"Yank" Kenny

BORN   c. 1865; Detroit, Michigan
(Some sources report Wyandotte, Michigan; Fought out of Toledo, Ohio)
HEIGHT 6-1 3/4 (reports vary from 6-0 to 6-2)
WEIGHT 190-215 lbs

Kenny was a big, strong fellow who was quick on his feet and not clumsy; He was fairly clever but he was not a truly good boxer; At times, during his early career, he showed the potential of being a top contender

He is best known for being a sparring partner of Bob Fitzsimmons during the late 1890s; Perhaps, his best win came against Gus Ruhlin on 6/17/95

During his career, he also defeated such men as Ed Dunkhorst, George Peters, Bill Mayo, W.C. Olson and Jack Carney

1891
Oct 25 Joe Tansey                  Allenton, Wi                    LK  5
          -Some sources report "Milwaukee, Wi"

1893
       Jim McGee                   Detroit, Mi                     KO  1
          -Some sources report 1894

1894
May  7 Frank Kellar                Wyandotte, Mi                    D 28
          -Kenny was fouling; The referee stopped the contest
           and called it a "draw"
Aug    Will Mayo                   Saginaw, Mi                     TK  3

1893-1895
       George Peters               Detroit, Mi                     KO  3
       W.C. Olson                  in Michigan                      W  3
          -Olson reportedly was the "Champion of Michigan"

1895
       Jack Carney                 Pittsburgh, Pa                  TK  7
Jun 17 Gus Ruhlin                  North Baltimore, Md             TK 16
          -Heavyweight Championship of Northern Ohio;
           Some sources report 1896

1896
Mar 24 Henry Baker                 Cleveland, Oh                   LT  1
          -Police intervened; Some sources report "L 1"

1897
Jul 12 Dick Wilson                 Cincinnati, Oh                   W  2
          -Some sources report "TK 2"
Nov    Mike Donovan                New York, NY                    EX   
Dec    Mike Donovan                New York, NY                    EX   

1898
Jan    Mike Donovan                High Bridge, NY                 EX   
Jan    Jim Guilder                 High Bridge, NY                 EX   
Jan    Tom Williams                High Bridge, NY                 EX   
          -The previous 3 men sparred frequently with Kenny
           during his training for the Peter Maher bout
Jan 21 Peter Maher                 Philadelphia, Pa                LK  1
Feb 21 Bob Armstrong               Chicago, Il                     LK  5
Apr    -Kenny was traveling with the Bob Fitzsimmons Vaudeville
           Athletic Company
Apr  5 -Kenny appeared in New York, NY (Hyde & Behman's Theatre)
Apr  6 -Kenny appeared in New York, NY (Hyde & Behman's Theatre)
Apr  7 -Kenny appeared in New York, NY (Hyde & Behman's Theatre)

1899
Mar  5 -Kenny was scheduled to spar with Bob Fitzsimmons all week in Chicago, Il
          (Mar 5-10)
May    -Kenny was a sparring partner of Bob Fitzsimmons as he trained for the
          Jim Jeffries bout
Jun  2 Bob Fitzsimmons             Bath Beach, NY                  EX  3
Jun  9 -Kenny seconded Bob Fitzsimmons vs. Jim Jeffries at Coney Island, NY
Jun 19 Ed Dunkhorst                Coney Island, NY                 W 25
Jun 26 Bob Fitzsimmons             Coney Island, NY               SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Aug 28 Jack Bonner                 Coney Island, NY                 L 25
Oct 28 -Kenny seconded Bob Fitzsimmons vs. Geoff Thorne in Chicago, Il

1900
Mar 30 Gus Ruhlin                  Hartford, Ct                    LK  6
          -Some sources report 3/31/00;
           Some sources report "L 6"
Apr 23 Billy Murray                Wheeling, WV                    TK  1
Jun  8 Tom Sharkey                 Brooklyn, NY                    LK  1
          -Some sources report "New York, NY"
Aug 20 "Denver" Ed Martin          Brooklyn, NY                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Kenny refused to fight due to money
Aug 31 "Denver" Ed Martin          Brooklyn, NY                    LK  1

1901
Nov    Frank "Paddy" Slavin        Klondike, Yukon, Can            LK  3
Dec 12 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Liverpool, Eng                  LF 12

1902
Feb  1 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien West Hartlepool, Eng            LF  5
May 21 John "Sandy" Ferguson       in England                      LK  3
Jun 20 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Philadelphia, Pa                LK  3

1903
Aug    Jim Corbett                                                  EX   
          -Kenny sparred with Corbett during Aug 1903
           in preparation for Corbett's bout with Jim Jeffries

1904
Jan 21 Jim Jeffords                Philadelphia, Pa                LT  1


*** Much Data Was Provided By Luckett Davis ***

*** Much Assistance Was Provided By Seth Callis ***

Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
[Return to Top] [Boxing News] [Tracy Callis Archive]
[Return to Cyber] [CBZ Message Board] [Mike Casey Archive]