688 BC   Greeks introduced boxing to Olympic Games.  Greeks were 
first to set up rules for boxing. 

Romans took up boxing from Greeks.  Sport became brutal and bloody. 

After fall of Rome, boxing did not exist anywhere for 13 centuries. 

England brought boxing back to life. 

1719   James Figg opened pugilistic academy in London.  He is 
earliest know fighter whose records still exist.  He could 
neither read nor write. 

1743   Jack Broughton, well educated and running a boxing school 
in London, wrote the first British boxing rules: 
          outlawed hitting below the belt 
          outlawed hitting an opponent that was down 
          wrestling holds only permitted above waist 
          established rounds with 30 second rest periods 
          round over with a knockdown 
          fight over if after rest period fighter could not "toe 
          the mark", or "come up to scratch" 

These rules were used in England until 1889 when last bare-knuckle 
championship bout was fought. 

                        Boxing in America 

Boxing probably arrived in America from England via sons of 
wealthy southern families.  It begin in the southern colonies 
between black slaves whose masters bet huge sums.  The first 
great fighter was slave Tom Molineaux, who won his freedom for 
knocking out a rival plantation champion.  

1809   Tom went to England where he fought several times.  In 
1810 and 1811 he fought and lost to the English champion, Tom 
Crib.  While these fights were major news in England, America 
paid little attention. 

Boxing in America, in the 19th century, could be placed in two 
categories:  

First there was prize fighting:   Fighting for money 
was done with bare knuckles and often attracted gambling and 
criminals.  This sport was often against a variety of local laws.  

Second there was sparring:    The combatants wore gloves, 
endeavored to display the mastery of pugilistic "science", and 
did not provide the winner with a purse or try to inflict bodily 
harm. Sparring was considered a genuine sport and exhibitions 
were given on stage and in private gymnasiums. 

September 13, 1842 in Hastings, New York.  Two thousand men 
witnessed a prize fight between Christopher Lilly and Thomas 
McCoy.  After fighting a grueling match for two hours and forty 
one minutes, McCoy collapsed and died in the 77th round.  A 
coroner's inquest determined that fluid from wounds had drained 
into the fighters lungs and he had drowned.  The first fatality 
in an American ring brought forth an immediate legal response.  
The mayor of New York City authorized bounties for persons 
responsible.  The grand jury indicted eighteen on charges from 
riot to manslaughter. 



April 17, 1860 in Hampshire, England: The six foot one inch 182 
lb American, John C. Heenen, fought the five foot eight inch 154 
lb English champion Thomas Sayers.  In the 6th round, Sayers 
fractured his right arm from a blow by his eight year younger and 
stronger opponent.  After fighting for two hours, constables 
tried to stop the fight in the 36th round.  Spectators were 
pushed into the ring.  They fought five more rounds before it was 
finally declared a draw.  Champion belts were made for both 
fighters. 

In the mid 19th century, St. Louis, New Orleans, and other cities 
in the western territories became centers of boxing in America 
due to the enforcing of laws against prize fighting in the 
eastern cities. 

1866 in England:  The Marquis of Queensberry, a prominent figure 
in British sporting circles, laid down a set of rules for glove 
fighting: 

           fighters will wear gloves 
           no wrestling 
           three minute rounds 
           one minute rest period 
           ten seconds to recover from a knockdown 

Although today these rules are followed by a large number of 
countries, they were not quickly accepted.  The change from bare-
knuckle boxing was gradual. 

Boxing in America didn't really get started until after the Civil 
War.  At that time there was no great fighters, few honest people 
in boxing, and most fights were controlled by hoodlums. 


Boxing in America was saved by the Marquis of Queensberry rules 
and John L. Sullivan. 

John L. Sullivan, the "Boston Strong Boy", was born in 1858.  He 
became America's first great sports hero.  He was an honest 
fighter who only wanted to fight, anyone, anywhere, with bare 
fists, skin-tight or padded gloves, under any rules.  "I will 
fight any man breathing.  Always on the level, yours truly, John 
L. Sullivan".  This was not quite true.  He would not fight a 
black.  He lived high and liked bright lights.  He knew nothing 
of ring science, but had a knockout punch.  He was 5'10" and 195 
lbs when in shape. 

May 1881 on Hudson River:  Sullivan fought John Flood "the 
Bullshead Terror" on a moonlit barge towed a few miles up the 
Hudson, outside the jurisdiction of the New York City police.  
The match was fought with skin tight gloves in front of the usual 
crowd of working-class men, urban dandies, and professional 
gamblers.  Sullivan easily won the fifteen minute fight by 
knocking or throwing down his opponent in each of the eight 
rounds.  This lead to a championship fight match with Paddy Ryan. 

February 5, 1882 near New Orleans: Sullivan fought the American 
champion, Ryan. The challenger threw his hat in the ring first, 
then sat waiting for twenty minutes, wrapped in a blanket, until 
the champion arrived.  Next the fighters' umpires haggled over 
the selection of a referee, finally compromising with two men.  
Ryan won the toss for choice of ground and made Sullivan face the 
sun.  The champion then offered the Boston Boy a side bet of one 
thousand dollar.  Sullivan covered the wager.  The fighters then 
stripped, shook hands, and toed the scratch.  The fight only 
lasted nine short rounds.  Sullivan was much too strong and "hit 
me like he held a telegraph pole", said Paddy.  Ryan's seconds 
threw in the sponge after their fighter was knocked senseless. 

In 1883 in Madison Square Garden, New York:  Sullivan fought 
Charley Mitchell, who claimed the British championship.  This was 
a gloved bout.  The police stopped the fight when Mitchell 
started taking a bad beating. 

Later, Sullivan went on tour and offered $1,000 to anyone who 
could stay four rounds with him, Queenberry rules.  No one had 
ever done anything like that before.  This made him very popular.  
He fought in theaters, dance halls, and armories.  Few opponents 
lasted more than one round. 

In 1887 John L. traveled to England and fought several times.  
Then to France where he fought Charley Mitchell for what many 
called the bare-knuckle world championship.  The fight was fought 
in a downpour, which was stopped after 30 rounds, all in 
Sullivan's favor.  The ring had become a quagmire. 

In early 1889  Sullivan signed to fight John J. Kilrain, who also 
claimed the world bare-knuckle championship. Sullivan at that 
timed weighed a flabby 240 lbs.  He had two months to get himself 
in shape. 

July 2, 1889, 200 miles from New Orleans:  Sullivan fought 
Kilrain.  At that time boxing was illegal in all 38 states.  
Kilrain, whose second was Bat Masterson, was the same height and 
age(31) as John L., and weighed 195 to Sullivan's 205 lbs.  
Kilrain's plan was to avoid the sweeping punches of John L., jab, 
close, and they wrestle him for a fall.  Under the bare-knuckle 
rules, a fall in this manner could do as much damage as a 
knockdown. In the early rounds, Kilrain was fairly successful.  
But as the fight wore on, John L's great strength began to take 
its toll in the 104ø heat.  Soon all the falls became clean 
knockdowns by Sullivan.  After the 50th round, Kilrain was 
clearly an exhausted and beaten man.  He quit after 76 rounds. 
After fighting two hours and sixteen minutes, Sullivan challenged 
Charley Mitchell, who had watched the fight at ringside, to enter 
the ring and have it out.   This Kilrain fight was the last bare-
knuckle championship match. 

Sullivan did not fight again for three years.  At this time, 
England and Australia did not recognize Sullivan as world 
champion.  They each had several fighters who claimed the title. 

Sullivan wrote in several of the largest newspapers that he would 
fight anyone in the world for a purse of $25,000 and a side bet 
of $10,000. 


At this time, America's best fighter was probably a man who had 
never fought bare-knuckled, Jim Corbett.   Corbett was one of a 
new breed of gloved fighters who stressed skill, science, and 
speed rather than brute power.  He was from San Francisco and was 
good in many sports: a sprinter, gymnast, and baseball player.  
His brother played in the major leagues.  He joined the Olympic 
Club at age 17.  He was a great amateur and sparred with leading 
professionals.  No one studied the science of boxing like 
Corbett.  At an even six feet, 180 lbs, he always kept himself in 
top shape.  He turned professional in 1889. 

1890 in New Orleans:  Corbett fought Kilrain.  At age 23, Corbett 
fought this six rounder.  By jabbing, hooking, and moving he 
easily won the match and made Kilrain look foolish. 

1891 in San Francisco:  Corbett fought the Australian champion.  
He was the black, Peter Jackson.  Both were master fighters.  
After more than four hours of fighting and 61 rounds, both were 
exhausted.  The judges ruled it a draw.  This was probably the 
height of Jackson's career.  He was five years Corbetts senior. 

A month after this fight, Sullivan agreed to a public sparring 
match with Corbett.  But he would only consent to do it wearing 
formal attire.  This was held at the San Francisco Opera House. 

They later agreed to fight for the world championship under 
Queensberry rules using five once gloves.  This was the first 
heavyweight championship fight under the "new" rules.  The stakes 
were $20,000 with a purse of $25,000. 

September 7, 1892 in New Orleans:  Sullivan defended "title" 
against Corbett. John L. weighed in at 212 lbs.  He still had a 
paunch from having weighed 230 lbs. two months before.  Corbett 
weighed 178 lbs. For the first part of the fight Corbett jabbed 
and easily avoided the lunges and roundhouse swings of Sullivan.  
As the fight went on, Corbett became more aggressive, and started 
fighting more toe to toe.  He was beating the much slower man to 
the punch and doing it easily.  In the 20th round John L. almost 
went down.  He was knocked out the next round.  Sullivan never 
tried to fight for the title again.  He went on the stage and 
lectured on the virtues of prohibition. 

Corbett was never well liked by the boxing public.  He had 
disposed of an idol.  He toured the country in a play written 
especially for him.  He was a good actor and became somewhat a 
matinee favorite. 

January 25, 1894 in Jacksonville, Fl:  Corbett fought the British 
champ, Charley Mitchell, who was 33 years of age and weighed 160 
lbs.  Corbett knocked him out in the third round.  The America's 
now had the first truly world heavyweight champion. 

September 7, 1894:  Corbett KOed Peter Courtney in an exhibition 
held at the Edison Laboratory in Trenton, New Jersey.  This was 
the first fight to be recorded on film. The rounds were limited 
to two minutes and time between rounds exceeded two minutes 
because of limited film time and reloading. 


The next fighter to win the heavyweight title was one of the most 
unique fighters of all time.  Robert Fitzsimmons was born in 
England and moved to New Zealand at age nine.  At age 18 he 
weighed 140 lbs.  He worked as a blacksmith, was six feet in 
height, and had very muscular arms and shoulders, but very thin 
legs.  He was a heavy weight from the waist up.  Sullivan called 
him a fighting machine on stilts.  He wasn't fast, but crafty 
with a solid punch in either hand. 

In 1890 at age 28, Fitz came to California to pursue his boxing 
career.  Weighing 150 lbs. he won the welterweight title in 1891. 

March 17, 1897 in Carson City, Nevada:  Fitzsimmons fought 
Corbett for the heavyweight title.  This was the first 
championship fight recorded on film. Sheriff Bat Masterson stood 
at the entrance and collected 400 guns from the paying customers.  
Another sheriff, Wyatt Earp, stood in Corbett's corner with a six 
gun as protection. Fitz, now age 34 and weighing 156 lbs would 
fight the 30 year old champion. In the early rounds, Corbett 
easily avoided solid blows from Fitzsimmons by jabbing and 
moving.  In the 6th round Fitz was hit by a hard right to the jaw 
and took a nine count.  At this point in the fight Fitz was 
behind, but this was to be the high point of the match for 
Corbett.  Fitz now seemed to get stronger and more of his punches 
were finding their mark.  By the 12th round it was a very hard 
match indeed.  In the 13th, Fitz caught Corbett with a hard right 
to the heart followed by and even harder left hook to the 
stomach.  Down went Corbett, the wind knocked out of him.  He 
never made it up.  Thus was born the "solar plexus" punch. 


Jim Jeffries, who had been a sparing partner to Corbett before he 
lost the title, was to become the next champion.  He was six feet 
two inches and weighed 220 lbs. when in top condition.  He was a 
good athlete running the 100 yard dash in eleven seconds.  Born 
in Ohio in 1875 he moved to California as a boy.  He was not a 
natural fighter, but developed a crouching stance with his left 
arm extended.  Opponents had difficulty penetrating his defense.  
Tex Richard, who promoted a number of fights of future 
heavyweight great Jack Dempsey, called Jeffries the heaviest 
hitter he ever saw. 

June 9, 1899 in New York:  In Coney Island, Jeffries fought 
Fitzsimmons for the title.  Although Fitz was 13 years older than 
Jeffries , the champion was a 3 to 1 favorite.  The much smaller 
man was never able to get to Jeffries due to his style and long 
arms.  Most of his blows landed on the challenger's shoulders and 
the top of his head.  In the second round a left downed Fitz.  In 
round five, a left to Fitz's right eye cut him bad.  Fitz landed 
a hard left hook to the stomach of Jeffries, the kind that had 
won him the championship, but the much stronger Jeffries just 
blinked.  In the 11th round with his cut bleeding badly, Fitz was 
knocked out with two short left jabs followed with a terrific 
right to the jaw. 

After this fight, Fitz continued his fighting career, later 
winning the light heavyweight title at age 41.  This was his 
third title.  He fought until he was 52.  Jeffries was a fighting 
champion, taking on all commers.  That is, all white commers. 

November 3, 1899 in New York:  Jeffries decisioned Tom Sharkey in 
25 rounds at Coney Island.  Sharkey, a native of Dundelk, 
Ireland, gave the champion all he could handle.  The fight was 
held for the first time under artificial lights for filming.  The 
heat was intense.  Jeffries lost twenty pounds due to the heat 
and dislocated an elbow.  Sharkey suffered two broken ribs, a 
badly cut face, and could hardly stand at the end of the fight.  
Sharkey had clearly been worn down. 

May 11, 1900 in Coney Island, New York:  Jeffries fought Corbett 
in what was probably Corbett's best fight.  Corbett made the 
champion look bad for the first 15 rounds.  But eventually 
Jeffries strength was too much, and he knocked Corbett out in the 
23rd round. 

November 15, 1901 in San Francisco:  Jeffries stopped Gus Ruhlin 
in five rounds. 

July 25, 1902 in San Francisco:  Jeffries KOed Fitzsimmons in the 
8th round. This was a much tougher fight than their first one.  
For the first seven rounds Fitzsimmons had cut both cheeks and 
broken the nose of the champion.  But Jeffries kept pressing the 
attack, and finally downed the challenger with a left to the 
stomach followed by the KOing right to the jaw. 

August 14, 1903 in San Francisco:  Jeffries KOed Corbett in the 
10th round. Corbett then retired from boxing and became an actor. 

August 26, 1904 in San Francisco:  Jeffries KOed Jack Munroe in 
2nd round. 

Jeffries retired in 1905 primarily because there was little money 
to be made.  The attitude in America was that amateur boxing 
exhibitions were fine, but prize fighting brought in the criminal 
element. 



July 3, 1905 in Reno:  Jeffries refereed a bout between Jack Root 
and  Marvin Hart.  Hart, a stocky Kentuckian weighing 190 lbs. 
blind in one eye, was strong but awkward.   Earlier that same 
year he had won a 20 round decision over future champion Jack 
Johnson. Root was a clever boxer but not a heavyweight.  He had 
become the first light heavyweight champion in 1902. Boxing 
Historian Nat Fleischer rated Root the fifth best light 
heavyweight of all time, but he rarely weighed more than 165 
pounds.  For 11 rounds Hart charged Root, swinging wildly.  Root 
evaded most of the punches and effectively scored counterblows.  
The 96ø temperature had its effect on Root, and he was knocked 
out in round 12.  Only 5,000 people saw this bout. Jeffries 
proclaimed Hart the new world heavyweight champion.  



February 23, 1906, Los Angeles:  Hart, in his first title 
defense, fought Tommy Burns for the championship in a bout 
refereed by Jeffries.  Burns, a barrel chested Canadian, was a 
professional hockey and lacrosse player.  He was 5'7'' 175 lbs, 
strong, fast, clever, and could hit hard with either hand.  Burns 
won easily, being content to outbox his opponent for an easy 
decision. 

Burns then fought a number of less talented fighters.  He KOed 
Bill Squires of Australia in one round, Fireman Jim Flynn in 
fifteen and Joe Grim "the India Rubber Baby" in three.  He drew 
with Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, but beat him easily in twenty 
rounds in a return match. 

He then embarked on a world boxing tour, acting as his own 
manager.  In London he KOed both the top two British fighters, 
Gunner Moir and Jack Palmer.  On St. Patricks' Day, 1908, he beat 
the Irish champ Jem Roche in one minute and 28 seconds of the 
first round.  This is still the record for the shortest 
heavyweight title match.  In France and Australia he also knocked 
out their champions.  He was now clearly recognized as world 
champion. His fights are as follows: 

October 2, 1906:  Burns KOed Jim Flyn in 15th round in Los Angeles. 

November 28, 1906:  Burns fought 20 round draw with Jack O'Brien 
in Los Angeles. 

May 8, 1907:  Burns decisioned O'Brien in 20 rounds in Los Angeles. 

July 4, 1907 in Colma, California:  Burns fought Australian Bill 
Squires.  Jim Jeffries was the referee.  Squires, the taller and 
heavier fighter, fought aggressively from the opening bell.  He 
wanted to trade punches and used no defensive tactics what so 
ever.  He  crowded Burns and lunged at him several times, but 
Tommy, much the quicker fighter, easily danced away.  All at once 
Burns throw a right that caught Bill solidly between his left eye 
and ear and down he went.  He rolled over and quickly rose and 
continued fighting.  He should have taken the full count and 
tried to clear his head.  As it was, he never really recovered 
from this first knockdown.  A lump the size of a pigeon's egg 
appeared on the left side of his face. 

He still chased after Burns swinging wildly.  He even caught 
Tommy with a couple of punches, but he was clearly hurt.  Squires 
then threw a sweeping left hook to the body that was six inches 
short.  Burns countered with another right, this time to the 
check, and down went Squires for the second time.  He again arose 
but his legs were jerky and he evidently could not see his 
opponent.  Burns awaited for an opening then landed two more 
rights to the head and down went Squires for the third and last 
time.  He was out and made no attempt to get up before the count 
of ten.  Referee Jeffries handed Burns $10,000 which was the side 
bet. 

December 2, 1907 at the National Sporting Club in London:  Burns 
fought the Britisher Gunner Moir.  Six hundred Englishmen in 
evening dress filled the tiny auditorium to watch the fight.  
American newsmen were not provided seats so that more money could 
be made from ticket sales.  Moir, a huge tattooed man, was a head 
taller and 14 lbs heavier than Burns.  

Tommy Burns won the fight easily with a knockout in the tenth 
round.  Most people who saw the fight thought that Burns could 
have won any time he wished after the third round.  As round ten 
started Gunner was bleeding from several cuts about the face and 
was groggy from the beating he was taking about the head and 
body.  Early in the round Burns feinted a few times and then 
landed a left hook to the midriff of Moir who sank slowly to the 
canvass.  He wearily made it up before the count of ten.  Burns 
then feinted a few more time then landed a hard right to the jaw 
that knocked the Britisher down and out.  At fights end, Moir was 
a badly beaten fighter with many cuts and bruises while Tommy 
Burns was hardly marked. 

February 10, 1908 at the Wonderland Club in London:  Burns fought 
Britisher Jack Palmer.  The 2,000 spectators saw their local hero 
fight a wretched fight from the start.  Burns was much too fast 
and clever for his opponent.  Tommy knocked his opponent down a 
number of times.  The fight ended in the middle of the forth 
round when a Burns hook over the heart forced Palmer to lower his 
guard and then Jack was sent to the floor with a left hook to the 
head.  Palmer to his credit attempted to rise but just couldn't 
do it.  Throughout the fight Palmer was kept busy trying to cover 
up and was not able to launch much of an attack of his own.  The 
match was for a side bet of $2,500 and 75% of the gate receipts. 

March 17, 1908 at the Theater Royal in Dublin:  Burns fought the 
Irish champion Jem Roche.  After sparring a few seconds, Tommy 
landed a light punch to the head of Roche.  Burns then landed a 
light left followed by a hard right to the chin of Roche who fell 
hard to the stage and lay squirming.  He staggered up at the 
count of nine but clung dizzily to the ropes and was counted out 
at 1:28 seconds of the first round. 

Roche shortly cleared his head and offered to continue the fight.  
Burns agreed, but the referee awarded Burns the victory.  The 
five thousand spectators were amazed at how inept their champion 
appeared. 

April 18, 1908:  Burns KOed Jewey Smith in 5th round in Paris. 

June 13, 1908:  Burns KOed Bill Squires in 13th round in Paris. 

August 24, 1908:  Burns KOed Bill Squires in 13th round in Sydney. 

September 2, 1908:  Burns KOed Bill Lang in 6th round in Melbourne. 


During this tour, the American black fighter, Jack Johnson, 
closely watched Burns and publicly challenged him to fight for 
the title. Jack Johnson was born in 1878 in Galveston Texas.  As 
a young man he hung around fight gyms in Chicago, New York, and 
Boston where he spared with veterans.  He was to became, when in 
his prime and in shape, one of the best fighters of all time.  He 
was a genius in the ring.  A flawless boxer with an almost 
perfect defense.  He was a superb counter-puncher with power in 
both hands.  He lived life to the limit with flashy cloths, drove 
yellow racing cars, and was constantly in trouble with the law.  
In many of his fights he was not in the best of shape. 

Johnson had challenged Jeffries in 1904, but the champion would 
not defend his title against a black fighter.  He did fight a 
match against Marvin Hart.  Johnson was leading the match in the 
early rounds, but tired in the later rounds and lost a decision.  
In April 1906 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Johnson fought the other 
great black fighter, Sam Langford, of Nova Scotia.  Johnson, out 
weighing his opponent by 35 lbs., easily won a 15 round decision.  
In July 1907, in Philadelphia, Johnson fought the 44 year old 
Fitzsimmons.  Johnson was declared the winner in the 2nd round 
after knocking the old ex-champion down three times.

In 1908 Johnson was not considered a great fighter by most 
people.  Marvin Hart had won a twenty round decision over him, 
and Joe Choynski had knocked him out in three rounds.  Burns 
needed money.  He was promised the unprecedented sum of $35,000 
to fight Johnson.  Burns had seen Johnson fight and relised how 
good a fighter he was.  He didn't think he could beat Johnson, 
but stated that "I could give him the fight of his life". 

December 26, 1908 in Sydney, Australia:   Johnson fought Burns 
for the championship.  At this time, Australia was one of the 
worlds boxing centers.  Unlike the United States, Australia's 
largest cities welcomed prize fighting. At the outset of the 
fight, Burns was the aggressor.  He rushed Johnson with the hope 
of a quick knockout.  But Jack's long, quick left jab not only 
kept Tommy at a distance but jarred him many times.  It was 
estimated that Burns probably weighed 175 lb and Johnson 200 lb.  
Johnson was just too big, too strong, too quick, and too good a 
boxer for the champion. 

But the slugging at times was terrific and brought many cheers 
from the 25,000 spectators.  Both fighters drew blood from their 
opponents.  But the fight was pretty much all in the black 
fighter's favor.  In the 14th round Burns was clearly a beaten 
man and it looked like he could go down at any time.  The Police 
stopped the fight in the middle of the round, an the referee 
declared Johnson the winner.  Jack London, then a popular 
novelist covering the fight for a New York newspaper, wrote,  
"The battle was between a colossus and a pygmy.  Burns was a toy 
in his hands.  Jim Jeffries must emerge from his alfalfa farm and 
remove the golden smile from Johnson's face.  JEFF, IT'S UP TO 
YOU." 

Johnson went on to fight three no decisions against future actor 
Victor McLaglen, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, and Al Kaufman.  
These were exhibitions where no decisions mean no knockouts.  
With no real opponents in sight, he agreed to fight a match with 
Stanley Ketchel, the middle weight champion.  It was agreed 
between the two of them that they would just put on a boxing 
exhibit with no damage intended. 

December 6, 1908 in Colma, California:  Johnson fought Ketchel 
for the championship.  They boxed for 11 rounds.  In the 12th, 
Ketchel saw an opening and  knocked Johnson down with a shot to 
the head.  Johnson immediately got up, charged the much smaller 
man and knocked him out with a terrific right to the jaw.  Films 
show Johnson standing over Ketchel brushing  several of Ketchel's 
teeth from his gloves. 

In the meantime, Jeffries signed a fight contract with the 
gambler and fight promoter Tex Rickard.  Tex, orphaned at ten, 
grew up in the tough border land of Kansas and Missouri.  After 
moving to Texas he became a cowboy, horse wrangler, and later 
marshall of Henrietta.  After his wife and baby died, he went to 
Alaska during the gold rush days.  He tended bar, panned for 
gold, managed the Northern Saloon in Nome, and lost several 
fortunes gambling.  He then tried the gold fields of South 
Africa.  Returning to America he opened the famous Northern 
Saloon in Goldfield, Nevada.  Here he started promoting boxing 
matches and became the best in the business. 

Rickard made the fight between Johnson and Jeffries the most 
advertised fight in history.  The 35 year old Jeffries lost some 
65 lbs. in preparation for the fight.  He was even a 10 to 7 
favorite at fight time.  But he was never more than a shadow of 
his former self. 

July 4, 1910 in Reno, Nevada:   Johnson fought Jeffries. Twenty 
thousand paying customers saw the fight.  Tex Rickard was the 
referee.  John L. Sullivan, James Corbett, Robert Fitzsimmons, 
and Tommy Burns were all at ring side.  Rickard announced before 
the fight that the purse was $101,000 to be divided 50% to the 
winner, 40% to the loser.  Each man was to receive a bonus of 
$10,000, making the entire purse $121,000. 

Jeffries was too awkward and slow to break through Johnson's 
defense.  Johnson was easily able to jolt Jeffries with short, 
quick, hard punches.  It was no contest.  Finally in the 15th 
round, Jeffries went down for the first time in his boxing 
career.  After two more quick knockdowns, Jim's seconds threw in 
the sponge.  Jim said after the fight "I could never have whipped 
Johnson at my best. I couldn't have hit him in a thousand years."  
He received $117,000 for the fight.  Years later he said, "The 
comeback attempt was the biggest mistake of my life.  The money 
wasn't worth it." 

July 4, 1912 in Las Vegas, New Mexico:  Johnson defended title 
against Jim Flynn.  Flynn was utterly helpless against the 
champion from the first round.  At long range Johnson's left jaw 
prevented his opponent from landing any punches.  At close range, 
the style of the challenger, Johnson was able to hold his 
opponent while landing uppercuts to the body and head.  Flynn's 
only effective punching was in the third round when he landed two 
right hooks to the jaw of Johnson.  Jack had gotten careless, and 
it was not to happen again. 

Starting in the sixth round the challenger tried to butt Jack's 
chin with his head.  Referee Wn. W. Smith warned Flynn against 
this illegal tactic numerous times but he continued to try to 
butt Johnson.  Films of the fight show that Flynn would literally 
jump into the air to do this.  As the fight progressed Flynn was 
taking a terrible beating and blood flowed freely from his face.  
Finally State Police Captain Fornoff entered the ring and stopped 
the fight in the 9th round due to the brutality and the continual 
fouling of the challenger.  The referee then announced Johnson as 
the winner and the fight crowd gave Johnson a terrific cheer.  It 
was the opinion of many at ringside that Flynn wanted to be 
disqualified. 

It is noted that shortly before the fight started, the official 
announcer Tommy Cannon of Oklahoma City took the ring to call 
attention to the "several hundred ladies who have graced this 
occasion by their attendance." He asked that the spectators 
remember their presence when it came to shouting comments on the 
fight. 

In 1913 Johnson was convicted of a technical violation of the 
Mann Act.  He fled the country to avoid a one year jail sentence. 

November 28, 1913 in Paris:   Johnson KOed Andre Spoul in 2nd 
round. 

December 19, 1913 in Paris:  Johnson fought "Battling" Jim 
Johnson, a black pugilist from Galveston, Texas.  The match ended 
in a ten round draw.  Spectators loudly protested that the men 
were not fighting and demanded their money back.  Many left 
before the bout ended.  After the fight the champion complained 
that his left arm was injured in the third round.  A doctor did 
certify that there was a slight fracture of the radius.  Rumors 
had it that Jack was either stabbed before the fight or had 
injured his arm in a previous wrestling match.  There was no 
evidence supporting either of these stories. 

June 27, 1914 in Paris:  Johnson won on points over 20 rounds in 
a fight with Frank Moran.  Most of the spectators were 
disappointed in the champions' defensive tactics where he would 
hold his opponent and land uppercuts to the head and body.  Moran 
rallied in round 19, but wore himself out.  Both tried for 
knockouts in the last round but were too tired to mount an 
effective offense. 



In 1915 Jack was guaranteed $30,000 to defend his title in 
Havana, Cuba against Jess Willard.  Willard was born in 1883 in 
Kansas.  He started fighting in 1911 at age 28.  He had no 
ferocity, without natural ability, but he did have a punch.  He 
was a giant of a man at 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 250 lbs. 
when in shape.  He had previously lost a 20 round decision to 
Gunboat Smith and was stopped by Bearcat McMahan in twelve.  Jess 
trained hard for this match, but Jack, as often happened, did 
not. 

April 5, 1915 in Havana, Cuba:  Johnson fought Willard. Twenty 
thousand fans saw the much younger Willard fight the 37 year old 
champion who was badly out of shape with a roll of fat around his 
middle.  The bout was listed for 45 rounds.  It was, for the 
first nine rounds, a dull fight with neither fighter wanting to 
do much of anything.  Finally, Johnson started to lead.  For the 
next ten rounds he soundly outboxed Willard, but was unable to 
knock him out.  After that, Jack was too tired to press the 
attack.  Finally Willard started to lead. Willard, although slow, 
was able to finally throw a number of hard blows that got through 
Johnson's defense. In the 26th round, Johnson was exhausted, and 
went down and out after a hard right to the head. 

There have been many stories that Johnson threw the fight.  But 
this appears to be only talk.  Johnson immediately after the 
fight said, "Willard was too much for me.  I just didn't have 
it."  It was the case of a younger, stronger, better conditioned 
fighter winning.  Johnson later returned to America, served his 
jail sentence, and in 1946 died in a high speed auto accident. 

March 25, 1916 in Madison Square Garden, New York:  Willard 
defended title against Frank Moran, a 200 lb rugged ex sailor.  
The fight lasted ten dull rounds.  Frank couldn't get to Jess.  
In compliance with New York's boxing regulations at that time, a 
"no decision" was rendered since there was no knockout or foul.  
Willard said that he might never fight again and then joined a 
wild west show. 


Jack Dempsey, born 1895 in Manassa, Colorado, was to be the next 
great fighter after Jack Johnson.  He fought in back rooms of 
saloons and dance halls.  At six feet, 185 lbs. he was an 
aggressive, two-fisted, attacking fighter; the kind that fans 
love to watch.  In his early days he was always in shape, fought 
almost every day, and never drank or smoked. 

On July 4,1919:  Willard defended his crown against Dempsey .  
Most experts believed that Jess was too big and strong for Jack.  
Jack and his manager bet $10,000 at ten to one odds that he would 
knock Willard out in the first round.  This was all the money 
they had.  Dempsey came out bobbing and weaving and almost 
immediately knocked Willard down.  In a most savage attack, Jack 
knocked Jess down seven times in the first round.  The count from 
the last knockdown reached ten at the same time that the round 
ended.  Most people believed that the fight was over.  Dempsey 
and much of the crowd were leaving the arena when the referee 
called Dempsey back.  After some delay, the fight resumed.  Jess 
did get in one good uppercut that shook Jack in the second round.  
But after three rounds, Jess had a broken jaw, several broken 
teeth, a smashed nose, and at least one broken rib.  He could not 
continue.  This was probably the most brutal heavyweight title 
fight on record.  Willard had received so much punishment, that a 
rumor started, and later recanted by one of Jack's handlers, that 
Dempsey had applied plaster of paris to his hands.  Willard 
believed this for the rest of his life. 

September 6, 1920 in Benton Harbor, Michigan:  Dempsey KOed Billy 
Miske in 3rd round of a very easy fight for the champion.  Miske 
had given Dempsey two hard fights before Jack was champion.  But 
this time Billy was recovering from a serious injury and was no 
competition. 

December 14, 1920 in Toledo, Ohio:  Dempsey fought Bill Brennan.  
Dempsey scored a KO in the 12th round after being out-boxed for 
most of the fight. 

In 1920 boxing entered a new age.  Although many people clamored 
for its legalization, many people still opposed it.  James J. 
Walker, a member of the New York State Senate, introduced his 
boxing bill in the Albany senate on January 14, 1920.  Finally 
Governor Smith signed the Walker boxing bill into law, along with 
the Walker beer bill, which legalized 2.75 percent beer. For the 
past generation boxing had been primarily a western sport.  Two 
months after the legalization of boxing in the state of New York, 
Tex Rickard became the proprietor of Madison Square Garden.  Now 
New York City became the mecca of the pugilistic world. 


July 2, 1921 in Jersey City: Dempsey fought the Frenchman Georges 
Carpentier. This was the first million dollar gate.  The Orchid 
Kid from France, a former world light heavyweight champion, was a 
very popular European fighter. Dempsey, weighing 16 lbs. more 
than his opponent easily won the first round.  But in the second 
round, the Frenchmen opened a furious attack highlighted by a 
hard overhand right to Jack's jaw.  The second round, while very 
exciting, was to be the last time in the fight that Carpentier 
fans cheered.  In the third it was Dempsey's turn to attack.  
Jack landed a swift series of mostly body shots that had the 
challenger groggy at the bell.  In the forth round, Dempsey 
knocked Carpentier down for a nine count from a left to the jaw.  
Jack then  quickly followed it up with a KO punch to the jaw. 

July 4, 1923 in Shelby Montana: Dempsey won a dull 15 round 
decision from the 34 year old light heavyweight Tommy Gibbons.  
Kearns, Jacks' manager, was able to get a $200,000 dollar advance 
alone with $100,000 from the gate receipts, which was payed to 
him during the fight.  Both he and Dempsey quickly left town 
immediately after the fight as several local banks went under due 
to lower than expected receipts. 

Doc Kearns had been a full time fight manager before he managed 
Dempsey.  But before that, he had been a middleweight fighter and 
played one year of minor league baseball.  Like Tex Rickard he 
had gone to the Klondike where he weighed gold in saloons and 
both promoted fights and managed boxers.  In Seattle he drove a 
taxi, worked as a bouncer, dealt cards in gambling houses, was a 
saloon keeper, and manufactured fire extinguishers.  He had great 
courage, many influential friends in boxing, but no ethics or 
morality. 

September 14, 1923  at the Polo Grounds: 85 thousand boxing fans 
saw one of the all time great fights between the champion and the 
"Wild Bull of the Pampas", Luis Angel Firpo.  The six feet three 
inch Argentinean had won 74 straight fights in his home country 
before coming to the U.S. and continuing his ring career.  Most 
of the wins were early round KOs.  He wasn't much of a boxer, but 
he more than made up for his lack of skill with a devastating 
right hand and an overpowering desire to end any fight as quickly 
as possible.  This was the second million dollar gate. 

Most people expected a short exciting fight.  None were 
disappointed.           

Round 1:        Dempsey rushed across ring and missed with a wild 
right.  Firpo countered with a left uppercut and Dempsey went 
down.  The entire crowd got to its feet and remained standing for 
the rest of the fight.  Dempsey got up immediately and held Firpo 
in a clinch with one hand and attacked the mid section of the 
challenger with the other.  At the 30 second point Dempsey 
knocked Firpo down with a right hook to the head.  Firpo arose at 
the count of nine and immediately took a furry of blows sending 
him to the canvas for the second time.  After Firpo got up they 
exchanged right hands and clinched. As the referee broke the 
clinch, Dempsey handed a hard uppercut to the chin sending Firpo 
down for the third time.  Again Firpo got up, but immediately 
Dempsey scored another knockdown with a right uppercut to the 
heart.  When Firpo got up for the forth time, Dempsey attacked 
from the rear and floored the challenger with another uppercut. 

This time, Firpo got up swinging and hit Dempsey with a right 
hook that traveled about four feet.  Dempsey fell to his knees, 
but rose immediately.  The two fighters exchanged right hands and 
Firpo went down again, got up, and was knocked down again; this 
for the seventh time.  It was still the first round.  Again, to 
everyone's surprise, Firpo got up.  Dempsey landed a hard right 
to the challenger's ribs.  Firpo then launched a looping right 
from over his head that staggered the champion sending him into 
the ropes. Firpo landed four more right hands.  Firpo's next 
right hand, more a push than a blow, resulted in Dempsey sliding 
through the ropes.  With the help of news reporters whom he fell 
on, Dempsey whose feet never left the ring apron, regained an 
upright position before he was counted out.  Firpo launched a 
series of wild punches that Dempsey was able to avoid by bobbing 
and weaving. At the bell both fighters were throwing haymakers. 
       
Round 2:       This round started like the last one ended, with 
both fighters trying to end the fight as quickly as possible.  
Dempsey landed a right, clinched, and landed another punch as the 
referee told them to break.  Then Dempsey, missing, sent Firpo to 
the canvas with a  body block.  Firpo arose swinging and ran into 
a Dempsey left.  As he was going down for the ninth, and last 
time, Dempsey caught him with a right.  Even the muscular 220 
pound Argentine could not get up this time.  That night Dempsey 
was a whirlwind that could not be stopped. 

This was Dempsey's best fight.  With no prospects of any large 
gates in the near future, Dempsey's hard training days became a 
thing of the past.  One result of this fight was that the boxing 
rules were changed so that in the event of a knockdown, the 
standing fighter must go to the furthest neutral corner.  If he 
did not, the count would be delayed until he did.