBA Featherweight Champion (1985)
Fight Record: Won 32 (28 inside), Lost 3, Drawn 0
 
Born: Finbar Patrick McGuigan in Monaghan, Ulster, Ireland 28th February, 1961
Hometown: Clones, Co. Monaghan, Republic of Ireland

Barry McGuigan ("The Clones Cyclone") is probably the most famous person to come out of Clones. He was crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) Champion in June 1985, achieving unparalleled popularity in Ireland and throughout the world. He was was born in Clones in 1961, one of a family of 8 (5 girls and 3 boys). His father, Pat McGuigan (also known as Pat McGeehan, his stage name) was a noted singer, and represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1968, finishing a creditable third. Barry McGuigan factfile.

For more on McGuigan - http://www.clones.ie/htmfiles/vtour/famous/mcguig1.htm
McGuigan's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/mcguig.htm

Tom McCormick (Welterweight Champion)

BORN : August 8 1890; Dundalk, Louth, Ireland
DIED : June 1916; in France

For McCormick’s record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/cormick.htm

"Terrible" Terry McGovern (Bantam- & Featherweight Champion)

BORN: March 9 1880; Johnstown, PA
DIED: February 26 1918; Brooklyn, New York
HEIGHT : 5-4 WEIGHT : 112-127 lbs
MANAGER : Jimmy Dunn, Sam Harris, and Joe Humphreys

McGovern was a dynamic, aggressive fighter and a very hard hitter; Nat Fleischer ranked him as the #1 All-Time Featherweight; Charley Rose ranked him as the #1 All-Time Bantamweight

For McGovern’s record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/mgovern.htm

 

Victor McLaglen
(Victor Andrew McLaglen)
BORN   : December 11 1883; Tunbridge Wells,  Kent, England (Some sources report December 10 or December 11 1886)
DIED   : November 7 1959; Newport Beach, California
HEIGHT : 6-3
WEIGHT : 195 lbs

McLaglen was a strong puncher who made more money after his fighting career when he became a movie actor than he did as a fighter; He lived in Cape Town, South Africa as a youngster and for years claimed it as his hometown; His father was the Bishop of Claremont; Two of his six brothers boxed without much success; His other brothers performed as an acrobatic troupe called The Romano Brothers

At various times in his life, he lived as a prospector in Canada, a policeman, a professional wrestler, a circus strongman, and a movie actor

For McLaglen's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/mclaglen.htm

Jimmy "Baby Face" McLarnin 
(2 time Welterweight Champion)

Born: December 19, 1907, Hillsborough, Ireland
Died: October 28th, 2004 California
Pro Record: 55-11-3 (20 Kayos)
Manager: Pop Foster

McLarnin was born in Belfast, in Northern Ireland, but grew up in Vancouver, Canada, where he later came under the influence of Pop Foster a former British army soldier and boxing instructor.

Welter-weight champion of the world twice between 1933 and 1935, Irish American, McLarnin rightly had little truck with those sports theorists who believed that social deprivation was a necessity for success in the boxing ring. A belief McLarnin underlined in a 1970 interview when he admitted that prior to turning to professional boxing he had already amassed $100,000 in the bank by the time he was 19 in 1926 (around £1 million in today’s value).

For his record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/mclarnin.htm

 "Hurricane" Peter McNeeley
http://www.hurricanepetermcneeley.com/

"Bold" Mike McTigue
(Michael Francis McTigue)

McTigue was a clever fighter and a good hitter whose skills "came together" late in his care.

Charley Rose ranked McTigue as the #10 All-Time Light Heavyweight
BORN : November 26 1892; Country Clare, Ireland
DIED : August 12 1966; Jamaica, Queens, New York
HEIGHT : 5-9;
WEIGHT : 155-175 lbs
MANAGERS : Joe Jacobs, Jimmy Johnston
McTigue's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/mctigue.htm

Rinty Monaghan (Flyweight Champion)

Born: August 21, 1920 Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died: March 3, 1984 Belfast, Northern Ireland
Real Name: John Joseph Monaghan
Professional Record: 43-8-3 (19 kayos)
Manager: Frank McAloran

A professional fighter from the age of 14, John Joseph ‘Rinty’ Monaghan made his name in a series of thrilling world title fights which captivated the citizens of Belfast in the years immediately after the second world war.

Born in the docks area of Belfast on August 21, 1920, Monaghan began boxing as a child and fought in 22 professional fights before his eighteenth birthday. The second world war interrupted Monaghan’s promising career and he served in the British army for a time.

After the war Monaghan made the King’s Hall in the Balmoral area of Belfast his kingdom as the people of the city flocked to see him fight. He captured the NBA world flyweight title in October 1947, and became the undisputed world champion by beating the great Scottish fighter Jackie Patterson in March 1948. Monaghan also delighted his fans by taking the microphone after fights to sing ‘When Irish Eyes are Smiling’ to the crowd, earning him the nickname of ‘The Singing Irishman’.

He went on to hold the British, European, Commonwealth and World flyweight titles, but chronic bronchitis caused him to retire while still champion in 1950. He then worked in cabaret, and later as a taxi driver and garage attendant, always living in the docks area of Belfast. He died at his Corporation St home in March 1984.

For Monaghan's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/rinty.htm

Carl E. Morris
(the "Original White Hope")
Morris was a big, strong heavyweight with a punch but was slow-moving; He was a White Hope of the teens.

BORN : February 23 1887; Fulton, Kentucky
DIED : July 11 1951; Pasadena, California
HEIGHT : 6-4
WEIGHT : 225-245 lbs
ETHNICITY : Irish-Cherokee-American
MANAGER : Nate Lewis (1917-)
Morris' record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/morris-c.htm


Tommy Morrison
http://www.tommymorrison.net/

John Morrissey
("Old Smoke")

Morrissey was strong, tough, and game but possessed little boxing science.
After retiring from the ring, he became a prominent politician and served two terms in the United States Congress.
He was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954

BORN : February 5 1831; Templemore, Tipperary County, Ireland

DIED : May 1 1878; Saratoga, New York
HEIGHT : 5-11 3/4   WEIGHT : 170-176 lbs

For Morrisey's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/morrisey.htm

Irish Bob Murphy

Bob Murphy, (July 22, 1922-August 1, 1961), was an American light heavyweight boxer who fought from 1945 to 1954. He was born Edwin Lee O'Connely in Flagler, Colorado, but fought out of San Diego, California. Murphy, who was a southpaw, made the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

He unsuccessfully challenged Joey Maxim for the light heavyweight championship on August 22, 1951. Although Murphy entered the ring as the favorite, Maxim clearly out boxed him and won a unanimous 15 round decision.

Murphy's biggest win came on June 27, 1951 against former middleweight champion Jake LaMotta, who had moved up to the lightheavyweight division after losing his crown to Sugar Ray Robinson. La Motta appeared poorly prepared for the bout and was stopped when he could not answer the bell for the eighth round. The two fought a rematch on June 11, 1952, and La Motta won the decision.

Murphy was killed in an automobile accident in 1961.

Retrieved from  - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Bob_Murphy

"Torpedo" Billy Murphy
(Thomas William Murphy)
Murphy was a scrappy fighter and a sharp hitter who possessed a devastating punch;
He had a very long reach for a man of his size and hit hard with swings and uppercuts

Murphy was not a great defensive fighter but was game and possessed good recuperative powers after being hit

Murphy's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/murphy-t.htm

"Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien

O'Brien was agile, moved quickly, and was a limber, two-handed puncher;
He was not a particularly hard hitter but landed often.
His best punches were a left jab and a hard overhand right;
Jack was also a good defensive fighter who blocked punches well and counter-punched accurately.

Nat Fleischer ranked O'Brien as the #2 All-Time Light Heavyweight; Charley Rose ranked him as the #3 .
BORN : January 17 1878; James Francis Hagen, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DIED : November 12 1942; New York City, New York
MANAGER : Harry Pollock

For O'Brien's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/obrien.htm

Micheal "Mike" O'Dowd
The "St. Paul Cyclone"
O'Dowd was slippery and very difficult to hit with a solid punch;
He was knocked out only once in his long career -- in his last fight.

BORN : April 5 1895; St. Paul, Minnesota
DIED : July 28 1957; St. Paul, Minnesota
HEIGHT : 5-9
WEIGHT : 145-160 lbs
MANAGERS : Mike McNulty, Jack Reddy, Paddy Mullins

For more on O’Dowd - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/odowd-m.htm

Sean O'Grady (1959- ).  Professional boxing champion Sean O'Grady was born in Austin, Texas, on February 10, 1959. The son of Pat and Jean O'Grady, Sean moved with his family to Oklahoma City in 1969. After a brief amateur boxing career O'Grady turned professional at age fifteen in January 1975.

Trained, promoted, and managed by his father, O'Grady had an eight-year career in which he compiled a record of eighty-one wins and five losses, with seventy wins by knockout. On July 27, 1980, O'Grady won the United States Boxing Association lightweight championship in Omaha, Nebraska, with a twelve-round decision over Gonzallo Montellano. Fighting in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 1, 1980, the young boxer failed to capture the World Boxing Council lightweight title from champion Jim Watt. On April 12, 1981, he won the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight championship in Atlantic City, New Jersey, defeating Hilmer Kenty over fifteen rounds. The WBA soon removed O'Grady as champion for not defending against their top contender. In response, Pat O'Grady formed the World Athletic Association with Sean as lightweight champion, a title he lost in his first defense. After two additional losses O'Grady retired in 1983. A popular fighter, Sean O'Grady was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in1992. Since retiring, O'Grady has worked as a boxing analyst for several television networks.

Paddy Ryan

BORN : March 14 1851; Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland (not 3/15/53)
(Ryan lived in Troy, New York, USA)
DIED : December 14 1900; Green Island, New York
(near Troy, NY, some sources report 1901)

HEIGHT : 5-11 (Reports vary between 5-11 and 6-1 1/2)
WEIGHT : 195-220 lbs

Ryan was a boxer-wrestler who possessed bull-strength; He was a better wrestler than a boxer; He was not brought along properly to improve his boxing skills before taking on the better men of his day; Had he been taught correctly, he might have been much better. Elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1973

For more on Ryan - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/ryan-p.htm

"Sailor" Tom Sharkey
Sharkey was a short, squat battler who was the near-equal of the modern fighter, Rocky Marciano; He was powerful, durable, rough, and dirty

Sharkey fought during the time of Jim Jeffries, Jim Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons; his 1896 bout with Fitzsimmons was billed as a Heavyweight Title Fight, but his crown evaporated once Corbett made clear his intent to return to the ring. He was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1959

BORN : Thomas J. Sharkey, Nov. 26 1873; Dundalk, Ireland
DIED : April 17 1953; San Francisco, California
HEIGHT : 5-8 1/2
WEIGHT : 172-205 lbs

MANAGERS : Dan Lynch, Tom O'Rourke

Jimmy Slattery fought many of the great Hall of Famers during his time such as Maxie Rosenbloom, Harry Greb, Tommy Burns, Jack Delany, Young Stribling and Tommy Loughran. Jimmy won the N.B.A. Light Heaveyweight title on Aug 30, 1927 when he beat Maxie Rosenbloom in a 10 round decision. He lost the title Dec 12 of that year when Tommy Loughran beat him in a 15 round decision.

Jimmy Slattery wasn't done yet though because 3 years later he was awarded the N.Y. Commision Light Heaveyweight title when he beat Lou Scozza in a 15 rounder. He held that title for over a year until he lost it to "Slapsie" Maxie on August 5, 1931. Pictured here is a photo card of Slattery supplied by PUG.

Source: http://www.harrygreb.com/jimmyslatterybiopage.html
http://www.buffalonian.com/hnews/1945slattery.html

Dave Sullivan (Featherweight Champ 1898)

BORN: May 19 1877; Cork, Ireland
DIED: 1929; Cork, Ireland
HEIGHT : 5-4 1/2
WEIGHT : 112-130 lbs

For Sullivan’s record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/sulliv-d.htm

Photo from - http://www.antekprizering.com/photo.html

John L. Sullivan
(the "Boston Strong Boy")

Sullivan was a boxing immortal, the link between bare knuckles and glove fighting, and the first great American sports idol. He was powerful, quick, could hit with either hand but had exceptional strength in his right, and could take punishment; He is considered still by some to be one of the best heavyweights ever. Sullivan was elected to the Intl. Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990

BORN : October 15 1858; Roxbury, Boston, MA

DIED : February 2 1918; Abington, MA

HEIGHT : 5-10 1/4 (Some report 5-10 1/2)

WEIGHT: 190-229 lbs
MANAGERS : Billy Madden, Al Smith, Frank Moran, Pat Sheedy, Harry Phillips, Charles E. "Parson" Davies, Ed Holske, Jimmy Wakely, Frank Hall, and Arthur T. Lumley (possibly William Muldoon at times)

For more on Sullivan - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/sully.htm

John L. Sullivan The Boston Strong Boy

Yankee Sullivan
(James Ambrose)
(alias Frank Murray)

BORN : March 10 1811; Brandon, Ireland (near Cork)
(Various sources report April 12, 1813 or April 12, 1815)
DIED : May 31 1856; San Francisco, California (found dead in prison)

HEIGHT : 5-10

WEIGHT : 160 lbs

Sullivan was fast, tough, spunky and hit hard with both fists

For Sullivan’s record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/yankee.htm

Steve Taylor
(John Mahan)

BORN : January 26 1851; Kells County, Meath, Ireland
DIED :
HEIGHT : 6-0
WEIGHT : 200-265 lbs

Taylor lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he worked as a coroner circa 1872-1873. Taylor was the Champion of New Jersey during 1877-1883. He also worked as a cop on Coney Island, Brooklyn. In the 1945 movie, "The Great John L.," Taylor is introduced as Sullivan's undefeated opponent, with 21 straight wins.

For Taylor’s record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/taylor-s.htm

Gene Tunney

Tunney was an intelligent, dedicated, determined, self-made fighter; He studied each opponent in detail and was prepared and well-trained for every fight. He was quick, had boxing "savvy," possessed a sharp jab, a stiff right hand punch and used good footwork.

Nat Fleischer ranked Tunney as the #8 All-Time Heavyweight; Charley Rose ranked him as the #6 All-Time Heavyweight.

BORN : James Joseph Tunney, May 25 1897; New York, NY
DIED : Nov 7 1978, Greenwich, CT

HEIGHT : 6-0 1/2
WEIGHT : 155-192 lbs
MANAGERS : Billy Jacob (1915-1918),Billy Roche and Sammy Kelly (1919-1920), Frank "Doc" Bagley (1920-1922), and Billy Gibson (1923-1928)

For Tunney's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/tunney-g.htm
For more on Tunney - http://www.genetunney.org/

;"> Mickey Walker
The man knicknamed "The Toy Bulldog" was a welterweight and middleweight champion but ultimately won the hearts of boxing fans by fearlessly taking on heavyweights and light heavyweights. In 1922, Walker dethroned welterweight champion Jack Britton and made successful title defenses against Pete Latzo, Jimmy Jones, Lew Tendler and Bobby Barrett.
Walker is rated among the greatest "pound-for-pound" fighters who ever entered the ring; He was strong, rugged, and durable; He fought everyone -- even much heavier men and held his own. Nat Fleischer ranked Walker as the #4 All-Time Middleweight; Charley Rose ranked him as the #3 All-Time Middleweight. Walker was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.

BORN : Edward Patrick Walker,
July 13 1901; Elizabeth, New Jersey
DIED : April 28 1981; Freehold, New Jersey
HEIGHT : 5-7
WEIGHT : 140-170 lbs

MANAGERS : Johnny Anthes (1919-1920), Jack Bulger (1920-1923), Joe Diegnan (1923-1925), Jack Kearns (1925-1934), Bill Duffy (1934-1935)

For Walker's record - http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/walker-m.htm
"Irish" Micky Ward

"Irish" Micky Ward (born October 4, 1965) is a junior welterweight professional boxer from Lowell, Massachusetts. Ward won three New England Golden Gloves titles as an amateur before turning pro in 1985. After a stretch of defeats in the early 1990s, Ward hung up the gloves for a period of three years. He returned in 1994 with a vengeance, winning nine straight fights and earning some fights against big name fighters like Arturo Gatti.

http://www.mickyward.com/

Faction Fighting in America? By Ken Pfrenger

http://www.irish-boxing.com/index.htm

History of St. Paul Boxing