Billy Rotchford
(William Rotchford)
(Billy Rothford)

BORN   Fought out of Chicago, Illinois
HEIGHT 5-5
WEIGHT 115-125 lbs

Rotchford was a scrappy and capable fighter; He was a bantamweight title contender who fought out of Chicago, the home of some outstanding fighters such as Jimmy Barry, Packey McFarland and Barney Ross

During his career, he defeated such men as Young Corbett II, Oscar Gardner, Patsy Broderick, Morris  Rauch, Maxey Haugh, Johnny Ritchie, George Munroe, Patsy Haley and Sammy Harris

Undated
       Al Baldwin                 Chicago, Il                      KO  1
       John McNichols             Chicago, Il                       W  4
       Joe Hartwell               Chicago, Il                       W  4
       Joe Driesbach              Chicago, Il                       W  3
       Al Shonesson               Chicago, Il                       W  3
       Clarence Ritchie           Chicago, Il                       W  2
           -This bout was held prior to Jul 24 1902
       Don Sewan                  Chicago, Il                       W  3
       Joe Crawford               Chicago, Il                       W  3  
       Eddie Dwyer                Chicago, Il                       W  3
       William Pierson            Chicago, Il                       W  3

1896
Dec 29 Jack Foley                 New York, NY                     TK  2

1897
       Nel Fraser                 New York, NY                      W  3
       Al Alberts                 New York, NY                      W  8
Jan 23 Jack Sullivan              New York, NY                     TK  6
          -Some sources report "W 6"
       Jack Smith                 New York, NY                      W  6
          -Some sources report 1/23/97
Feb 20 Jimmy Rose                 New York, NY                      W  8
          -Some sources report "Billy Rose"
Feb 23 Al Allen                   Albany, NY                        W 10
          -Some sources report "KO 2";
           Some sources report "TK 8"
Mar  6 Patsy Broderick            New York, NY                      W 10
Mar  8 Benny Leon                 New York, NY                      W 10
Mar 20 Frank Zimpher              New York, NY                      W 10
Apr  5 Patsy Broderick            Hartford, Ct                      D 15
Jun  5 George Munroe              Chicago, Il                       W   
Jul 19 "Torpedo" Billy Murphy     Albany, NY                        D  3
          -The referee declared the bout a "Draw";
           Murphy was bloody and on the verge of
           getting knocked out; Police intervened
Aug 20 Frank Zimpher              Albany, NY                      SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           The men could not agree on how to divide the purse
Sep 25 Frank Smith                Brooklyn, NY                     TK  4
          -Some sources report "ND 4" on 10/11/97
Oct 25 Mike Sears                 Buffalo, NY                       D 15
          -Police intervened
Nov 15 Tom Cooney                 Chicago, Il                       W  6
Nov 18 Oscar Gardner              Buffalo, NY                       W 20

1898
Jan  5 Sammy Kelly                New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Mar 28 Maxey Haugh                Chicago, Il                       W  6
Apr 18 Jimmy Barry                Chicago, Il                       D  6
May 14 Johnny Ritchie             Chicago, Il                       W  6

          -Rotchford toured the United States with a theatrical
           company during the summer; He went to Europe in the fall
           to fight Thomas Palmer for the Bantamweight Championship

1899
Apr    Paddy McGuire              in Ireland                       KO  2
Apr 17 Thomas "Pedlar" Palmer     London, Eng                      LT  3
          -Bantamweight Championship of the World;
            Some sources report "LF 3"
Jul 24 Young Corbett II           Denver, Co                        W 20
          -Bantamweight Championship of the West
Jul 28 Harry Forbes               Chicago, Il                      LF  1
Aug  4 "Turkey Point" Billy Smith Chicago, Il                       D  6
          -Some sources report "Philadelphia Billy Smith"
Aug 25 Harry Forbes               Chicago, Il                       L  6
Oct  9 Terry McGovern             Chicago, Il                      LK  1

1900
Jul  7 Sammy Harris               Chicago, Il                       W  6
          -Some sources report 7/10/00
Sep 10 Hugh McPadden              Chicago, Il                       W  6

1901
Oct 14 Kid Hallstrom              Chicago, Il                      EX  4
Oct 26 Morris Rauch               Chicago, Il                       W  6
Nov 23 Clarence Ritchie           Chicago, Il                     SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Dec  2 Morris Rauch               Chicago, Il                       W  6
Dec 17 Maurice Sayers             Milwaukee, Wi                    LF  2
Dec 19 Harry Forbes               Chicago, Il                      LK  1
Dec 21 Harry Gilmore Jr.          Chicago, Il                      TK  4

1902
Jan  7 Clarence Forbes            South Bend, In                    D 10
Feb  1 Gus Bezenah                Chicago, Il                       L  6
Mar  6 Johnny Hall                Chicago, Il                      EX  4
May 29 George Munroe              Grand Rapids, Mi                  D 10
Jul 25 Clarence Forbes            Indianapolis, In                  L 10
Oct  9 George Munroe              Indianapolis, In                  L 10
Oct 20 Patsy Haley                Chicago, Il                       W  6
          -Some sources report "L 6";
           Some sources report "D 6"
Nov 20 George Munroe              Chicago, Il                       W  6
Dec  8 George Munroe              Chicago, Il                       W  6
Dec 23 George Munroe              Fond du Lac, Wi                   D  8
Dec 30 Jack "Kid" Madden          Kansas City, Mo                  TK  5

1903
Apr 23 George Munroe              Kansas City, Mo                   D 10
Dec 26 Willy McNamara             Chicago, Il                       L  6
          -Some sources report 2/26/03

*** Much Data Was Provided By William Schutte ***

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