Billy Papke (born William Papke, and known as "The Illinois Thunderbolt") (September 17, 1886 – November 26, 1936) was an American boxer who held the World Middleweight Championship from September 7 to November 26, 1908. In 1910-12, he also took the Australian and British versions of the World Middleweight Championship, though American boxing historians generally take less note of these titles. With a solid and efficient punch, 70 percent of his better publicized career wins by decision were from knockouts, and roughly 40% of his reported fights were as well. Papke was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001. His earliest fights in 1906 took place near Spring Valley or Peoria where he had moved by 1907, though he traveled frequently North to box in the next few years.
left|thumb|Portrait of Papke taken in France
In an important early bout on September 14, 1907, Papke knocked out Terry Martin in the third round at the National Athletic Club in Philadelphia. The win led several reporters to view Papke as a middleweight title contender.
In a well publicized bout On November 14, 1907, Papke defeated Tony Caponi in their first bout in a second round knockout at the Peoria Club in Peoria, Illinois. After only two minutes and ten seconds of fighting in the second, Papke put Caponi down for the count with a strong right uppercut to the jaw immediately after breaking from a clinch. Caponi tried to rise, but went back down and stayed on the mat. The two had fought two draws the previous May and June, with Papke holding a slight lead during the more recent match. Adding to the interest in the contest was Caponi's unsuccessful attempt at Hugo Kelly's World and American 158 lb. middleweight championship the previous August.
American middleweight championship bout with Hugo Kelly, March, 1908
On March 16, 1908, Papke defeated Hugo Kelly at the Hippodrome in Milwaukee in a ten round points decision that was billed as the world and American 158 pound middleweight championship, though it was not a universally sanctioned bout. There was a significant amount of clinching, and some butting in the match mostly attributed to Papke. Papke put Kelly on the mat in the first round with a blow to the jaw, but Kelly recovered quickly and fought well defensively. There was a shower of blows in the fourth, followed by more clinching in the fifth, as the boxers recovered from fatigue. The final four rounds were close, but the referee decided in favor of Papke at the bell in the tenth. Papke's management successfully used the win as a stepping stone to a world middleweight title match with Stanley Ketchel ten weeks later. On May 15, 1909, Papke would defeat Kelly more decisively in a first round knockout in Colma, California.
Rivalry with middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel
Papke's first meeting with Stanley Ketchel resulted in loss by 10-round points decision, on June 4, 1908, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was the first of Papke's four fights with the reigning Middleweight champion.
World middleweight championship win, September, 1908
188 px|left|thumb|Ketchel in fighting pose
Papke won the second fight with Ketchel in an upset at Jeffrie's Arena in Vernon, near Los Angeles, on September 7, 1908, in a convincing twelve round technical knockout, and impressively took the world middleweight title from the reigning champion. The referee was the thirty-three year old boxing legend and former heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries. A few newspapers including the Record Argus of Greenville, Pennsylvania, perpetuated the legend of the sucker punch at the handshake, though the myth may have had its origin in Papke's furious attack very early in the first round and the not infrequent habit of a few boxing reporters of the era to embellish their reporting. Even reporting on his death in 1936, a newspaper perpetuated the myth of Papke's first blow coming as Ketchel extended his hand to shake.
A California newspaper, likely using the account of a ringside reporter, inferred the fighting did not commence until after the opening bell, and that both men entered the ring in perfect condition, but that within one minute and twenty seconds, Papke had mounted an attack that determined the outcome of the bout. Ketchel was down three times in the first round, and Papke seemed to have the upper hand throughout the fierce and furious bout. The match became so one-sided in favor of Papke by the close, that the crowd yelled for referee Jeffries to stop the fight. Papke dealt the final blows in the twelfth delivering a right swing followed by a powerful hook.
Loss of world middleweight championship, November, 1908
458 px|right|thumb|Ketchel standing over Papke in their third fight, Nov. 1908
In their third meeting, two months later on November 26, 1908, Papke lost his title to Ketchel in an eleventh round knockout in Colma, California, and received a terrific beating in the process. Papke's own wife did not recognize him after the bout was over. Ketchel led the bout through most of the first ten rounds. Papke went down in the eleventh for a count of nine, and not long after arising was struck by a left to the chin that ended the bout.
Papke lost the fourth and final meeting by unanimous decision before a large crowd in Colma, California, near San Francisco, on July 5, 1909. It was a particularly savage encounter and lasted 20 rounds. One source wrote that of all their fights it was "the bloodiest and most grueling". Ketchel was reported to have broken his right hand in the sixth, and Papke a bone in his left. In their heavily attended world welterweight championship bout in Paris, Papke demonstrated superior hitting ability, speed, and defense throughout the match, and was the aggressor through all three rounds. Papke tried to have his agent arrange a match with Ketchel after the bout, but it was never to be.
Mid career
After Ketchel's murder at age 24, on October 15, 1910, while training at a Cattle Ranch in Conway, Missouri, Papke became one of several middleweights contesting the world middleweight title. The title did not pass hands as both men were over the middleweight weight limit of 160, and weighing nearer 165.
Loss to Frank Mantel, middleweight contender, February, 1912
On February 22, 1912, Papke lost to American world middleweight contender Frank Mantell in Sacramento in a twenty round points decision. It was a slow bout with much vertical wrestling while the contestants weakly attempted to score blows during the clinches. After the bout, Mantell tried to claim Papke's former British world middleweight title of June 11, 1911, taken from Jim Sullivan in London. Mantell's claim was weak, however, as Papke claimed he did not make weight for the match.
Win over Marcel Moreau in Paris, June, 1912
On June 29, 1912, Papke, defending his June, 1911 world middleweight title, defeated Marcel Moreau at France's Cirque de Paris in a sixteenth round technical knockout.
Papke was down in the first, while Moreau was knocked down twice in the fifteenth by left and right hooks before failing to show for the final round.
Papke lost to middle and welterweight contender Leo Houck in the third week of September 1912 at the Olympia Athletic Club in Philadelphia in a six round newspaper decision. The first two rounds were slow, with Papke staging a comeback in the third which was marred by his tossing Houck around in the clinches and refusing to break at the referee's request. His clinching may have signaled his fatigue from the repeated blows of his opponent. In the final three rounds, Houck dominated, throwing several swift blows with no return in the fourth, and sending Papke through the ropes in the sixth.
Win over European middleweight champion Georges Carpentier, October 1912
Papke traveled to Paris where he beat future champion Georges Carpentier in an eighteenth round technical knockout on October 23, 1912. It became a non-championship fight when Papke exceeded the middle-weight limit at the pre-fight weigh-in. Papke's infighting or close range techniques baffled the skilled Carpentier. At the end of the eighth, Carpentier's right eye was closed, and he fought more cautiously. Though staging a comeback in the fifteenth and sixteenth, Carpentier was floored in the opening of the seventeenth round, when Papke struck him with a left hook, likely taking advantage of the reduced vision on his opponent's right side. Carpentier attempted to fight on but gave up after consulting with his corner men, and did not return for the eighteenth round.
Final loss of the world middleweight championship to Frank Klaus, March 1913
258 px|left|thumb|Frank Klaus c. 1910-15
Papke was beaten by an American, Pennsylvania middleweight Frank Klaus on March 5, 1913, at France's Cirque de Paris. The referee warned Papke and called fouls and breaks repeatedly in the late rounds for wrestling, head-butting, and low blows. In frustration, the referee called his last foul in the fifteenth round for a low blow which Papke had been called on in the previous two rounds, disqualifying Papke and ending both the match and Papke's title hopes.
After his October 14, 1913, loss to Marty Rowan in St. Louis, Papke took a three year hiatus from the ring, before returning in 1916, and facing his last few opponents.
He continued fighting until 1919, losing a four rounder to the prolific boxer and contender Soldier Bartfield in San Francisco in April 1919. He had lost to Flynn earlier in a newspaper decision in March 1909 in Pasadena.
Appearances in boxing movies
In his retirement near Los Angeles, he benefited from his real estate investments.
Death
Near the time of his death, he was working as a "host" at Jim Flynn's Cafe in Los Angeles, a beer hall named after the heavyweight boxer. He had recently refereed a boxing match.
Papke died on November 27, 1936, by suicide, after first killing his wife. The violent incident may have been a result of undiagnosed brain dementia suffered from years of trauma in the ring. Both he and his wife were buried at Mt. View Cemetery in Altadena, California, slightly North of Pasadena and Los Angeles. He left three sons with whom he lived, Robert, Clifford, and William A. Papke Jr.
He is a primary character in the novel, The Killings of Stanley Ketchel, (2005), by James Carlos Blake.
Professional boxing record
All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.
Official record
All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted to the win/loss/draw column.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|-
!
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|63
|Loss
|37–11–6
|align=left| Jimmy Darcy
|PTS
|4
|May 14, 1919
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|62
|Loss
|37–10–6
|align=left| Jakob "Soldier" Bartfield
|PTS
|4
|Apr 8, 1919
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|61
|style="background:#FEE1BC"|Loss
|37–9–6
|align=left| Jack Smith
|NWS
|10
|Jun 1, 1916
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|60
|Loss
|37–9–6
|align=left| Marty Rowan
|PTS
|8
|Oct 14, 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|59
|Loss
|37–8–6
|align=left| Frank Klaus
|RTD
|6 (20)
|Mar 5, 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|58
|Win
|37–7–6
|align=left| Georges Bernard
|RTD
|6 (20)
|Dec 4, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|57
|Win
|36–7–6
|align=left| Georges Carpentier
|TKO
|18 (20)
|Oct 23, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|56
|style="background:#FEE1BC"|Loss
|35–7–6
|align=left| Leo Houck
|NWS
|6
|Sep 27, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|55
|style="background:#FEE1BC"|Loss
|35–7–6
|align=left| Jack Denning
|NWS
|10
|Sep 25, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|54
|Win
|35–7–6
|align=left| Marcel Moreau
|TKO
|16 (20)
|Jun 29, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|53
|Win
|34–7–6
|align=left| Billy Leitch
|TKO
|2 (10)
|May 2, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|52
|Loss
|33–7–6
|align=left| Frank Mantell
|PTS
|20
|Feb 22, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|51
|Loss
|33–6–6
|align=left| Bob Moha
|PTS
|12
|Oct 31, 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|50
|style="background:#FEE1BC"|Loss
|33–5–6
|align=left| Sailor Burke
|NWS
|10
|Aug 22, 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|49
|Win
|33–5–6
|align=left| Jim Sullivan
|KO
|9 (20)
|Jun 8, 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|48
|Win
|32–5–6
|align=left| Dave Smith
|TKO
|7 (20)
|Mar 11, 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|47
|Loss
|31–5–6
|align=left| Cyclone Johnny Thompson
|PTS
|20
|Feb 11, 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|46
|Loss
|31–4–6
|align=left| Dave Smith
|DQ
|10 (20)
|Dec 26, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|45
|Win
|31–3–6
|align=left| Ed Williams
|TKO
|6 (20)
|Oct 26, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|44
|Win
|30–3–6
|align=left| Jack "Twin" Sullivan
|PTS
|12
|Jun 21, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|43
|Win
|29–3–6
|align=left| Al Goodale
|DQ
|2 (10)
|Jun 14, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|42
|Win
|28–3–6
|align=left| Joe Thomas
|KO
|16 (20)
|May 19, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|41
|Win
|27–3–6
|align=left| Willie Lewis
|KO
|3 (15)
|Mar 19, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|40
|style="background:#FEE1BC"|Loss
|26–3–6
|align=left| Frank Klaus
|NWS
|6
|Nov 11, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|39
|style="background:#FEE1BC"|Win
|26–3–6
|align=left| Willie Lewis
|NWS
|6
|Oct 8, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|38
|style="background:#FEE1BC"|Draw
|26–3–6
|align=left| Fireman Jim Flynn
|NWS
|10
|Jul 14, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|37
|Loss
|26–3–6
|align=left| Stanley Ketchel
|UD
|20
|Jul 5, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|36
|Win
|26–2–6
|align=left| Hugo Kelly
|KO
|1 (45)
|May 15, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|35
|style="background:#FEE1BC"|Loss
|25–2–6
|align=left| Fireman Jim Flynn
|NWS
|10
|Mar 19, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|34
|Draw
|25–2–6
|align=left| Hugo Kelly
|PTS
|25
|Dec 15, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|33
|Loss
|25–2–5
|align=left| Stanley Ketchel
|KO
|11 (20)
|Nov 26, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|32
|Win
|25–1–5
|align=left| Stanley Ketchel
|TKO
|12 (25)
|Sep 7, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|31
|style="background:#FEE1BC"|Win
|24–1–5
|align=left| Sailor Burke
|NWS
|6
|Aug 18, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|30
|Win
|24–1–5
|align=left| Frank Mantell
|TKO
|1 (6)
|Aug 13, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|29
|Win
|23–1–5
|align=left| Johnny Carroll
|TKO
|2 (6)
|Aug 13, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|28
|Loss
|22–1–5
|align=left| Stanley Ketchel
|PTS
|10
|Jun 4, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|27
|Win
|22–0–5
|align=left| Hugo Kelly
|PTS
|10
|Mar 16, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|26
|Win
|21–0–5
|align=left| Walter Stanton
|TKO
|4 (12)
|Jan 21, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|25
|Draw
|20–0–5
|align=left| Hugo Kelly
|PTS
|10
|Dec 30, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|24
|Win
|20–0–4
|align=left| Bartley Connolly
|TKO
|4 (10)
|Nov 22, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|23
|Win
|19–0–4
|align=left| Charlie Haghey
|TKO
|1 (10)
|Nov 22, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|22
|Win
|18–0–4
|align=left| Tony Caponi
|KO
|2 (10)
|Nov 14, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|21
|Draw
|17–0–4
|align=left| Pat O'Keefe
|PTS
|6
|Nov 9, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|20
|Win
|17–0–3
|align=left| Cy Flynn
|TKO
|3 (10)
|Oct 30, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|19
|Win
|16–0–3
|align=left| Terry Martin
|KO
|3 (6)
|Sep 14, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|18
|Win
|15–0–3
|align=left| Tommy Sullivan
|KO
|1 (15)
|Sep 2, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|17
|Draw
|14–0–3
|align=left| Tony Caponi
|PTS
|10
|Jun 20, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|16
|Win
|14–0–2
|align=left| Foster Walker
|KO
|2 (10)
|Jun 14, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|15
|Win
|13–0–2
|align=left| Jack Morgan
|KO
|7 (10)
|Jun 6, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|14
|Draw
|12–0–2
|align=left| Tony Caponi
|PTS
|15
|May 21, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|13
|Win
|12–0–1
|align=left| Johnny Carroll
|KO
|4 (10)
|Apr 30, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|12
|Draw
|11–0–1
|align=left| Billy Rhodes
|PTS
|15
|Mar 26, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|11
|Win
|11–0
|align=left| Billy Rhodes
|PTS
|10
|Mar 6, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|10
|Win
|10–0
|align=left| Carl Anderson
|KO
|1 (10)
|Feb 14, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|9
|Win
|9–0
|align=left| Dick Fitzpatrick
|PTS
|10
|Jan 29, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|8
|Win
|8–0
|align=left| Tommy Wallace
|KO
|3 (10)
|Jan 15, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|7
|Win
|7–0
|align=left| Kid Farmer
|KO
|6 (10)
|Dec 17, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|6
|Win
|6–0
|align=left| Milt Kinney
|KO
|3 (10)
|Nov 27, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|5
|Win
|5–0
|align=left| Carl Purdy
|TKO
|7 (10)
|Jul 4, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|4
|Win
|4–0
|align=left| Jack Denny
|KO
|1 (6)
|Jun 1, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|3
|Win
|3–0
|align=left| Buster Teegan
|KO
|3 (6)
|May 30, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|2
|Win
|2–0
|align=left| Red Morrisey
|KO
|3 (4)
|Apr 30, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|1
|Win
|1–0
|align=left| Mexican Wonder
|PTS
|4
|Mar 24, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|}
Unofficial record
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions to the win/loss/draw column.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|-
!
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|63
|Loss
|39–17–7
|align=left| Jimmy Darcy
|PTS
|4
|May 14, 1919
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|62
|Loss
|39–16–7
|align=left| Jakob "Soldier" Bartfield
|PTS
|4
|Apr 8, 1919
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|61
|Loss
|39–15–7
|align=left| Jack Smith
|NWS
|10
|Jun 1, 1916
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|60
|Loss
|39–14–7
|align=left| Marty Rowan
|PTS
|8
|Oct 14, 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|59
|Loss
|39–13–7
|align=left| Frank Klaus
|RTD
|6 (20)
|Mar 5, 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|58
|Win
|39–12–7
|align=left| Georges Bernard
|RTD
|6 (20)
|Dec 4, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|57
|Win
|38–12–7
|align=left| Georges Carpentier
|TKO
|18 (20)
|Oct 23, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|56
|Loss
|37–12–7
|align=left| Leo Houck
|NWS
|6
|Sep 27, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|55
|Loss
|37–11–7
|align=left| Jack Denning
|NWS
|10
|Sep 25, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|54
|Win
|37–10–7
|align=left| Marcel Moreau
|TKO
|16 (20)
|Jun 29, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|53
|Win
|36–10–7
|align=left| Billy Leitch
|TKO
|2 (10)
|May 2, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|52
|Loss
|35–10–7
|align=left| Frank Mantell
|PTS
|20
|Feb 22, 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|51
|Loss
|35–9–7
|align=left| Bob Moha
|PTS
|12
|Oct 31, 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|50
|Loss
|35–8–7
|align=left| Sailor Burke
|NWS
|10
|Aug 22, 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|49
|Win
|35–7–7
|align=left| Jim Sullivan
|KO
|9 (20)
|Jun 8, 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|48
|Win
|34–7–7
|align=left| Dave Smith
|TKO
|7 (20)
|Mar 11, 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|47
|Loss
|33–7–7
|align=left| Cyclone Johnny Thompson
|PTS
|20
|Feb 11, 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|46
|Loss
|33–6–7
|align=left| Dave Smith
|DQ
|10 (20)
|Dec 26, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|45
|Win
|33–5–7
|align=left| Ed Williams
|TKO
|6 (20)
|Oct 26, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|44
|Win
|32–5–7
|align=left| Jack "Twin" Sullivan
|PTS
|12
|Jun 21, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|43
|Win
|31–5–7
|align=left| Al Goodale
|DQ
|2 (10)
|Jun 14, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|42
|Win
|30–5–7
|align=left| Joe Thomas
|KO
|16 (20)
|May 19, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|41
|Win
|29–5–7
|align=left| Willie Lewis
|KO
|3 (15)
|Mar 19, 1910
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|40
|Loss
|28–5–7
|align=left| Frank Klaus
|NWS
|6
|Nov 11, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|39
|Win
|28–4–7
|align=left| Willie Lewis
|NWS
|6
|Oct 8, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|38
|Draw
|27–4–7
|align=left| Fireman Jim Flynn
|NWS
|10
|Jul 14, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|37
|Loss
|27–4–6
|align=left| Stanley Ketchel
|UD
|20
|Jul 5, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|36
|Win
|27–3–6
|align=left| Hugo Kelly
|KO
|1 (45)
|May 15, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|35
|Loss
|26–3–6
|align=left| Fireman Jim Flynn
|NWS
|10
|Mar 19, 1909
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|34
|Draw
|26–2–6
|align=left| Hugo Kelly
|PTS
|25
|Dec 15, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|33
|Loss
|26–2–5
|align=left| Stanley Ketchel
|KO
|11 (20)
|Nov 26, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|32
|Win
|26–1–5
|align=left| Stanley Ketchel
|TKO
|12 (25)
|Sep 7, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|31
|Win
|25–1–5
|align=left| Sailor Burke
|NWS
|6
|Aug 18, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|30
|Win
|24–1–5
|align=left| Frank Mantell
|TKO
|1 (6)
|Aug 13, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|29
|Win
|23–1–5
|align=left| Johnny Carroll
|TKO
|2 (6)
|Aug 13, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|28
|Loss
|22–1–5
|align=left| Stanley Ketchel
|PTS
|10
|Jun 4, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|27
|Win
|22–0–5
|align=left| Hugo Kelly
|PTS
|10
|Mar 16, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|26
|Win
|21–0–5
|align=left| Walter Stanton
|TKO
|4 (12)
|Jan 21, 1908
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|25
|Draw
|20–0–5
|align=left| Hugo Kelly
|PTS
|10
|Dec 30, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|24
|Win
|20–0–4
|align=left| Bartley Connolly
|TKO
|4 (10)
|Nov 22, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|23
|Win
|19–0–4
|align=left| Charlie Haghey
|TKO
|1 (10)
|Nov 22, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|22
|Win
|18–0–4
|align=left| Tony Caponi
|KO
|2 (10)
|Nov 14, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|21
|Draw
|17–0–4
|align=left| Pat O'Keefe
|PTS
|6
|Nov 9, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|20
|Win
|17–0–3
|align=left| Cy Flynn
|TKO
|3 (10)
|Oct 30, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|19
|Win
|16–0–3
|align=left| Terry Martin
|KO
|3 (6)
|Sep 14, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|18
|Win
|15–0–3
|align=left| Tommy Sullivan
|KO
|1 (15)
|Sep 2, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|17
|Draw
|14–0–3
|align=left| Tony Caponi
|PTS
|10
|Jun 20, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|16
|Win
|14–0–2
|align=left| Foster Walker
|KO
|2 (10)
|Jun 14, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|15
|Win
|13–0–2
|align=left| Jack Morgan
|KO
|7 (10)
|Jun 6, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|14
|Draw
|12–0–2
|align=left| Tony Caponi
|PTS
|15
|May 21, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|13
|Win
|12–0–1
|align=left| Johnny Carroll
|KO
|4 (10)
|Apr 30, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|12
|Draw
|11–0–1
|align=left| Billy Rhodes
|PTS
|15
|Mar 26, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|11
|Win
|11–0
|align=left| Billy Rhodes
|PTS
|10
|Mar 6, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|10
|Win
|10–0
|align=left| Carl Anderson
|KO
|1 (10)
|Feb 14, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|9
|Win
|9–0
|align=left| Dick Fitzpatrick
|PTS
|10
|Jan 29, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|8
|Win
|8–0
|align=left| Tommy Wallace
|KO
|3 (10)
|Jan 15, 1907
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|7
|Win
|7–0
|align=left| Kid Farmer
|KO
|6 (10)
|Dec 17, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|6
|Win
|6–0
|align=left| Milt Kinney
|KO
|3 (10)
|Nov 27, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|5
|Win
|5–0
|align=left| Carl Purdy
|TKO
|7 (10)
|Jul 4, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|4
|Win
|4–0
|align=left| Jack Denny
|KO
|1 (6)
|Jun 1, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|3
|Win
|3–0
|align=left| Buster Teegan
|KO
|3 (6)
|May 30, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|2
|Win
|2–0
|align=left| Red Morrisey
|KO
|3 (4)
|Apr 30, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|1
|Win
|1–0
|align=left| Mexican Wonder
|PTS
|4
|Mar 24, 1906
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|}
Primary boxing achievements and honors
See also
- List of middleweight boxing champions
References
External links
- International Boxing Hall of Fame site
- Photo & Stats.
- Firstchoicebooks publisher