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The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- Lineal Champion

Joe Gans
(Joseph Gaines)
(the "Old Master")

BORN   November 25, 1874; Baltimore, Maryland
DIED August 10, 1910; Baltimore, Maryland
HEIGHT 5-6 1/4
WEIGHT 131-137 lbs
MANAGER Al Herford

Gans was one of the all-time ring greats; He had fast hands and was quick on his feet like a cat; On offense, he hit with both hands but mostly utilized a long, straight left accompanied by a stiff right; He also had a great left hook; According to oldtimers, he threw nearly every punch perfectly

On defense, he guarded himself well; His quickness and ducking ability made him a difficult target to strike; News accounts assert that nobody was better at picking off punches 

Nat Fleischer ranked Gans as the #1 All-Time Lightweight; Charley Rose ranked him as the #2 All-Time Lightweight; Herb Goldman ranked him as the #2 All-Time Lightweight; Gans was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990



Gans-Herman 1906 Fight Video Clip

Another Gans-Herman 1906 Fight Video Clip

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1891
       Dave Armstrong             Baltimore, Md                    KO 12
       Arthur Coates              Baltimore, Md                    KO 22
       Tommy Harden               Baltimore, Md                    KO  7

1892
       George Evans               Baltimore, Md                    KO  3
       Dave Armstrong             Baltimore, Md                    KO  3
       Jack Daly                  Pittsburgh, Pa                   KO 11

1893
       Dave Horn                  Baltimore, Md                    KO  2
       Bud Brown                  Baltimore, Md                    KO 10
       John Ball                  Baltimore, Md                    TK  6

1894 
       Jack McDonald              Newark, NJ                       TK  7
       Dave Horn                  Baltimore, Md                    TK 11
       John Van Heest             Baltimore, Md                    TK  9
Apr 25 Harry Brian                Baltimore, Md                     W   
Jun 26 Gus Wilkie                 Baltimore, Md                     W  4
Jun 27 Paul Johnson               Baltimore, Md                     L  5
Dec 17 Travis Brown               Baltimore, Md                     W  6
Dec 21 Fred Sweigert              Baltimore, Md                    ND 10
Dec 27 John Coats                 Baltimore, Md                     W 10
Dec 28 Jack McDonald              Baltimore, Md                    TK  8
1895
Feb  6 Fred Sweigert              Baltimore, Md                     W 10
Mar  6 Solomon English            Baltimore, Md                     W 10
          -Some sources report 3/07/95
Mar 16 Howard Wilson              Washington, DC                    W 10
Mar 18 Howard Wilson              Baltimore, Md                     D 10
Mar 20 Harry Hunt                 Baltimore, Md                    TK  4
Mar 22 Paul Johnson               Baltimore, Md                     W  6
Apr  2 Kentucky Rosebud           Baltimore, Md                    TK  7
          -This man was Walter Edgerton;
           Some sources report "D 6" on 4/01/95
Apr 25 Kentucky Rosebud           Baltimore, Md                    TK  6
          -This man was Walter Edgerton;
           Some sources report "TK 8"
May  4 Frank Peabody              Baltimore, Md                    TK  3
May  9 Howard Wilson              Baltimore, Md                     D  6
May 20 Benny Peterson             Baltimore, Md                    KO 17
May 28 Howard Wilson              Washington, DC                    W 10
Jul 15 George Siddons             Baltimore, Md                     D 20
Oct 21 Joe Elliott                Baltimore, Md                    KO  9
          -Some sources report "KO 6"
Nov 18 Young Griffo               Baltimore, Md                     D 10
Nov 28 George Siddons             Baltimore, Md                    KO  7

1896
Jan 11 Benny Peterson             Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  3
Jan 17 Joe Elliott                Baltimore, Md                    KO  7
Jan 28 Howard Wilson              Baltimore, Md                    TK  8
Feb 22 Jimmy Kennard              Boston, Ma                       KO  5
Mar 12 Frank Erne                 New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
           Gans was three pounds over the agreed
           weight 
Jun  8 Jimmy Watson               Paterson, NJ                     KO  9
Jun 29 Tommy Butler               Brooklyn, NY                      W 12
Aug 20 Jack Williams              Baltimore, Md                    TK  2
Aug 31 Danny McBride              Baltimore, Md                     D 20
Sep 28 John Ball                  Philadelphia, Pa                  W  4
Oct  6 Dal Hawkins                New York, NY                      L 15
Oct 19 Jack Williams              Baltimore, Md                    TK  2
Nov 12 Jerry Marshall             Baltimore, Md                     W 20
Dec 14 Charles Rochette           San Francisco, Ca                KO 12
          -Some sources report "Baltimore, Md";
           Some sources report "TK 4"

1897
Apr  3 Howard Wilson              New York, NY                     KO  9
May 19 Mike Leonard               San Francisco, Ca                 W 20
Aug 30 Isadore Strauss            Baltimore, Md                    KO  5
Sep 21 Young Griffo               Philadelphia, Pa                  D 15
          -Some sources report "Athens, Pa"
Sep 27 Bobby Dobbs                Brooklyn, NY                      L 20
Nov  6 "Wilmington" Jack Daly     Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Nov 29 Stanton Abbott             Baltimore, Md                    TK  5

1898
Jan  3 Billy Young                Baltimore, Md                    TK  2
Jan 17 Frank Garrard              Cleveland, Oh                    TK 15
Mar 11 Tom Shortell               Baltimore, Md                    KO  6
Apr 11 Young Starlight            Baltimore, Md                    KO  3
Apr 11 Young Smyrna               Baltimore, Md                    EX  4
May 11 Steve Crosby               Louisville, Ky                    W  6
Jun  2 Joe "Kid" Robinson         Chicago, Il                      NC   
Jun  3 Joe "Kid" Robinson         Chicago, Il                       W  6
Jul  1 Monk Brown                 Baltimore, Md                    TK  6
Jul 26 James Obey                 Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Police intervened
Aug  8 Billy Ernst                Brooklyn, NY                     TK 11
Aug 26 Young Smyrna               Baltimore, Md                    TK 15
Aug 31 Tom Jackson                Easton, Pa                       KO  3
Sep 26 Herman Miller              Baltimore, Md                    TK  4
Nov  4 William "Kid" McPartland   New York, NY                      W 25
Dec 27 "Wilmington" Jack Daly     New York, NY                      W 25

1899
Jan 13 Young Smyrna               Baltimore, Md                    KO  2
Jan 28 Martin Judge               Toronto, Ont, Can                 W 20
Feb  6 Billy Ernst                Buffalo, NY                      WF 10
Apr 14 George "Elbows" McFadden   New York, NY                     LK 23
Jul 24 Jack Dobbs                 Ocean City, NJ                   TK  4
Jul 28 George "Elbows" McFadden   New York, NY                      D 25
Sep  1 Eugene Bezenah             New York, NY                     TK 10
Sep 15 Martin Judge               Baltimore, Md                     W 12
Oct  3 Spider Kelly               New York, NY                      W 25
Oct  7 "Wilmington" Jack Daly     Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Oct 11 Martin Judge               Baltimore, Md                     W 20
Oct 31 George "Elbows" McFadden   New York, NY                      W 25
Nov 24 Steve Crosby               Chicago, Il                       W  6
Dec 11 Geoge "Kid" Ashe           Cincinnati, Oh                    W 15
Dec 22 William "Kid" McPartland   Chicago, Il                       D  6

1900
Feb  9 Willliam "Spike" Sullivan  New York, NY                     TK 14
Mar 23 Frank Erne                 New York, NY                     LT 12
          -Lightweight Championship of the World;
           Gans quit and asked to have the bout stopped
Apr  2 "Chicago" Jack Daly        Philadelphia, Pa                 TK  5
May 25 Dal Hawkins                New York, NY                     KO  2
Jun 26 Barney Furey               Cincinnati, Oh                   KO  9
Jul 10 Young Griffo               Brooklyn, NY                     TK  8
Jul 12 Whitey Lester              Baltimore, Md                    KO  4
Aug 31 Dal Hawkins                New York, NY                     KO  3
Sep  7 George "Elbows" McFadden   Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Oct  1 George "Elbows" McFadden   Denver, Co                        D 10
Oct  6 Joe Youngs                 Denver, Co                        W 10
Oct 16 Otto Sieloff               Denver, Co                       KO  9
Oct 19 Spider Kelly               Denver, Co                       KO  8
Nov 16 William "Kid" Parker       Denver, Co                       KO  4
Dec 13 Terry McGovern             Chicago, Il                      LK  2
                            
1901
Feb 13 "Wilmington" Jack Daly     Baltimore, Md                    WF  6
Apr  1 Martin Flaherty            Baltimore, Md                    TK  4
May 31 Bobby Dobbs                Baltimore, Md                    KO  7
Jul 15 Harry Berger               Baltimore, Md                    ND  6
Jul 15 Jack Donahue               Baltimore, Md                    TK  2
Jul 15 Kid Thomas                 Baltimore, Md                    ND  6
Aug 23 Steve Crosby               Louisville, Ky                    D 20
Sep 20 Steve Crosby               Baltimore, Md                    WF 12
Sep 30 Joe Handler                Baltimore, Md                    KO  1
Oct  4 Dan McConnell              Baltimore, Md                    KO  3
Nov 15 Jack Hanlon                Baltimore, Md                    KO  2
Nov 22 Billy Moore                Baltimore, Md                    KO  3
Dec 13 Bobby Dobbs                Baltimore, Md                    TK 14
Dec 30 Joe Youngs                 Philadelphia, Pa                 TK  4

1902
Jan  3 Tom Broderick              Baltimore, Md                    KO  6
Jan  6 Eddie Connolly             Philadelphia, Pa                 TK  5
Feb 17 George "Elbows" McFadden   Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Mar  7 Jack Ryan                  Allentown, Pa                    TK  3
Mar 27 Jack Bennett               Baltimore, Md                    KO  5
May 12 Frank Erne                 Fort Erie, Ont, Can              KO  1
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Jun 27 George "Elbows" McFadden   San Francisco, Ca                TK  3
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Jul 24 Rufe Turner                Oakland, Ca                      KO 15
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Sep 17 Gus Gardner                Baltimore, Md                    KO  5
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Sep 22 Jack Bennett               Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  2
Oct 13 William "Kid" McPartland   Fort Erie, Ont, Can              KO  5
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Oct 14 Dave Holly                 Lancaster, Pa                    ND 10
Nov 14 Charley Seiger             Baltimore, Md                    KO 14
Dec 19 Howard Wilson              Providence, RI                   KO  3
Dec 31 Charley Seiger             Boston, Ma                        W 10

1903
Jan  1 Gus Gardner                New Britain, Ct                  WF 11
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Jan 31 Jack Donahue               Toronto, Ont, Can                ND  6
Mar 11 Steve Crosby               Hot Springs, Ar                  TK 11
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Mar 23 Jack Bennett               Allegheny, Pa                    TK  5
May 13 Tom Tracey                 Portland, Or                     TK  9
May 29 Willie Fitzgerald          San Francisco, Ca                KO 10
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Jul  4 Frank "Buddy" King         Butte, Mt                        KO  4
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Oct 18 Joe Grim                   Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Oct 20 Eddie Kennedy              Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Oct 23 Dave Holly                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Nov  2 Jack Blackburn             Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Dec  7 Dave Holly                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Dec  8 Sam Langford               Boston, Ma                        L 15

1904
Jan 12 Willie Fitzgerald          Detroit, Mi                       W 10
          -Some sources report this bout as a Lightweight
           Championship of the World contest
Jan 19 Clarence Connors           Mount Clemens, Mi                TK  2
Jan 22 Joe Grim                   Baltimore, Md                     W 10
Feb  2 Mike Ward                  Detroit, Mi                       W 10
Mar 25 Jack Blackburn             Baltimore, Md                     W 15
Mar 28 Gus Gardner                Saginaw, Mi                       W 10
Apr 21 Sam Bolen                  Baltimore, Md                     W 15
May 27 Jewey Cooke                Baltimore, Md                    TK  8
Jun  3 Kid Griffo (Harry Cohen)   Baltimore, Md                    TK  7
Jun 13 Sammy Smith                Philadelphia, Pa                 TK  4
Jun 27 Dave Holly                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Sep 30 Joe Walcott                San Francisco, Ca                 D 20
          -Some sources report this bout as a Welterweight
           Championship of the World contest
Oct 31 Jimmy Britt                San Francisco, Ca                WF  5
          -Lightweight Championship of the World; 
           Britt gave Gans a terrific beating and knocked
           him down four times; The last time, he hit Gans
           when he was rising and was disqualified

1905
Mar 27 Rufe Turner                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Sep 15 Mike "Twin" Sullivan       Baltimore, Md                     D 15

1906
Jan 19 Mike "Twin" Sullivan       San Francisco, Ca                KO 15
Feb 19 -Gans claimed the fight with Jimmy Britt was a fake
           which was arranged by the managers of the fighters;
           It is thought he did this to get another fight with
           Britt
Mar 17 Mike "Twin" Sullvian       Los Angeles, Ca                  TK 10
May 18 Willie Lewis               New York, NY                     ND  6
Jun 15 Harry Lewis                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Jun 29 Jack Blackburn             Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Jul 23 Dave Holly                 Seattle, Wa                       W 20
Sep  3 Oscar "Battling" Nelson    Goldfield, Nv                    WF 42
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Oct 25 Mickey Riley               Milwaukee, Wi                    EX  4
       George "Kid" Lavigne       Detroit, Mi                      EX  3
 
1907
Jan  1 "Kid Herman" Landfield     Tonopah, Nv                      KO  8
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Jan 16 George Green               Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  3
          -This man was "Young Corbett I"
Sep  9 Jimmy Britt                San Francisco, Ca                TK  6
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Sep 27 George Memsic              Los Angeles, Ca                   W 20
          -Lightweight Championship of the World

1908
Jan  3 Bart Blackburn             Baltimore, Md                    KO  3
Apr  1 Frank "Spike" Robson       Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  3
May 14 Rudi Unholz                San Francisco, Ca                TK 11
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Jul  4 Oscar "Battling" Nelson    Colma, Ca                        LK 17
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Sep  9 Oscar "Battling" Nelson    Colma, Ca                        LK 21
          -Lightweight Championship of the World

1909
Mar 12 Jabez White                New York, NY                     ND 10


*** Assistance Provided By Sergei Yurchenko  ***

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

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