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
4.05.06
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