Jim Keeley

pilight · 08-27-2021, 10:48 PM

I was organizing a tournament for every HW who's been in Ring Magazine's year end ratings from 1924 to 2020. In 1925 they ranked a fighter named Jim Keeley. He's not in the database nor has anyone apparently rated him. He's also not listed in boxrec! I have not been able to find anything about this fighter. I've tried James and Jimmy. I tried Keely, Kelly, and Kelley. I couldn't find a HW that fits the time frame. Does anyone know who this fighter was?

Cap · 08-28-2021, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilight

I was organizing a tournament for every HW who's been in Ring Magazine's year end ratings from 1924 to 2020. In 1925 they ranked a fighter named Jim Keeley. He's not in the database nor has anyone apparently rated him. He's also not listed in boxrec! I have not been able to find anything about this fighter. I've tried James and Jimmy. I tried Keely, Kelly, and Kelley. I couldn't find a HW that fits the time frame. Does anyone know who this fighter was?

I'm thinking it's a typo and they meant Ed Keeley, Bridgeport CT, 1922-32. He had a string of wins right around 1925.

Cap

Coiler12 · 08-28-2021, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cap

I'm thinking it's a typo and they meant Ed Keeley, Bridgeport CT, 1922-32. He had a string of wins right around 1925.

So a boxing version of one of those "Phantom Ballplayers" I'm familiar with in baseball?

pilight · 08-28-2021, 05:33 PM

I looked at him but I couldn't make myself believe they would screw a name up that badly, even in the 20's when Ring was known for its eccentric spelling of names.

It's striking how thoroughly the heavyweight division has been covered by TB. Aside from Keeley there have been 317 fighters included in the year end rankings. 316 of them are in the database, although a few don't have HW ratings. The lone exception is Larry Johnson, who drew a ranking in 1930 after moving up from LHW. PWillis rated him at both weights.

Coiler12 · 08-28-2021, 06:23 PM

I've found that even when making totally made-up fighters, I still have a disproportionate number of heavyweights (and that's without the light heavies and cruisers with bulked-up weight ratings).

Eddie2003prt · 08-30-2021, 11:27 PM

I think Cap is right. If you look at the ratings for 1925 as listed here, he is listed as Ed Keeley.

https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/T..._Ratings:_1925

pilight · 08-30-2021, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie2003prt

I think Cap is right. If you look at the ratings for 1925 as listed here, he is listed as Ed Keeley.

https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/T..._Ratings:_1925

OTOH there's this...

https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/T...yweight--1920s

Eddie2003prt · 08-30-2021, 11:41 PM

I mean...this card is from 1925 and shows Ed Keeley. I'm satisfied this is the man you are looking for:

https://sep.yimg.com/ay/yhst-4169364...y-newman-1.gif

Cap · 08-31-2021, 05:25 PM

Yeah. Shortly after his win over Cook in October 1925 (About when he was ranked) Ed started a similar string of losses. May have been built up to make guys like Sully Montgomery look like world beaters.

Cap

08-27-2021, 10:48 PM	#1
pilight All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Where the Action is Posts: 1,989	Jim Keeley I was organizing a tournament for every HW who's been in Ring Magazine's year end ratings from 1924 to 2020. In 1925 they ranked a fighter named Jim Keeley. He's not in the database nor has anyone apparently rated him. He's also not listed in boxrec! I have not been able to find anything about this fighter. I've tried James and Jimmy. I tried Keely, Kelly, and Kelley. I couldn't find a HW that fits the time frame. Does anyone know who this fighter was?

08-30-2021, 11:27 PM	#6
Eddie2003prt Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 27	I think Cap is right. If you look at the ratings for 1925 as listed here, he is listed as Ed Keeley. https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/T..._Ratings:_1925 Last edited by Eddie2003prt; 08-30-2021 at 11:29 PM.

08-31-2021, 05:25 PM	#9
Cap Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Large Province in God's Country Posts: 7,957	Yeah. Shortly after his win over Cook in October 1925 (About when he was ranked) Ed started a similar string of losses. May have been built up to make guys like Sully Montgomery look like world beaters. Cap __________________ "...There were Giants in Those Days.."

08-28-2021, 05:33 PM	#4
pilight All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Where the Action is Posts: 1,989	I looked at him but I couldn't make myself believe they would screw a name up that badly, even in the 20's when Ring was known for its eccentric spelling of names. It's striking how thoroughly the heavyweight division has been covered by TB. Aside from Keeley there have been 317 fighters included in the year end rankings. 316 of them are in the database, although a few don't have HW ratings. The lone exception is Larry Johnson, who drew a ranking in 1930 after moving up from LHW. PWillis rated him at both weights.

08-28-2021, 06:23 PM	#5
Coiler12 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 211	I've found that even when making totally made-up fighters, I still have a disproportionate number of heavyweights (and that's without the light heavies and cruisers with bulked-up weight ratings).

08-30-2021, 11:41 PM	#8
Eddie2003prt Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 27	I mean...this card is from 1925 and shows Ed Keeley. I'm satisfied this is the man you are looking for: https://sep.yimg.com/ay/yhst-4169364...y-newman-1.gif