Discovered: Four New Joe Gans Fights

Three Baltimore papers had an identical report (all marked "special for", how funny), referee stopping it in the 3rd. NY Evening World had the referee declaring it a no contest in the 3rd round. Phila Record, like you said, had it TKO in 5th round. Pittsburg Press on Mar 9 had it TKO after 1 minute of the 4th round. I'd like a more local confirmation before changing it. What's on newspaperarchive if you have access? Maybe they have a newspaper from nearby town, like Bethlehem or Easton?

 

Very cool. Where did you find them?

 

I added another bout, so it's at KO100 right now, but I will need to change another bout from KO to a decision victory (two next day reports disagreed, so I had to find a 3rd one) and end up at KO99 again.

 

I thought the pros versus anyone willing to fight were discredited. otherwise john l. sullivan's tours would have given him a dozen more documented title defenses.

 

Were they billed as exhibition bouts? Was it part of a theatrical tour? Were the durations of the rounds and/or fights shorter than the norm? Were the gloves used larger than standard gloves of the time? etc etc. If any of these can be answered yes or several then it probably shouldnt count. For years and years professional boxers have fought and been paid for exhibition bouts, and often took them very seriously going for the kill, but they still should not be counted as anything but exhibition bouts. Some of Greb's exhibition bouts have on occasion filtered in and out of his record, as well as Dempsey, and in the past even Joe Louis. But, simply being paid, or two fighters going hammer and tongs in an exhibition, should not dictate whether it was a recorded/sanctioned professional bout. Ive even seen some people, on occasion, try to add street fights of early fighters into their professional records. I dont agree with this either.

Ive seen people argue that several of Jack Dempsey's exhibition KOs should count toward his record. They should not. Ive seen people argue that several of Louis' exhibition KOs should count to his official tally. They should not (and Louis was usually fighting ranked professionals and very often hurting or stopping them). Ive even seen people including Luckett Davis argue that Harry Greb's exhibition with Kid Lewis (not TKL) should be part of his record for no other reason than Greb scored a KO. It should not.

 

Great find gents!

Does this increase the legend of gans?

Have you been able to nail down how many defences he made?

 

Got a clipping? Can you share it with me?

 

Those fights were not billed as exhibitions, only his sparring with Herman Miller was. Short "meet all comers" tour, not theatrical. Normal duration, 3 minutes, Queensberry rules. No mention of special gloves being used in three local newspapers.

 

I got them. Thanks a lot!