1866
Jun 3 Crowley Davis St. Louis, Mo LF 59
-Some sources report "LF 92" vs "Billy Crowley" on 5/18/66
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From The Burlington (Ia) Hawk-Eye,
June 8 1866 |
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Jul -Donovan was given boxing instruction by Pat Kenrick and improved greatly
Sep Patsy Curtin St. Louis, Mo KO 5
Sep Jim Conroy Memphis, Tn TK 30
1867
Jun Pat McDermott Chicago, Il W 4
Jun 22 Mike Conroy St. Louis, Mo TK 62
-Some sources report 1866
Sep Dan Carr Chicago, Il TK 1
1868
Jun 12 John Boyne Indianapolis, In TK 23
-Some sources report "Tipton, In";
Some sources report 1/26/69
Jul Pat Kelly Grand Haven, Mi TK 7
1869
Jul 4 John Shanssey Cheyenne, Wy W 10
-The referee was Wyatt Earp;
Some sources report 7/04/68
1869-1872
-Donovan worked as a ship-caulker
1872
Jan Jack Curtin New York, NY TK 2
Feb Sam Jordan New York, NY W 3
Mar Teddy Neary New York, NY W 3
-Some sources report "Teddy Leary"
Jun Jack Lawrence New York, NY TK 2
Sep Byron McNeill New York, NY W 3
1873
Jimmy Murray Philadelphia, Pa D 44
Langham Philadelphia, Pa W 3
Pete Hogan Philadelphia, Pa W 4
Smith Philadelphia, Pa W 4
1874
Jun Charley Burke Philadelphia, Pa ND 4
-Some sources report 1873; Reports vary - "W 4" - "D 4"
Jul 28 -Donovan seconded Jim Collins vs. Johnny Keenan near Pennsville, NJ
1875
Jun 11 an unnamed opponent Lancaster, Pa EX
-Some sources report 6/12/75
-Donovan owned a saloon
1874-1877
-Donovan worked as a ship-caulker and gave instruction in boxing
1877
Mar Dick Liston Troy, NY W 5
1878
Apr 6 William C. McClellan New York, NY LF 14
-Middleweight Championship of America;
Some sources report "LF 13";
Some sources report "San Francisco, Ca"
May 18 William C. McClellan New York, NY W 7
-McClellan claimed a foul that was not allowed;
He refused to continue fighting; The referee
declared Donovan the winner; Some sources
report "WF 7" - some report "WF 8"
Aug Billy Costello Virginia City, Nv TK 2
Aug George Crockett San Francisco, Ca TK 2
1872-1879
-Donovan rose to the top and was considered
to be Middleweight Champion of America by
most people during George Rooke's inactivity
1879
Jan 23 -Donovan trained and seconded Billy Lynn vs Jack Hallinan
in Virginia City, Nv
Harry Maynard in California SCH
-This bout was scheduled but not held;
Maynard agreed to fight an "Unknown" but when
he learned the "Unknown" was Mike Donovan,
he refused to go through with the bout
Mar George "Deacon" Smith Sacramento, Ca TK 3
Apr 19 -Donovan was scheduled to spar in Brooklyn, NY
Aug 18 William C. McClellan San Francisco, Ca D 94
-Some sources report "D 96"
Edward McGlinchey New York, NY WF 6
Sep 29 William C. McClellan Brooklyn, NY EX
1880
Feb John L. Sullivan Boston, Ma EX 4
-Reports vary - "EX 3" - "ND 3" - "ND 4"
Mar 20 William C. McClellan New York, NY EX
May 1 George Clark Brooklyn, NY EX 3
May 11 George Rooke Long Point, ---, Can SCH
-Middleweight Championship of America;
This bout was scheduled but not held;
Authorities prevented the bout
May 24 George Rooke Coney Island, NY SCH
-Middleweight Championship of America;
This bout was scheduled but not held;
Authorities prevented the bout
Oct Edward McGlinchey Boston, Ma D 5
Nov Edward McGlinchey Boston, Ma W 3
Nov 24 Edward McGlinchey Bridgeport, Ct D 6
Dec Edward McGlinchey New York, NY W 3
1881
Jan 21 William C. McClellan Brooklyn, NY EX 3
Feb 25 Edward McGlinchey New York, NY EX 5
Mar 21 John L. Sullivan Boston, Ma EX 3
-Some sources report "EX 4"
Mar 25 Mike Cleary New York, NY EX
Apr 25 George Rooke New York, NY TK 2
-Reports vary - "W 2" - "TK 3" - "EX 3";
Police intervened
Sep George Rooke New York, NY W 3
-Some sources report "George Burke";
Some sources report "W 4"
Oct George Rooke New York, NY EX
Dec 26 George Rooke New York, NY ND 4
1882
Jan 14 Edward McGlinchey New York, NY EX
Apr 24 George Rooke New York, NY EX
Dec 28 Jack Smith New York, NY EX
1883
Jan Tommy Chandler Chicago, Il D 8
Feb 17 Jack Smith New York, NY EX
Mar 1 Billy Edwards New York, NY EX
Apr 21 Pete McCoy New York, NY L 3
-Some sources report "EX 3"
May 7 George Rooke Newburgh, NY EX
Aug -Negotiations were under way for a bout between
Donovan and William Sheriff of England
Dec 31 Jack Smith Williamsburg, NY EX
1884
Feb 1 Sperry Williamsburg, NY EX
Feb 8 "Dangerous" Jack Hughes Philadelphia, Pa EX
Apr 14 John L. Sullivan New Orleans, La EX
Apr 23 Pete McCoy Atlanta, Ga EX 4
Apr 28 John L. Sullivan Memphis, Tn EX 3
Apr 30 John L. Sullivan Little Rock, Ar EX 2
May 1 John L. Sullivan Memphis, Tn EX 3
May 2 John L. Sullivan Nashville, Tn EX
May 10 Bernard Peoria, Il EX
May 10 Mike Gillespie Peoria, Il EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date;
Some sources report "Bloomington, Il"
Jun 30 Steve Taylor New York, NY EX
Oct 6 Jack Welsh Philadelphia, Pa W 4
Oct 17 Walter Watson New York, NY W 7
-This bout was for the position of Boxing Instructor
at the New York Athletic Club; Some sources report
"W 6"
Nov James Gladden New York, NY EX
Dec 2 Denny Butler New York, NY EX 3
Dec 31 John L. Sullivan Brooklyn, NY EX
-This bout was part of the play, The Lottery of Life
1885
Jan 1 John L. Sullivan New York, NY EX
Jan 1 John L. Sullivan New York, NY EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
as part of the play, The Lottery of Life
Apr 24 Denny Butler New York, NY EX
-Some sources report 4/24/86
Sep 9 -Donovan owned a liquor store at 156 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY
1886
Jan 15 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey New York, NY EX 4
Jul 17 Frank Herald Greenville, NJ SCH
-This bout was scheduled but postponed;
Herald was ill with a cold
Sep -Donovan was fined for refusing to answer questions during a court trial
Oct -Donovan got into a barroom fight with Pug McCarthy and shoved him down;
McCarthy received a broken neck and died; A coroner's inquest followed;
Donovan was set free
1887
Feb 5 H.K. Bloodgood New York, NY EX
Apr 11 Jack Fallon New York, NY EX
Apr 15 Jake Kilrain New York, NY EX
Apr 26 Jack Fallon Brooklyn, NY EX
Aug 8 Pete McCoy Boston, Ma EX
-The pevious 2 bouts were held the same date
Aug 8 John L. Sullivan Boston, Ma EX 3
Aug 11 John L. Sullivan Boston, Ma EX 3
Oct -Donovan trained Johnny Reagan and seconded him on 10/13/87
vs "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey
1888
Feb 25 Johnny Reagan Brooklyn, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Feb 25 Mike Gillespie Brooklyn, NY EX
Jun 4 John L. Sullivan New York, NY EX
Aug 26 Johnny Reagan Brooklyn, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known;
Some sources report 8/26/89
Nov 15 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey Brooklyn, NY D 6
-Some sources report "EX 6"
Undated (Prior to 1889)
George Siler Chicago, Il EX
1889
Feb 19 -Jack Donovan, brother of Mike Donovan, arrived in San Francisco
on the steamer "Mariposa" from the Antipodes
Apr 26 -Donovan seconded Johnny Murphy vs. Cal McCarthy at Boston, Ma
Jun 6 -A Benefit for Donovan was scheduled to be held at New Orleans, La;
Likely he sparred
Jun 13 Johnny Reagan New York, NY EX
Jun 13 William C. McClellan New York, NY EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul 6 Pat Kenrick New Orleans, La SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jul 6 Charlie Mitchell New Orleans, La EX 4
Jul 6 Denny Butler New Orleans, La EX 4
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul 8 -Donovan seconded Jake Kilrain vs. John L. Sullivan at Richburg, Ms
1890
Jan 31 an unnamed opponent New Orleans, La EX
Feb 21 -Donovan was scheduled to appear in Philadelphia, Pa
Mar 20 Jim Corbett New York, NY EX 3
-Donovan called Corbett the quickest big man he ever faced
Mar 21 Johnny McGee Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
-Corbett and Mike Donovan sparred several times in New York
during March and April 1890; Likely, they sparred in Boston,
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington too
1891
May 4 William C. McClellan New York, NY KO 1
Dec 26 Jim Corbett New York, NY EX 1
1892
Jan 22 Jim Corbett Philadelphia, Pa EX 3
Apr 9 Jim Corbett New York, NY EX
Apr 9 Bob Fitzsimmons New York, NY SCH
Apr 9 Jimmy Carroll New York, NY SCH
The outcomes are not known for the previous 2 bouts
Apr 9 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa EX
-The previous 4 bouts were scheduled for the same date
May 28 John Murray Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jul 23 Bill Slavin New York, NY ND
-This was a "private" fight which occurred on a street;
Donovan denied that he was involved
Aug -Donovan trained Jim Corbett for his bout against John L. Sullivan
Sep 5 Jim Corbett near Gainesville, Fl EX
-This bout was held on a "training car" that was
part of a southbound train
Dec 17 Dominick McCaffrey New York, NY ND 3
-Some sources report "EX 3"
1893
Mar 14 -Donovan conducted a boxing tournament in New York, NY
Apr 14 -Donovan conducted a boxing tournament in New York, NY
1894
Feb 17 -A Benefit for Mike Donovan was held in New York, NY;
Likely, he sparred
Apr 27 -Donovan conducted a boxing show in New York, NY
Nov 8 Bob Fitzsimmons New York, NY EX
Dec 1 -Sources reported that Jem Mace was coming to America
and would box Mike Donovan soon after he arrived
1895
Jan 29 H. Kelly Manayunk, Pa ND
Feb 9 -A Benefit for Mike Donovan was held at New York, NY;
Likely, he sparred
May 4 Denny Butler Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
1896
Jan Joe Choynski New York, NY EX
-Donovan sparred regularly with Choynski in preparation for
Joe's bout with Jim Hall
Dec 14 Jem Mace New York, NY D 4
-Some sources report "EX 3" in "Utica, NY"
1897
Aug Jem Mace Birmingham, England SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Sep 3 Jem Mace Birmingham, England D 6
1900
Mar 20 Jim Corbett New York, NY EX 3
*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***
1870
Jimmy Murray Red Bank, NJ D 3
-This was not the famous fighter "Jimmy Murray"
1873
Jun Jimmy Murray Philadelphia, Pa D 44
-This was not the famous fighter "Jimmy Murray"
1880
Mar 1 John Clark Brooklyn, NY EX 3
1881
Mar 28 Billy Edwards near New York, NY LT 16
-It is not clear whether Donovan, the famous middleweight fighter,
fought Edwards or not
1883
Aug 25 Jack Davis New York, NY NC 1
-Police intervened
1888
Feb 13 Jack Smith New York, NY D 12
-Smith fought a man named "Mike Donovan" but from
the description, it may not have been this "Mike Donovan"
1892
Jan 18 Jim Corbett Philadelphia, Pa EX 1
Review courtesy of
Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing
Research Organization
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