Schedule News Current Champs WAIL! Encyclopedia Links Store Home
The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- Old Timer

Theodore Van Buskirk
(the "Marysville Hercules")

 
BORN   c. 1877; Marysville, California
DIED December 19 1929; Marysville, California
HEIGHT 6-3 (Some reports state 6-0)
WEIGHT 180-203 lbs

Van Buskirk was, at one time, a member of the Olympic Club in San Francisco and the Amateur Heavyweight Champion of the Pacific Coast; He was well-thought of by the local press

Among those he defeated were Joe Kennedy, James "Soldier" Walker, Jack "Bubbles" Davis, Joe Goddard, "Mexican" Pete Everett, Fred Russell and Jim Jeffords

1895
May    Joe Kennedy                                                 EX  4
Aug  3 Tom Johnson                Marysville, Ca                    D  6
          -Some sources report "W 10"
Aug 14 Bill Hughes                Oakland, Ca                      EX  3
Oct 14 Joe Kennedy                San Francisco, Ca                TK  2
          -Some sources report 10/15/95
Dec 14 Joe Jeffords               Nevada City, Ca                  TK  2

1896
Jan  3 Charles Moth               Marysville, Ca                   TK  8
          -Some sources report "W 6"
Apr  9 Joe Choynski               San Francisco, Ca                EX  2
Apr 30 James "Soldier" Walker     San Francisco, Ca                KO  2
          -Some sources report "TK 2";
           Some sources report 5/01/96
Jul  3 "Australia" Patsy Corrigan Stockton, Ca                     KO  2
          -Some sources report "KO 4";
           Some sources report 7/04/96
Jul 31 Jack "Bubbles" Davis       San Francisco, Ca                TK  2
          -Some sources report "Frank Davis";
           Some sources report 8/01/96
Aug 25 Jack Stelzner              San Francisco, Ca                 D 10
Sep 26 Ed Hennessy                Oroville, Ca                      D  6
Oct 31 Ed Hennessy                Oroville, Ca                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Dec 10 William Johnson            Sacramento, Ca                   TK  4
          -Some sources incorrectly report "W 4";
           Some sources report 12/11/96

1897
Jan 27 Jack Stelzner              Sacramento, Ca                    D 10
          -Police intervened; Saved Van Buskirk and declared a "Draw"
Mar    Jim Jeffries               San Francisco, Ca               SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but postponed;
           Jeffries was ill with infleunza (or pneumonia);
           Van Buskirk accused Jeffries of being scared
Apr  9 Jim Jeffries               San Francisco, Ca                LK  2
Sep 16 Tom Whalen                 Sacramento, Ca                   KO  2
          -Some sources report "Tim Whelan"
Nov 13 Henry Baker                Marysville, Ca                    D 10
Dec 18 William Collier            Davis, Ca                        KO  2
          -Some sources report "TK 2"

1898
Jan  1 Joe Goddard                Marysville, Ca                    W  8
          -Some sources report "TK 8" on 1/08/98
Feb  5 Nicols                     Chico, Ca                        TK  1
Feb 25 "Mexican" Pete Everett     Marysville, Ca                   TK  2
May 14 Jack Stelzner              Marysville, Ca                   LT 17

1899
Oct 12 Fred Russell               San Francisco, Ca                LF  4
          -Some sources report "LF 5";
           Some sources report "TK 4"

Undated (1896-1900)
       Billie Haywards                                              W  4
       Henry Placke                                                 W  4
       Chris Merchant                                               L   

1900
Jan 13 Alonzo Tucker              Kenwick, Ca                      LF  4


*** The Following Bouts are Reported But Not Confirmed ***

Undated (1896-1900)
       Jim Jeffords                                                TK  2
       Jim Jeffords                                                 W   

*** Assistance Was Provided By Bill Schutte ***

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