John Joseph Killion (February 9, 1859 – December 22, 1937), more commonly known as Jake Kilrain, was a famous American bare-knuckle fighter and glove boxer of the 1880s.
Early life
Kilrain found employment as a teenager in Somerville, Massachusetts. As a country boy from Long Island, he had to learn how to stand up to the workers in the rolling mills. By the age of 20, he had been recognized as the toughest fighter in the mill. Kilrain was also a champion rower having won the National Amateur Junior Sculling Championship in 1883. He was later stripped of that honor when it was discovered that he was a prizefighter and thus could not be considered an amateur.
In 1883, Kilrain took up prizefighting as a profession and quickly established a reputation as a very tough fighter.
Professional career
World Championship fight with Jem Smith
By 1887 Kilrain already has been recognized as the U.S. National Champion, that gave him an opportunity to fight for the Championship of the World and silver belt versus the British Champion Jem Smith, scheduled to take place in December 1887, in France, at a little island on the River Seine, called St. Pierre d'Autils. The bout was attended by about a hundred of the upper class spectators and journalists, mainly from England, being covered by the major international media of the day, such as Reuters, Gaulois, etc. They fought 1-minute rounds with 30 seconds break between the rounds. At the outset the men fought evenly. After the 3rd round Kilrain scored several knockdowns, and wrestling formed the principal mode of operations for the rest of the fight. Before the 106th round had started, after two hours and a half of fighting (roughly three times the full duration of modern-day 12-round championship fights,) when darkness set in, the bout was stopped due to technical reasons, as no artificial lighting of the scene has been arranged the outcome was called a draw due to darkness.
Clearly dominant throughout the fight (even the English newspapers wrote that "the Englishman was no match for the American crack") upon his return to the United States, Kilrain was pronounced by Richard K. Fox of the National Police Gazette as Heavyweight Champion of the World for his bout with Jem Smith. The awarding of the belt to Kilrain was part of a strategy by Fox to draw Sullivan into a fight.
Kilrain was elected to the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009 and to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012.
Scottish boxer and welterweight champion Henry Owens would later fight under the name "Jake Kilrain".
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 in the win/loss/draw column.
{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center"
|-
!
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|51
|Loss
|31–6–10
|align=left| Steve O'Donnell
|TKO
|5 (15),
|Oct 20, 1899
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|50
|Loss
|31–5–10
|align=left| Frank Slavin
|KO
|1 (10),
|Sep 14, 1896
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|49
|style="background:#DDD"|ND
|31–4–10
|align=left| Abe Ullman
|ND
|10
|Sep 30, 1895
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|48
|Loss
|31–4–10
|align=left| Steve O'Donnell
|TKO
|21 (25),
|May 6, 1895
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|47
|Draw
|31–3–10
|align=left| Steve O'Donnell
|PTS
|8
|Mar 18, 1895
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|46
|Loss
|31–3–9
|align=left| Frank Slavin
|TKO
|9 (10)
|Jun 16, 1891
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|45
|Win
|31–2–9
|align=left| George Godfrey
|KO
|44
|Mar 13, 1891
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|44
|Win
|30–2–9
|align=left| George Maguire
|KO
|2 (?)
|Dec 4, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|43
|Win
|29–2–9
|align=left| Mike Brennan
|PTS
|3
|Dec 3, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|42
|Win
|28–2–9
|align=left| George Harris
|KO
|2 (?)
|Dec 1, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|41
|Win
|27–2–9
|align=left| Arthur Chambers
|PTS
|3
|Aug 22, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|40
|Win
|26–2–9
|align=left| Jerry Slattery
|TKO
|2 (?)
|Aug 1, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|39
|Win
|25–2–9
|align=left| Dick Mayel
|PTS
|3
|Jun 18, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|38
|Win
|24–2–9
|align=left| Tommy McManus
|PTS
|3
|Jun 13, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|37
|Win
|23–2–9
|align=left| Frank Straub
|KO
|4 (?)
|Jun 12, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|36
|Win
|22–2–9
|align=left| Frank Bosworth
|TKO
|3 (4)
|Jun 10, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|35
|Loss
|21–2–9
|align=left| James J. Corbett
|PTS
|6
|Feb 18, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|34
|Win
|21–1–9
|align=left| Felix Vacquelin
|KO
|3 (?)
|Feb 2, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|33
|style="background:#DDD"|Loss
|20–1–9
|align=left| John Scholes
|NWS
|4
|Nov 4, 1889
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|32
|Loss
|20–1–9
|align=left| John L. Sullivan
|KO
|75 (?)
|Jul 8, 1889
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|31
|Draw
|20–0–9
|align=left| Jem Smith
|PTS
|106 (?)
|Dec 19, 1887
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|20
|Draw
|13–0–7
|align=left| George Fryer
|PTS
|5
|May 15, 1885
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|19
|Win
|13–0–6
|align=left| Alf Greenfield
|PTS
|?
|1884-1886
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|18
|Win
|12–0–6
|align=left| Jerry Murphy
|PTS
|4
|Jan 5, 1885
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|17
|Draw
|11–0–6
|align=left| Jack Burke
|PTS
|5
|Dec 1, 1884
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|16
|Draw
|11–0–5
|align=left| Jem Goode
|PTS
|5
|Jul 3, 1884
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|15
|Draw
|11–0–4
|align=left| Mike Cleary
|PTS
|4
|Jun 26, 1884
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|14
|Win
|11–0–3
|align=left| William Sherriff
|PTS
|3 (4)
|May 6, 1884
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|13
|Draw
|10–0–3
|align=left| Charley Mitchell
|PTS
|4
|Mar 26, 1884
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|12
|Win
|10–0–2
|align=left| Jerry Murphy
|KO
|2 (?)
|Oct 29, 1883
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|11
|Draw
|9–0–2
|align=left| Jem Goode
|PTS
|5
|Oct 26, 1883
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|10
|Win
|9–0–1
|align=left| George Godfrey
|TKO
|3 (3)
|May 16, 1883
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|9
|Win
|8–0–1
|align=left| John McGylnn
|TKO
|4 (?)
|Apr 16, 1883
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|8
|Win
|7–0–1
|align=left| Pete McCoy
|KO
|3 (3)
|Mar 19, 1883
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|7
|Win
|6–0–1
|align=left| John Allen
|PTS
|3
|Feb 10, 1883
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|6
|Draw
|5–0–1
|align=left| George Godfrey
|PTS
|3
|Jan 15, 1882
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|5
|Win
|5–0
|align=left| John Hughes
|PTS
|3
|Jan 10, 1880
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|4
|Win
|4–0
|align=left| Dennis Roach
|TKO
|? (?)
|Apr 1, 1879
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|3
|Win
|3–0
|align=left| Dan Dwyer
|PTS
|? (?)
|Mar 10, 1879
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|2
|Win
|2–0
|align=left| Jem Driscoll
|TKO
|? (?)
|Feb 1, 1879
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|1
|Win
|1–0
|align=left| Jack Daley
|KO
|2 (?)
|Jan 1, 1879
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|}
Unofficial record
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center"
|-
!
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|51
|Loss
|31–7–10
|align=left| Steve O'Donnell
|TKO
|5 (15),
|Oct 20, 1899
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|50
|Loss
|31–6–10
|align=left| Frank Slavin
|KO
|1 (10),
|Sep 14, 1896
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|49
|style="background:#DDD"|ND
|31–5–10
|align=left| Abe Ullman
|ND
|10
|Sep 30, 1895
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|48
|Loss
|31–5–10
|align=left| Steve O'Donnell
|TKO
|21 (25),
|May 6, 1895
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|47
|Draw
|31–4–10
|align=left| Steve O'Donnell
|PTS
|8
|Mar 18, 1895
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|46
|Loss
|31–4–9
|align=left| Frank Slavin
|TKO
|9 (10)
|Jun 16, 1891
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|45
|Win
|31–3–9
|align=left| George Godfrey
|KO
|44
|Mar 13, 1891
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|44
|Win
|30–3–9
|align=left| George Maguire
|KO
|2 (?)
|Dec 4, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|43
|Win
|29–3–9
|align=left| Mike Brennan
|PTS
|3
|Dec 3, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|42
|Win
|28–3–9
|align=left| George Harris
|KO
|2 (?)
|Dec 1, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|41
|Win
|27–3–9
|align=left| Arthur Chambers
|PTS
|3
|Aug 22, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|40
|Win
|26–3–9
|align=left| Jerry Slattery
|TKO
|2 (?)
|Aug 1, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|39
|Win
|25–3–9
|align=left| Dick Mayel
|PTS
|3
|Jun 18, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|38
|Win
|24–3–9
|align=left| Tommy McManus
|PTS
|3
|Jun 13, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|37
|Win
|23–3–9
|align=left| Frank Straub
|KO
|4 (?)
|Jun 12, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|36
|Win
|22–3–9
|align=left| Frank Bosworth
|TKO
|3 (4)
|Jun 10, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|35
|Loss
|21–3–9
|align=left| James J. Corbett
|PTS
|6
|Feb 18, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|34
|Win
|21–2–9
|align=left| Felix Vacquelin
|KO
|3 (?)
|Feb 2, 1890
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|33
|Loss
|20–2–9
|align=left| John Scholes
|NWS
|4
|Nov 4, 1889
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|32
|Loss
|20–1–9
|align=left| John L. Sullivan
|KO
|75 (?)
|Jul 8, 1889
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|31
|Draw
|20–0–9
|align=left| Jem Smith
|PTS
|106 (?)
|Dec 19, 1887
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|30
|Win
|20–0–8
|align=left| Joe Lannon
|TKO
|11 (?)
|Mar 8, 1887
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|29
|style="background:#DDD"|ND
|19–0–8
|align=left| Jack Ashton
|ND
|4
|Dec 22, 1886
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|28
|style="background:#DDD"|
|19–0–8
|align=left| Johny Seidel
|ND
|4
|Dec 22, 1886
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|27
|Win
|19–0–8
|align=left| John P. Clow
|PTS
|4
|Dec 22, 1886
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|26
|Win
|18–0–8
|align=left| Denny Killen
|PTS
|4
|Nov 19, 1886
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|25
|Win
|17–0–8
|align=left| Tommy Kelly
|KO
|4 (4)
|Nov 17, 1886
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|24
|Win
|16–0–8
|align=left| Joe Godfrey
|KO
|2 (?)
|Nov 15, 1886
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|23
|Win
|15–0–8
|align=left| Frank Herald
|TKO
|1 (?),
|Nov 8, 1886
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|22
|Win
|14–0–8
|align=left| Jack Ashton
|PTS
|8
|Jul 31, 1886
|style="text-align:left;"|
|
|-
|21
|Draw
|13–0–8
|align=left| Frank Faber
|PTS
|?
|1886
|style="text-align:left;"|
|style="text-align:left;"|