http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Killen_(boxer) http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=40331&cat=boxer Pat Killen had a pretty nice career, 55 wins (52 KO), 2 losses, 3 draws, 1 no decision. His KO wins include one of the fellows who drew him, Patsy Cardiff. Killen also held a KO9 in a fight in which Killen broke his right hand in the second round. "The contest lasted nine rounds, and was more a contest of wind than scientific slugging. In the second round Killen struck Lannon a terrific blow, breaking his (Killen's) right hand. During the fight the first three rounds Lannon had the best of the fight, but from that time till the finish Killen had it his own way. In the ninth round Killen floored Lannon, who staggered to his feet and fell over, when Killen was given the fight." (The Trenton Times, Nov 9, 1885) Regarding Killen's 1886 loss to Mervine Thompson, boxrec notes (with out citation) Having knocked down Thompson 4 times, Killen is DQ'd when the crowd enters the ring. Most newspapers of the time recorded this fight as a victory for Killen, given the farce of the decision by the referee, as the reason the crowd rushed the ring was in protest to Thompson's handlers repeatedly carrying him back to his corner to be revived, and the referee's repeated slow counts. Drawn in 10 rounds by Cardiff in 1887, Killen KO'd Cardiff in 4 the next year. 1886, Bill Bradburn, Draw 5: Bradburn refused to fight, because there was not enough money, and only agreed to spar five rounds with large gloves, Killen showing to the better advantage, according to 'Chicago Daily Inter Ocean'. 1886 Draw 4, Paddy McDonald: St. Paul Pioneer Press 8-8-1886. Killen won on points but could not knock out his opponent, so the fight was declared a draw per the pre-fight conditions. 1886 No Contest Pat McHugh: Stevens Point Daily Journal 3-13-1886. "Pat McHugh, formerly of this city, and Pat Killen fought at Park Theater Chicago, last Saturday night. A dispatch from that city says that time was called at 10:44 and McHugh began a series of dodging, clinching, and wrestling and anything he could do to avoid being hit or rather to avoid any fighting. The crowd yelled 'Rats' and hissed themselves hoarse and cursed the affair as a swindle. McHugh kept up this baby play; clinching, wrestling, and gouging to the end, and the affair was decided no fight." 1889 KO loss to Joe MCAuliffe: Killen reportedly entered the fight intoxicated and missed so wildly on his punches while drunk, that he fell and dislocated his right shoulder in the 2nd round, hence fighting the remainder of the fight with his left only--Source: Pittsburgh Post 9-25-1889 in interview with Killen's trainer for the fight, Tom Madden. Well, can't excuse Killen for fighting stewed ..... The McAuliffe loss reflects more on Killen's professionalism at that point (though props to Killen for earlier enduring a broken hand to defeat Lannon) than on his talent or skill. Aside from the McAuliffe loss, there's an avenged draw vs. Cardiff, a loss by no means Killen's fault, a couple draws he clearly had the better of, an overmatched opponent in a no decision, an a bunch of wins largely by KO.
Killen was a very big puncher. He had knockout victories over Joe Lannon, James Dalton, Mervine Thompson, Tug Wilson, Duncan McDonald, and Patsy Cardiff. However, the 1889 KO loss to McAuliffe, another big strong guy, really hurt him. McAuliffe was KO'd by Jackson and Slavin. Jackson KO'd Slavin. Killen only fought twice more after the McAuliffe loss, before dying at age 29 in 1891 of erysipelas, or a bacterial skin infection, which, back then, they blamed on his alcoholism.
I was thinking about starting a thread about Killen. He was a big man for his day with a big punch. Was there ever any talk of Sullivan or Corbett match vs. Killen?
Conley's a fellow I've heard the rumor of but know little of in detail; I should try to find out something regarding him, too.
He was certainly mentioned as a prospective Sullivan opponent. Billy Wilson too was a useful fighter around this time.