The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- Lineal Champion

Joe Gans
(Joseph Gant; the "Old Master")

BORN   November 25, 1874; Baltimore, Maryland (Gans claimed he did not know exact date of his birth)
DIED August 10, 1910; Baltimore, Maryland
HEIGHT 5-6 1/2
WEIGHT 131-138 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 old-timers, 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

New Book --   JOE GANS   by Colleen Aycock and Mark Scott - Callis-Nicholson
New Book --   JOE GANS   by Colleen Aycock and Mark Scott - Moyle

New Book --   HITTERS DANCERS and RING MAGICIANS   by Kelly Nicholson

Gans-Herman 1906 Fight Video Clip

Another Gans-Herman 1906 Fight Video Clip

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1893
Oct 23 Buck Myers                 Baltimore, Md                    ND   
Nov 27 William Jones              Baltimore, Md                    TK  6

1894
Feb 12 William Evans              Baltimore, Md                    KO  4
Mar 26 Charles de Haneo           Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           De Haneo failed to appear
Apr 19 David Horn                 Baltimore, Md                    ND  3
       -Police intervened
Apr 25 Harry Brian                Baltimore, Md                     W   
May 21 Robert Cook                Baltimore, Md                    ND   
Jun 26 Gustav "Buck" Wilkie       Baltimore, Md                     W  4
          -Colored Lightweight Championship of Maryland
Jun 27 Paul Johnson               Baltimore, Md                     L  5
          -Colored Lightweight Championship of Maryland
Jul 10 Jackson                    Washington, DC                   TK  3
          -This bout was part of an Inter-City boxing tournament
Dec 17 Travis Brown               Baltimore, Md                     W  6
Dec 21 Frederick Sweigert         Baltimore, Md                    ND 10
Dec 27 John Coates                Baltimore, Md                     W 10
Dec 28 Young Fitzsimmons          Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Fitzsimmons failed to appear
Dec 28 Jack McDonald              Baltimore, Md                    TK  8

1895
Jan  1 Frederick Sweigert         Baltimore, Md                     W   
Jan  7 Samuel Allen               Baltimore, Md                    KO  3
Jan  7 Bud Brown                  Baltimore, Md                     W 10
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jan 11 Arthur Coates              Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Coates failed to appear
Jan 11 Paul Johnson               Baltimore, Md                     W 10
Jan 23 David Horn                 Baltimore, Md                     D 10
Feb  6 Frederick Sweigert         Baltimore, Md                     W 10
Feb  7 Sam Young                  Baltimore, Md                    KO  4
Feb 11 John Coates                Baltimore, Md                     W 11
Mar  4 Max Wirsing                Baltimore, Md                    TK  3
Mar  6 Solomon English            Baltimore, Md                    TK 10
          -Police intervened
Mar 18 Howard Wilson              Baltimore, Md                     D 10
Mar 20 Harry Hunt                 Baltimore, Md                    TK  4
          -Police intervened
Mar 22 Paul Johnson               Baltimore, Md                     W  6
Mar 25 James Henry Oble           Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -Oble was overweight; Gans' manager refused to let them fight
Apr  1 Kentucky Rosebud           Baltimore, Md                    ND  6
Apr 13 John Van Heest             Baltimore, Md                     L  9
Apr 15 Joseph Neal                Baltimore, Md                     D  3
          -This was a catch-as-catch-can wrestling match
Apr 18 David Armstrong            Baltimore, Md                    TK  3
Apr 25 Kentucky Rosebud           Baltimore, Md                    TK  8
May  4 George Peabody             Baltimore, Md                    TK  3
May  9 Howard Wilson              Baltimore, Md                     D  6
May 14 George Willis              Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
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
Nov 18 Young Griffo               Baltimore, Md                     D 10
Nov 28 George Siddons             Baltimore, Md                    KO  7

1896
Jan 11 Benny Peterson             Philadelphia, Pa                  W  4
Jan 17 Joe Elliott                Baltimore, Md                    KO  7
Feb 22 William "Spike" Sullivan   Boston, Ma                      SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Sullivan was taken sick the day of the fight
Feb 22 Jimmy Kennard              Boston, Ma                       TK  6
Mar 12 Frank Erne                 New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
          Gans was several pounds over the agreed weight
Jun  8 Jimmy Watson               Paterson, NJ                      W 10
Jun 29 Tommy Butler               Brooklyn, NY                      W 12
Jul 27 Martin Flaherty            Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held; Flaherty turned up ill
Aug 20 "Professor" Jack Williams  Baltimore, Md                    TK  2
Aug 31 Danny McBride              Baltimore, Md                     D 20
          -The National Police Gazette (9/19/96) reported, “By terms of the
           agreement, if both men were on their feet at the end of the 
           twentieth round the contest was to be declared a draw ..."
Sep 28 John Ball                  Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  3
          -Gans was scheduled to meet two men;
           The second opponent failed to appear
Oct  6 Dal Hawkins                New York, NY                      L 15
Oct 19 "Professor" Jack Williams  Baltimore, Md                    TK  3
          -Police intervened
Nov 12 Jerry Marshall             Baltimore, Md                     W 20
Dec 14 Dal Hawkins                San Francisco, Ca               SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Hawkins backed out with a back injury
Dec 14 Charles Rochette           San Francisco, Ca                TK  4

1897
Apr  3 Harry Peterson             New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
          The day before the fight, Peterson was substituted by Howard Wilson
Apr  3 Howard Wilson              New York, NY                     KO  9
Apr 27 William "Spike" Sullivan   New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled
May 18 Mike Leonard               San Francisco, Ca                 W 20
Aug 24 Jack McCue                 Baltimore, Md                    TK  6
Aug 24 John Coates                Baltimore, Md                    TK  5
Aug 24 Jerry Marshall             Baltimore, Md                    TK  8
Aug 24 George Thomas              Baltimore, Md                    TK  3
Aug 24 August Stenzie             Baltimore, Md                    TK  3
          -The previous 5 bouts were held the same date;
           Gans made a wager with his manager,
           that he'd stop five opponents in a row
Aug 25 Barney Connors             Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Aug 25 James Janey                Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Aug 30 Isadore "Izzy" Strauss     Baltimore, Md                    KO  5
Sep 21 Young Griffo               Athens, Pa                        D 15
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
          -Some sources report "W 5"

1898
Jan  3 Billy Young                Baltimore, Md                    TK  2
          -Police intervened
Jan 17 Frank Garrard              Cleveland, OH                    TK 15
Mar 11 Tommy Shortell             Baltimore, Md                    TK  6
Apr 11 Young Starlight            Baltimore, Md                    TK  3
          -The men boxed two-minute rounds
Apr 11 Young Smyrna               Baltimore, Md                    TK  3
          -Police intervened;
           The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Apr 28 Otto Sieloff               Chicago, Il                     SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled
May 11 Steve Crosby               Louisville, Ky                   TK  6
Jun  2 Joe "Kid" Roberson         Chicago, Il                      NC  3
          -The lights went out in the building and
           the bout had to be called off until next day
Jun  3 Joe "Kid" Roberson         Chicago, Il                       W  6
Jul  1 George "Monk" Brown        Baltimore, Md                    TK  6
Jul 29 James Curran               Philadelphia, Pa                SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled
Aug  8 Billy Ernst                Brooklyn, NY                     KO 11
Aug 26 Young Smyrna               Baltimore, Md                    TK 15
Aug 31 Thomas Jackson             Easton, Md                       KO  3
Sep 26 Herman Miller              Baltimore, Md                     W  4
          -Gans began a "meet-all-comers tour"
Sep 27 "Buck" Baynor              Baltimore, Md                    TK  3
Sep 27 Joseph Barrett             Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
          Barrett claimed he was in no condition to fight
Sep 27 William Hinton             Baltimore, Md                    TK  1
Sep 27 Joseph Smith               Baltimore, Md                    TK  1
          -The previous 4 bouts were scheduled for the same date;
           Three were held
Sep 28 James Martin               Baltimore, Md                    TK  4
Sep 29 Frederick Sweigert         Baltimore, Md                     W  4
Sep 30 William Duke               Baltimore, Md                     W  4
Oct  1 Herman Miller              Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
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, Canada              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, Md                   TK  4
Jul 24 Herman Miller              Ocean City, Md                   EX  2
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
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
          -Police intervened; The referee rendered the verdict
Oct  3 Jimmy "Spider" Kelly       New York, NY                      W 25
Oct  7 "Wilmington" Jack Daly     Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Oct 11 Martin Judge               Baltimore, Ma                     W 20
Oct 31 George "Elbows" McFadden   New York, NY                      W 25
Nov 24 Steve Crosby               Chicago, Il                       W  6
Dec 11 George "Kid" Ashe          Cincinnati, Oh                    W 15
Dec 22 William "Kid" McPartland   Chicago, Il                       D  6

1900
Feb  4 -At Lakewood, NJ, Gans sparred with James Murray
Feb    -At Lakewood, NJ, Gans sparred 8 rounds with George Dixon,
          10 rounds with Muldoon's "Pickaninny", 6 rounds with James Murray;
          Gans was also scheduled to spar 20 rounds with Jim Corbett
Feb  9 William "Spike" Sullivan   New York, NY                     TK 14
Mar 23 Frank Erne                 New York, NY                     LT 12
          -Lightweight Championship of the World;
          Gans asked to have the bout stopped because of an eye injury
Apr  2 "Chicago" Jack Daly        Philadelphia, Pa                 TK  5
Apr 30 Tom Cleary                 Philadelphia, Pa                SCH   
Apr 30 Harry Berger               Philadelphia, Pa                SCH   
          -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled but not held;
          There was not enough money and Gans refused to fight
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  2 George "Elbows" McFadden   Denver, Co                        D 10
Oct  5 Joe Youngs                 Denver, Co                        W 10
Oct 11 Alexander Johnson          Leadville, Co                    KO  1
Oct 11 "Birdlegs" Collins         Leadville, Co                    TK  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 16 Otto Sieloff               Denver, Co                       KO  9
Oct 19 Jimmy "Spider" Kelly       Denver, Co                       TK  9
Nov 16 William "Kid" Parker       Denver, Co                       KO  4
Dec 13 Terry McGovern             Chicago, Il                      LK  2
          -This bout was generally considered a fake

1901
Feb 13 "Wilmington" Jack Daly     Baltimore, Md                    WF  5
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
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
Aug 23 Steve Crosby               Louisville, Ky                    D 20
Sep 20 Steve Crosby               Baltimore, Md                    TK 12
          -Police intervened
Sep 30 Joe Handler                Trenton, NJ                      TK  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 Tommy Broderick            Baltimore, Md                    KO  6
Jan  5 -At Catonsville, Md, Gans sparred 10 rounds with Young Peter Jackson
Jan  6 Eddie Connolly             Philadelphia, Pa                 TK  5
Feb 10 Frank Erne                 Philadelphia, Pa                SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
          Erne failed to appear
Feb 17 George "Elbows" McFadden   Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Mar  7 Jack Ryan                  Allentown, Pa                    NC  3
Mar 27 Jack Bennett               Baltimore, Md                    KO  5
May 27 Joe Burke                  Baltimore, Md                    TK  2
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
May 28 Charles Boyer              Baltimore, Md                    TK  2
May 28 Edward Snowden             Baltimore, Md                    KO  2
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
May 29 St. Mary's County Bully    Baltimore, Md                    WF  3
May 12 Frank Erne                 Fort Erie, Ont, Canada           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, Canada           KO  5
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Oct 14 Dave Holly                 Lancaster, Pa                    ND 10
Nov 14 Charley Seiger             Baltimore, Md                    KO 15
          -Lightweight Championship of the World;
          Some sources report "KO 14"
Dec 19 Howard Wilson              Providence, RI                   TK  3
Dec 31 Charley Seiger             Boston, Ma                        D 10

1903
Jan  1 Gus Gardner                New Britain, Ct                  WF 11
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Jan 26 Mathewson                  Toronto, Ont, Canada             EX   
Jan 27 Art Edmonds                Toronto, Ont, Canada             EX   
Jan 27 Jack Daly                  Toronto, Ont, Canada             EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jan 28 O'Donohue                  Toronto, Ont, Canada             EX   
Jan 29 Joe O'Neill                Toronto, Ont, Canada            SCH   
          -This exhibition bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jan 30 Jack Tobin                 Toronto, Ont, Canada            SCH   
          -This exhibition bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Mar 11 Steve Crosby               Hot Springs, Ar                  TK 11
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Mar 23 Jack Bennett               Allegheny, Pa                    KO  5
May 13 Tommy Tracey               Portland, Or                     TK  9
May 29 Willie Fitzgerald          San Francisco, Ca                KO 10
          -This bout was billed for the Lightweight Championship
          of the World, but Gans weighed above the stipulated weight
Jul  4 Frank "Buddy" King         Butte, Mt                        KO  5
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Oct 19 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 Lightweight Championship of the World
Jan 19 Clarence Connors           Mount Clemens, Mi                TK  2
Jan 22 Joe Grim                   Baltimore, Md                     W 10
Feb  2 Mike Ward                  Detroit, Mi                      TK 10
          -Police intervened
Mar 25 Jack Blackburn             Baltimore, Md                     W 15
Mar 28 Gus Gardner                Saginaw, Mi                       W 10
          -Some sources report Lightweight Championship of the World
Apr 21 Sam Bolen                  Baltimore, Md                     W 15
May 18 Willie Fitzgerald          Weehawken, NJ                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
          The owner of the building refused to allow them to box
May 27 Jewey Cooke                Baltimore, Md                    TK  8
May 31 Charley Mulhall            Mauch Chunk, Pa                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
          It was said the receipts were not large enough;
          The bout was cancelled
Jun  3 Sam Langford               Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
          Langford couldn't reduce to stipulated 138 pounds
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 Jimmy Gardner              San Francisco, Ca               SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
          Several weeks before the fight Gardner claimed he could not train
          because of an injury from his last fight
Sep 30 Joe Walcott                San Francisco, Ca                 D 20
          -It was announced before the fight that no title would be at stake
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
          -Some sources report this bout as a Welterweight
          Championship of the World contest
Feb 17 -Gans claimed the fight with Jimmy Britt was a fake,
          which was arranged by the managers of the fighters
Mar 17 Mike "Twin" Sullvian       Los Angeles, Ca                  KO 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

1907
Jan  1 "Kid Herman" Landfield     Tonopah, Nv                      KO  8
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Sep  9 Jimmy Britt                San Francisco, Ca                TK  6
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Sep 27 George Memsic (Jimmie Burns) Los Angeles, Ca                 W 20
          -Lightweight Championship of the World

1908
Jan  3 Willie Fitzgerald          Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -Fitzgerald failed to appear
Jan  3 Bob Blackburn              Baltimore, Md                    KO  3
          -This bout was part of a benefit of Herman Miller;
          Some sources report "Bart Blackburn"
Apr  1 Frank "Spike" Robson       Philadelphia, Pa                 TK  3
May 14 Rudy 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

*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***

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

1895
Mar 16 Howard Wilson              Washington, DC                    W 10

1896
Jan 28 Howard Wilson              Baltimore, Md                    TK  8

1898
Jul 26 James Obey                 Baltimore, Md                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
          Police intervened

1906
May    Tom "Jabber" Carey         New York, NY                     EX  3
Oct 25 Mickey Riley               Milwaukee, Wi                    EX  4
       George "Kid" Lavigne       Detroit, Mi                      EX  3

1907
Jan 16 George Green               Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  3
          -This man was "Young Corbett I"; 2-minute rounds
             
Compiled By Sergei Yurchenko, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization