1879
Charles Hadley New York, NY D 6
-Some sources report 1882
Tom "Ham" Williams Boston, Ma KO 3
-Some sources report "W 3"
Joe Dougherty Boston, Ma KO 1
Mose Laborn Boston, Ma KO
-Godfrey won a Heavyweight Competition by winning
the previous 3 bouts
1881
Feb 22 Charles Dougherty Boston, Ma W 3
Sep John L. Sullivan Boston, Ma SCH
-This bout was scheduled but not held;
Both men were stripped for a "fight-to-the-finish";
Sullivan then said he would not fight Godfrey;
Some sources report 1882
1882
Jan 26 Charles Hadley New York, NY D 4
Jake Kilrain Boston, Ma D 3
-Some sources report "EX 3"
-Godfrey defeated a number of unnamed opponents
1883
Jan 18 Charles Hadley New York, NY D 6
Jan 18 Harry Allen Boston, Ma EX
-Different sources report the previous 2 bouts on the same date
Feb 22 Charles Hadley Boston, Ma TK 6
-Godfrey claimed the Colored Heavyweight Championship
of the World; John L. Sullivan was the referee;
Some sources report "W 6" on 02/23/1883
May 16 Jake Kilrain Boston, Ma ND 3
-Police intervened;
Some sources report "D 3";
Some sources report "L 3"
Nov 21 Young Loring Boston, Ma EX 3
1884
Jan 22 Dan Foley Boston, Ma EX
Feb 1 Florrie Barnett Boston, Ma EX 3
-Some sources report 02/02/1884;
Some sources report "W 3"
May 10 McHenry Johnson Boston, Ma D 6
-Johnson was called the Minneapolis Star;
Police intervened;
Some sources report 05/10/1883;
Reports vary - "NC 4" - "D 3" - "D 4"
Dec 6 George Taylor Boston, Ma D 4
1883-1885
Billy Wilson W
1885
Jan 12 Jack Loring in Massachusetts ND 3
Mar 10 Jimmy Doherty Boston, Ma KO 1
-Some sources report 1882
Harry Williams Boston, Ma KO 3
-Some sources report 1882
May Barney Small Salem, Ma KO 2
Nov 16 Jimmy Doherty Boston, Ma LF 3
-Godfrey knocked Doherty down 3 times;
The referee ruled that Godfrey struck Doherty
while he was on his knees and declared Doherty
the winner by foul
Dec 7 Joe Mullen Chelsea, Ma KO 3
Dec 22 Isaac "Ike" Talbot Bangor, Me D 6
-Some sources report "W 6";
Some sources report "ND 6"
1884-1886
C.A.C. Smith D 6
1886
Apr 26 Joe Lannon Boston, Ma D 6
-Some sources report "W 6"
1887
May 18 Dan Foley Boston, Ma EX
Aug 8 John Fay Boston, Ma EX
Sep 19 Joe Lannon Boston, Ma EX 3
Dec 19 Steve Taylor Boston, Ma SCH
-This bout was scheduled but not held;
Taylor had an injured hand
Dec 19 Dan Foley Boston, Ma EX
1888
Jan 25 McHenry Johnson Bloomfield, Co LF 4
-Johnson was called the Minneapolis Star;
Godfrey knocked Johnson down 3 times; The referee
first ruled Godfrey loser by an "LF 4" verdict;
He later reversed the decision and Godfrey got
the winner's share of the purse; Godfrey was
recognized as the "Colored Heavyweight Champion
of the World"; Some sources report "Denver, Co"
Feb 27 Bobby Burns Fitchburg, Ma W 4
May 14 -Godfrey challenged John L. Sullivan to a bout; Sullivan refused
Aug 24 Peter Jackson San Francisco, Ca LK 19
1887-1889
Patsy Cardiff Boston, Ma SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
1889
Peter Jackson EX
Peter Jackson EX
Feb 4 Joe Lannon Boston, Ma D 15
-It had been agreed that the fight would be a "Draw"
if a knockout was not scored; John L. Sullivan was
the referee
Mar 28 Jack Wannop Boston, Ma KO 6
Nov 7 Jack Ashton Boston, Ma KO 14
1890
Mar 8 Patsy Cardiff Providence, RI KO 16
Nov 25 "Denver" Ed Smith Hoboken, NJ TK 23
1891
Mar 13 Jake Kilrain San Francisco, Ca LK 44
1892
May 16 Joe Lannon Coney Island, NY KO 4
-Some sources report "TK 5"
Aug 15 C.A.C. Smith New York, NY W 4
Oct 31 Joe Choynski Coney Island, NY LK 15
1893
Nov 8 Steve O'Donnell Providence, RI D 6
Nov 11 Jim Hall Boston, Ma ND 3
Dec 15 Joe Butler D 4
1894
Jan 19 Ed Binney Boston, Ma EX 3
May 28 Peter Maher Boston, Ma LK 6
1895
Nov 11 Billy Woods Baltimore, Md WF 9
-Some sources report 11/10/1895;
Some sources report "WF 8"
1896
Mar 5 Nick Burley Boston, Ma D 15
*** Assistance Was Provided By Christopher Shelton ***
Review courtesy of
Tracy Callis,
Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
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