Historic Boxing

Major project beginning to come together nicely. Keep 'em peeled...

Happened to be watching this today and, to my surprise, Gregory Peck's character referenced Bob Fitzsimmons. Always nice to see Fitz getting a shoutout.

Mike Tyson took just 30 seconds to KO Marvis Frazier #OnThisDay in 1986 at the Civic Center in Glens Falls, New York. The victory was the fastest in Tyson's pro career.

Former World Featherweight Champion "Torpedo" Billy Murphy died in Auckland, New Zealand, #OnThisDay in 1939, aged 75.

Johnny Dundee won the world featherweight crown #OnThisDay in 1923 with a 15-round points win over Eugene Criqui at the Polo Grounds in New York.

Gene Tunney retained the world heavyweight crown via a Round 11 TKO of Tom Heeney at Yankee Stadium in New York #OnThisDay in 1928. Tunney retired just days later.

Former WBC/IBF welterweight and WBC super welterweight world champion Vernon Forrest was shot dead #OnThisDay in 2009 after being robbed at a gas station in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 38.

World Featherweight Champ Willie Pep, aka "Will o' the Wisp", defeated "Austin Atom" Jackie Graves via a Round 8 TKO at the Auditorium in Minneapolis #OTD in 1946. The bout has entered folklore because of Willie's later claim that he won the third round without landing a single…

Former welterweight + middleweight world champ Mickey Walker took little over a minute to KO heavyweight Salvatore Ruggirello at Dreamland Park, Newark, #OTD in 1932. The "Toy Bulldog" floored his foe with ease despite conceding over 35lbs in weight + several inches in height.

Pete "Kid" Herman regained the world bantamweight crown #OnThisDay in 1921 via a 15-round points decision over "Skinny" Joe Lynch at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York.

World Lightweight Champ Benny Leonard beat World Featherweight Champ Johnny Kilbane via a TKO at Philly's Shibe Park #OTD in 1917. Kilbane's manager threw in the towel at the end of Rd 3 of 6 as a "battered + dazed" Kilbane struggled to rise after being floored by a right hook.

Future HW king Jack Dempsey secured a 4-rd decision win over "Fat Boy" Willie Meehan in California #OTD in 1917. The bout was the 2nd of 5 between the men + Jack's only win - Willie won 2, 2 were drawn. Jack described Willie as "pure blubber" but "dangerous" + "damn good".

"The Boilermaker" Jim Jeffries retained the world heavyweight crown #OnThisDay in 1902 with a Round 8 KO of former champ Bob Fitzsimmons in San Francisco - but only after surviving a savage beating from the famed Fitzsimmons fists.

"I had to get back in and throw him out of the ring. Lifting that man must have shrunk me an inch. Know how I did it? I went under the guy, got my arm under his crotch, and whispered 'Jump!' So much for brute strength." Sylvester Stallone.