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The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- Old Timer
"Denver" Billy Woods
BORN 1867; Edinburgh, Scotland
(Some reports say Birmingham, England;
Fought out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada;
Fought out of Denver, Colorado)DIED December 13 1925; Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii HEIGHT 5-11 (or 6-0; approximately, from descriptions) WEIGHT 170-183 lbs
Woods was a fighter with some "pop" in his punches; He was also an internationally known cyclist; Billy served as a sparring partner for Jim Corbett on occasions; A.D. Phillips (Ring Magazine Aug 1924 pp 15, 17) describes Woods as being bigger than Joe Choynski in their 1891 fight
The San Francisco Chronicle reported, "He is splendidly built, and which is better, is very active for a big man; He can use both hands, has a good position and with experience ought to make a fine fighter."In the 1973 movie "Hec Ramsey: A Hard Road to Vengeance" Billy Woods is referenced as a middleweight fighter from Los Angeles; There was a black welterweight fighter named Billy Woods from California who fought just after this Billy Woods
Billy defeated such men as Mike Conley, Martin "Buffalo" Costello, Jack Slavin, "Omaha" Jack Davis, Jim McClarney and Tom Whalen1889 Jim McClarney Denver, Co TK 3 Burt McCormick Denver, Co TK 39 -London Prize Ring Rules were used for this bout Nov 29 Tom Whalen Denver, Co TK 4 1890 Feb 9 Burt McCormick Denver, Co W 3 -Some sources report "TK 3" George Kessler Denver, Co D -This bout was stopped due to crowd disruption May 6 Jim Bates Denver, Co TK 12 May 22 Al Denmeau Denver, Co W 4 -Some sources report "TK 4"; Perhaps, this man was "Al Dunmeade" Burt McCormick Denver, Co TK 3 -Some sources report "Bert Liverpool"; Some sources report "TK 2" Jun 18 Jack Ashton Denver, Co EX 4 -Some sources report "D 4" Jul 2 Mike Conley Denver, Co D 3 -Police intervened; Some sources report 7/02/91; Conley was to knock out Woods inside of five rounds or 20 minutes; Conley began knocking Woods around and Woods resorted to fouling techniques and falling when Conley came near Jul 23 Jack Ryan near Denver, Co KO 5 Oct 3 Jim Doyle Denver, Co TK 4 -Perhaps, this man was "Frank Doyle" Oct 9 Billy Hennessey Ogden, Ut LK 3 -Some sources report "L 3" Dec 28 Ed Pitts Denver, Co TK 3 -Some sources report "TK 2" 1891 Feb 9 Mike Conley New Orleans, La KO 2 -Some sources report 1892 Feb 16 -Woods sparred with Bob Fitzsimmons twice a day for a week in New York, NY Mar 24 Charles Langster Washington, DC KO Mar 24 Alfred Johnson Washington, DC KO 1 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Mar 25 George Northedge Washington, DC KO Apr 5 Bob Fitzsimmons Chicago, Il EX 3 -This bout was part of a play, Fashions; Fitzsimmons and Woods sparred for a week Apr 13 Bob Fitzsimmons Pittsburgh, Pa EX 4 -Fitzsimmons and Woods sparred for a week Apr 27 Abe Cougle Chicago, Il SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held; Cougle was not able to meet Hall after being stopped by Fitzsimmons Apr 27 Jim Hall Chicago, Il EX 3 -Some sources report "ND 3" Apr 27 Bob Fitzsimmons Chicago, Il EX 3 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Apr 29 Jim Hall Cleveland, Oh EX 3 -Some sources report "ND 3" Apr 30 Al Woods Cleveland, Oh EX 3 Jun 15 Charles Moth St. Paul, Mn TK 3 -Moth was a famous wrestler; Some sources report "TK 4" Some sources report 6/15/90 Jul 1 Mahoney San Francisco, Ca EX 3 Jul 21 Jake Kilrain Denver, Co SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held Sep Charlie Carroll San Francisco, Ca D -This bout was held during Sep-Oct 1891 Sep 21 "Omaha" Jack Davis San Francisco, Ca KO 13 -Police intervened; Some sources report "KO 12" Dec 17 Joe Choynski San Francisco, Ca LK 34 1892 Aug 25 Billy Groves Pueblo, Co KO 2 Oct W.K. "Bill" Johnson Leadville, Co W 4 -Johnson was known as the "Fighting Swede" and the "Terrible Swede"; Other men such as Bill Fenner used these nicknames too 1893 Jun 12 Martin "Buffalo" Costello Roby, In D 57 Sep Jack Hurley Bakersfield, Ca KO 16 Dec Jim Hall Boston, Ma SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known 1889-1894 Peter Jackson Denver, Co EX 4 1894 Feb 17 Steve Farrell Denver, Co SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Sep 17 Henry Baker Chicago, Il L 8 -Reports vary - "L 7" - "LK 7" - "LK 8" Nov 15 Jim Hall Chicago, Il EX 4 -Woods lasted and claimed win; Some sources report 11/16/94 1895 Mar 4 Martin "Buffalo" Costello Montreal, Que, Canada W 10 Mar Jim Williams Denver, Co SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known May 10 Jack Slavin Montreal, Que, Canada W 6 Jul 19 Steve O'Donnell Montreal, Que, Canada LK 13 -Reports vary - "LK 15" -"L 15"-"L 14" Nov 11 George Godfrey Baltimore, Md LF 9 -Some sources report 11/10/95; Some sources report "LF 8" Dec 4 Joe "Stiff" Dunfee Syracuse, NY LK 2 Dec 21 Tom Brennan Junius, NY L 4 -This bout was stopped due to crowd disruption; Some sources report "LT 4" on 12/31/95 Dec 28 Peter Maher New York, NY EX 4 -Some sources report "EX 3"; Some sources report "ND 4" 1896 Aug 7 Jim Corbett Cripple Creek, Co EX 4 -Some sources report 8/06/97 Oct 3 Mike Queenan Cripple Creek, Co L 12 1897 Feb 6 Jim Corbett Kansas City, Mo EX Feb 17 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Feb 17 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Feb 18 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Feb 19 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Feb 19 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Feb 20 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Feb 21 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Feb 22 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 4 Feb 23 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Feb 24 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Feb 25 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Feb 26 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Feb 27 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Feb 28 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Mar 1 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 2 Mar 5 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 Mar 5 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 Mar 5 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 Mar 5 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 -The previous 4 bouts were held the same date Mar 6 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Mar 7 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 3 Mar 8 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 4 Mar 9 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Mar 10 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 4 Mar 11 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 3 Mar 12 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 Mar 12 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 Mar 12 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Mar 13 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 Mar 13 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 Mar 13 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 Mar 13 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 -The previous 4 bouts were held the same date Mar 14 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX 1 Mar 15 Jim Corbett Shaw's Hot Springs, Nv EX Apr 8 Jim Jeffries Oakland, Ca EX 3 Apr 27 Jim Jeffries Los Angeles, Ca EX 6 1898 Feb 11 "Mexican" Pete Everett Cripple Creek, Co LK 7 -Some sources report "LK 4"; Some sources report "LK 6" 1903 Jul 11 Joe Millett Honolulu, Oahu, Hi LT 6 *** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed *** 1889-1895 George Lear TK 2 George Lear W 3 Billy Kennedy TK 7 Chauncy Lynch W 4 Tom Scanlan W 4 Morris Murphy TK 3 *** Much Data Was Provided By Bill Schutte *** *** Assistance Was Provided By Ron Brammer (Columbia, Md) ***
Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization