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The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- Old Timer

Mike Brennan
(the "Port Costa Giant")

BORN   c. 1862; Said to be from Sacramento, California
WEIGHT 5-9 (Some sources report 5-10 1/2)
HEIGHT 160-190 lbs

Brennan was a fierce battler who feared no man; During his career, he got into the ring with some immortals such as Peter Jackson, Jim Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, Joe Goddard, Joe McAuliffe, "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey and Jake Kilrain; Brennan was, at one time, the Middleweight Champion of California
 
During his career, he defeated such men as George Kessler, Jack Burns, Jack Douglas and Daniel Brown

1884
Jan 26 Daniel Brown               San Francisco, Ca                 W  4
       Pat Foley                  San Francisco, Ca                LF  3

1886
Oct 28 Jack Murphy                San Francisco, Ca                TK 13
Dec 10 Tipton Slasher             San Francisco, Ca                KO  4

1887
Jan  8 Johnny Norton              Sacramento, Cal                  LK  8
Feb  2 Jim Corbett                San Francisco, Ca                EX  3
          -Reports vary - "EX 4" - "L 3" - "L 4"
Apr  3 Jack McAuley               Port Costa, Ca                    D 17
          -This bout was fought with gloves; The crowd interfered;
           Some sources report that Brennan had eight wins at this
           point in his career
       Pat Sullivan               San Francisco, Ca               SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held
Aug 31 Joe McAuliffe              San Francisco, Ca                LK 49
          -Heavyweight Championship of the Pacific Coast;
          -Reports vary - "LK 40" - "LK 52"

1889
Jul 22 Tommy Cleary               Port Townsend, Wa                LK 14
Oct 28 George Kessler             Tenino, Washington Territory     WF 10
          -This was a very hard fought, rough, and dirty fight
            between Brennan and Kessler
Dec  3 Jack O'Brien               Long Island, NY                  LT  9

1884-1890
       Tommy Ward                                                  LK  9
          -Some sources report "L 9"

1890
Mar  7 Alf Berran                 Ashland, Wi                      LK  6
May 25 George Kessler             Butte, Mt                         D 15
          -This was another very hard fought, rough, and dirty
            fight between Brennan and Kessler; Local Deputy 
            Sheriff O'Neill stopped the fight after round fifteen
Jun 20 Dave Campbell              Salt Lake City, Ut               EX   
Jun 21 Paddy Gorman               Salt Lake City, Ut               EX   
Jun 21 Jim Williams               Salt Lake City, Ut               EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jun 27 Dave Campbell              Aspen, Co                        EX  3
Jul  2 -Brennan was scheduled to appear in Hutchinson, Ks
Jul 11 Dave Campbell              Milwaukee, Wi                    EX  4
Jul 28 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey   Buffalo, NY                      EX   
Jul 31 Tom McCarty                Bradford, Pa                     EX   
Jul 31 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey   Bradford, Pa                     EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Aug  4 Joe Dunfee                 Syracuse, NY                     EX  3
Aug  4 "Woburn" Tom McCarthy      Syracuse, NY                     EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Aug 25 Paddy Gorman               Brooklyn, NY                     EX  3
Sep 12 "Woburn" Tom McCarthy      Hoboken, NJ                       D 10
          -Some sources report 9/13/90
Nov 14 Jack Burns                 Jamaica, NY                      TK  2
Nov    Jack Fallon                                                SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Nov    Nick Burns                 Trenton, NJ                     SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known;
          Perhaps, this is the same as the 11/14/90 bout
Dec  3 Jake Kilrain               Montana, NY                       L  3

1891
Feb 19 Tom Rumsey                 Buffalo, NY                      NC  1
          -Police intervened
May 14 Mike Lucie                 Fonda, NY                         D  6
          -Some sources report Lucie fought "George Brennan" near Troy, NY
Dec 21 Sailor Brown               New York, NY                     EX  3
          -Some sources report 12/21/90

1892
Aug 17 -Brennan was challenged by Jack Fallon to a bout
Sep 24 Joe Goddard                Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  4
          -Reports vary - "ND 3" - "ND 4"
Nov  5 C.A.C. Smith               New York, NY                      L  3
          -Some sources report 10/29/92;
           Some sources report "LK 2";
           Each man was knocked down in round one
Nov 26 C.A.C. Smith               New York, NY                     LF  2
          -Reports vary - "L 3" - "LF 3";
           Some sources report 11/27/92

1893
Feb 22 Fred Woods                 Philadelphia, Pa               ND-L  6
May  6 Bob Fitzsimmons            Boston, Ma                       LK  4
          -Some sources report 5/08/93

1894
Apr 11 Jim Daly                   Boston, Ma                        D  4
          -Some sources report "Buffalo, NY"; 
           Some sources report "L 4"
May 11 Jim Daly                   Buffalo, NY                       L  6
          -Some sources report "W 6"

1895
Feb 25 James Crotty               Chicago, Il                      ND  3
Mar  4 Billy Stift                Chicago, Il                       L  6
Mar 21 Jack Douglas               Chicago, Il                       W  4
          -Some sources report 3/21/96
Jul 13 Henry Baker                near Milwaukee, Wi               LT  1
          -Some sources report "L 1"; Police intervened;
           Some sources report "ND 1"

1896
Aug 31 Abraham "Abe" Ullman       New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Dec 22 Billy Peyton                Washington, DC                   L  6
          -Perhaps, this is a reference to the 12/23/98 bout

1894-1897
       Harry Peppers                                               LK  2

1897
Jan 18 Tom Carey                  New York, NY                     LF 18
Jan 28 Dick Moore                 Philadelphia, Pa                SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Apr  6 Tom McCarthy               Buffalo, NY                       D 15
Jun 21 Bill Dunn                  Staten Island, NY                 D 10

1898
Feb 28 Joe Butler                 Athens, Pa                       NC  2
          -Butler knocked Brennan down; The cornermen entered
           the ring and the bout was declared a "NC 2"; Some sources
           report "LT 2" ? Police intervened
Dec 23 Billy Peyton               Bladenburg, Md                   LK  6
          -Some sources report 12/30/98
Dec 27 Billy Peyton                near Washington, DC              D  6
          -Perhaps, this is a reference to the 12/23/98 bout

1895-1900
       Tom Carey                  Jersey City, NJ                  LK  2

1903
Jul 31 Jim Kennedy                Boston, Ma                       KO  1

*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***

1889
Jul 29 Peter Jackson              Buffalo, NY                       L  4
Aug  5 Peter Jackson              Buffalo, NY                      EX   
          -This bout was reported to be held at Toronto, Ont, Canada
           by The Referee (Sydney, NSW, Australia); It is documented
           that Jackson defeated Paddy Brennan on this date in Buffalo
Aug  8 Peter Jackson              Hoboken, NJ                      LT  3
          -Some sources report "L 4"

1892
Jan  4 Mike Queenan               Chicago, Il                      LK  4
          -Some sources report Queenan fought "Paddy Brennan" on 01/05/1892

Undated (Prior to 1892/01/27)
       Harry McCanley                                               D 19

*** Some Data And Photo Provided By William Schutte ***

*** Much Data Was Provided By Mike DeLisa ***
 
Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization