Mervine Thompson BORN   1854; Washington, District of Columbia (Fought out of Cleveland, Ohio) HEIGHT 5-11 (Some sources report 6-2) WEIGHT 190-215 lbs MANAGER   Duncan Ross
Thompson gained prominence in 1884; He was brought out by Duncan Ross as a boxer - wrestler athlete He was more powerful than any of the black fighters of his day but due to lack of stamina (and possibly courage) he never proved to be a first class pugilist

Undated
       C.A.C. Smith                                                L  3

1883
Jul 15 Billy Baker                Navy Island, Ont, Can            LK  7
       -This bout was held near "Buffalo, NY"

1884
Feb  5 Jack Stewart               Cleveland, Oh                    KO  3
Feb 18 Jack Welch                 Cleveland, Oh                    KO  2
Mar  5 Jack Stewart               London, Ont, Can                 ND  6
Mar 10 C.A.C. Smith               Cleveland, Oh                    KO  9
       -Some sources report "KO 7"
Aug  4 John Lawler                Cleveland, Oh                    KO  3
Sep  6 -Thompson challenged Dominick McCaffrey to a bout
       Paddy Brennan                                                W   

1885
Feb 18 John Welsh                 Cleveland, Oh                    KO   
May 26 Billy Wilson               St. Paul, Mn                     LK  1
Jul 19 Charles Hadley             St. Paul, Mn                     LF  5

1886
Mar 20 Andy Guinsey               Brooklyn, Oh                     KO  3
Apr  2 Pat Killen                 Cleveland, Oh                    WF  4
       -Killen knocked Thompson down 4 times;
        On the last knockdown, the crowd broke 
        into the ring; The referee (from Cleveland) 
        panicked and gave the win to Thompson on 
        a foul; Some sources report 4/20/86
Oct  2 Pat Killen                 Omaha, Ne                        LK  4
       Tom Robinson                                               SCH   
       -This bout was scheduled as a "finish" fight;
        The outcome is not known

1887
Feb    -Thompson challenged Jack Brady (of Buffalo, NY)
Apr    Jake Kilrain               Baltimore, Md                    EX   
Apr    Jimmy O'Day                Baltimore, Md                    LK  4
Jun 23 Jack King                  Cleveland, Oh                    ND  8
       -This bout was held and lasted 8 rounds;
        The true outcome is not known

1888
Jan 16 George Peters              Cleveland, Oh                    LK  5
Feb 15 George Peters                                              SCH   
       -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

1889
Jan  8 Bert Schiller              near Nashville, Ky               LF 28
       -Thompson drew first blood; Both men were bloody;
        Thompson hit Schiller when he was down and lost
        by foul; London rules and gloves were used
Nov 30 "Big Six" (Alfred Walker)  Birmingham, Al                   LK  2
       -Some sources report 12/02/89

1891
May  7 Elmer Grant                Beaver Falls, Pa                 LK  2
       -This fight was declared to be a fake

1883-1893 
       -Thompson competed as a wrestler, meeting some of
        the best men in the country

1891-1893 
       -Thompson made his living as a circus strongman
        after his ring and wrestling careers ended

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