Date: Aug. 24; Opponent: Geo. Thomas; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 3
Date: Aug. 24; Opponent: August Stenzie; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 3
Date: Aug. 30; Opponent: Isadore Strauss; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 5
Date: Sept. 21; Opponent: Young Griffo; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: D; Result: PTS; Rounds: 15
Date: Sept. 27; Opponent: Bobby Dobbs; Site: Brooklyn, N.Y.; Wins: L; Result: PTS; Rounds: 20 Originally called a D
Date: Nov. 6; Opponent: Jack Daly; Site: Philadelphia Pa.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: Nov. 29; Opponent: Stanton Abbott; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 5
1898
Date: Jan. 3; Opponent: Billy Young; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 2
Date: Jan. 17; Opponent: Frank Garrard; Site: Cleveland, Ohio; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 15
Date: March 11; Opponent: Tom Shortell; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 6
Date: April 11; Opponent: Young Starlight; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 3
Date: April 11; Opponent: Young Smyrna; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 4
Date: May 11; Opponent: Steve Crosby; Site: Louisville, Ky.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 7
Date: June 3; Opponent: Joe “Kid” Robinson; Site: Chicago, Ill.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 6
Date: July 1; Opponent: Monk Brown; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 6
Date: July 26; Opponent: James Obey; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: SCH
Date: Aug. 8; Opponent: Billy Ernst; Site: Coney Island, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 11
Date: Aug. 26; Opponent: Young Smyrna; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 15
Date: Aug. 31; Opponent: Tom Jackson; Site: Eastern, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 3
Date: Sept. 26; Opponent: Herman Miller; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 4
Date: Sept. 27; Opponent: “Buck” Raynor; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 3
Date: Sept. 27; Opponent: William Hinton; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 1
Date: Sept. 27; Opponent: Joseph Smith; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 1 Smith (Middle-weight)
Date: Sept. 28; Opponent: James Martin; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 4
Date: Sept. 29; Opponent: Fred Sweigert; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 4
Date: Sept. 30; Opponent: Billy Duke; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 4
Date: Nov. 4; Opponent: Kid McPartland; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 25
Date: Dec. 27; Opponent: Jack Daly; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 25
1899
Date: Jan. 13; Opponent: Young Smyrna; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 2
Date: Jan. 28; Opponent: Martin Judge; Site: Toronto, Canada; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 20
Date: Feb. 6; Opponent: Billy Ernst; Site: Buffalo, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: F; Rounds: 10
Date: April 14; Opponent: George McFadden; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: L; Result: KO; Rounds: 23 Gans sick
Date: July 24; Opponent: Jack Dobbs; Site: Ocean City, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 4
Date: July 28; Opponent: George McFadden; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: D; Result: PTS; Rounds: 25 Spect. said Gans won
Date: Sept. 1; Opponent: Eugene Bezenah; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 10
Date: Sept. 15; Opponent: Martin Judge; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 12 Police stopped
Date: Oct. 3; Opponent: Spider Kelly; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 25
Date: Oct. 7; Opponent: Jack Daly; Site: Philadelphia Pa.; Wins: D; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: Oct. 11; Opponent: Martin Judge; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 20
Date: Oct. 31; Opponent: Geo. McFadden; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 25
Date: Nov. 24; Opponent: Steve Crosby; Site: Chicago, Ill.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 6
Date: Dec. 11; Opponent: George Ashe; Site: Cincinnati, Ohio; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 15
Date: Dec. 22; Opponent: William McPartland; Site: Chicago, Ill.; Wins: D; Result: PTS; Rounds: 6
1900
Date: Feb. 9; Opponent: William Sullivan; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 14
Date: March 23; Opponent: Frank Erne; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: L; Result: TKO; Rounds: 12
For lightweight championship of the world
Gans is head-butted and suffered a severe cut over his eye
Date: April 2; Opponent: Chicago Jack Daly; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 5
Date: May 25; Opponent: Dal Hawkins; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 2
Date: June 26; Opponent: Barney Furey; Site: Cincinnati, Ohio; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 9
Date: July 10; Opponent: Young Griffo; Site: Brooklyn, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 8
Date: July 12; Opponent: Whitey Lester; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 4
Date: Aug. 31; Opponent: Dal Hawkins; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 3
Date: Sept. 7; Opponent: George McFadden; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: Oct. 1; Opponent: George McFadden; Site: Denver, Colo.; Wins: D; Result: PTS; Rounds: 10 Press said Gans won
Date: Oct. 6; Opponent: Joe Youngs; Site: Denver, Colo.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 10
Date: Oct. 11; Opponent: Alexander Johnson; Site: Leadville, Colo.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 1
Date: Oct. 11; Opponent: “Kid” Robinson; Site: Leadville, Colo.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 4
Date: Oct. 16; Opponent: Otto Sieloff; Site: Denver, Colo.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 9
Date: Oct. 19; Opponent: Spider Kelly; Site: Denver, Colo.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 8
Date: Nov. 16; Opponent: William Parker; Site: Denver, Colo.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 4
Date: Dec. 13; Opponent: Terry McGovern; Site: Chicago, IL; Wins: L; Result: KO; Rounds: 2 Originally sch. Oct. 31
1901
Date: Feb. 12; Opponent: Jack Daly; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: F; Rounds: 6
Date: April 1; Opponent: Martin Flaherty; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 4
Date: May 31; Opponent: Bobby Dobbs; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 7
Date: July 15; Opponent: Harry Berger; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: Gans failed to KO Berger in 6
Date: July 15; Opponent: Jack Donahue; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 2
Date: July 15; Opponent: Kid Thomas; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: Gans failed to KO Thomas in 6
Date: Aug. 23; Opponent: Steve Crosby; Site: Louisville, Ky.; Wins: D; Result: PTS; Rounds: 20
Date: Sept. 20; Opponent: Steve Crosby; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: F; Rounds: 12
Date: Sept. 30; Opponent: Joe Handler; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 1
Date: Oct. 4; Opponent: Dan McConnell; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 3
Date: Nov. 15; Opponent: Jack Hanlon; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 2
Date: Nov. 22; Opponent: Billy Moore; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 3
Date: Dec. 13; Opponent: Bobby Dobbs; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 14
Date: Dec. 30; Opponent: Joe Youngs; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 4
1902
Date: Jan. 3; Opponent: Tom Broderick; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 6
Date: Jan. 6; Opponent: Eddie Connolly; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 5
Date: Feb. 17; Op
ponent: George McFadden; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: March 7; Opponent: Jack Ryan; Site: Allentown, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 3
Date: March 27; Opponent: Jack Bennett; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 5
(Welterweight)
Date: May 12; Opponent: Frank Erne; Site: Fort Erie, Canada; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 1
Gans wins lightweight title
Date: June 27; Opponent: George McFadden; Site: San Francisco, Calif.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 3
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world (Not considered a TF by San Francisco Examiner)
Date: July 24; Opponent: Rufe Turner; Site: Oakland, Calif.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 15
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: Sept. 17; Opponent: Gus Gardner; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 5
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: Sept. 22; Opponent: Jack Bennett; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 2
Date: Sept. 25; Opponent: Harry Duffy; Site: New Britain, Ct.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 2
Date: Oct. 13; Opponent: William McPartland; Site: Fort Erie, Canada; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 5
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: Oct. 14; Opponent: Dave Holly; Site: Lancaster, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 10
Date: Nov. 14; Opponent: Charley Seiger; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 14
Date: Dec. 19; Opponent: Howard Wilson; Site: Providence, R.I. Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 3
Date: Dec. 31; Opponent: Charley Seiger; Site: Boston, MA; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 10
1903
Date: Jan. 1; Opponent: Gus Gardner; Site: New Britain, Conn.; Wins: W; Result: F; Rounds: 11
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: Jan. 31; Opponent: Jack O’Brien; Site: Philadelphia
Gans challenges the heavyweight (No record that O’Brien accepted)
Date: Jan. 31; Opponent: Jack Donahue; Site: Toronto, Canada; Wins: ND; Rounds: 6
Date: March 11; Opponent: Steve Crosby; Site: Hot Springs, Ark.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 11
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: March 23; Opponent: Jack Bennett; Site: Allegheny, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 5
Date: May 12; Opponent: Tom Tracey; Site: Portland, Ore.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 9
Date: May 29; Opponent: Willie Fitzgerald; Site: San Francisco, Calif.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 10
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: July 4; Opponent: Buddy King; Site: Butte, Mont.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 5
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: Oct. 16; Opponent: Joe Grim; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: Oct. 20; Opponent: Eddie Kennedy; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: Oct. 23; Opponent: Dave Holly; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: Nov. 2; Opponent: Jack Blackburn; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: D; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: Dec. 7; Opponent: Dave Holly; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: Dec. 8; Opponent: Sam Langford; Site: Boston, Mass.; Wins: L; Result: PTS; Rounds: 15
Langford would later win Negro heavyweight title
1904
Date: Jan. 12; Opponent: Willie Fitzgerald; Site: Detroit, Mich.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 10 (Fought at 135 lbs)
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: Jan. 13; Opponent: Clarence Connors; Site: Mount Clemens, Mich.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 2
Date: Jan. 22; Opponent: Joe Grim; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 10
Date: Feb. 2; Opponent: Mike Ward; Site: Detroit, Mich.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 10 (Police halted)
Date: March 25; Opponent: Jack Blackburn; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 15
Gans agrees to grant Blackburn a title fight after repeated challenges
Date: March 28; Opponent: Gus Gardner; Site: Saginaw, Mich.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 10
Date: April 21; Opponent: Sam Bolen; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 15
Date: May 27; Opponent: Jewey Cooke; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 8
(Some say this was a title fight)
Date: June 3; Opponent: Kid Griffo; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 7
Date: June 13; Opponent: Sammy Smith; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 4
Date: June 27; Opponent: Dave Holly; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: Sept. 30; Opponent: Joe Walcott; Site: San Francisco, Calif.; Wins: D; Result: PTS; Rounds: 20
Some report as world welterweight championship; newspapers say Gans won
Date: Oct. 31; Opponent: Jimmy Britt; Site: San Francisco, Calif.; Wins: W; Result: F; Rounds: 5
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
1905
Date: March 27; Opponent: Rufe Turner; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: D; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: Sept. 15; Opponent: Mike “Twin” Sullivan; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: D; Result: PTS; Rounds: 15
1906
Date: Jan. 19; Opponent: Mike “Twin” Sullivan; Site: San Francisco, Calif.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 15
For the welterweight championship of the world according to newspapers
Date: March 17; Opponent: Mike “Twin” Sullivan; Site: Los Angeles, Calif.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 10
For the world welterweight title
Date: May 18; Opponent: Willie Lewis; Site: New York, N.Y.; Result: ND; Rounds: 6
Date: June 15; Opponent: Harry Lewis; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: June 29; Opponent: Jack Blackburn; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 6
Date: July 23; Opponent: Dave Holly; Site: Seattle, Wash.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 20
Date: Sept. 3; Opponent: Oscar Nelson; Site: Goldfield, Nev.; Wins: W; Result: F; Rounds: 42
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: Oct. 25; Opponent: Mickey Riley; Site: Milwaukee, Wis.; Wins: EXB; Rounds: 4
Date: Oct. 25; Opponent: Geo. “Kid” Lavigne; Site: Detroit, Mich.; Wins: EXB; Rounds: 3
1907
Date: Jan. 1; Opponent: Kid Herman; Site: Tonopah, Nev.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 8
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: Jan. 16; Opponent: George Green; Site: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wins: EXB; Rounds: 3
Date: Sept. 9; Opponent: Jimmy Britt; Site: San Francisco, Calif.; Wins: W; Result: TKO; Rounds: 6
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: Sept. 27; Opponent: George Memsic; Site: Los Angeles, Calif.; Wins: W; Result: PTS; Rounds: 20
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
1908
Date: Jan. 3; Opponent: Bart Blackburn; Site: Baltimore, Md.; Wins: W; Result: (KO); Rounds: 3 (Blackburn laid down)
Date: April 1; Opponent: Frank Robson; Site: Philadelphia, Pa. ; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 3
Date: May 14; Opponent: Rudy Unholz; Site: San Francisco, Calif.; Wins: W; Result: KO; Rounds: 11
Gans retains lightweight championship of the world
Date: July 4; Opponent: Oscar Nelson; Site: Colma, Calif.; Wins: L; Result: KO; Rounds: 17
Gans loses lightweight championship of the world
Date: Sept. 9; Opponent: Oscar Nelson; Site: Colma, Calif.; Wins: L; Result: KO; Rounds: 21
For lightweight championship of the world
1909
Date: March 12; Opponent: Jabez Whi
te; Site: New York, N.Y.; Wins: W; Result: NewsD; Rounds: 10
Totals
181 fights (excluding amateur, exhibition, and no decision fights)
158 wins (of these, 110 were KOs)
15 draws
8 losses
It is estimated that Gans fought well over 200 fights during his lifetime. He won 5 fights by being fouled and lost to no one on a foul. Joe Gans is one of only ten fighters to score over 100 KOs.
Gans’ Measurements
Height: 5 feet 6½ inches
Wrist: 6¾ inches
Neck: 15½ inches
Thigh: 20 inches
Biceps: 12 inches
Calf: 13 inches
Forearm: 11½ inches
Reach: 71 inches
Chest: 38 inches
Weight: 133
—Baltimore Sun, April 1, 1901
Gans was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame (instituted by the Ring, 1954) in the first group of inductees in 1954; into the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame on February 19, 1973; and into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Chapter Notes
Chapter 1
1. Roger Simon and Angie Cannon, “An Amazing Journey: The Mirror of the Census Reveals the Character of a Nation,” 18.
2. Ibid.
3. Francis J. Grimke, “The Atlanta Riot: A Discourse Published by Request.” The Rev. Grimke was the pastor of the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C.
4. “Today’s Big Fight,” Baltimore Sun, September 3, 1906. The word crepe (variously written crape) denoted the black drapery of the late Victorian era hung ceremoniously to signify death and respectful mourning.
5. Harry C. Carr, “Study in Pathos is Face of Joe Gans,” Los Angeles Daily Times, September 25, 1907.
6. Nat Fleischer, “Strays from the Narrow Path,” Black Dynamite, Vol. 3, 151. For the next two decades, Fleischer continued to reiterate his view that Gans was a “quitter.” Nat Fleischer and Sam Andre, A Pictoral History of Boxing, 246–247.
Joe Gans Page 34
