Undated
Professor Dole New Haven, Ct W
1866
Oct 3 Tim Hussey Boston, Ma KO 14
1867
Apr 9 Charles Collins Fisher's Island, NY LF 16
-Rooke lost by disqualification;
Many observers thought this was an unfair verdict;
Collins was battered; Rooke challenged Collins to
another bout; Collins refused
-Rooke challenged Tommy Chandler, middleweight champion,
to a bout; Chandler declined, saying he was retired;
Rooke was considered to be champion by most followers
of boxing
Oct 2 Matthew "Rocky" Moore Smutty Nose Island, Me LK 25
-Some sources report Middleweight Championship of America;
Moore retired shortly afterwards;
Rooke claimed the title after Moore retired
1868
Oct 17 Tim Hussey New York, NY D 18
-Some sources report Middleweight Championship of America;
Police intervened; Some sources report "W 18"
1867-1872
Jack Smith W 6
Roger Colne W
1872
Jul 17 -Rooke challenged Tommy Chandler who still claimed to be
middleweight champion although he was not active
-Rooke retired; Thus, refusing to meet Jimmy Murray
who was challenging him for the Middleweight Title
1874
Jem Coyne near Wilkesboro (Harvey's Lake) WForf
-Rooke received forfeit
1875
Jul 1 Tom Allen near Detroit, Mi SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
1876
Feb 11 Johnny Dwyer New York, NY ND
-Police intervened
Apr 24 Steve Taylor Brooklyn, NY EX
-The sparring became almost real fighting
Jun 7 Steve Taylor New York, NY D 9
Jun 10 Steve Taylor New York, NY D 7
Ocr 27 Hugh Burns Newmarket, England D
1878
Mar 12 Denny "Bulldog" Harrington London, England LK 6
-Middleweight Championship of the World;
Rooke was called the middleweight champion of America;
Harrington was the middleweight champion of England
1872-1879
-Rooke was inactive; Mike Donovan rose to the top and
was considered middleweight champion by most people
1880
May 11 Mike Donovan Long Point, ---, Canada SCH
-Middleweight Championship of America;
This bout was scheduled but not held;
Authorities prevented the bout
May 24 Mike Donovan Coney Island, NY SCH
-Middleweight Championship of America;
This bout was scheduled but not held;
Authorities prevented the bout
Jun 28 John L. Sullivan Boston, Ma LK 3
-Some sources report "LK 2"
Nov 29 Jack Stewart New York, NY EX
1881
Jan John Laflin New York, NY EX 3
Mar 18 Steve Taylor New York, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled but not held;
Taylor refused to fight
Apr 25 Mike Donovan New York, NY LT 2
-Reports vary - "L 2" - "LT 3" -"EX 3";
Police intervened
Sep Mike Donovan New York, NY L 3
-Some sources report "George Burke";
Some sources report "L 4"
Oct Mike Donovan New York, NY EX
Dec 1 William C. McClellan Hunters Point, NY TK 3
-Some sources report "KO 4"
Dec 26 Mike Donovan New York, NY ND 4
1878-1882
Alf Greenfield L
1882
Jan 23 Mike Donovan Chicago, Il SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Apr 24 Mike Donovan New York, NY EX
Jun 7 Joe Denning New York, NY KO 4
Oct 18 Mike Cleary New York, NY LK 3
-Rooke offered to beat Cleary inside of four
rounds; Cleary knocked him down five times;
Some sources report 10/18/79;
Reports vary - "KO" - "LK 1"
Nov 27 Tom Allen New York, NY EX 3
1883
Feb 8 Gus Lambert New York, NY D 4
Mar 15 Steve Taylor New York, NY EX
-Some sources report "L"
Apr 28 Pete McCoy New York, NY EX 3
May 7 Mike Donovan Newburgh, NY EX
1884
Jun 30 Bill England New York, NY W 4
-Some sources report "KO 4"
Aug 18 Bill England New York, NY KO 3
-Reports vary - "TK 4" - "W 4"
Sep 23 William Bennett New York, NY LT 3
-Rooke sprained his ankle during this fight
Nov 13 Dominick McCaffrey Pittsburgh, Pa EX
Nov 19 Dominick McCaffrey East Liverpool, Oh EX
Nov 22 Jack King McKeesport, Pa KO 3
-Police intervened
1885
Feb 22 Charles Lange New Orleans, La TK 2
Mar 11 George Fryer New Orleans, La LK 1
Apr 28 Pete McCoy New York, NY EX 3
-This bout was hotly contested
May 11 William Springhall New York, NY LT 3
Nov 13 Jim Fell Cincinnati, Oh ND 1
-Gloves were used; Police intervened
1886
Mar 5 Patsy Cardiff Minneapolis, Mn L 6
-Some sources report "New York, NY"
May Robert Barnes Minneapolis, Mn KO
Jul -Rooke was sentenced to jail for four months in
Orange County, NY for assaulting his wife
Oct 23 -Rooke challenged Dominick McCaffrey to a bout;
McCaffrey refused
John Fay L
Tom Allen New York, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled but not held;
Allen appeared but no fight occurred
1896
Dec 14 John Donaldson New York, NY EX 3
Undated
William Miller New York, NY L
-This bout was probably held between 1884-1887;
Some sources report 1888
Apr 10 Jack Welch Philadelphia, Pa D 76
Review courtesy of
Tracy Callis,
Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
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