Billy Edwards

BORN   December 21 1844; Birmingham, England
DIED August 12 1907; Brooklyn, New York
HEIGHT 5-4 1/2 (Some sources report 5-5)
WEIGHT 128-140 lbs


Billy was a brother to Warwick "Warry" Edwards

Edwards was was quick on his feet, an accurate and hard hitter and excellent at stopping blows and countering; Despite the reputation for his fists, he was extremely well-mannered and modest; He was the Lightweight Champion of America during 1868-1872

During his career, Edwards defeated such men as Sam Collyer, Tim Collins and William Fauceth

1861
       an unnamed opponent        Smethwick, Eng                    W   

1865
          -Edwards came to New York and worked as a boilermaker;
           He sparred in numerous exhibitions

       Sol Aaron                  New York, NY                     EX   
Nov 18 Mike Coburn                New York, NY                     EX   

1866
Jun  8 Jim Kerrigan               New York, NY                     EX   
Oct 24 John Gavney                Brooklyn, NY                     EX   
1867
Apr  4 "Cock Robin"               New York, NY                     EX  
Apr  4 Charles Collins            New York, NY                     EX  
          -Collins was called the "Cast Iron Man"
;
           The previous 2 bouts were held the same date 
Apr 26 Young Kiernan              New York, NY                     EX  4
Jun  4 Young Rawley               New York, NY                     EX  5
Oct 31 Young Larkey               New York, NY                     EX  
Oct 31 "Young" Patsy Sheppard     New York, NY                     EX  
          -
The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
1868
Aug 24 Sam Collyer                Cove River, Va                   TK 34
          -Lightweight Championship of America;
          Some sources report "TK 47" at "Cherry Point, Va"

1869
          -Edwards went on a sparring tour in England
Dec 22 -Edwards challenged Patsy Sheppard to a bout

1870
Mar  2 Sam Collyer                Mystic Island, Ct                TK 41
          -Lightweight Championship of America;
           Some sources report "TK 40" on 3/07/70
Jun 16 William "Dooney" Harris    Jersey City, NJ                  EX  3

1871
May 25 Tim Collins                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 "TK 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 -Edwards and Collins were sentenced to one year in prison 
          for prizefighting by Judge Dowling
       Ben Hogan                  New York, NY                      W   

1871-1872
          -Edwards toured the West with Jem Mace
       John Laflin                Chicago, Il                      EX   
       Jem Mace                   Council Bluffs, Ne               EX   

          -Edwards toured California with Jem Mace
       Scotty (of Brooklyn)       Sacramento, Ca                   EX   
       Tommy Chandler             San Francisco, Ca                 W   
       Tommy Chandler             San Francisco, Ca                EX   
       Barney Farley              San Francisco, Ca                EX   
       Denny Haley                San Francisco, Ca                EX   
       White (of Australia)       San Francisco, Ca                EX   

1872
Sep  4 Arthur Chambers            Squirrel Island, ---, Can        LF 26
          -Lightweight Championship of America;
          Some sources report "Walpole Island, Can"
Nov    Tom Kenny                  Liverpool, Eng                  SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

1873
Mar 13 William Fauceth            Manchester, Eng                  TK 45
          -Some sources report "William Faucett";
           Some sources report "W 41";
           Some sources report 3/11/74

1874
Jan 27 Peter Croker               New York, NY                      W  3
          -Perhaps, this is the undated bout referenced at the bottom of this record;
           Some sources report "W 5"
Apr    Tim Collins                Philadelphia, Pa                 EX   
Apr    Tim Collins                Philadelphia, Pa                 EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held on separate evenings 
           prior to 4/16/1874
May  2 Arthur Chambers            Philadelphia, Pa                 EX   
Aug  1 Sam Collyer                Smith's Ferry, Va                 W 11
          -Some sources report 8/08/74;
           Some sources report "W 10"
Dec    Arthur Chambers            New York, NY                     EX   
          -Edwards and Chambers sparred each night for a week
           at the "Park Theatre" in late December

1875
May 20 -Edwards was scheduled to spar in New York, NY
Dec  7 Arthur Chambers            New York, NY                     EX   

1876
Jun  5 Steve Taylor               Brooklyn, NY                     ND 18
          -English/Queensberry rules and gloves were used;
           Edwards boxed and dodged skillfully early in the bout;
           Later, Taylor began to punish him; Edwards was "silly"
           at the end; Taylor knocked down Edwards and possibly
           broke Edwards' wrist; Taylor's face was puffed;
           Police intervened; Some sources report "ND 15"
       Jem Mace                                                     L   
Sep  2 "Young" Barney Aaron       Cincinnati, Oh                   EX  3
Dec 14 -Edwards was scheduled to spar in Brooklyn, NY
Dec 22 -Edwards was scheduled to spar in Brooklyn, NY

1877
Mar 19 William C. McClellan       New York, NY                     ND  4
          -This bout was part of a benefit for Edwards;
           Perhaps, the verdict was "EX 4"
Mar 29 William C. McClellan       New York, NY                     ND  3
          -This bout was part of a benefit for McClellan;
           Perhaps, the verdict was "EX 3"
Apr  2 Warwick "Warry" Edwards    New York, NY                     EX   
Apr 16 Jim Frankey                Brooklyn, NY                     EX  3
May  3 -Edwards seconded William C. McClellan vs Jimmy Murray
          at New York, NY
Jul  9 Warwick "Warry" Edwards    New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jul  9 Tim Leary                  New York, NY                     EX   
Sep 24 Arthur Chambers            Brooklyn, NY                     EX   
Dec 21 William "Dooney" Harris    Brooklyn, NY                     EX  4

1878
Feb 19 John Cash                  Brooklyn, NY                     EX   
          -The Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle reports "John Class"
Feb 23 John Cash                  Brooklyn, NY                     EX  3
Mar 18 -Edwards was scheduled to spar in Brooklyn, NY
May  4 Warwick "Warry" Edwards    New York, NY                     EX   
May  9 Mike Donovan               New York, NY                     EX   
May 13 Lew Chambers               Philadelphia, Pa                 EX   
May 13 Arthur Chambers            Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jun 12 Arthur Chambers            New York, NY                     EX   
Dec 31 Arthur Chambers            New York, NY                     EX   

1879
Jan  1 Patsy Sheppard             New York, NY                     EX  3
Feb 21 John Cash                  New York, NY                     EX   
May 12 Jack Leary                 Brooklyn, NY                     EX   
May 12 -Edwards and Sam Collyer got into an argument at
          Charles F. Ottignon's Benefit in Brooklyn, NY
Aug 18 -Edwards seconded William McClellan vs Mike Donovan
          in San Francisco, Ca

1880
Mar 20 Professor Jordan           New York, NY                     EX   
Dec    Professor Jordan           New York, NY                     EX   

1881
Jan    Harry Hicken               New York, NY                     EX  3
Jan 15 -Edwards was challenged by Edward McGlinchey to a bout
Jan 21 John Cash                  Brooklyn, NY                     EX   
Feb 25 Jack Leary                 New York, NY                     EX   
Mar    Tommy Drohan               Boston, Ma                       EX   
Oct    Arthur Chambers            New York, NY                     EX   

1882
Jul 17 -Edwards seconded Joe "Tug" Wilson vs John L. Sullivan
          in New York, NY
Oct 18 Professor Jordan           New York, NY                     EX   
Dec 28 Arthur Chambers            New York, NY                     EX   

1883
Mar  1 Mike Donovan               New York, NY                     EX   
Mar 13 Arthur Chambers            New York, NY                     EX   
Mar 19 Arthur Chambers            Boston, Ma                       EX   
Apr 11 William C. McClellan       New York, NY                     EX  3
Apr 12 Arthur Chambers            Brooklyn, NY                     EX   
          -These men were very scientific;
           Edwards got in two blows for every one;
           Some sources report "Long Island City, NY"
Apr 21 Warwick "Warry" Edwards    New York, NY                     EX   

1884
          -Edwards worked in the barroom at the "Hoffman House"
           in New York; He also owned a saloon in New York; It 
           is not known for how long before 1884 he did this

Apr  2 Warwick "Warry" Edwards    Brooklyn, NY                     EX  3
May 12 Charlie Mitchell           New York, NY                     LT  3
          -Police intervened
Jun 26 -Edwards refereed the Jake Kilrain-Mike Cleary bout in New York, NY
Nov 10 -Edwards and Arthur Chambers seconded John M. Laflin
          vs John L. Sullivan at New York, NY
Nov    Arthur Chambers            New York, NY                     EX   

1885
Apr 24 Arthur Chambers            New York, NY                     EX   
          -Some sources report 4/24/84; Some report 1886

1886
Feb  3 -Edwards seconded Jack Fogarty vs "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey 
          in New York, NY

1887
Mar    Arthur Chambers            Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  3

1888
Apr  9 Arthur Chambers            Boston, Ma                       EX  3

1894
Nov  2 an unnamed opponent        South Orange, NJ                 ND  5
          -Five one-minute rounds were fought;
           This bout was filmed; Probably, at Edison's lab

1896
Dec 14 Arthur Chambers            New York, NY                     EX  3

1897
Feb 24 Arthur Chambers            Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  3

1903
Mar  4 Arthur Chambers            Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  3

*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***
Undated 
       Peter Croker               New York, NY                      ?   
          -This bout is reported; The outcome is not given;
           In this bout, Edwards struck Croker with a "pin-point"
           straight right hand blow to the face; Within five minutes,
           Croker's eye, nose, and cheek were puffed greatly

1876
Jun    Warwick "Warry" Edwards    New York ,NY                     EX   

1878
Jun  1 John Cash                  New York, NY                     EX   

1881
Mar 28 Mike Donovan               near New York, NY                TK 16
          -It is not clear whether Edwards fought Donovan, the famous 
           middleweight fighter, or not

1883
Nov 29 Pete McCoy                 New York, NY                     EX   


*** Much Data Was Provided By William Schutte ***

*** Much Data Was Provided By Sergei Yurchenko ***

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

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