Homer Robertson
(the "Black Ghost")

BORN   January 6 1904; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
HEIGHT 5-10
WEIGHT 150-162 lbs
RACE Black
MANAGERS Sam Snyder and Solly Snyder

Robertson was a scrappy competitor and a very shifty man on his feet; After a sparkling amateur career, he fought professionally; Many possible opponents avoided fighting him and so he competed often against larger men or against more experienced men

During his career, he gained wins over such men as "Panama" Joe Gans, Pal Reed, "Italian" Joe Gans, Babe McCorgary, Jimmy Mendes, Sailor Darden and Charley Arthurs

Nicknamed the "black ghost" because of his speedy, elusive style, Robertson fought out of the Morgan Community Club in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, where as an amateur he compiled a 42-1 record. His reputation in the amateurs was such that five of his opponents chose not to fight him at the inter-city tournament in Montreal. Robertson substantiated their premature fears when he knocked out Canadian Middleweight Champion Johnny Black in one round. Robertson's pro career was somewhat disappointing considering his amateur achievements. It was not for lack of effort. He was based in Boston where he was often matched against light-heavyweights and heavyweights. Robertson was rarely knocked out but often out-pointed by larger men because of his inability to match their strength. Possibly a championship caliber boxer, Robertson lacked the management and backing to get him the matches that would have made his march toward a championship all the more fruitful. His record is littered with losses against men that were far heavier and at times, far more experienced than he. Nevertheless, he fought some of the best men of his day including Harry Smith, Lou Bogash, Maxie Rosenbloom, KO Phil Kaplan, Panama Joe Gans, Jeff Smith, Frank Moody, Babe McCorgary and Cuban Bobby Brown.

*** IMPORTANT AMATEUR BOUTS ***
1923
       -Robertson won the Inter-City Amateur Light Heavyweight
          Championship in Boston, Ma
       -Robertson won the Inter-City Amateur Middleweight
          Championship in Boston, Ma

       -Robertson won the Inter-City Amateur Light Heavyweight
          Championship in New York, NY
       -Robertson won the Inter-City Amateur Middleweight
          Championship in New York, NY

       -Robertson won the Inter-City Amateur Light Heavyweight
          Championship in Montreal, Que, Can
       -Robertson won the Inter-City Amateur Middleweight
          Championship in Montreal, Que, Can
.
Apr 10 -Robertson won the AAU 160 Pound Championship
 
*** Robertson had a 42-1 Amateur Record ***
 
*** PROFESSIONAL BOUTS ***
1923
Apr 21 Frank McNichols            Pittsburgh, Pa                   ND  6
Jun 19 Pat McCarthy               Revere, Ma                        L 10
Oct  8 Frisco Kid                 Youngstown, Oh                   ND 10

1924
Jan 21 Jack Reddick               Toronto, Ont, Can                LF  6
       -Some sources report "LK 6"
Mar 13 Roleaux Saguero                                             LF  4
Apr    Kid Charol                 Havana, Cu                       LK  5

1925
Jan 19 Harry Hunter               Knoxville, Tn                    KO  4
Feb  5 Ben Moore                  Knoxville, Tn                    KO  1
Mar  8 Texas Tanner               Knoxville, Tn                    KO  8
Mar 11 Battling Norfolk           Knoxville, Tn                     W  8
       -Some sources report "W 10" against "Young Norfolk"
Mar 27 Texas Tanner               Knoxville, Tn                    KO  4
Apr 18 Alfredo Maresca            New York, NY                     KO  2
       -Some sources report 4/24/25
Jun  6 Joe Bashara                New York, NY                      W 12
       -Some sources report "W 10" against "George Bashara"
Oct  3 Lew Ferry                  Brooklyn, NY                      W  6
Oct 21 Jimmy Roberts              New York, NY                      W  6
Oct 26 Frank Moody                Newark, NJ                       NC  7

1926
Jan 19 Sailor Darden              New York, NY                      W  6
Apr 10 Jack Ford                  New York, NY                      W  8
Apr 19 Jimmy Francis              Bayonne, NJ                      ND 10
Jun 24 Jack Elliott               Revere, Ma                        W  8
       -Some sources report 6/25/26
Aug 21 George Corbett             Atlanta, Ga                       D 10
Sep 20 Jeff Smith                 Portland, Me                     ND 12
       -Some sources report "L 12"
Oct 28 Jack Elliott               Worcester, Ma                     W 10
Oct 30 Frank Senk                 Brockton, Ma                     NC  5
       -Some sources report "NC 9"
Nov 18 Lou Bogash                 Lowell, Ma                        L 10
       -Some sources report "W 10"
Dec  9 Jack Stone                 Lowell, Ma                        W 10

1927
Jan  3 Panama Joe Gans            Lowell, Ma                        W 12
       -Some sources report "W 10"
Feb 12 Pierre Gandon              Biddeford, Me                    ND 12
       -Some sources report "W 10"
Mar 15 Pierre Gandon              Portland, Me                     ND 12
       -Some sources report "L 10"
Apr  4 "K.O." Phil Kaplan         Pittsburgh, Pa                   LF  5
May  9 Babe McCorgary             Boston, Ma                        W 10
May 14 Pal Reed                   Portland, Me                     ND 12
       -Some sources report "W 10"
Jun 24 Pierre Gandon              Biddeford, Me                    TK  3
Jul 20 Billy Vidabeck             Rensselaer, NY                    L 10
Aug  3 Babe McCorgary             Lynn, Ma                          L 10
Aug 15 Babe McCorgary             Lynn, Ma                          W 10
Aug 30 Vic McLaughlin             Hartford, Ct                     TK  9
Sep  9 Frank Kearns               Boston, Ma                       TK  2
Sep 23 "Chief" Jack Elkhart       Pittsburgh, Pa                   KO  6
       -Some sources report "W 10"
Oct 17 Maxie Rosenbloom           Pittsburgh, Pa                    L 10
Oct 20 Charley Arthurs            Providence, RI                   KO  8
Oct 24 "Italian" Joe Gans         Lynn, Ma                          W 10
Oct 31 Jimmy King                 New Bedford, Ma                   L 10
Nov  9 Jimmy King                 New Bedford, Ma                   W 10
Dec  9 Osk Till                   Chicago, Il                       L  8

1928
Feb 17 "Cuban" Bobby Brown        Boston, Ma                        L 10
Mar 22 "K.O." White               Davenport, Ia                    LK  5
Apr 20 Willie Walker              Lewiston, Me                     KO  9
May 10 Frankie Schoell            Buffalo, NY                     SCH   
       -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
May 17 Joe Hartnett               Lewiston, Me                     ND  6
       -Some sources report "W 6"
May 31 Jimmy White                Franklin, NH                      W 10
Jun 18 "Cuban" Bobby Brown        Philadelphia, Pa                  L 10
Jul 12 Jack Palmer                Franklin, NH                      W 10
Aug 30 George "Wop" Manolian      Franklin, NH                     ND 10
Sep 10 Maxie Rosenbloom           West Springfield, Ma              L 10
Dec 14 Leo Mitchell               Boston, Ma                        L 10

1929
Mar  4 Bob Jasse                  Lynn, Ma                          L 10
Mar 15 Ray Still                  Boston, Ma                        W  6
       -Some sources report "W 10"
Apr  9 Babe McCorgary             Portland, Me                     ND 12
       -Some sources report "W 10"
Jun  6 Ted Coolidge               Franklin, NH                      L 10
Jun 17 Jimmy Mendes               New Bedford, Ma                   W 10
Jul 15 Harry Smith                Boston, Ma                       LT  8
       -Some sources report "LK 7" on 6/25/29
Sep  2 George "Wop" Manolian      Bar Harbor, Me                   ND 12
       -Some sources report "L 12"
Oct 17 Arthur Flynn               Lawrence, Ma                     LK  2
Nov 25 Jimmy Mendes               New Bedford, Ma                  NC 10
       -Some sources report "L 10"

1930
Feb 10 Hale "K.O." Brown          Providence, RI                   LK  3
Mar 31 Victorio Livan             Fall River, Ma                    L  8
Aug 22 Tony Shucco                Revere, Ma                        L 10
Nov  6 Roy Mitchell               Halifax, NS, Can                  W 10

Record courtesy of Kevin Smith, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
 
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