Tommy Danforth

BORN   November 25 1864; New York, New York (Sources vary - 1858, 1861, 1862, 1863); He fought out of Harlem, New York
HEIGHT 5-3 1/2
WEIGHT 118-131 lbs

 

Danforth was a scrappy, talented fighter who was a top featherweight contender during his career

During his career, he defeated such men as Abe Fernandez, Charles Ellingsworth, Billy Weldon, Jack Harding, Frank Steele, Charles Summers and Jimmy Lynch

1881
       Mickey Coleman               Napa, Ca                         KO 21
          -Some sources report San Francisco, Ca;
          Some sources report "KO 23"

Undated
       -Danforth managed Andy Bowen vs Billy Myer;
          When Bowen refused to fight Myer, sources
          report that Danforth substituted in his place
       Paddy McGuigan                                               SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled and held; The outcome is not known
       Jimmy Hagen                                                  SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled and held; The outcome is not known
       George Siddons                                                LK  3
          -Some sources report "L 3"
       Tommy Barnes                                                   L 72
          -Some sources report "L 73"

1883
       Dutch Jim                    Rawlings, Wy                     KO  9

1884
       P.J. Kelly                   New York, NY                      W  3

1885
Mar 17 -Danforth claimed the Featherweight Championship of New York 
Mar 26 John O'Dell                  New York, NY                      D  4
Mar 28 Abe Fernandez                New York, NY                     KO  3
Mar 28 Charles Ellingsworth         New York, NY                      W  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date;
          Danforth won the Championship of the New York AC
Apr  4 Charles Ellingsworth         New York, NY                      W  4
Apr  9 John Smith                   New York, NY                     EX  3
Apr 13 John Smith                   New York, NY                      W  3
Dec 19 Jack Stewart                 New York, NY                     EX  3

1886
       Dick Blackburne              New York, NY                     KO   
Jan    Tom McGraw                   New York, NY                     KO  4
Jan 13 Mike Doyle                   New York, NY                      W  6
       Red Kelly                    New York, NY                      W  8
May  6 Charles Ellingsworth         near Point Lee, NY               KO 37
          -Featherweight Championship of New York;
           Some sources report this bout held in 
           New Jersey in Mar 1886; Some sources
           report "KO 36"     
Jun  1 Charles Ellingsworth         New York, NY                      D  8
Sep  7 Jim Hagen                    Philadelphia, Pa                  L  4
Sep 19 Jim Hagen                    New York, NY                      D  8
Sep 30 Tommy Warren                 Minneapolis, Mn                   D 10
          -Some sources report 10/01/86
Oct 16 Danny Needham                St. Paul, Mn                      W  8
          -Some sources report "D 8" on 9/08/86;
           Some sources report "Minneapolis, Mn"
Nov  4 -Danforth seconded Jack Smith vs Bill Dunn in New York, NY
Nov  6 -Danforth was scheduled to fight Jack Harding in a finish fight within four weeks
Dec  1 Mike Cushing                 New York, NY                      D  8
          -Some sources report 12/15/86
Dec 25 Mike Cushing                 New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

1886-1887
       Jimmy Collins                Duluth, Mn                        W  8
       Dick Dearborn                                                  W  4

1887
Jan 19 Jack Harding                 Nyack, NY                        WF 11
Feb 14 Jack Harding                 Philadelphia, Pa                  D  4
Feb 16 Harry Walton                 Philadelphia, Pa                  D  4
Mar  5 Patsy O'Leary                Louisville, Ky                    D 10
May 30 Tommy Warren                 Minneapolis, Mn                  LK 13
       Young Peterson               Philadelphia, Pa                  L  4
       Patsy O'Leary                Harlem, NY                        D  4
          -Police intervened
Nov    Billy Weldon                 New York, NY                     KO  2

1888
Feb 25 Joe Fowler                   Brooklyn, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Mar    Jack Bates                   Youngstown, Oh                  SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Mar 28 Charles Collins              Boston, Ma                       EX  3
Apr 13 Frank Steele                 Boston, Ma                       KO  8
Apr 19 Jack Kenny                   Brooklyn, NY                     EX   
          -Some sources report 04/10/1888
May  8 Jack Havlin                  Boston, Ma                        D 18
Jun    Jimmy Larkins                Jersey City, NJ                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Sep 14 Frank Steele                 Boston, Ma                        D 16
Oct 30 Jack Harding                 Boston, Ma                        W  7
Dec  4 Isaac "Ike" O'Neil Weir      Boston, Ma                        L  8
Dec 28 Johnny T. Griffin            Boston, Ma                       LK  4

1889
Jan  7 Johnny T. Griffin            Boston, Ma                        D  3
          -Some sources report 1/08/88
Jan 15 George Dixon                 Manchester, NH                   EX   
Feb    Jimmy Larkins                Jersey City, NJ                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
May 10 -Danforth seconded Mike Smith vs Jimmy Hogan in Long Island, NY
Jun 30 Jimmy Lynch                  Staten Island, NY                LF 22
          -Some sources report Jul 1889
Sep 26 Joe Soto                     Los Angeles, Ca                  LK 55
          -Reports vary - "KO 56" - "LK 57";
           Some sources report Sep 27;
           Some sources report "San Francisco, Ca"
Nov 22 Billy Dacey                  San Francisco, Ca                LK 10
          -Some sources report 11/25/89

1890
Mar 19 Jimmy Connors                New Orleans, La                  LK 24
Apr 15 Charles Summers              New Orleans, La                  KO  5
May 29 Jack Bolan                   New Orelans, La                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled
Aug 30 Reddy Brennan                Mound City, Ar                   LK  8
          -This bout was held about 5 miles from Memphis, Tn;
          Some sources report 8/31/90
Oct 30 an unnamed opponent          Nashville, Tn                    KO  4
Nov  9 Reddy Brennan                Memphis, Tn                       D  8

1891
Feb  7 Mike Cushing                 Brooklyn, NY                     EX   
Mar  9 Jimmy Hagen                  Hoboken, NJ                      LK  2

1892
       Jimmy Larkins                                                SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
May  3 -There was talk of Danforth fighting Nick Collins
Oct 21 Cal McCarthy                 New York, NY                     LT 16
Oct    Cal McCarthy                                                  EX   

          -Danforth and McCarthy boxed several exhibitions
          during Oct-Nov 1892

1893
Jan    Jimmy Lynch                                                   TK 23
          -Some sources report "D 23"
Jan 18 -Danforth challenged Frank Steele to a bout
Jan 28 Cal McCarthy                 New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

1894
Jul 25 Arkansas Kid (Harry Finnick) Minneapolis, Mn                  LK  7

1897
Jan    Jimmy Devers                 Jackson, Mi                       L  6
Jun 16 Ted Murphy                   near Chicago, Il                  D  6
Oct    Jimmy Doyle                  Ligonier, In                      D 14

1897-1898
       Freckles O'Brien             New York, NY                      D  6
       Freckles O'Brien             New York, NY                      D  6

*** Much Information Was Provided By C.J. Smith (Seguin, Tx) ***
 
Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization