During WW1 Gibbons wrote a manual illustrating how soldiers could use boxing techniques in bayonet training and bayonet combat. I have footage of him training WW1 soldiers in these tactics. In addition to the ODowd and McFarland fights. The sparring footage with Tommy on top of what I believe is the Woolworth building in Manhattan was for the McFarland fight. The sparring footage with Tommy and others in the gym is prior to O'Dowd. His fights with Bartfield at ebbets field and his fight with Young Ahearn in 1916 were both filmed but are considered lost.
Yes, I have it. Its the best film of a boxing match of the first 25-30 years of the 20th century in both quality and exhibition of skill. In fact that film shows an amazing, pioneering use multiple camera angles which would not be used as a matter of course until the 70s and 80s when Roone Arledge supposedly supposedly pioneered this setup. The Gibbons-ODowd film shows that he was beaten to this idea by nearly 40 years.
Ha!...Wonder if Cossell knew that! Sounds like a nice piece of film on Gibbons. I'm very impressed with his style.