Old School HW Frank Child's how's he stack up, what's your thoughts?

The old school fighters have always facinated me. So much is unknown, with no video we are left with only accounts and the words written about each by others..

Recently I've taken up searching for info on Frank Child's. I copied and pasted below a few things I've found online but I'm eager to get the opinions of you here at classic. I've done lots of research on other older fighters like McVea and Jeanette for example Who both have plenary of info available.. . But I am unable to find much info on Child's yet his records boasts some decent wins over fighters who have more written about them than Child's.. How good was he? What was his style? Training habits, anything anyone has would be much appreciated.. Books, links, anything... Thanks ..



Frank Childs
(the "Crafty Texan")

BORN July 17 1867; Texas (Fought out of Chicago, Illinois)
HEIGHT 5-9 1/2
WEIGHT 160-185 lbs
MANAGER Herman C. Roussellot
Childs was a short, stocky, strong fighter who tangled with anyone - from the middleweights up through the heavyweights; He was never a heavyweight by today's standards but he was powerful and hit like one

During his career, Childs defeated such men as Bob Armstrong, Joe Butler, Jack Bonner, Joe Walcott, George Byers, George LaBlanche, "Australian" Billy Smith, Kentucky Rosebud (Walter Edgerton), Klondike (John Haines), Harry Baker, Bill Hanrahan and "Mexican" Pete Everett



Image by FlamingText.com
Boxing Historian


Black heavyweight
Frank Childs
KO's foe ... twice
(Dec. 15, 1900)


By CHRISTOPHER JAMES SHELTON
www.ringsideboxingshow.com

Some people are cursed in life. No matter what you do to improve your life and existence it is not going to happen. Fate is against you. God hates you! I am a tortured Catholic, but out of respect to my Turkish Muslim friend, Ceren, maybe Allah hates you! For whatever curse or wrong, or life just not meant to go your way, a boxing historian reaches truth: God and/or Allah hated Frank Childs.

Frank Childs was a blue-collar stiff from Texas who fought out of Chicago during the 1890’s and early 20th century. He was an offensive pugilist who never displayed fear. The fans always received their money’s worth during a Frank Childs bout. Childs fought as a smaller heavyweight at 5’9 and 165 pounds with a powerhouse right punch. There was little art to Childs, but a strategy in which he never wavered. Childs might utilize a left jab or land body blows, but the goal was to set up a devastating right punch to the jaw.

Childs influenced boxing’s heavyweight division forever, but his reward was to be forgotten and ignored by history. Boxing historians decided they loved about six black pugilists from the era and Childs wasn’t one of them. There is little known of Childs outside the ring because no one cared enough to be curious. After two black heavyweight championship bouts, one of which the referee tried to cheat him (versus Bob Armstrong), while the other was encompassed by racism (versus Jack Johnson), Childs received a broken arm and a total of $20. When Childs died he was thrown in an unmarked box to be eaten by bugs.


Frank Childs

Frank Childs accidentally ruined the dream of Chicagoan Parson Davies to set up the first unified heavyweight championship between the races. Davies had built his plan around "colored heavyweight champion" Peter Jackson, but could not get John L. Sullivan or James Corbett to fight him for the title. Public sentiment had grown for a unified bout, so as Jackson aged and began appearing on theater acting tours as a whipped slave, Davies transferred his attention onto a 6’3, and 190 muscled pounds Chicagoan named Bob Armstrong.

Through Davies’ media power and boxing connections the "colored champion," Jackson, was replaced by Armstrong without the two of them fighting. New Yorkers did not warm easily to the non-aggressive Armstrong with the steady left jab. Parson Davies continued his pressure for a unified race championship until a Chicago bout when Armstrong’s opponent did not appear. The sparring partner agreed to fight for $20 and shocked everyone by scoring a 2nd round knockout.

The sparring partner and new "colored" champion was Frank Childs. It ended the Parson Davies dream with no real consideration for a unified bout until Jack Johnson versus Tommy Burns in 1908. Johnson won the Black championship from Frank Childs in 1902. Childs fought Johnson with a broken arm and received $0 for his effort. God and/or Allah hated Frank Childs! There is no other conclusion.

After Frank Childs won the 1898 "colored heavyweight championship" he soon lost it to a 5’8, 150 pound stylish, gifted boxer named George Byers. New York sportswriters praised Childs’ gritty performance. Sportswriters regularly praised Childs’ offensive effort in victory or defeat. It soon became confusing as to who was the ‘colored’ heavyweight champion, with several name changes, until the Black heavyweight title was created. On December 15th, 1900, the Black heavyweight champion was listed as Frank Childs. His opponent was a talented 6’0, 170 pounds Philadelphian named Joe Butler. They fought on Childs’ turf, the Chicago Athletic Club, with George Siler as referee.


Joe Butler

George Siler, for all his deserved reputation as a historian and leader of the Chicago scene, was never a fan of Frank Childs. He suspiciously delayed the 10-count to give champion Bob Armstrong additional time to recover from Childs’ knockout punch. The crowd’s hostile reaction to the cheating forced Siler to acknowledge Childs as the victor. Spectators rarely attended a Frank Childs fight rooting for him, but usually loved him by the conclusion. The December, 1900, bout would take its place amongst the unusual as Childs not only had to knock out his opponent, but do it twice.

Round 1: Rough and dirty bout from the start. Spectators are cheering instead of jeering. Butler aggressively grabs the Champion around neck with his left arm and pummels with right: hooks, uppercuts to body and face.

Round 2: Both pugilists are aggressive. Childs lands a right punch to neck – Butler drops to the ground. Referee Siler counts: ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5’ – Butler appears alert – ‘6, 7, 8, 9’ – Siler pauses as Butler refuses to rise – Siler shakes head – ‘10’ – waves hands - bout over – KNOCKOUT!

Spectators cheer the aggressively short bout. Butler finally rises and insists he can continue. Referee Silver awards the victory to Childs. The spectators chant for more fighting. Referee Siler tries to ignore the boxing enthusiasts/mob but the chant continues to grow louder. Finally, the champion waves his right glove as he informs Siler that he is willing to fight for the paid attendance. Referee Siler orders the bout to continue. Delighted spectators roar their approval.

Round 4: Non-stop offensive action. The pugilists stand toe-to-toe and exchange punches. Childs lands a right punch to the side of head – Butler drops to ground. Frenzied spectators stand and cheer aloud. Referee Siler counts: ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5’ – Butler dazed and out – ‘6, 7, 8, 9, 10’ – Siler waves hands - bout over (again) – KNOCKOUT!

Referee George Siler: “Almost everything went. Pulling, mauling, hitting with the free arm under any and all conditions. Everything except fouls that would hinder either from continuing, were not to be taken notice of.”

 

Yeah amazing how many of the bouts back then featured such drastic weight advantages or disadvantages. I suppose you could look at it either way since the smaller man won his fair share as well..

 

Great read, thanks!!!

 

Where would you assume hed be best at? At 5'9 he's clearly a little small for heavyweight. I've read he weighed between 160-185..

Judging by the current landscape he'd been mixing it up possibly with guys like

GGG
Jacobs
Degale
Badou Jack

Or maybe he goes higher

Kovalev
Stevenson

Or who knows maybe he hunts the bigger possibly more beatable game and goes after the Cruiserweight division.. LT HW is pretty nasty at the top.. It's fun to think about.. He'd clearly look bizzare
In today's HW division. He'd look tiny next to Joshua or Wilder..

 

I've seen a couple, he kinda looks like a bigger, and obviously old school version of Aaron Pryor

 

Got any links to accounts of fights of his?? Or anything else on him?

 

Let's try this classic.

Grab one or more if you like and give me your thoughts?

Child's vs

Langford
McVea
Jeanette
Wills
Peter Jackson
Godfrey Old Chocolate & The Leiperville Shadow
Gaines

Could he beat any of these guys?