Tommy Burns
(Noah Brusso)
("The Little Giant of Hanover")
BORN June 17 1881; Chesley, Ontario,Canada DIED May 10 1955; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada HEIGHT 5-7 WEIGHT 155-185 lbs RACE White; German-Canadian Burns was a short, squat battler who was quick and bouncy and carried a stinging, sharp punch - especially his right hand blow; Tommy was
an early-day Rocky Marciano who is not included among the greats but is perhaps very much under-rated
Burns was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1960 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996
Burns-O'Brien #1 1906 Fight Video Clip Burns-Squires 1907 Fight Video Clip Another Burns-Squires 1907 Fight Video Clip Burns-Johnson 1908 Fight Video Clip (Press thebutton at the top of the screen to return)
1900 Fred Thornton Delray, Mi KO 5 1901 Billy Walsh Detroit, Mi KO 5 Archie Steele Detroit, Mi KO 2 Ed Sholtreau Detroit, Mi KO 1 Billy Walsh Detroit, Mi KO 6 1902 Jan 16 Fred Thornton Delray, Mi KO 5 Mar 3 Harry Peppers Detroit, Mi KO 2 Mar 5 George Steele Detroit, Mi KO 2 May 16 Ed Sholtreau Detroit, Mi W 10 Jun 27 Dick Smith Mt. Clemens, Mi KO 2 Jul 9 Dick Smith Mt. Clemens, Mi W 10 Sep 19 Jack O'Donnell Butler, In KO 8 Oct 24 Earl Thompson Detroit, Mi EX 3 Oct 24 Billy Moore Detroit, Mi EX 3 Nov 6 Reddy Phillips Lansing, Mi KO 9 Dec 8 Jim Corbett Detroit, Mi EX 3 Dec 26 Tom McCune Detroit, Mi KO 7 -Middleweight Championship of Michigan 1903 Jan 16 Mike Schreck Detroit, Mi L 10 -Schreck was a big surprise to Burns; Tommy knew about the "Dutchman's" experience but did not know that Schreck was left-handed; Schreck was the first he had ever seen. Feb 13 Jim O'Brien Delray, Mi W 10 Mar 25 Dick Smith Delray, Mi KO 2 Mar 26 Reddy Phillips Delray, Mi KO 3 -Middleweight Championship of Michigan Apr 18 Earl Thompson Detroit, Mi KO 3 Sep 25 Jimmy Duggan Houghton, Mi KO 9 -Middleweight Championship of Michigan Oct 12 Jack Hammond Sault Ste. Marie, Mi KO 3 -Middleweight Championship of Michigan Oct 25 Billy Moore Houghton, Mi D 10 -Middleweight Championship of Michigan Nov 8 Jack Butler Sault Ste. Marie, Mi KO 2 Nov 25 Jack O'Donnell Evanston, Il KO 11 Dec 31 Tom McCune Detroit, Mi W 10 -Middleweight Championship of Michigan 1904 Jan 28 Ben O'Grady Detroit, Mi KO 3 -O'Grady came close to dying from injuries sustained in this bout; Brusso left town and began fighting under the name "Ed Burns", later as "Tommy Burns" Feb 26 George Shrosbee Chicago, Il KO 5 Feb 27 Mike Schreck Milwaukee, Wi D 6 Mar 18 Tony Caponi Chicago, Il D 6 Apr 9 Tony Caponi Chicago, Il W 6 Jul Joe Wardinski Salt Lake City, Ut KO 1 "Klondike" Mike Mahoney Yukon Territory D -Burns went to the Yukon Territory to see a mine he had won in a poker game; While there, he met and fought the legendary Mahoney Aug 19 William "Cyclone" Kelly Tacoma, Wa KO 4 -Some sources report 8/20/04 Sep 16 Billy Woods Seattle, Wa D 15 Oct 7 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Milwaukee, Wi L 6 1905 Jan 31 "Indian Joe" Schildt Ballard, Wa KO 6 -Schildt was a heavyweight; At this time, Tommy was having trouble making 158 lbs Mar 7 Jack "Twin" Sullivan Tacoma, Wa D 20 May 3 Dave Barry Tacoma, Wa W 20 -Middleweight Championship of the Pacific Coast; Some sources report 5/02/05 Jun 7 Hugo Kelly Detroit, Mi D 10 Jul 28 Hugo Kelly Los Angeles, Ca D 20 -Burns won comfortably but had agreed, prior to the bout, that if both were still standing at the end, it would be declared a "draw" Aug 31 Dave Barry San Francisco, Ca KO 20 Oct 17 Jack "Twin" Sullivan Los Angeles, Ca L 20 -This bout was billed as a Middleweight Championship of the World contest 1906 Jan 5 -It was announced that Tommy Ryan would defend his Middleweight Championship in early February against Tommy Burns; Ryan set the weight at 158 lbs Feb 23 Marvin Hart Los Angeles, Ca W 20 -Heavyweight Championship of the World Mar 28 Jim O'Brien San Diego, Ca KO 1 Mar 28 James J. Walker San Diego, Ca KO 1 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date; Most sources report these bouts as exhibition bouts; However, both contests were billed by promoter and newspapers as Heavyweight Championship contests Oct 2 "Fireman" Jim Flynn Los Angeles, Ca KO 15 -Heavyweight Championship of the World Nov 28 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Los Angeles, Ca D 20 -Heavyweight Championship of the World 1907 Jan 10 Joe Grim Philadelphia, Pa EX 3 -Burns was better; Rounds were shortened to one minute at Grim's request when Burns stripped for action! May 7 Billy Woods Los Angeles, Ca EX 3 May 8 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Los Angeles, Ca W 20 -Heavyweight Championship of the World; Since both men weighed less than 175 lbs, Burns could have laid claim to O'Brien's Light-Heavyweight title Jul 4 Bill Squires Colma, Ca KO 1 -Heavyweight Championship of the World Dec 2 "Gunner" James Moir London, Eng KO 10 -Heavyweight Championship of the World Dec 16 Charlie Wilson London, Eng EX 3 1908 Feb 10 Jack Palmer London, Eng KO 4 -Heavyweight Championship of the World Mar 17 Jem Roche Dublin, Ire KO 1 -Heavyweight Championship of the World Apr 14 Johnny Douglas London, Eng EX 3 Apr 18 Joseph "Jewey" Smith Paris, Fr KO 5 -Heavyweight Championship of the World Jun -Burns was negotiating a bout with Sam McVea that fell through Jun 13 Bill Squires Paris, Fr KO 8 -Heavyweight Championship of the World Aug 24 Bill Squires Sydney, NSW, Aus KO 13 -Heavyweight Championship of the World Sep 2 Bill Lang Melbourne, Vic, Aus KO 6 -Heavyweight Championship of the World Dec 26 Jack Johnson Sydney, NSW, Aus L 14 -Heavyweight Championship of the World; Police intervened; As per prior agreement, a decision was awarded by the referee 1910 Apr 7 Bill Lang Sydney, NSW, Aus W 20 -Heavyweight Championship of the British Empire; Heavyweight Championship of Australia May 2 Larry Foley Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 6 May 13 Mike Williams Sydney, NSW, Aus ND 6 1911 Oct -Burns relinquished the Heavyweight Championship of the British Empire 1912 Aug 8 Bill Rickard Saskatoon, Sask, Can TK 6 1913 Apr 2 Arthur Pelkey Calgary, Alta, Can ND 6 1914 Jan 26 Battling Brant Taft, Ca KO 4 1918 Sep 19 Tex Foster Prince Rupert, BC, Can KO 4 1920 Jul 16 Joe Beckett London, Eng LT 7 -Heavyweight Championship of the British Empire *** The Following Bout Is Reported But Not Confirmed *** 1902 Nov 29 Mike Schreck Detroit, Mi L 10 -This bout is thought to be in error; The bout of 1/16/03 appears to be the first contest between Burns and Schreck
Record courtesy of Larry "Cap" Roberts, Historian,
International Boxing Research Organization
[Return to Top] The Cyber Boxing Zone WAIL ! Article on Tommy Burns (June 1999)
Tracy Callis All-Time Rankings
