Fighters: Debuting Prior to 1900

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Joe Goddard alt

1889-1902

Global ID 11540
birthdate 1857-11-25
death date 1903-01-21 (45)
division heavyweight
stance orthodox
height 6′ 0″ / 183cm
reach 73″ / 185cm
alias The Barrier Champion
country Australia
residence New South Wales, Australia
birth place Pyramul, New South Wales, Australia
birth name Joseph John Goddard

won 32 (KO 30) + lost 15 (KO 8) + drawn 7 = 58
rounds boxed 360
Newspaper Decisions won 1 : lost 3 : drawn 3
rounds boxed 39
Total Bouts 65 KO% 46.15

[APBAgreat]

How do you think John L. Sullivan would fare in today’s boxing scene? Sullivan was 5'11 ¾ and weighed approximately 205 lbs.’ for most of his contests. Sullivan’s reach was 76.25’.

A stand-up slugger or Puncher-Boxer as he had more movement with angle fighting and defense then people know for his blood and guts, just wallop each other silly toe-to-toe time. The best evidence remaining from this era of pugilism is still considered one of the goriest life-threatening Heavyweight Championship Matches ever waged when Jim Jeffries defended his Title against the ultra-strong, extremely rugged and tough as nails Irishmen from Hawaii, Terrifying Tom Sharkey. This Heavyweight title tilt took place on a lovely summer afternoon along the Coney Island beach in New York City. It was also the first Heavyweight Championship Fight filmed in its entirety; however, it’s been lost to history. Hopefully, someday it will be found. Even though the bout occurred in broad daylight, the film crew still positioned very large, extremely hot very bright lights directly overhead the boxers to enhance the film's clarity (besides being extremely dangerous. These lights gave off the heat of such a magnitude that it singed the hair of both boxers. The rise of Jim Corbett brought to the Heavyweight division the scientific style of boxing that had been practiced for years in the lighter divisions by stand-out defensive wizards such as Ike ‘The Belfast Spider’ Weir and Aussie Young Griffo, who adopted the style after witnessing Weir’s success which required fast feet, lithe movement and tricky agility. The public finally took notice of how entertaining a speedy boxer can be. It shook Boxing to the core. Corbett's style was criticized as being un-masculine by the Fight Game's Slugging Purists. History repeated itself to a degree with the rise of Gene Tunney and then again, like never before by the shocking showmanship antics of Muhammad Ali. Alas, speedy footwork evolved from being unpopular to showcasing boxing as art. Although Ali’s brand was essentially a mirror image of Tunney’s style, Ali raised the part by sculpting his singular style with the ‘Ali-Shuffle’, and instead of ducking at all, he only reared back his head, contrary to the rudimentary maxims of boxing. Many critics used Ali’s style as the classic example of ‘How not to box.’

The Great Heavyweights who deployed a scientific style based upon athleticism, fast hands, and feet were never really popular until Muhammad Ali finally won over the public in a big way. Gene Tunney’s speedy hit & don't get hit style that he used to dominate Jack Dempsey in winning 19 of the 20 rounds they boxed was practically a mirror image of the style Ali used but was very unpopular in the 1920s. Tunney style encompassed a blend of back peddling, head, and neck movement rolling and backing away instead of ducking while pumping a jab in both retreats and to attack in setting up his right hand. Tunney's used his right hand to pot shot Dempsey based upon holes in Dempsey style that Tunney discovered through endless hours of studying the films of Dempsey's bouts. Despite having Hollywood Handsome good looks, Tunney was not a popular Heavyweight due to the lack of ubiquitous media that existed when Ali came along as Cassius Clay. Clay’s Hollywood Handsome looks were well-known before he even turned pro by winning the Gold Medal in the Olympics. Tunney was also an intellectual who lectured at Harvard and Yale on Shakespeare, things that did not endear him to an American population where the majority of people didn’t finish high school. Without the existence of ubiquitous T.V., Tunney’s good looks weren’t much of a factor in increasing his popularity, and defeating America’s greatest Boxing Hero up until that point-in-time in Jack Dempsey, turned Tunney into a villain. Somehow, Dempsey is by far and away rated higher than Tunney as All-Time Greatest Heavyweight lists, however, the reality of Tunney’s dominance over Tunney belies that opinion. Today, Tunney would have no choice but to be known universally and be popular beyond belief. If what happened in the 1920s occurred in the 2020s, Tunney would undoubtedly be rated as the better boxer. In the 2020s though, both of these boxers would need to campaign as Cruiserweights as either one rarely, if ever fought at over 200 lbs. Their presence on the current boxing scene would certainly raise the popularity of the Cruiserweight Division, and the sport of boxing as a whole.

When Jim Corbett was a second for Jim L. Jeffries's comeback fight against Jack Johnson which ended in Jeffries’ only defeat, Corbett screamed over & over at Johnson to “Stand still and fight like a man.” because Johnson was boxing Jeffries ears off. Johnson calmly replied, "Mr. Corbett Sir, ain't that the ways you do it, Mr. Corbett? You fought like a rabbit, always runnin in out and hop hop hopin around Mr. Corbett, ain't that right Mr. Corbett.
Run and run Mr. Corbett, I'm just a fightin like you does Mr. Corbett Sir." Jack Johnson’s retort was made all the more humorous by its pinpoint accuracy.

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George Godfrey

Career: 1879-1896

Global ID 46632
birthdate 1853-03-30
death date 1901-10-17 (48)
division heavyweight
height 5′ 10½″ / 179cm
country Canada
residence Bourne, Massachusetts, USA
birth place Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
won 23 (KO 18) + lost 6 (KO 5) + drawn 14 = 46
rounds boxed 313 KO% 39.13

Note: Only referred to as "Old Chocolate" in his last years in the ring. In his prime, fighting guys 10 or 20 pounds heavier, he was "Boston's George Godfrey".

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Fred Russell

Career: 1898-1908

Global ID 11621
birthdate 1878-06-25
division heavyweight
height 6′ 3″ / 191cm
country USA
residence Denver, Colorado, USA
birth place Northfield, Minnesota, USA

won 16 (KO 13) + lost 14 (KO 6) + drawn 4 = 35
rounds boxed 229
Newspaper Decisions won : lost 2 : drawn
rounds boxed 12
Total Bouts 37 KO% 35.14

A big crude brawler with a tough chin and powerful scythe of a right, Russell was notorious for the dirty tactics he often resorted to when he found himself being out-boxed.

Cap

[Romultiltus]

Jem Belcher
("Napoleon of the Ring")
BORN April 15 1781; Bristol, England
DIED July 30 1811; Soho, London, England
HEIGHT.. 5-11 1/2
WEIGHT 152-182 lbs
BACKERS John Cullington, Fletcher Reid
Belcher was a magnificent, wonderful boxer who possessed grace, precision in his attack and a scientific defense; He began fighting as a young boy and was unbeaten until he was 24 years of age

Jem was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992

1793
-Belcher began fighting at 12 years of age

Cockroader Lansdown, Eng (30:00) W
Corporal Norton SCH
Pawlett SCH
-The previous 2 bouts were held but no data is available

1798
Mar 6 Bob Britton Bristol, Eng (33:00) W
Aug 11 Jem Lockley Lansdown, Eng (25:00) W

1799
Apr 12 "Paddington" Tom Jones Wormwood Scrubbs, Eng (33:00) W 16
-Middleweight Championship of England;
Some sources report "W 10"

1800
Jan 7 Jack Bartholomew St. George's Fields, Eng (40:00) D 51
-Championship of England;
The elapsed time and # of rounds is questionable
May 15 Jack Bartholomew Finchley Common, Eng (20:00) W 17
-Belcher claimed the Championship of England
Dec 22 Andrew Gamble Wimbleton Common, Eng (10:00) W 5
-Championship of England

1801
Jul 13 Joe Berks Wimbleton, Eng (19:00) W
Oct 12 Joe Berks Enfield, Eng SCH
-This fight was scheduled but not held;
Berks did not show
Nov 25 Joe Berks Hurley Bottom, Eng (25:00) W 16
-Championship of England

1802
Jun 17 Joe Berks Gruelthorp, Eng SCH
-This fight was scheduled but not held;
A dispute arose over the stakes
Aug 19 Joe Berks Camberwell Fair, Eng W
Aug 20 Joe Berks Hanover Spa, Eng (10:00) W 13
-Championship of England

1803
Apr 12 Jack Firby London, Eng (20:00) W 11
-Championship of England
Jul 24 -Belcher lost his right eye when playing racquets with Edwin Stuart
at the court in Little St. Martin's Lane; He retired from the ring
(only to return later)

1805
Dec 6 Henry "Hen" Pearce near Doncaster, Eng (35:00) L 18
-Championship of England

1807
Apr 8 Tom Cribb Moulsey Hurst, Eng (55:00) L 41
-Belcher knocked Cribb out in round 18 but Cribb had
broken his right hand; The fight was allowed to
continue and Cribb won 35 minutes later

1809
Feb 1 Tom Cribb Epsom Downs, Eng (40:00) L 31
-Championship of England

[bob_bask]

Joe Pendergast

birthdate - 1860-05-14
division - heavyweight
height - 6′ 1″ / 185cm
residence - Brooklyn, New York, USA

won 1 (KO 1) + lost 0 (KO 0) + drawn 1 = 2

[Romultiltus]

Global ID 121473

sex male
birthdate 1875-00-00
death date 1897-12-06 (22)
division flyweight
country United Kingdom
residence Leytonstone, London, United Kingdom
won 5 (KO 2) + lost 4 (KO 3) + drawn 0 = 10
rounds boxed 98 KO% 20

Career: 1891-1897

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Gus Ruhlin alt


Global ID 10813
birthdate 1872-01-08
death date 1912-02-13 (40)
division heavyweight
stance orthodox
height 6′ 2″ / 188cm
reach 78½″ / 199cm

alias The Akron Giant
country USA
residence Akron, Ohio, USA
birth place Canton, Ohio, USA

won 32 (KO 21) + lost 7 (KO 4) + drawn 4 = 43
rounds boxed 331
Newspaper Decisions won 4 : lost 2 : drawn 2
rounds boxed 48
Total Bouts 51 KO% 41.18

Early in his career he was known as "The Akron Hercules".

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Peter Felix

Career:1892-1911

Global ID 11637
birthdate 1866-07-17
death date 1926-11-10 (60)
division heavyweight
height 6′ 3″ / 191cm
country Australia
residence Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
birth place Saint Croix, Danish West Indies
won 23 (KO 10) + lost 20 (KO 13) + drawn 7 = 50
rounds boxed 470
Newspaper Decisions won : lost : drawn 1
rounds boxed 4
Total Bouts 51 KO% 19.61

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Hank Griffin ALT

Career:1890-1905

Global ID 11536
birthdate 1870-01-01
death date 1911-05-02 (41)
division heavyweight
height 6′ 1″ / 185cm
country USA
residence San Pedro, California, USA
birth place Austin, Texas, USA
won 32 (KO 24) + lost 4 (KO 4 ) + drawn 9 = 45
rounds boxed

[Cap]

Yet another pic of:
James J. Jeffries

Career:1895-1910
Global ID 9022
birthdate 1875-04-15
death date 1953-03-03 (77)
division heavyweight
stance orthodox
height 6′ 0″ / 183cm
reach 76½″ / 194cm
alias The Boilermaker & The California Grizzly
country USA
residence Burbank, California, USA
birth place Carroll, Ohio, USA
birth name James Jackson Jeffries
won 19 (KO ) + lost 1 (KO ) + drawn 2 = 22
rounds boxed

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Steve O'Donnell ALT

Career:1886-1904

Global ID 40141
birthdate 1866-04-20
death date 1925-09-06 (59)
division heavyweight
height 6′ 0½″ / 184cm
country Australia
residence Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
birth place Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
won 24 (19 KO ) + lost 13 (7 KO ) + drawn 10 = 47
rounds boxed

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Henry Baker

Career:1890-1899

Global ID 11539
death date 1908-10-08
division middleweight
Weight Range: 150-175
stance orthodox
height 5′ 9½″ / 177cm
alias Slaughterhouse- (Harry)
country USA
residence Chicago, Illinois, USA
won 13 (KO 8) + lost 9 (KO 6) + drawn 4 = 30
rounds boxed 179

Despite his ferocious nickname, Baker was known more as a slippery boxer than a slugger.

[Cap]

Charles Kid McCoy ALT

Career:1891-1916

Global ID 39949
birthdate 1872-10-13
death date 1940-04-18 (67)
division light heavyweight
height 5′ 11½″ / 182cm
reach 76″ / 193cm
alias Kid McCoy
country USA
residence Detroit, Michigan, USA
birth place Warsaw, Indiana, USA
birth name Norman Selby
won 74 (KO 59) + lost 6 (KO 4) + drawn 9 = 94
rounds boxed 587

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Joe Choynski ALT

Career:1888-1904

Global ID 10540
birthdate 1868-11-08
death date 1943-01-24 (74)
division heavyweight
stance orthodox
height 5′ 11″ / 180cm
alias Chrysanthemum Joe/ The Frisco Cyclone
country USA
residence San Francisco, California, USA
won 55 (KO 38) + lost 15 (KO 11) + drawn 5 = 79
rounds boxed 450

Joe worked as an advisor on the Errol Flynn movie "Gentleman Jim" and would likely have objected if they mispronounced his family name, which in the film is Ko-Win-Ski.

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Bob Armstrong ALT

Career:1894-1904

Global ID 11542
birthdate 1873-09-04
death date 1933-01-05 (59)
division heavyweight
stance orthodox
height 6′ 4″ / 193cm
reach 81″ / 206cm
country USA
residence Washington, District of Columbia, USA
birth place Rogersville, Tennessee, USA
won 17 (KO 15) + lost 11 (KO 6) + drawn 5 = 34
rounds boxed 212

Armstrong served as a sparring partner for many of the top fighters of his era and may have developed a "Sparring Partner" mentality during his best years.

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Jack Palmer

Career:1896-1916

Global ID 13662
birthdate 1879-03-31
death date 1928-02-13 (48)
division middleweight/light heavyweight
stance orthodox
height 5′ 10″ / 178cm
country United Kingdom
residence Benwell, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
birth place Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
birth name Jack Liddell
won 23 (KO 16) + lost 9 (KO 6) + drawn 3 = 40
rounds boxed 320

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Joe Kennedy ALT

Career:1895-1902

Global ID 11619
birthdate 1870-01-01
death date 1930-04-01 (60)
division heavyweight
height 6′ 2″ / 188cm
country USA
residence San Francisco, California, USA
won 10 (KO 7) + lost 5 (KO 4) + drawn 5 = 20
rounds boxed 141

Spent the greater part of his career working as chief sparring partner for Tom Sharkey, Jim Jeffries and Bob Fitzsimmons.

[Cap]

Peter Jackson aka The Black Prince (Alt)

[Cap]

Here's what I'm using for Klondike Haynes...