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The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- Old Timer

Tim Collins

BORN December 25 1845; Blackpool, County Cork, Ireland (Some sources report 1846)
HEIGHT 5-5 1/2
WEIGHT 116-119 lbs

 

 

Collins was a rugged warrior who came to fight; He carried a stiff punch and could take it to the "Nth" degree; Tim is described as having a hard, red look, a straight glance of the eyes, nose with a double curve, a firm vicious look about his wide mouth, ears that were prominent with the left having a spongy appearance, not a long neck but thick, square shoulders, body well-built, not a full chest but corded, legs and trunk are muscular, hard iron-bound wrists, arms are corded and muscular - not as artistically built as is Edwards but very serviceable (Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle - May 26 1871)

He was known for throwing terrible "right-handers" (Ohio Democrat - July 10 1879) and is most famous for his long battle against Billy Edwards,

During his career, Collins defeated such men as Joe Bent, Denny Cronin, Jim Rawling and Bill Gillam

1849
          -Tim's family left Ireland and settled in London, England

1860-1862
May  9 Jem Pickett                  Aldershot, England     (1:20:00)  W 60
          -Some sources report 1:33:00
Jun 30 Tom Frost                    London, England                   W 25
       Jesse Hatton's Spider        Aldershot, England     (1:30:00)  W   
          -Collins' left ear was damaged

1862-1863
       Bob Dackham                  Long Reach, England    (2:04:00)  D   
          -Reports vary - "Bob Dackem" - "Bob Duckman"
       Denny Cronin                                        (2:00:00)  W   

1863
Nov 17 Jerry Hawkes                 in England             (3:10:00)  L 22
          -Some sources report "Aldershot, England"

1863-1865
          -Collins fought a number of minor opponents while touring England 

1865
Apr 13 Bob Furze                    Sutton, England          (19:30) ND  3
          -This bout was held about 15 miles from London;
          Police intervened; A second ring was pitched
Apr 13 Bob Furze                    Croydon, England         (34:39) ND 10
          -This bout was held about 15 miles from Sutton;
          Police intervened; They were to meet two days later;
          The previous 2 bouts were held the same date;
          Some sources report a time of 1:34:00
Apr 15 Bob Furze                                             (32:00) ND  9
          -Police intervened; A second ring was pitched
Apr 15 Bob Furze                                           (1:44:00) ND 47
          -Police intervened; A third ring was pitched
Apr 15 Bob Furze                                                      L  3
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date;
          Some sources report a time of 2:00:00  

1866
Apr 10 Joe Bent                     Long Reach, England    (2:16:00) ND   
          -Police intervened; A second ring was pitched
Apr 10 Joe Bent                     Long Reach, England    (1:13:00)  W   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date;
          A total of eighty-seven rounds were fought;
          Some sources report 3:29:00 in two rings;

          -Collins claimed the Lightweight Championship of England

Undated
       Abe Hicken                   in England             (1:51:00)  D 59

1867
       Denny Cronin                                        (2:00:00)  W   
       Young Hundreds               London, England                  LK   
          -Gloves were used
       Denny Cronin                 London, England                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled and held; The outcome is not known;
          Gloves were used

1868
May 30 Jim Rawling                  Long Reach, England    (1:04:00)  W 21
Jun 15 Bill Gillam                  in England               (30:00)  W 15
Jun 15 Bill Gillam                  in England               (34:00)  W 10
          -Both fights were held the same date at the "Reading Race Course";
          Some sources report "Bill Gilham";
          Some sources report the second fight lasted 25 minutes

Dec    -Collins arrived in America from England

1871
May 25 Billy Edwards                Long Island, NY        (2:15:00)  D 95
          -Lightweight Championship of America;
          Bout was stopped due to darkness; To be renewed the next day
          but both men were arrested and imprisoned;
          Some sources report "LT 95" near "Huntington, Long Island, NY";
          Reports of time vary - 2:23:00 - 2:45:00;
          Some sources report "D 85" a couple of days earlier
May 27 -Collins and Edwards were sentenced to one year in prison 
          for prizefighting by Judge Dowling

1874
Apr    Billy Edwards                Philadelphia, Pa                 EX   
Apr    Billy Edwards                Philadelphia, Pa                 EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held on separate evenings prior to 4/16/1874

1881
        -Collins was reported to be in an asylum in Boston, Ma

1883-1886
        -Collins was reported to be in an asylum in Northampton, Ma

1889
Apr 14 Eugene Hornbacker            New York, NY                      D 10

*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***
       (They may not be for this Tim Collins)

Undated
       Jerry Reagan                                                   L   
       -Collins lost his claim to the Lightweight Championship of England;
          This bout is referenced in old writings but has no reference in 
          contemporary newspapers and possibly never took place because 
          of big weight discrepancy (119-150 lbs)

1871
Apr 24 "English" Charley            LaCrosse, Wi                      W   

1884
       Pete McCoy                   in Washington (state)            LK  2

1888
Oct  4 Lane                         Bensonhurst, Long Island, NY     LT 10

1890
Jul 28 Charley Smith                Hoboken, NJ                     SCH   
          -Some sources report this bout was scheduled for "Tim Collins";
          But, later report that Smith fought "Sim Collins"

*** Some Data Provided By William Matthews (of Cornwall, England) *** 

*** Some Data Provided By Mick Hill ***

Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization