Harris Martin
(the "Black Pearl"; "George Harris")
BORN April 2 1865; Washington, DC (Some sources report 1867) DIED April 26 1903; St. Paul, Minnesota HEIGHT 5-6 (Early sources report 6-0) WEIGHT 150-170 lbs Harris, who went by the name George Harris, early in his career, was a tremendous body puncher who was very strong and durable and possessed a solid chin; He fought in rushes and put great pressure on his opponents until he wore them down; When he first began fighting, he was a raw talent but improved his skills with experience and training
After his boxing days, he shined shoes and tended bar in St. Paul, following a stint of living out in Oregon with his brother; He always called Minnesota home, which is why he moved here from Washington D.C. and why he came back after living in Oregon; He loved the people of the Twin Cities and they definitely loved him
In 1888, the "Black Pearl" hired the former Coloured Lightweight Champion, George Phillips to be his full-time trainer; The Pearl died on April 26, 1903 while crossing the street in Saint Paul; He had suffered a heart attack and collapsed near the street curb
During his career, he claimed the Colored Middleweight Championship of the World and the Middleweight Championship of the Northwest; He defeated such men as Charles Gleason, Harry Woodson (the "Black Diamond"), Black Frank (Frank Taylor), Dick Moore, Denny Kelliher, Joe Ellingsworth and Paddy Gorman1884
Oct 10 Jack Lynch Philadelphia, Pa L 4
1886 Jan 2 Jack Lynch Philadelphia, Pa L 4 Mar 19 Jack Burke Cincinnati, Oh D 4 May 8 Tom Henderson Philadelphia, Pa KO 5 Jun 11 Bill Boughbly Philadelphia, Pa KO 3 -Some sources report "KO 4" vs "Bill Boughtly" Jul 3 Tom Henderson Philadelphia, Pa KO 3 Sep 6 Bill Young KO 9 Sep 7 Jack Murphy KO 3 Sep 27 Bill Young KO 9 -Perhaps, this is the 9/07/86 bout Nov 14 Cass Brown Minneapolis, Mn W 8 Dec 2 Jim O'Brien St. Paul, Mn D 4 Dec 5 Dan Sommers Minneapolis, Mn TK 7 Dec 21 "Young" Jack McKay St. Paul, Mn KO 4 -Some sources report "KO 3" Dec 22 "Black Frank" Taylor St. Paul, Mn L 10 1887 Jan 3 George Gannon Minneapolis, Mn KO 11 Jan 7 Dan Sommers Minneapolis, Mn KO 3 Jan 21 "Black Frank" Taylor Minneapolis, Mn W 15 Jan 28 Dan Manning Minneapolis, Mn D 10 Feb 7 Jim O'Brien St. Paul, Mn KO 4 Feb 7 Charles Hadley St. Paul, Mn EX 3 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Feb 18 Black Strap Minneapolis, Mn KO 4 Mar 3 "Black Frank" Taylor St. Paul, Mn D 15 Mar 3 Tom Devine St. Paul, Mn W 5 -Different sources report the previous 2 bouts on the same date Mar 11 Dan Sommers Minneapolis, Mn KO 4 Mar 18 "Black Frank" Taylor St. Paul, Mn D 10 Mar 21 Al O'Brien Philadelphia, Pa D 3 Mar 25 Charles Hadley Minneapolis, Mn W 8 Mar 28 Tom Devine New York, NY KO 4 -Some sources report "KO 3" Apr 1 "Black Frank" Taylor St. Paul, Mn D 12 Apr 15 Charles Hadley St. Paul, Mn ND 8 -Black Pearl lasted and claimed a win; Some sources report "W 8" Apr 22 Desperate Coon St. Paul, Mn TK 3 -Reports vary - 4/23/87 - 4/25/87 Apr 23 "Black Frank" Taylor St. Paul, Mn EX 3 May 2 "Black Frank" Taylor Minneapolis, Mn KO 38 -Black Pearl claimed the Colored Middleweight Championship of the World; Some sources report 5/03/87 Some sources report "KO 40"; Some sources report "St. Paul, Mn" May 19 McHenry Johnson Minneapolis, Mn D 10 -Johnson was called the "Minneapolis Star" May 19 James Lager Minneapolis, Mn D 10 -Different sources report the previous 2 bouts on the same date Jul 15 Tom Jackson Minneapolis, Mn KO 5 Aug 5 O.H. Smith Minneapolis, Mn W 4 Nov 1 Black Diamond (Harry Woodson) Minneapolis, Mn TK 5 -Reports vary - "TK 6" - "D 10" Nov 11 Black Diamond (Harry Woodson) Minneapolis, Mn WF 13 -Some sources report 11/14/87; Some sources report "WF 12" Dec 10 "Black Frank" Taylor Ashland, Wi D 10 -Some sources report "D 8" Dec 30 Ed R. Moehler Gary, SD W 8 1888 Mar 2 Hunter Briscoe Minneapolis, Mn KO 6 Apr 8 Ed Harris St. Paul, Mn W 4 May 18 Charles Gleason Minneapolis, Mn W 6 -Some sources report "D 6" May 25 John Dwyer Minneapolis, Mn KO 2 -Some sources report "KO 1" Jun 1 John P. Donner St. Paul, Mn W 10 -Some sources report "Minneapolis, Mn" Jun 15 Dick Haley Minneapolis, Mn W 4 Jul 14 J.P. Smith Lake City, Mn KO 4 Aug 3 McHenry Johnson Minneapolis, Mn D 8 -Johnson was called the "Minneapolis Star" Aug 3 James Lager Minneapolis, Mn D 10 -Different sources report the previous 2 bouts on the same date; Perhaps, these are the 5/19/87 bouts Aug 10 Charles Hadley Minneapolis, Mn D 8 Oct 5 James Aster Minneapolis, Mn KO 1 Dec 9 Ed R. Moehler Minneapolis, Mn KO 8 -Some sources report 12/10/88 1889-1890 Jun 27 Frank Lewis St. Paul, Mn D 8 Sep 9 Jim Hightower St. Joseph, Mo W 8 Nov 20 Jim Hightower Omaha, Ne KO 3 1890 Feb 3 Dick Moore Minneapolis, Mn KO 7 -Middleweight Championship of the Northwest May 23 Dick Moore St. Paul, Mn W 4 -Middleweight Championship of the Northwest; Some sources report "Minneapolis, Mn"; Some sources report "TK 4" Nov 3 Denny Kelliher Minneapolis, Mn W 20 -Kelliher claimed he was fouled but no foul was declared; The "Twin City AC" later said he was not treated fairly and was offered a return bout vs "Black Pearl" 1891 Jan 21 Denny Kelliher St. Paul, Mn SCH -This bout was scheduled but postponed Feb 10 Denny Kelliher St. Paul, Mn D 10 May 1 Bob Fitzsimmons Minneapolis, Mn ND 4 -Some sources report "Chicago, Il"; Some sources report "L 4"; Black Pearl lasted and claimed a win May 4 John Van Heest Minneapolis, Mn EX May 7 Frank Lewis Minneapolis, Mn TK 5 -Some sources report "W 4" May 12 Jerry Heggerty Minneapolis, Mn L 5 -Some sources report "Jimmy Haggerty" May 16 Mike Sullivan Minneapolis, Mn KO 1 -Some sources report "KO 2" May 29 Tom Murray Minneapolis, Mn KO 7 -Some sources report 5/30/91 Jul 21 Joe Ellingsworth Minneapolis, Mn KO 5 Aug 23 George Gannon Butte, Mt KO 3 -Some sources report "San Francisco, Ca" Sep 5 Spike Trainor Great Falls, Mt ND 4 -Perhaps, the verdict was "EX 4" Oct 26 Paddy Gorman San Francisco, Ca KO 4 Nov 30 Ed Binney San Francisco, Ca LK 26 -Colored Middleweight Championship of the World; Some sources report "LK 25" 1892 Feb 29 Charley Turner San Francisco, Ca LK 19 -Turner claimed the Colored Middleweight Championship of the World Apr 7 Ed R. Moehler San Francisco, Ca KO 2 Apr Hank Griffin Los Angeles, Ca LK 4 Apr 18 Jim Lawler San Francisco, Ca D 10 Oct 22 Joe King San Francisco, Ca LK 36 -Some sources report 10/27/92 1893 Jan 31 Bobby Dobbs Sacramento, Ca LK 18 -Some sources report "San Francisco, Ca" Feb 3 Andy Watson Philadelphia, Pa SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known 1894 Mar 3 Jack Ramsey Fort Collins, Co D 20 -Some sources report "Fort Collins, Wy" 1897 Jan 16 Andy Watson Philadelphia, Pa L 4 Feb 6 Charley Holcombe Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 1899 Sep 11 George "Mystery" Kerwin Sioux City, Ia EX 3 Sep 13 Jim Sellers Sioux City, Ia D 10 Sep 18 Con Jacobus Sioux City, Ia LT 4 Oct 20 Jim Sellers Sioux City, Ia D 8 Dec 20 "Young" Peter Jackson Seattle, Wa LK 1 -Some sources report "LK 2" 1900 Dec 15 Thomas Salt Lake City, Ut TK 4 *** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed *** 1886 Black Diamond (Harry Woodson) W 4 Undated (Possibly 1886-1887) Jim Birgham W 15 -Perhaps, this man was "Jim Brigham" Paddy Norton KO 3 Billy Ashton KO 2 Hunter Brisco W 6 Tom Colgrove KO 3 Tom Colgrove W 6 Charles Gleason W 6 Billy Williams W 6 Tom Manning KO 5 Jack Smith KO 3 1887 Feb 27 Will Young W 2 1892 Tom Harrington KO 2 1902 Sep 10 "Bird Leg" Collins Leavenworth, Ks EX 3 -Black Pearl and Collins were taken to court; They told the judge they had come to Leavenworth to arrange a fight; The judge told them to demonstrate that they could box; He would act as referee; They did so in the court room *** Photos And Much Data Were Provided By Jake Wegner ***
Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Kevin Smith, Jake Wegner, Historians
International Boxing Research Organization