Tommy Ryan
Ryan is considered by many old-timers to be the best Middleweight fighter ever; He was smart, a good boxer, and a hard-hitter; He worked with many fighters on improving their techniques, the most famous of which was Jim Jeffries; Ryan was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1958 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991
BORN : March 31 1870; Redwood, New York DIED : August 3 1948; Van Nuys, California HEIGHT : 5-7 3/4 WEIGHT : 130-158 lbs RACE : White MANAGERS : Professor Robertson, Charles E. "Parson" Davies, and Captain Jim Westcott
Boxing Record
1887 John Case KO 5 Jack Conway Rock Island, Il KO 3 Chris Christopher Grand Rapids, Mi KO 8
1888 Jul 20 Joe Johnson Marion, Mi KO 5 Dec 21 Dick England Lake City, Mi KO 33
1889 Apr 30 Martin Shaughnessy Detroit, Mi KO 23 May 29 Mike Dunn near Detroit, Mi KO 9 -This bout was held in an ice house at "Grosse Point"; Weights: about 130-150 Jun 18 Martin Shaughnessy Detroit, Mi KO 46 -This bout was held at "Lake St. Clair"; It lasted about 3 hours Aug 10 Jimmy Murphy Grand Rapids, Mi NC 57 Sep 3 Henry Baker Grand Rapids, Mi KO 3 Nov 20 Jimmy Murphy Grand Rapids, Mi EX 8
1890 Jul 20 John McInerssey Chicago, Il KO 5 Aug 4 Bob Harper Chicago, Il KO 4 Aug 28 Professor Maguire Chicago, Il KO 3 Sep 6 Con Doyle Shelby, In KO 28 -Some sources report 10/05/90; Weights: 138-136 1/2 Nov 23 Ed Bartlett Sheffield, Il KO 3
1891 Jan 31 Mike Boden Philadelphia, Pa W 4 Feb 16 Danny Needham Minneapolis, Mn KO 76 -This bout lasted over five hours Aug 9 Billy McMillan Richardson, Il KO 3 Sep 28 Jim Hall Chicago, Il EX 3 -Some sources report "EX 5" Dec 15 Frank Howson Chicago, Il KO 14
Undated (1890-1892) Frank Garrard W 1892 Apr 8 Con Doyle Dubuque, Ia W 8 -This bout was not held 4/12/92; Gloves were used for this bout May 6 Reddy Brennan Dubuque, Ia TK 10 -Ryan knocked down Brennan five times in round ten; Brennan took to grabbing Ryan's knees as he went down; The referee stopped the fight Jul 30 Jack Wilkes South Omaha, Ne TK 17 -Wilkes was badly punished; Police intervened; Weights: 140-140 Sep Wiley Evans Omaha, Ne SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Bob Fitzsimmons Chicago, Il EX 4 Nov 24 Jack Collins Detroit, Mi D 8 -Some sources report this bout held at the Chicago, Il (Auditorium) Dec "Hoboken" Tommy Kelly Detroit, Mi D 8 1893 Feb Danny Needham New Orleans, La SCH -This bout was scheduled but postponed; Ryan was ill with tonsilitis Feb Henry Baker Bay St. Louis, Ms EX -Ryan and Baker sparred often during Feb-Mar 1893 Mar 1 George Dawson New Orleans, La SCH -This bout was scheduled but postponed; Ryan was injured while training Apr 18 George Dawson Chicago, Il EX 6 -Some sources report "ND 6"; Ryan knocked down Dawson two times; Weights: 142-140 Apr -Ryan and Henry Baker were to tour America and give exhibition bouts during Apr-Mar 1893 Aug 29 "Mysterious" Billy Smith Coney Island, NY D 6 -Ryan was better Nov 2 Harry Jamieson Naugatuck, Ct KO 2 -Ryan outclassed Jamieson; Weights (to be): 142-165 Nov Dick Egan (Montana Kid) near Bridgeport, Ct SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Dec 11 Dick Guthrie Naugatuck, Ct NC 3
1894 Feb 18 "Australian" Billy McCarthy San Francisco, Ca TK 28 Jan 9 "Mysterious" Billy Smith Boston, Ma D 6 -The verdict was to be a "Draw" if both men were standing at the end of the bout Feb 10 Jimmy Dime New York, NY EX 4 Feb 24 Billy Vernon New York, NY EX 3 -This bout was part of a Benefit for the "World's Free Bread Fund"; Ryan knocked down Vernon in round one Apr 10 Morris Lane West Haven, Ct TK 3 -Ryan knocked Lane over the ropes in round three; Some sources report 4/11/94 Apr 22 Jack Wilkes NC 5 May 22 Jack Falvey Hartford, Ct KO 8 -Some sources report "KO 3" Jun 1 Jack Pitts Minneapolis, Mn KO 3 -This man may have been "Jake Pittz" Jul 26 "Mysterious" Billy Smith Minneapolis, Mn W 20 -Welterweight Championship of the World; Joe Choynski was the referee Sep 13 Billy Layton near St. Joseph, Mo KO 4 -Ryan drew first blood in round two; He had Layton groggy and almost out in round three; Weights: 146-146; This man may have been W. L. Leighton Nov Joe Choynski Chicago, Il EX -This bout was held during early Nov 1894; Public exhibitions were given every day Nov 7 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey New Orleans, La SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled due to the death of Andy Bowen Nov Jim Hall Detroit, Mi SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held; It was cancelled by authorities Dec 12 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey New Orleans, La SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled; The weight limit was 144 lbs
1895 Jan Joe Choynski New York, NY EX -Ryan sparred with Choynski nearly every day during January prior to the Dempsey bout Jan 18 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey Coney Island, NY (2:05) TK 3 -Welterweight Championship of the World; Weights: 145-142 Jan 28 Fred Woods Philadelphia, Pa SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Feb 23 an unnamed opponent Philadelphia, Pa SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Feb 25 Shorty Ahearn Chicago, Il W 4 Mar 11 Emmett Mellody Kansas City, Mo W 4 Mar 20 Tom Tracey Chicago, Il D 8 -Tracey floored Ryan in round three; Tracey was down in round six, twice more in round seven, and two more times in round eight; Then, the bout was stopped; The verdict should have been "TK 8" Apr 5 Jack Wilkes Chicago, Il SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held; Authorities prevented the bout; Police guarded the hall May Joe Choynski Dead Lake, NJ EX May Harry Pigeon Dead Lake, NJ EX May Bob Armstrong Dead Lake, NJ EX May Jimmy Barry Dead Lake, NJ EX -Ryan sparred with the previous 4 men nearly every day during May prior to the Smith bout May 27 "Mysterious" Billy Smith Coney Island, NY NC 18 -Welterweight Championship of the World; Smith knocked down Ryan three times; Police intervened to save Smith from a knockout Jun 8 Harry Pigeon New York, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Jun 25 Tom Crawford Syracuse, NY EX 4 Jun 27 Harry Pigeon New York, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Aug 19 Joe Walcott New York, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Aug -Ryan opened a saloon "The Champion" in Syracuse, NY; Tom Crowley was his business partner Nov 18 Joe Dunfee Buffalo, NY EX 3 1896 Jan 9 George "Kid" Lavigne New York, NY EX 4 Jan 15 Harry Baker Grand Rapids, Mi W 3 -Ryan had the best of the fighting; Police intervened; Some sources report "NC 6" Mar 2 Charles "Kid" McCoy Maspeth, NY LK 15 Mar 6 "Mysterious" Billy Smith Syracuse, NY ND 6 -Ryan was better May 18 Joe Dunfee Buffalo, NY KO 6 -Weights: 147-157 Jun 22 Billy "Shadow" Maber Buffalo, NY TK 9 -Weights: 147-152 Aug 20 Dick Moore Buffalo, NY W 20 Nov 25 "Mysterious" Billy Smith Maspeth, NY WF 9 -Some sources report this as a Welterweight Championship of the World contest Dec 21 "Australian" Billy McCarthy Buffalo, NY TK 7 Dec 23 Billy Payne Syracuse, NY KO 4 -Welterweight Championship of the World 1897 Feb 24 Tom Tracey Syracuse, NY TK 9 -Welterweight Championship of the World; The weight limit was 142 lbs Mar 17 Patsy Raedy Rochester, NY TK 18 -Police intervened; Weights: 147-160; May 10 Paddy Gorman Rochester, NY TK 3 May 24 Patsy Raedy Rochester, NY TK 6 -Weights: 148-152 Jun 21 Tom Williams Syracuse, NY (1:00) KO 2 Sep 8 Charles "Kid" McCoy Syracuse, NY NC 5 -Police intervened Nov 25 "Australian" Jim Ryan Elmira, NY KO 5 Nov 30 Billy Stift Chicago, Il W 6 Dec 20 Bill Hefferman Buffalo, NY KO 3 1898 Feb 25 Young Corbett (George Green) San Francisco, Ca TK 18 Jun 13 Tommy West New York, NY (2:43) TK 14 -Welterweight Championship of the World; Weights: 146-152 Oct 24 Jack Bonner Coney Island, NY W 20 -Middleweight Championship of the World; Weights: 149-158 Nov 8 Jack Bonner Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 -Ryan was better Nov 23 Johnny Gorman Syracuse, NY KO 8 -Some sources report "W 8"; Weights: 152-167 Dec 2 Tommy West Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 -This was a "tame" fight; It looked like a "pre-arranged draw" Dec 23 Dick O'Brien Hartford, Ct TK 14 -Some sources report this bout as a Middleweight Championship of the World contest; Police intervened; Weights: 147-158 1899 Feb 1 "Sailor" Tom Sharkey Syracuse, NY EX 6 Feb 22 Tom McCarthy Hot Springs, Ar KO 12 Mar 1 Charles Johnson Hot Springs, Ar KO 8 Mar 13 Paddy Purtell Cincinnati, Oh TK 4 Mar 18 Bob Douglass St. Louis, Mo ND 6 Apr 6 Frank "Dutch" Neal Dubuque, Ia W 6 Apr 17 Billy Stift Davenport, Ia W 20 Aug 31 Jack Moffatt Dubuque, Ia W 20 -This bout was billed as a Welterweight Championship of the World contest Sep 18 Frank Craig Coney Island, NY TK 10 -Middleweight Championship of the World Oct 24 Jim Jeffries Asbury Park, NJ EX 6 1900 Feb 2 George Lawlor Hot Springs, Ar TK 13 May 29 Charles "Kid" McCoy Chicago, Il L 6 -This was a referee's decision; The men later agreed to a "draw" Jun 29 John "Young" Mahoney Chicago, Il W 6 Jul 24 Jack Root Chicago, Il D 6 Nov 10 Geoff Thorn Chicago, Il KO 3 Nov 27 Kid Carter Chicago, Il W 6 1901 Jan 17 Jack Beauscholte Springfield, Il KO 3 -Some sources report "Springfield, Oh" Jan 31 Martin Judge Minneapolis, Mn KO 4 -Some newspapers called this fight a "fake" Mar 4 Tommy West Louisville, Ky TK 17 -Middleweight Championship of the World Aug 22 Bob Douglass Kansas City, Mo KO 7 Oct 10 Young Corbett (George Green) Kansas City, Mo LF 6 1902 Jan 30 Young Corbett (George Green) Kansas City, Mo KO 7 Feb 15 Jack Beauscholte Chicago, Il W 6 Feb 25 Tim Murphy Kansas City, Mo TK 9 Mar 14 "Mysterious" Billy Smith Kansas City, Mo KO 4 Apr 3 Billy Stift Kansas City, Mo W 10 May 26 Jimmy Handler Kansas City, Mo TK 4 Jun 24 Johnny Gorman London, Eng KO 3 -This bout was billed as a Middleweight Championship of the World contest Sep 15 Kid Carter Fort Erie, Ont, Can KO 6 -Middleweight Championship of the World; The weight limit was 158 lbs Oct 3 Barney Walsh Kansas City, Mo KO 2 Oct 3 Jack Beauscholte Kansas City, Mo KO 3 -Some sources report "KO 5" 1903 Jan 15 Billy Stift Kansas City, Mo KO 4 Feb 3 Cyclone Kelly Hot Springs, Ar TK 7 Jun 1 James "Soldier" Walker Battle Creek, Mi KO 5 Jun 15 Jack Hickey Battle Creek, Mi KO 4 Jun 30 John Wille Butte, Mt KO 4 1904 Jan 27 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 -O'Brien was better Feb 24 Jack Beauscholte Indianapolis, In TK 6 Sep 10 Frank Garrard Chicago, Il KO 3 Oct 10 Bob Douglass St. Louis, Mo KO 4 Oct 26 Tom Wallace Benton Harbor, Mi KO 5 Nov 15 Jack Graham South Bend, In KO 4 Nov 23 Jack Root Philadelphia, Pa NC 4 Dec 29 Billy Stift Benton Harbor, Mi KO 4 1906 Dec 5 -Ryan retired from boxing (only to return later); He "gave" the Middleweight Championship to Hugo Kelly; The public did not accept Kelly as Champion 1907 Feb 5 Dave Barry Hot Springs, Ar KO 5 Mar 4 Hugo Kelly Rochester, NY D 6 Aug 4 Oscar "Battling" Nelson South Bend, In EX 6 1908 Aug 22 Howard Morrow Benton Harbor, Mi EX 6