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The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- American Bare Knuckle Champion

Joe Goss

BORN   November 6 1837; Northampton, England
DIED    March 24 1885; Boston, Massachusetts
HEIGHT 5-8 1/2
WEIGHT 140-164 lbs
Goss was quick, crafty, and durable; He was a skillful pugilist under London Prize Ring Rules and knew all the tricks

Joe began fighting in England and won a championship there; He came to America in 1867; He claimed the heavyweight championship of America in 1876

During his career, he defeated such men as Tom Allen, Jack Rooke, Posh Price, Bill Ryall and Harry Crutchley

Goss was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1969

1857
       George Hares              Brompton Bushes, ---, England            W   

1858
       Rixon                     Northants, ---, England                  W 150

1859
       Young Broome              in England                             SCH   
        -This fight was scheduled but not held;
         Goss paid forfeit
Sep 20 Jack Rooke Leaseford, Sussex, England (1:40:00) W 64 Nov 29 Tom Price in England SCH
        -This fight was scheduled but not held;
        Goss paid forfeit
1860 Feb 10 Tom Price Kingswood Common, ---, England W 15 Mar 20 Charlie Paget Wolverhampton, ---, England W 18 Jul 17 Harry Crutchley Oxford, ---, England W 120 1861 Sep 24 Bill Ryall Home Circuit, ---, England W 37 1862 Feb 11 Bill Ryall Home Circuit, ---, England D 36 Nov 25 Posh Price Stonebridge, ---, England W 66 -Middleweight Championship of England 1863 Sep 1 Jem Mace Wooten/Bassett/Plumstead, ---, England L 19 -Middleweight Championship of England; This bout was held in three rings at - "Wooten, Bassett, and Plumstead Marshes"; Some sources report 1/28/63 Dec 16 Ike Baker London, ---, England W 27 1866 May 24 Jem Mace Kent, ---, England D 1 -Heavyweight Championship of England; No blows were struck Aug 6 Jem Mace London, ---, England L 21 -Heavyweight Championship of England 1867 Mar 5 Tom Allen Gloucestershire, ---, England D 34 -Middleweight Championship of England; This bout was fought in three rings at different times in "Gloucestershire" and "Marshfield" and near "St. Malins"; Earlier sources report "D 31" Jul -Goss arrived in New York, NY Sep 7 Tom Allen Cincinnati, Oh WF 1 1868 Mar 3 Joe Wormald SCH -This fight was scheduled but not held; Wormald paid forfeit to Goss Aug Harry Allen D 1876 Jan 18 Jem Mace London, ---, England EX 3 May 12 Jem Mace Brooklyn, NY EX May 12 Jem Mace Brooklyn, NY SCH -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled for the same date; The outcomes are not known May 13 Jem Mace Brooklyn, NY SCH May 13 Jem Mace Brooklyn, NY SCH -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled for the same date; The outcomes are not known Sep 7 Tom Allen Kenton County, Ky D 7 Sep 7 Tom Allen Boone County, Ky WF 14 -Heavyweight Championship of America; This bout was fought in two rings on the same date; Allen struck Goss while he was down and was disqualified Oct 17 John J. Dwyer New York, NY ND 4 -Dwyer knocked Goss down
Oct 19 John J. Dwyer Brooklyn, NY SCH   -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known 1877 Sep 24 Steve Taylor Brooklyn, NY EX 3 Oct 8 William Miller Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Dec 3 William Miller New York, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known 1878 Mar 25 John J. Dwyer Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known; This was a sparring scene in the play, "A Great Encounter" Mar 26 John J. Dwyer Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known; This was a sparring scene in the play, "A Great Encounter" Mar 27 John J. Dwyer Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known; This was a sparring scene in the play, "A Great Encounter" Mar 27 John J. Dwyer Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known; This was a sparring scene in the play, "A Great Encounter" The previous 2 bouts were scheduled for the same date Mar 28 John J. Dwyer Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known; This was a sparring scene in the play, "A Great Encounter" Mar 29 John J. Dwyer Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known; This was a sparring scene in the play, "A Great Encounter" Mar 30 John J. Dwyer Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known; This was a sparring scene in the play, "A Great Encounter" Mar 30 John J. Dwyer Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known; This was a sparring scene in the play, "A Great Encounter" The previous 2 bouts were scheduled for the same date Apr John J. Dwyer Troy, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled May 16 Steve Taylor New York, NY EX May 27 Steve Taylor Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Jun 22 Paddy Ryan Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled; Ryan refused to fight when the promoter failed to come up with the prize money Sep John J. Dwyer SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Dec 19 William Miller Baltimore, Md L -Miller won by more "clean" hits, 22-10 1879 Apr 19 -Goss was scheduled to spar in Brooklyn, NY 1880 Mar 20 Steve Taylor New York, NY EX Apr 6 John L. Sullivan Boston, Ma EX 3 May 30 Paddy Ryan Collier's Station, WV L 87 -Heavyweight Championship of America 1881 Jan 3 John L. Sullivan Boston, Ma EX 3 -Gloves were used for this bout May 18 Paddy Ryan New York, NY EX 3 1882 Feb 2 John L. Sullivan New Orleans, La EX 3 Aug 19 John L. Sullivan North Adams, Ma EX 2 -A riot broke out in the crowd and police intervened Aug 19 John L. Sullivan North Adams, Ma EX 3 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Dec 14 John L. Sullivan New York, NY EX Undated -Reportedly, Goss fought Denny Kelliher

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